How to Apply to Universities in Denmark (2027): Step by Step

Denmark splits admissions by level: bachelor applications go through the national optagelse.dk portal with a 15 March deadline for international applicants, while each university runs its own master's admissions, most closing around 15 January for non-EU, non-EEA and non-Swiss applicants. Tuition applies only to those applicants and is set by university and programme, commonly EUR 10,800 to 17,300 a year, and a residence permit for study through SIRI is required before arrival.

Verified 7 Sep 2026 Sources

Bachelor's programmes

Search programmes and check the specific entry requirements for each one; subject prerequisites vary by programme.
Create an account at optagelse.dk, the Coordinated Admission System, and rank up to eight programmes in order of preference.
Non-EU/EEA/Swiss applicants pay the application fee set by the institution and upload all required documents, including proof of a qualifying exam and of English proficiency, by 15 March at 12 noon CET. Danish applicants using a Danish exam and grade average alone have until 5 July.
Print, sign and send the signature page that optagelse.dk generates after the online application, to each institution applied to, as instructed on the portal.
Receive the offer; most decisions in the main round are issued by late July.
Accept the place, pay the first tuition instalment if a fee paying student, and apply for a residence permit for study through SIRI.

Master's programmes

Check the individual university's own website for the programme's entry requirements; there is no shared national portal at this level.
Apply directly to the university; portals commonly open in November or December for a September start.
Non-EU/EEA/Swiss applicants pay an application fee, commonly EUR 150 to 200, and submit the application with supporting documents by the university's own deadline, most often 15 January for a September start.
EU/EEA/Swiss applicants, and applicants who already hold a qualifying Danish residence permit, apply later, typically by 1 March.
Receive the offer; the universities researched for this record issue master's decisions between early April and mid June.
Accept the offer, pay the first semester's tuition if required, and apply for a residence permit for study through SIRI once payment, or a qualifying scholarship, is confirmed.

PhD

Danish PhD places are funded, employed positions rather than optagelse.dk or general application rounds. Each university advertises open PhD positions individually on its own vacancies page, and candidates apply directly with a CV, degree certificates and, typically, a research proposal.