Danish Government Scholarships 2027 for Non-EU Students: Eligibility, Universities and Deadline

Danish Government Scholarships are tuition fee waivers and living grants that the Danish state funds for talented students from outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland. The money comes through the Ministry of Higher Education and Science, but there is no central application: each Danish university gets its own share, decides which programmes get awards, and picks the winners. Depending on the university, you may get a full or partial tuition waiver, a monthly grant for living costs, or both.

Most awards go to master’s students starting in September. For September 2027 entry, the Deadline at most universities is 15 January 2027 (11:59 pm CET), which is simply the master’s application deadline for fee-paying applicants. At most universities you are considered automatically when you apply, but a few (Roskilde University and DTU among them) want an extra letter, and if you skip it you are out of the running.

Danish Government Scholarships at a glance

Item	Details
Funded by	The Danish state, through the Ministry of Higher Education and Science
Run by	Each Danish university or university college separately
Who can get it	Non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens who must pay Danish tuition fees
What it pays	Full or partial tuition waiver, and at some universities a monthly living grant
Main study level	Master’s (a few institutions also give awards on other full-degree programmes)
Separate application?	Usually no; some universities ask for a motivation letter, CV or statement
Deadline (September 2027 entry)	15 January 2027 at most universities; SDU lists 1 February
Number of awards	Limited; often one or two per programme

What the Danish Government Scholarship pays

There is no single rate. The scheme gives each institution a pot of money and lets it decide how to split it. Some universities spread it across more students with partial waivers; others give fewer students a full package with a monthly grant. Here is what the official pages say right now:

University	What the award covers	Monthly grant
Roskilde University (RUC)	Full tuition waiver plus living grant, up to 22 months	DKK 7,800
University of Southern Denmark (SDU)	Full tuition waiver plus living grant	DKK 6,090 before tax
University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Science	Tuition and living costs for 22 months	Amount not published; taxed in Denmark unless your nationality is exempt
Aarhus University	Full or partial tuition waiver; some faculties add a monthly grant	Set by faculty
Technical University of Denmark (DTU)	Tuition for two years	None mentioned

So “Danish Government Scholarship” can mean anything from a partial fee cut to a fully funded master’s. Read the scholarship page of each university you are considering before you decide where to apply.

How much tuition are we talking about?

Fees for non-EU students in Denmark are set by each university. At Roskilde University, for example, master’s fees for September 2026 entry run from EUR 10,000 a year (Nordic Urban Planning Studies) to EUR 16,000 a year (Computer Science, Environmental Science). A full waiver on a two-year science master’s there is worth EUR 32,000, before you count the monthly grant.

Who is eligible for Danish Government Scholarships?

The core rules are the same everywhere, because they come from the state scheme:

• Citizenship: you are a citizen of a country outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland.
• Fee status: you are liable to pay tuition in Denmark. If you already hold a Danish permanent residence permit or another permit that exempts you from fees, you cannot get the scholarship, because you do not pay fees in the first place.
• Admission: you are admitted to a full-time, full-degree programme at the institution. Applying is not enough; you must get an offer.
• Residence permit: you hold, or will get, a time-limited Danish residence permit for higher education.

The University of Copenhagen also excludes people who have a legal claim to the same rights as Danish citizens, people entitled to the Danish SU grant, and some holders of permits granted as the child of a foreign worker.

Edge cases worth knowing

• Nationality lists: the scheme itself has no list of countries. Any non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen can be considered, although an Aarhus faculty may focus on certain programmes or countries.
• Dual EU citizenship: if you hold any EU passport, you do not pay fees and cannot get the award.
• UK citizens: UK citizens who lived in Denmark before 31 December 2020 are treated like EU citizens and do not pay fees.
• February intake: many waivers are September only. Roskilde and DTU say so plainly. Aarhus and SDU do consider February entry, with deadlines of 15 September and 1 September.
• Bachelor’s students: SDU says it does not give the scholarship to undergraduates. Very few Danish universities offer it at bachelor’s level, so plan on a master’s.

Universities that offer Danish Government Scholarships: how each one works

These are the larger universities with clear English pages on the scheme.

University of Copenhagen (UCPH)

UCPH considers every eligible non-EU applicant automatically when they apply for a master’s. There is no separate form. Each faculty sets its own rules. The Faculty of Science is the clearest: it only looks at applicants with a bachelor’s GPA above 90% of the maximum who are admitted to their first-priority programme, and the 2025 recipients had at least 98%. The award covers tuition and living costs for 22 months. UCPH’s non-EU deadline is 15 January at 23:59 CET, and applications open on 15 November. Nominees are told by email and must accept within the deadline in that email, so watch your spam folder.

Aarhus University (AU)

AU also uses automatic consideration: apply for admission and do not upload anything extra. Qualified applicants are ranked, and usually only one or two scholarships go to each programme. Offers come with the admission letter and a very short deadline to accept. In Natural Sciences and Technical Sciences, 100% waivers may be handed out later in March, so AU tells applicants who need a waiver to wait until 1 April before declining an offer. Deadlines are 15 January for September entry and 15 September for February entry.

Technical University of Denmark (DTU)

DTU is the main exception to “automatic”. You must upload a separate personal statement with your MSc application, clearly saying you are applying for the tuition fee waiver and focusing on your bachelor’s results. No statement means no consideration. DTU judges GPA, the ranking of your bachelor’s university, research or publications, relevant work or teaching, competition awards and extracurricular work. Waivers cover tuition for two years, are for the autumn intake only, and are announced in April. The application portal opens on 1 December and closes on 15 January.

University of Southern Denmark (SDU)

SDU’s version pays a full tuition waiver plus DKK 6,090 a month before tax. You are considered automatically once you are offered a place, and awards go to the best-ranked applicants by points. SDU lists master’s deadlines of 1 February for September entry and 1 September for February entry.

Roskilde University (RUC)

RUC gives a full waiver plus DKK 7,800 a month for up to 22 months, but only on programmes it names before each round. For 2026 these were Media and Communication, Environmental Science, Nordic Urban Planning Studies and Computer Science. You must upload a one-page motivational letter and a CV with your master’s application. Our separate guide to Roskilde University tuition fee waivers and scholarships covers every step.

Aalborg University (AAU) and others

Aalborg’s master’s deadline for fee-paying applicants is 15 January (23:59 CET), with decisions by 10 April, and its fees page says tuition waivers are for non-EU students. The IT University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen Business School and the university colleges also take part in the scheme on their own terms. Check each institution’s tuition fee and scholarship page; if it does not mention the Danish Government Scholarship, email the admissions office before you rely on it.

Danish Government Scholarships deadline for 2027

There is no scholarship deadline separate from admission at most universities. What matters is the master’s deadline for fee-paying applicants:

University	Applications open	Deadline (September 2027 entry)	Decision
University of Copenhagen	15 November 2026	15 January 2027, 23:59 CET	Nominees emailed with admission
Aarhus University	Check AU	15 January 2027	With admission letter; some waivers later in March
DTU	1 December 2026	15 January 2027	Waivers announced in April
Roskilde University	15 December 2026	15 January 2027, 11:59 pm CET	Mid-March
Aalborg University	Mid-December 2026	15 January 2027, 23:59 CET	By 10 April
SDU	Check SDU	1 February 2027	Check SDU

Universities publish these as yearly fixed dates, so the 2027 dates follow the same pattern; confirm on each official page when the portal opens.

How to apply for a Danish Government Scholarship, step by step

1. Shortlist programmes: pick two or three English-taught master’s programmes and open each university’s tuition fee and scholarship page. Note whether the programme gives awards and whether the award includes a monthly grant.
2. Check entry requirements: your bachelor’s must match the programme’s academic requirements. Most English-taught programmes want IELTS Academic or TOEFL iBT; Roskilde, for example, asks for IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing and speaking. Danish universities generally do not accept a medium-of-instruction letter in place of a test.
3. Book your English test early: scores must be uploaded by the deadline. A test booked for January may come too late.
4. Gather documents: diploma and transcript (or a current transcript and expected-completion letter if you are still studying), official translations, passport page and English test report.
5. Pay the application fee where charged: several universities charge non-EU applicants a fee. Roskilde charges EUR 165, which covers up to three Roskilde applications. Your application is not processed until the payment is confirmed.
6. Add any scholarship documents: the DTU personal statement or the Roskilde letter and CV. For automatic universities, upload nothing extra.
7. Rank your first choice carefully: UCPH Science only considers applicants admitted to their first-priority programme.
8. Submit before 15 January 2027: late applications are rejected outright at most universities.
9. Answer quickly: offers often carry a one-week (or shorter) reply window. Check email, including spam, every day from March.

Writing the motivation letter or statement

Only some universities ask for one, but where they do it often decides who wins between two strong transcripts. Keep it to one page. Selectors want three things: proof you are academically strong, a clear link between your bachelor’s and this programme, and a believable plan for what you will do with the degree.

A simple structure works:

• Opening: the problem or question that drives you, tied to the programme.
• Evidence: grades, rank in class, thesis, research, publications or competitions. Give numbers.
• Fit: two or three named courses, labs or teaching methods at the university and why they matter to you.
• Plan: what you will do after graduating, in one or two concrete sentences.

An example opening for an environmental science applicant: “My final-year project measured nitrate levels in 40 boreholes around my home town, and half of them failed the national limit. I want to learn how Denmark manages groundwater so well, and Roskilde’s project-based Environmental Science programme is where I can do that.”

For DTU, keep the focus on academic achievement, since that is what DTU says the statement should cover.

Common mistakes

• Assuming there is one central portal: there is none. You apply through each university’s own admission system.
• Skipping the extra document: at DTU and Roskilde, no statement or letter means no scholarship.
• Late English tests: missing scores at the deadline lead to rejection, and you cannot fix it later.
• Declining too early: at Aarhus, some waivers come late in March. Wait until 1 April before refusing a fee-paying offer if the waiver matters.
• Ignoring tax: UCPH says the living grant is taxed in Denmark unless your nationality is exempt, and SDU quotes its rate before tax.
• Using outdated deadlines: older listings give March or April deadlines. For September 2027 entry, most universities close on 15 January 2027.

After you apply: results and residence permit

Admission and scholarship results come together at most universities, between mid-March and mid-April. Accept within the deadline in your letter. Once the university confirms your place and any fee arrangements, it sends you what you need to apply for a residence permit.

Denmark’s immigration service (SIRI) charged a processing fee of DKK 3,060 in 2026, and normal processing takes about two months. You must show you can support yourself: in 2026 that meant DKK 7,426 for each month of study, capped at 12 months (DKK 89,112). A scholarship letter counts as proof of funds, so a monthly grant reduces what you need in the bank. With a waiver only, you must show the full amount yourself. As a student you may work 90 hours a month from September to May and full time in June, July and August.

Costs the scholarship does not cover

• Living costs beyond the grant: DKK 6,000 to 8,000 a month is modest by Copenhagen standards, and some universities pay nothing towards living costs.
• Tuition on partial waivers: at Aarhus and some other institutions you may still owe part of the fee.
• Application fees and test fees: paid before you know the outcome.
• Residence permit fee: DKK 3,060 in 2026.
• Flights, deposit and first month’s rent: housing in Copenhagen and Aarhus is tight, so budget for a deposit.

How it compares with other government scholarships in Europe

Scholarship	Country	What it pays	How you apply
Danish Government Scholarship	Denmark	Tuition waiver, sometimes a monthly grant	Through each university
Uppsala University Global Scholarship	Sweden	Full tuition, no stipend	Separate form after University Admissions
Finland Government Scholarship	Finland	Tuition waiver plus a lump sum	Through the Finnish university
Netherlands government scholarships	Netherlands	Partial to full, depending on the programme	Through Dutch universities

For more options country by country, see our guide to scholarships in Europe for international students.

Who should apply, and who should not

Apply if you have a strong bachelor’s record (top of your class, or close to it), can meet the English requirement by January, and are targeting a master’s in Denmark. Science and engineering students with research to show have the clearest path at UCPH and DTU, and social science or media students have real chances at Roskilde.

Think twice if your grades are average and you cannot pay fees without help. The awards are few, and UCPH Science recipients in 2025 had near-perfect GPAs. In that case, look at countries with wider tuition-free options, such as the routes in our guide to scholarships in Norway without IELTS.

FAQs

Is the Danish Government Scholarship fully funded?

Sometimes. Roskilde and SDU pay a full tuition waiver plus a monthly grant, and UCPH Science covers tuition and living costs for 22 months, but many awards elsewhere are tuition waivers only.

Do I need a separate application for the Danish Government Scholarship?

At most universities, including Copenhagen, Aarhus and SDU, no: you are considered when you apply for admission. DTU requires a separate personal statement and Roskilde a motivational letter and CV, uploaded with the application.

What is the Danish Government Scholarship deadline for 2027?

For September 2027 entry the Deadline is 15 January 2027 at most universities, including Copenhagen, Aarhus, DTU, Aalborg and Roskilde. SDU lists 1 February for September entry.

Can bachelor’s students get the Danish Government Scholarship?

Rarely. The awards are mostly for full-degree master’s students, and SDU says outright that undergraduates are not offered it.

Sources and updates

I started from Scholars4Dev’s “Danish Government Scholarships for Non-EU Students” article, which dates from December 2016 and still gives March to April deadlines; those are out of date, since most universities now close on 15 January. Each fact here was checked against official pages: SDU’s Danish Government Scholarship page (DKK 6,090 a month, Ministry funding, 1 February deadline), Roskilde University’s tuition fees, waivers and scholarships page and tuition fee rates, UCPH’s Faculty of Science scholarship page and programme pages (15 November opening, 15 January deadline), Aarhus University’s scholarships and grants page, DTU’s tuition fee waiver and autumn dates pages, Aalborg University’s how and when to apply page, and SIRI’s higher education residence permit page on nyidanmark.dk (DKK 7,426 a month, DKK 3,060 fee, 90 hours of work). Aarhus and UCPH do not publish their monthly grant amounts on those pages, and SDU’s application opening date was not shown. Checked 25 October 2026.