How does the University of Copenhagen application process work for international students?

For international students, the University of Copenhagen application process usually starts with choosing a specific bachelor’s or master’s program and checking whether it is actually open to international applicants and taught in English or Danish. You apply through the official online application system, and the university evaluates both your academic qualifications and whether your prior schooling matches the Danish entry requirements. In practice, the biggest parts are meeting program-specific requirements, submitting the right documents, and, for non-EU/EEA applicants, handling residence permit steps after admission.

For bachelor’s programs, most applicants need an upper secondary qualification that is considered equivalent to the Danish school-leaving exam. Some programs also require specific subjects at certain levels, and if the program is taught in Danish, you generally must prove Danish proficiency. For English-taught programs, the university may require proof of English proficiency unless your schooling already qualifies you for an exemption.

For master’s programs, you need a relevant bachelor’s degree and must meet any specific academic prerequisites listed by the faculty. The University of Copenhagen reviews whether your degree content matches the program, not just whether you hold a diploma with the right title. That means course descriptions, transcripts, and sometimes grading scale information matter a lot.

Typical application documents include transcripts, diploma or predicted graduation documentation, passport copy, language test results if required, and sometimes course descriptions or a motivation statement depending on the program.

If you are admitted and you are from outside the EU/EEA, you generally need to pay tuition and then apply for a Danish residence permit before enrolling. EU/EEA students typically do not pay tuition for degree programs, but they still must complete enrollment and document their eligibility. The most important first step is to look at the exact admissions page for the specific program, because at Copenhagen the process is very program-driven rather than one general application standard for everyone.