Danish Government Scholarship Recipient Tomás Basile from Argentina–Mexico Shares His Journey of Pursuing a Master’s in Physics of Complex Systems at the University of Copenhagen

My name is Tomás Basile. I was born in Argentina but grew up in Mexico City. From an early age, I developed a strong passion for mathematics and physics, which inspired me to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Physics at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), the largest university in Mexico. Over the course of this 4.5-year program, I built a solid foundation in mathematics, physics, and computer science. During my studies, I gained valuable research experience by working on two projects in quantum computing, both of which were later published in world-renowned scientific journals.

After completing my undergraduate degree, I set my sights on becoming a physics researcher. To further this goal, I applied to the Master’s program in Physics of Complex Systems at Copenhagen University and was honored to receive the Danish Government Scholarship.

This two-year master’s program offers a flexible curriculum, allowing students to explore areas such as biophysics, climate sciences, and many-body problems. The first year focuses on coursework and small projects, while the second year is dedicated to a thesis. During my time at Copenhagen, I had the opportunity to co-author two journal articles, one as part of my thesis project and another during my first year, collaborating with a researcher from the Niels Bohr Institute.

Danish Government Scholarship Details

When applying for the master’s degree program, non-EU students are automatically considered for the Danish Government Scholarship; no separate application is required. I submitted my application in January 2023 to begin my studies in September of the same year, and I received confirmation of both my admission and the scholarship in April.

The main eligibility requirement for the Danish Government Scholarship is that applicants must not hold citizenship from an EU country, as EU nationals are eligible for other benefits in Denmark. The scholarship covers all tuition fees and provides a monthly stipend of approximately 10,000 Danish Krone (about 1,350 Euros). This stipend is subject to taxes, which reduced my monthly amount to around 7,900 Krone. (Note: Tax exemptions are available for students from certain developing countries, but this does not apply to Mexico.) Though 7,900 Krone is enough money to live in Copenhagen as a student, it can be pretty tight (especially depending on your rent), so you can supplement it by working up to 20 hours a week in any student job you can find (in my case, I was a teacher assistant at the IT University of Copenhagen).

Were You Offered any Other Scholarships?

I was also offered scholarships in two Erasmus Mundus programs: one in Quantum Technologies and another in Applied Mathematics. Both scholarships included full tuition waivers and a monthly stipend of 1,400 euros for the duration of the two-year master’s degree.

Erasmus Mundus programs are typically structured so that students study at multiple European universities, spending one or two semesters at each institution before moving to the next. For example, the Quantum Technologies program involved a semester in Rome, followed by one in Porto, and concluding with two semesters in Paris.

I decided that the program at Copenhagen University was a better fit for me, and after thinking about it, I decided I preferred living in only one city instead of moving every semester. Therefore, I declined the Erasmus Mundus Scholarships and allowed others to take advantage of them.

Educational Background

I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), graduating with a GPA of 9.93/10, the highest in my cohort. I believe that my strong academic record was a key factor in obtaining the scholarship, as Danish universities seem to place significant value on high grades.

During my undergraduate studies, I completed a thesis and contributed to two research articles, both of which were published after I received the Danish scholarship. This research experience was invaluable, as it provided me with the skills necessary to excel in my master’s projects and thesis work.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to IT University of Copenhagen?

How Did You Find Information About Scholarships and IT University of Copenhagen?

I used a list of top universities and kept only the ones in countries where I wanted to live. Then I went through the list, researching their programs and scholarships on the university's web page. The one that convinced me the most was Copenhagen University.

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them?

I took the TOEFL IBT, obtaining 112 out of 120 points. I prepared for it by taking a mock exam a few weeks before.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the Scholarship?

The Danish Government Scholarship doesn’t require a separate application; it is automatically considered once you apply to Copenhagen University, so I didn’t need to do anything else.

How is (was) Your Experience at the IT University of Copenhagen?

It was a great experience. The university was very welcoming to international students, and Copenhagen is a wonderful place to live in.

How Do You Rate the IT University of Copenhagen Academically and Why? 

Very highly. The professors are top-level, and all of them are highly regarded researchers in their fields, giving students the opportunity to do projects with them.

How Does the IT University of Copenhagen Support International Students? 

There is a lot of support. First, everything in the university is in English, and more than half of the students in my program were international (mostly from other places of Europe and from China). Once accepted, the university gives a lot of information for international students about visas, moving, searching for housing, etc. Then, during the first week, there are a lot of welcoming activities directed to international students.

Are Your Classes Conducted in English or Danish?

They are all in English

Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Academically Not Knowing Danish?

Not at all, most students (and even professors) don’t speak Danish.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I think that what they value the most is the GPA, so having a high Bachelor’s GPA from a highly ranked university was definitely very important.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

I don’t think I would do anything differently.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

For most scholarships, I would suggest having as many projects/papers as possible, to make your CV stand out, and to not care too much about the GPA, as long as it is not low. However, for this specific scholarship and institution, they prioritize based on GPA, so the advice would be the opposite. They even mention on their webpage that you need a GPA of at least 9/10 to be considered for the scholarship, and in previous years, the minimum to obtain it was 9.8/10.