Language proficiency is important for people who plan to live, work, or study in Denmark. Danish skills can make it easier to participate in daily life and integrate into Danish society, while English proficiency is required for many English-taught degree programs.
For non-native speakers, language proficiency tests may be required for university admission and some immigration matters. The exact requirement depends on the degree program, language of instruction, institution, and immigration category. If you are planning to pursue higher education in Denmark, this article explains the main language proficiency tests you may encounter.
Language Proficiency Tests Needed in Denmark
If you are an international applicant, admission to a university in Denmark does not automatically require proficiency in both Danish and English. Whether you are applying for a bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD program, the language requirement generally depends on the language of instruction and the institution. Danish-taught programs require documented Danish proficiency, while English-taught programs generally require documented English proficiency.
Danish Language Tests for International Students
If you intend to study in a Danish-taught program, you will generally need to document sufficient proficiency in Danish. Language requirements connected with residence or employment after graduation are separate from university admission requirements and depend on the applicable immigration category.
1. Dansk Prøve
Denmark’s official Danish-as-a-second-language examinations include Prøve i Dansk 1, Prøve i Dansk 2, and Prøve i Dansk 3, commonly abbreviated as PD1, PD2, and PD3. These examinations assess reading comprehension, written communication, and oral communication. The written and oral parts of PD3 correspond to CEFR level B2. Admission requirements are program-specific: some Danish-taught programs accept PD2 or require PD3, while other institutions require Studieprøven or an equivalent qualification.
Candidates often prepare through Danish language centers and structured language courses. However, depending on the examination, candidates may also register without being enrolled in the corresponding Danish language course. Applicants should check both the examination rules and the exact admission requirements of their chosen program before registering.
2. Studieprøven
Studieprøven is a higher-level Danish proficiency examination that provides formal documentation of skills corresponding to CEFR level C1. It consists of written and oral parts, with the written component covering reading comprehension and written communication. The examination can be used to meet Danish-language admission requirements for higher education programs in Denmark.
Whether Studieprøven is required, and the grades applicants must obtain, depends on the institution and program. Some programs set higher grade thresholds. For example, the University of Copenhagen requires at least grade 7 in each examination discipline for Medicine, Dentistry, and Dental Hygiene, while the University of Southern Denmark requires grade 7 for Medicine and Clinical Biomechanics. Applicants should always consult the current requirements for their chosen program.
English Language Tests for International Students
English-language requirements differ among Danish universities and may also vary by degree level and program. Some institutions accept standardized language tests for master’s admission but not for bachelor’s admission. Applicants should therefore confirm the current requirements on the official page for their chosen program.
Here is a list of English-language proficiency tests that may be recognized in Denmark.
1. IELTS – International English Language Testing System
As an international applicant, you may already be familiar with the IELTS. IELTS Academic assesses listening, reading, writing, and speaking and is accepted by many Danish universities. However, the accepted test version, minimum overall score, and required section scores vary by institution and program. Although IELTS is recognized by many Danish educational institutions, applicants must check the exact admission rules that apply to them.
There is no single national IELTS passing score for every university or degree program in Denmark. Official Study in Denmark guidance associates an IELTS score of at least 6.5 with English B and a score of at least 7.0 with English A. For master’s programs requiring English B, the University of Copenhagen currently requires an overall IELTS Academic score of 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each section. Under the University of Southern Denmark’s September 2026 master’s requirements, the general threshold is 6.5 overall with at least 6.5 in each section. The University of Southern Denmark and the University of Copenhagen generally require IELTS results to be no more than two years old.
2. TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language
TOEFL is another widely recognized English proficiency examination. The TOEFL iBT assesses reading, listening, speaking, and writing in academic contexts and is accepted by many Danish universities.
TOEFL requirements vary by institution, program, and test date. The TOEFL iBT introduced a new 1–6 score scale on January 21, 2026, so universities may publish both old-scale and new-scale requirements. Programs at the Copenhagen Business School that require English A generally require an old-scale score of at least 94 with at least 20 in each section, or a new-scale score of at least 5.0 with at least 4.5 in each section. For English B, the University of Copenhagen requires an old-scale score of at least 83 with at least 20 in each section, or a new-scale score of at least 4.5 with at least 4.5 in each section. Aarhus University requires an old-scale score of at least 83 with at least 20 in each section, or a new-scale score of at least 4.5 with at least 4.0 in each section, for English B. Meeting a language-test threshold satisfies that particular language requirement but does not, by itself, guarantee admission.
3. DET – Duolingo English Test
The Duolingo English Test is an online proficiency examination that assesses reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Its acceptance in Denmark is limited and depends heavily on the institution and applicant category. Copenhagen Business School, for example, accepts a minimum DET score of 130 for exchange and freemover applicants. However, the University of Copenhagen and Aarhus University do not list DET among the accepted tests on their main degree-admission language pages, and the University of Southern Denmark states that Duolingo cannot be used as documentation for admission to its bachelor’s programs. Applicants must check the official requirements for their exact program and applicant category.
Language proficiency requirements are an important part of the admissions process for international students applying to Danish universities. English-taught programs generally require documented English proficiency, while Danish-taught programs require documented Danish proficiency. Because accepted examinations, minimum scores, section-score requirements, and validity periods vary, applicants should rely on the current official admission page for their chosen program.
I hope that this article on the language tests needed for Denmark was helpful! If you are interested, check out the available courses for international students!
