Can you study in Denmark for free? If you are from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, yes: Danish public universities charge you no tuition. If you are from anywhere else, including Africa, Asia and the Americas, you normally pay tuition, but there are real ways to study for free or close to it. This guide covers nine of them, with the deadlines for a September 2027 start.
Key facts: studying in Denmark for free in 2027
- EU/EEA and Swiss students: no tuition at public universities
- Non-EU/EEA students: pay tuition, for example 7,500 EUR per semester at DTU
- Main free route for non-EU students: Danish Government Scholarships (tuition waiver, sometimes plus a living grant)
- How to apply: through the university when you apply for admission. There is no central application.
- Typical master’s deadline for non-EU applicants: 15 January 2027
- Teaching language: hundreds of programmes, mostly master’s, are taught in English
- Official guide: Study in Denmark, scholarships
Last checked: November 2026.
Is education in Denmark free for international students?
It depends on your citizenship. Students from the EU, the EEA and Switzerland study at Danish public universities on the same terms as Danish students, with no tuition. Exchange students also pay no Danish tuition. All other international students must pay tuition, which varies by university and programme.
For non-EU students, “free” therefore means winning a tuition waiver or scholarship. These are competitive, so apply to more than one university.
9 ways to study in Denmark for free
1. Be an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen
If you hold an EU, EEA or Swiss passport, you pay no tuition at public universities at bachelor’s or master’s level. This includes many dual nationals, so check every passport you hold.
2. Danish Government Scholarships
Each year the Danish state gives every university a limited number of scholarships for highly qualified full-degree students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland. A scholarship can be a full or partial tuition fee waiver, a grant for living costs, or both. There is no central form: each university chooses its scholars, usually from its own admission applicants.
3. DTU tuition fee waiver
The Technical University of Denmark awards a very limited number of two-year tuition waivers to new non-EU/EEA MSc students starting in September. You must add a separate personal statement asking for the waiver by 15 January. Read our full DTU fee waiver guide.
4. University of Copenhagen scholarships
The University of Copenhagen awards Danish Government Scholarships to a small number of outstanding non-EU/EEA master’s applicants. You are considered automatically when you apply for admission, so there is no separate form. The faculty decides whether you get a full or partial waiver, a living grant, or both. See our University of Copenhagen scholarships guide.
5. Aarhus University scholarships
Aarhus University gives Danish Government Scholarships to highly qualified non-EU/EEA students admitted to two-year master’s programmes. They usually include a full tuition waiver, and often a monthly grant too. See our Aarhus University scholarships guide.
6. Other Danish universities
Copenhagen Business School, the University of Southern Denmark, Aalborg University, Roskilde University and the IT University of Copenhagen also award Danish Government Scholarships or fee waivers. Each sets its own rules and deadlines, so check the scholarship page of every university you apply to.
7. Erasmus Mundus joint master’s degrees
Erasmus Mundus programmes are joint master’s degrees run by several European universities, some of them Danish. Top applicants from anywhere in the world can win a full scholarship covering tuition, travel and a monthly allowance. See our guide to the Erasmus Mundus EMIMEP scholarship as an example.
8. Come as an exchange student
If your home university has an exchange agreement with a Danish university, you can spend a semester or a year in Denmark and pay no Danish tuition. You keep paying your home university’s normal fees.
9. Do a funded PhD
Many PhD positions in Denmark are paid jobs, with a salary instead of tuition. They are advertised on university job pages and on EURAXESS, the EU research jobs portal.
Study in Denmark in English
You do not need to speak Danish. Hundreds of programmes, mostly at master’s level, are taught entirely in English. You will usually need an English test result such as IELTS or TOEFL, unless your previous degree was taught in English. Search programmes on Study in Denmark.
Key deadlines for September 2027
| University | Non-EU master’s deadline | Scholarship application |
|---|---|---|
| DTU | 15 January 2027 | Separate personal statement with your application |
| University of Copenhagen | 15 January 2027, 23:59 | Automatic with your application |
| Other universities | Usually January to March | Check each university’s scholarship page |
Frequently asked questions
Can international students study in Denmark for free?
EU, EEA and Swiss students can. Students from other countries pay tuition unless they win a Danish Government Scholarship, a university fee waiver, an Erasmus Mundus scholarship, or come on exchange.
How do I apply for a Danish Government Scholarship?
Apply for admission to a full-degree programme at a Danish university and follow that university’s scholarship instructions. There is no single national application.
Do Danish scholarships cover living costs?
Some do. Danish Government Scholarships can include a living grant as well as a tuition waiver, depending on the university and faculty. The DTU fee waiver covers tuition only.
Can I study in Denmark in English?
Yes. Most master’s programmes for international students are taught in English.
Related guides
- DTU Tuition Fee Waiver and Scholarships
- University of Copenhagen Scholarships
- Aarhus University Scholarships
- Fully Funded Scholarships to Study Abroad
Sources: Study in Denmark, Scholarships; DTU, Tuition fee waivers; DTU, Fees and funding.