Denmark is known for many things: the cycling culture, colourful buildings, the concept of ‘hygge’, environmental friendliness, and the list can go on and on. But as an international student, you’re most likely interested in two questions:
Can you study an English-taught Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Denmark? And which are the best Danish universities where you can study in English?
Let’s find out!
How many English-taught universities are there in Denmark?
We don’t have the exact number of universities. But based on data from the official ‘Study in Denmark’ website, there are over 600 English-taught degrees offered by Danish universities. Many of them are available on our portals:
- over 90 English-taught Bachelors in Denmark
- over 260 English-taught Masters in Denmark
- around 20 English-taught PhDs in Denmark
- around 5 English-taught distance-learning (online) courses
Here are some of the universities we recommend in Denmark:
How do I know if a Danish university teaches in English?
On our portals (e.g. Bachelorsportal, Mastersportal, PhDportal), we only list study programmes taught in English — so start from there. We also offer more information about language requirements for each degree (if available).
Danish universities or other websites (e.g. Study in Denmark) might list additional English-taught programmes on their web pages.
In that case, you’ll have to do a bit of research to find out if those programmes are taught in English or if international students are eligible to apply. Should you struggle to find this information, don’t hesitate to contact the university directly.
To apply at English-taught academic institutions in Denmark, you’ll have to pass one of the following widely accepted English language tests:
- PTE Academic
- IELTS Academic
- TOEFL iBT
Learn more about IELTS vs TOEFL vs PTE Academic.
Is English enough to live and study in Denmark?
Yes, English is enough to live, study and even settle in Denmark, so forget about language barriers.
Around 85% of the population speak English at various levels of fluency. That’s because English is a mandatory foreign language in schools and the country is a popular attraction for tourists.
Things can change if you decide to get a job either part-time during studies or full-time afterwards. Depending on the nature of your work, you might be asked to speak Danish at least at a basic level. Here are a couple of resources to get you started:
Bonus: once you arrive in Denmark, you can enrol in free Danish language courses for international students.
The best English-taught universities in Denmark
According to popular academic rankings created by TopUniversities, Times Higher Education, and ShanghaiRanking, these are the best Danish universities where you can study in English:
- University of Copenhagen
- Technical University of Denmark
- Aarhus University
- University of Southern Denmark
- Aalborg University
- Copenhagen Business School
- Roskilde University
Affordable English-taught universities in Denmark
Public universities in Denmark are free for all students coming from the EU/EEA, so that’s as affordable as it can get.
For non-EU/EEA students, tuition costs usually range between 6,000 and 16,000 EUR per academic year. And while 6,000 EUR is a large amount, it pales in comparison to the fees you’d pay at universities in the US, Canada, or Australia, where costs can easily go over 30, 40 or 50,000 EUR per year.
To make your studies more affordable, see if you are eligible for scholarships available in Denmark.
Application requirements at English-taught universities in Denmark
To study at a university in Denmark, you need to meet certain application requirements. Here are some of the most common ones:
- Previous diplomas: high-school, Bachelor’s, or Master’s
- Academic transcript of records or grades
- Proof of English language proficiency
- Copy of ID or passport
- Up to 4 passport-size photos
- Letters of recommendation
- Personal essay or statement
Check out our guide on how to correctly fill in a university application form.
