Higher education in Denmark

Academies of professional education

Academies of professional higher education offer 2-year academy profession programmes in fields such as business, technology, and IT. They combine theoretical studies with a practically oriented approach and are usually completed with a project of 3 months' duration.

Colleges

Specialised colleges and centres for higher education/university colleges offer 3-4 year professional bachelor programmes in fields such as business, education, engineering and nursing. Theoretical studies, practical training through work placements and a bachelor project are always part of the programme.

Universities

The universities have a commitment to teach and do research at the highest international level. Some are multi-faculty institutions covering many disciplines and some are specialised in specific fields.

Universities offer Bachelor's, Master's and PhD programmes: 3-year bachelor programmes (BSc/BA) followed by 2-year candidatus programmes (MSc/MA) and 3-year PhD programmes. A bachelor programme qualifies for occupational functions and further studies, and most students continue in a candidatus programme.

The candidatus programmes must include one or two of the major fields of study of the bachelor programme. Independent research activities and a Master's Thesis (equivalent to 6 months of full time study) are required. The candidatus programmes qualify students for occupational functions and scientific work.

The PhD degree is obtained after 3 years of research, participation in research courses, teaching and completion and public defense of a dissertation.

Admission

General admission requirements to higher education are one of the upper secondary school leaving examinations or comparable qualifications. Many three to four-year VET programmes also qualify for certain types of higher education. Admission may also depend on specific requirements such as a specific subject combination in upper secondary school or a certain level of grades.

Read more about Studying in Denmark.

Education grant and loan scheme

All Danes over the age of 18 are entitled to public support for his or her further education.

Tuition at public and at most private educational institutions is free. Support for student's living cost is awarded by the State Educational Grant and Loan Scheme (SU), which is a system managed by the State Educational Grant and Loan Scheme Agency.

There are two main support programmes

• one for people over 18 following a youth education programme. Until pupils are 20, their grants depend upon their parents' income.
• one for students enrolled in higher education programmes. Students are entitled to a number of monthly grants corresponding to the prescribed duration of the chosen study programme, plus 12 months. Inside a maximum of 70 monthly grants, students can change from one programme to another
  

In combination with both types of grants, students are offered supplementary state loans and about half of all students make use of these state loans. For more information, visit www.su.dk.