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Rules of admission for foreign applicants
- Application form
- Admission requirements
- When and how to apply
- How will the application be evaluated? (information about quota 1 and 2)
- When will you know if you are admitted?
- Further information (residence permit, tuition fees, scholarships and housing)
- Links
Introduction
At this website you will find a brief description of the rules for applicants with foreign diplomas who wish to apply for admission to a full Bachelor's Degree programme taught in Danish at the University of Copenhagen.
There is a distinction between being a full time degree student and a guest student. This website informs about degree studies only. Please contact the International Office of the University of Copenhagen if you are interested in becoming a guest student.
The rules described on this website apply to the University of Copenhagen only. If you wish to apply for admission to other institutions of higher education in Denmark, please contact the institution concerned for further information.
In order to enrol as a degree student you must fulfil the same requirements as Danish applicants regarding entrance qualifications. Foreign applicants must provide proof of their Danish skills or pass a Danish language test. Students from the Nordic countries are, however, exempted from the language test.
Please note that the number of study places available each year is limited. For this reason it is not possible to offer all qualified applicants, Danish or foreign, a study place.
Find more information about the University of Copenhagen here.
Application form
The application form is available in early February from the University of Copenhagen, other institutions of higher education, Public Employment Service Centres (Jobcenter), and www.optagelse.dk*. The application form is the same for all higher education programmes included in the Danish Coordinated Enrolment System (www.kot.dk).
*It is only possible to apply via www.optagelse.dk if you have "NemID" and the Danish civil registration number.
Admission requirements
Your application will be considered for admission if you fulfil or expect to fulfil the following requirements before 5th of July:
- General admission requirements: a university entrance examination which is recognized or assessed as comparable to a Danish entrance examination.
- Specific admission requirements.
- Required Danish language test.
These conditions will be explained in the following.
1. General admission requirements
The general admission requirements might vary according to in which country you have obtained your diploma. Following you will find a description of the rules for four groups of applicants:
Applicants from the Nordic Countries
Applicants with an International Baccalaureate (IB) or other international diplomas
Applicants with a diploma from the EU/EEA Countries
Applicants with a diploma from other countries (Non-EU/EEA and Non-Nordic Countries)
2. Specific admission requirements
All applicants need to fulfil the requirement about Danish A and English B-level. In addition to the general admission requirements all study programmes require further or supplementary qualifications in specific subjects. Foreign applicants must also meet these specific admission requirements.
An example of such specific requirements may be competence in Mathematics, Natural Sciences, History or foreign languages, to be demonstrated in the secondary school qualification or in specific entrance examinations. Another example may be a certain grade average in specific subjects. Applicants must include information and transcripts about the level (A/O level, Higher/Subsidiary level, number of years studied at secondary school or university) in the relevant subjects.
At the University of Copenhagen in 2012 applicants must fulfil specific admission requirements in the following study programmes (please note these are just few examples):
| Veterinary Medicine at the Faculty of Life Sciences | Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. For admission in the Department of veterinary Medicine you also need to pass an entrance examination |
| Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences | Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry |
| Medicine and Dentistry at the Faculty of Health Sciences | Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry |
| Faculty of Natural Sciences | Mathematics in all study programmes, Physics and Chemistry in some study programmes |
| Psychology at the Faculty of Social Sciences | Mathematics and History |
| Faculty of Humanities | History and an additional foreign language (e.g. German, French or Spanish in most of the study programmes). For admission in the Department of Musicology you need to pass a test an entrance examination |
| Faculty of Law | History |
You can see all the specific admission requirements at studier.ku.dk (in Danish only).
Please note that specific admission requirements may vary from one study programme to another and may differ from one institution of higher education to another. The requirements described at this website apply to the University of Copenhagen only.
Prospective students are strongly advised to contact each institution for further information.
For information on admission to the University of Copenhagen, please contact University Education Services, Guidance and Admissions.
3. Danish language requirements
The University of Copenhagen offers Bachelor's degree programs taught only in Danish. This is why all foreign applicants must be skilled in Danish.
Students from the Nordic countries with Danish, Norwegian or Swedish included in their school leaving examination are not required to do a Danish test. However, a course in Danish for Scandinavians at Studieskolen may be helpful. To get more information about the test, please visit www.studieskolen.dk.
Applicants who have attended a Danish primary school for several years and are able to document it are not required to do the Danish language test. In this case you need to write an application for an exemption (dispensationsansøgning) where you describe and document your qualifications in Danish.
All other foreign applicants must pass the Danish language test before being admitted as a university student. The required Danish test is: "Studieprøven i dansk som andetsprog".
The test is offered by Studieskolen or one of the examination-approved language centres. Registration takes place at Studieskolen, Borgergade 12, DK-1300 Copenhagen K or at a Language Centre via the local authorities.
The test comprises of two oral and two written examinations and must be passed with at least grade 2 in each of all the 4 examination disciplines. Please note that for Medicine, Dentistry, Public Health and Dental Hygienist the Studieprøve must be passed with at least grade 7 in each of all the 4 examination disciplines.
The Danish language test is held twice a year in May/June and November/December. The Danish language certificate must be submitted before July 5th. The latest test for students applying for university enrolment in September is therefore the one held in May/June.
The Danish Test 3 which is at a higher level than Studieprøven and is only offered by Studieskolen, is required for Rhetoric.
It is extremely important that foreign students improve and develop their knowledge of Danish throughout their studies.
Please note that the University of Copenhagen cannot accept Tisus (Test in Swedish language for university studies) and Bergen-test (Test in Norwegian language proficiency).
A few Master's (graduate level) degree programmes are taught in English, e.g. in the Department of Economics and in some of the Life and Natural Science programmes. Please contact the specific faculty or department to get further information. Admission to a Master's degree programmes requires a relevant Bachelor degree at the minimum. Admission takes place at the faculties, not through Guidance and Admissions.
See the list of Master's degree programmes
When and how to apply
Enrolment takes place once a year only - on September 1st. The only exception to this rule is the degree course in Economics where students are usually enrolled twice a year, on September 1st and February 1st.
Deadline: All applicants with foreign examinations (regardless nationality) must submit their application before March 15th for enrolment on September 1st.
The application form is available in early February from the University of Copenhagen, other institutions of higher education, Public Employment Service Centres (Jobcenter), and www.optagelse.dk*. The application form is the same for all higher education programmes included in the Danish Coordinated Enrolment System (www.kot.dk).
The application form with all the necessary documents must be completed and submitted by March 15th. Applications received after this deadline will not be considered.
The enclosed documents must be official - signed and stamped by the issuing school or institution. If the documents are not in one of the major European languages or in Norwegian or Swedish they must be accompanied, not substituted, by officially translated and certified copies.
Please note that the deadline for all applicants with foreign examinations is March 15th and that both general and specific requirements and the required Danish language test must be fulfilled before the closing date for registration: July 5th in order to be considered for admission. This also applies to students taking the International Baccalaureate and General Certificate of Education.
Some foreign certificates or diplomas are not issued before the closing date for registration: July 5th. Applicants expecting to complete their admission qualification before the closing date but who will not receive their certificate until later must submit, together with their application form, a letter from the school confirming that they will be sitting for the examination before July 5th. This letter must also include information about the subjects and level of subjects to be taken.
In this case the final certificate or diploma must be sent to the admissions office immediately after it has been issued. For obvious reasons, applicants will not be informed whether or not they have been offered admission until they have submitted their official examination results.
How will the application be evaluated? (information about quota 1 and 2)
Applicants from the Nordic Countries
On the basis of the Nordic Treaty on Recognition of Qualifications and Access to Higher Education, Nordic applicants are evaluated for admission on equal terms as applicants with a Danish entrance examination both through quota 1 and quota 2 (in Danish only). You can also see information on quota 1 and quota 2 below.
Applicants with an International Baccalaureate (IB) or other international diplomas
Applicants with an International Baccalaureate (IB) or other international diplomas
With a recognised international examination (see International Diplomas above) you are evaluated for admission on equal terms as applicants with a Danish entrance examination both through quota 1 and quota 2.
Applicants with a diploma from the EU / EEA Countries
On the basis of the EU/EEA Treaty on Recognition of Qualification and Access to Higher Education, applicants from the member countries are evaluated for admission on equal terms as applicants with a Danish entrance examination both through quota 1 and quota 2. (in Danish only). Information on quota 1 and quota 2 is available below.
Applicants with a diploma from other countries (Non-EU/EEA and Non-Nordic Countries)
Applicants with other foreign entrance examinations are evaluated on the basis of an individual assessment of their qualifications (quota 2).
Quota 1
In quota 1 the applicant's chance of being admitted to the university depends only on the grade point average from the secondary school examination.
The applicant must fulfil all the general and specific requirements for the study programme he / she applies for. See the minimum grade point averages for admission from last few years (in Danish only).
Quota 2
In quota 2 the applicant's chance of being admitted to the university depends on the individual assessment of his / her qualifications. The applicant must fulfil all the general and specific requirements for the study programme he / she applies for.
Applicants have to write a motivational letter and a cv where they describe their qualifications. The university can assess following 7 criteria in quota 2:
- Motivation and study potential
- Relevant employment experience
- Relevant education experience
- Studies or work abroad
- Grade point average from the secondary school examination
- Grades in certain subjects in the secondary school
- Other relevant experience which is relevant for university studies (e.g. volunteering)
Around 10 % of the study places are reserved for quota 2. See the number of applicants through quota 2 from last few years (in Danish only).
Please visit studier.ku.dk/optagelse/ for further information about quota 1 and 2 at the University of Copenhagen (in Danish only).
Because of the entrance restrictions in some study programmes, neither Danish nor foreign applicants are always offered a place strictly on the basis of the results (grade/marks/average) and transcripts alone. Admission will often be based on a general evaluation of qualifications, described above relevant to the degree course in question.
When will you know if you are admitted?
On July 30th you will be notified whether or not you have been offered a study place from the 1st of September. A letter will come to the address you stated in your application form. Please note it might take a few days before the letter arrives to a destination abroad.
Further information
(residence permit, tuition fees, scholarships and housing)
Residence- and work permits:
Students from the Nordic Countries
If you are a Nordic citizen, you do not need a residence permit. However, if you plan to stay in Denmark for more than 6 months, you need to register with the Danish authorities. For more information about moving within the Nordic countries, please see Hallo Norden.
Students from the EU/EEA Countries
If you are an EU/EEA citizen, you will need a residence permit, if you plan to stay in Denmark for more than three months. The permit may be obtained at the Regional State Admisnistration Office (Statsforvaltningen) upon arrival in Denmark. Bring your passport, two passport photos and your 'Letter of Admission' when you apply. More information about residence- and work permits for EU / EEA citizens please visit your regional state administration office (Statsforvaltning).
Students from Non-EU/EEA and Non-Nordic Countries
If you are not an EU/EEA citizen and not a Nordic citizen, you need a residence permit (visa) before entering Denmark. It is The Danish Immigration Service who grants residence- and work permits for non EU / EEA citizens. Further information can be obtained at the Danish Immigration Service. Please note that it is the Faculty where you have been admitted that will help you with filling the application forms.
Tuition Fees:
Applicants with citizenship from outside EU / EEA and Non-Nordic Countries need to pay tuition fees for their studies in Denmark and at the University of Copenhagen. However applicants who have a permanent residence permit in Denmark or a permit with the possibility of permanent residence are exempted from paying tuition fees. The fee can vary for different study programmes. Please contact the 8 faculties for more information. Payment is dealt by the faculties.
Scholarships:
The University of Copenhagen does not offer financial support or scholarships to foreign students. For information on scholarships please contact The Danish Agency for Universities and Internationalisation - their office for assessment and recognition of foreign qualifications. It is also the information centre concerning internationalisation of all the educational sectors.
Housing:
The Danish educational institutions have no residential facilities, and foreign students have to make their own arrangements as regards board and lodging. There are, however, a number of student halls and foreign students are eligible for rooms on equal terms as Danish students.
The student halls are administered by:
CIU (The Central Nomination Commitee), Tuborg Boulevard 12, DK-2900 Hellerup. You can visit their office called 'BoligButikken' in the Copenhagen main train station.
KKIK (Kollegiernes Kontor i København), Dahlerupsgade 3, st, DK-1603 København V.
Since it is very difficult to find accommodation in Copenhagen, foreign students are strongly advised to make own arrangements concerning accommodation before leaving for Denmark.
Links
The Danish Agency for Universities and Internationalisation:
The Danish Immigration Service
Regional state administration office (Statsforvaltning)
Find accommodation:
- The Central Nomination Comitee (CIU -Centralinstillingsudvalget)
- KKIK (Kollegiernes Kontor i København)
More information about international students at the University of Copenhagen
More information about exchange, guest and master's degree students
More information about living in Denmark
More information about housing