When it comes to university education, Denmark has a generous funding programme and students can make use of government and private funding programmes to pay for their education.
Cost of University Education
Education in Danish universities is free for students from the EU, EEA, and Switzerland. Education is also free for students who have permanent residency in the country or they are part of an international exchange programme. Students from other nations can expect to pay anywhere from DKr45,000 to Dkr120,000 for university education. This amount is much lower than what students would pay in the US or the UK. All university students get access to free internet and libraries.
Cost of Living
Students have to make their own arrangements for accommodation, as unlike universities in the US and other parts of the world, Denmark does not provide on-campus accommodation. As a student living in Denmark, you can expect to pay about DKr5,000 a month for food, transportation, rent, and school supplies.
If you are eager to take advantage of the generous education programme in Denmark, here are a few ways you can finance your education:
1. Public Support
Most students will either apply for loans or scholarships to meet the funding needs of their university education. In Denmark, public support for students is outstanding. There are two primary institutes that deal with student support. They are:
- Agency
- The Ministry
The Agency is responsible for dealing with student applications, communicating with educational institutions, writing budgets and disbursing loans and grants. On the other hand, the Ministry has the onus of general planning, budgeting and making any change, if necessary, to the system. However, this assistance is meant just for Danish students and not for foreign and international students.
2. Scholarships
If you have to pay fees, you can look at scholarships to help you out. Denmark has a host of programmes, such as Nordplus Erasmus, the Fulbright Commission and a number of other scholarships that the Danish government has instituted under different cultural agreements it has with other countries.
Most scholarships are reserved for gifted exchange students from across Europe, China, Egypt, Israel, Russia, Japan, and China. Some scholarships are for both long-term sessions and short-term summer classes while others cover just one of the two. Most scholarships are segregated into two parts – one for paying the school fees and the other for living costs.
3. Student Loans
You can apply for a type of student loan known as SU Loan, which is the Danish state educational support. While it has a lengthy application and approval process, SU Loan is ideal for students who do not need money urgently. This type of student loan is the cheapest you will get in Denmark. Just remember that you need to pay back the SU Loan and this repayment should begin one year after you complete your university education. The entire loan amount has to be repaid within 15 years.
In case you need money urgently for tuition fees and daily living, you can apply for a student loan online. You will have to meet the online application requirements, but you can get quick disbursal.
4. Student Job
It is common in Denmark for students to have a job. However, there are restrictions on the number of hours a university student can work each week. At the same time, Denmark lays a lot of emphasis on students acquiring skills through practice and hence, university students are encouraged to work and gain real-life experiences. Check the newspaper and online sources to look for ads. Most companies are more than willing to hire university students and many go on to work full-time if they can prove their abilities and capabilities.
Bonus idea
Check out our guide on how to make money online in Denmark
The Bottom Line
If you are a university student in Denmark, you can opt for one of these four ways to fund your higher education and enjoy a stress-free life as a student.
