Danish education system. Free education in Denmark Admission to Danish universities
You may need letters of recommendation from academicians, the dean of the university where you studied or are studying in Russia. Translate your diploma into English, create a curriculum vitae, find your school certificate and also translate it into English.
I would like to quote an excerpt from an article by my friend from his student years at the Faculty of Journalism of Moscow State University, Peter Sobetsky, about studying in Australia: “Deciding the issue of admission, as a rule, follows the principle of “first come-first serve,” i.e. “Whoever didn’t have time is late.” Submit your documents well before the deadline.
Try to start a lively correspondence with your chosen educational institution. Remember that for you their letters are, in principle, the only real connection with the Kingdom of Denmark. Their letters will help you obtain a student visa at the Embassy, will serve as the basis for obtaining a work permit and, possibly, will help successful rental rooms or apartments in close proximity to the educational institution.
HOW MUCH DOES ACCOMMODATION COST?
Education in Copenhagen is free, but students must have sufficient funds to cover expenses while studying in Denmark. So an ordinary student needs 5-6 thousand Danish crowns per month to live, no less.
The University of Copenhagen and other universities in Denmark will not be able to offer you financial support or scholarships. For our students to study in Denmark, all state scholarships and fellowships are awarded through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Ministry of Education in Russia.
First go to the University of Copenhagen website: www.ku.dk
ABOUT TICKETS AND FLIGHTS
Native Aeroflot is the most suitable airline for flying to Scandinavia. The fact is that with Aeroflot tickets Copenhagen - Moscow - Copenhagen are two times cheaper than with SAS airlines or, for example, Luftganza.
Don’t bother with buses and trains: it’s long, boring and tiring to travel from Moscow to Copenhagen, believe me. And the plane ride is only 2 hours and a round trip ticket costs about 350-400 dollars. An economy class ticket will allow you to take up to 20 kg of luggage with you.v
Be sure to take with you your notebook with all installed programs and a detailed map of the city you are flying to.
WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU?
Everything is in order, you have a visa, all formalities have been completed, you have received a letter of invitation from the university where you are going to study. Take CD-ROMs with programs, a first aid kit with all the medications you need, including bandages, iodine and brilliant green, a travel toiletry case or cosmetic bag, all the necessary dictionaries and phrase books.
In winter, Copenhagen experiences fierce winds from the Baltic Sea, so be sure to bring a storm jacket and sneakers. I promise that you won’t find knee-deep snow anywhere in the city.
WHERE TO LIVE?
The University of Copenhagen has an excellent dormitory 20 min. walking. I was invited to a couple of parties at this dormitory with a cocktail bar and summer grills in the garden, and experienced first-hand how students from different countries live in an atmosphere of complete mutual understanding. At one of these parties, after several cocktails, I first lost my watch, then my bicycle, but this could not overshadow the originality of the student celebration. In addition, all my things were returned to me by caring students the next day.
As a rule, two students live in a dormitory room. The rooms have comfortable beds, toilet, shower. The kitchen is located on the floor.
If you speak even a little Danish, buy the BLA AVIS newspaper or visit its website on the Internet: www.dba.dk, where you will find everything your heart desires: from rented rooms and apartments to used cars at prices from 0 to 10,000 CZK, from laptops ranging from 200 to 8,000 CZK to bicycles. The newspaper is published on Mondays and Thursdays. Be the first, start calling at 6 am.
Having calmly selected several acceptable options for rooms or apartments in Copenhagen, call the phone number indicated in the ad and immediately arrange a meeting with the owner of the property. You can calmly explain yourself in English, but do not demand knowledge of English, especially from older people.
If you prefer homestay accommodation, please contact Ungdomsinformationens Bolignvisning, 13 Dk-1466, Copenhagen K. CIU.
The presence of a kitchen, the ability to prepare hot food yourself, is a vital factor, a guarantee of successful learning and assimilation of the acquired knowledge.
By the way, one of the easiest options for renting housing is advertisements on the ground floor of the university in Copenhagen, located on Njaelsgade street. I was lucky right away; through an advertisement I found a student at the Academy of Architecture, Philip, who was renting out a room for a student.
The room costs 2,500 kroner per month ($300), plus 250 kroner ($30) for heating. Having paid 2,500 CZK as a deposit and a monthly rent, I had a clean, bright and fairly spacious room with parquet floors, white walls and high ceilings, as well as a kitchen and toilet with shower. The windows of the room looked out onto a closed courtyard, where you could always relax on a bench at a table, drink tea or coffee, or smoke a couple of cigarettes.
In my case, the determining factor when renting a room in a good house, a 5-minute walk from the university, was the ability to immediately pay a deposit and a month’s rent in advance.
Prepare for the fact that when renting housing you will need a ready amount of 5,000 crowns ($560). The deposit usually goes towards paying for the last month of accommodation.
It is necessary to draw up a detailed contract with the owner of the property, and, point by point, include all your rights and obligations as a responsible tenant. Be sure to note in the contract the condition of the furniture, doors, windows, bathrooms, etc. Additional costs: telephone and internet.
Philip and I kept a small book in which we wrote down the date and duration of telephone conversations and the time spent on the Internet in order to calmly pay telephone bills without disputes. In addition, we dedicated a separate page to cleaning the apartment, who should clean and take out the garbage from the kitchen and when.
Try to buy products only in cheap stores: Netto, Facta, Aldi. If the stores are cheap, this does not mean that the products there are second-rate, no, everything is fresh and of excellent quality. But one bag of potatoes can cost differently in different stores. In Irma, for example, a bag of potatoes can cost 2-3 times more than in Netto. Just save your money. For 100-200 crowns (12-13 dollars) you can buy food for the whole week. A hot pizza on the street, in some Arabic pizzeria, costs from 35 to 50 crowns. Don't waste money on expensive fast food: sausages, pizzas, etc., cook food in the kitchen at home.
WHERE TO WORK?
Ideal option: study full-time, part-time and work in your free time. In advance of your departure, try to obtain a work permit through the Danish Consulate.
The labor market in Copenhagen is highly competitive. Any job that promises “employment” for 1-4 hours a day and an hourly wage of at least 100 crowns per hour, minus state tax on any living income, is in demand among a fairly large army of unemployed people. But you are a student, don’t forget about it. In principle, everyone has the same chances for any casual job. You can carefully study the announcement stand on the ground floor of the university in Copenhagen and, I assure you, with a little knowledge of the Danish language (I read and translate with a dictionary) and operational English, you will find yourself a job.
For example, my attention was drawn to an advertisement from a maternity hospital located in close proximity to the university: students are needed to clean the operating rooms of the maternity hospital (jordmoderklinik). Salary 100 CZK per hour and above. I called the number provided and arranged a job interview.
At the appointed hour, I entered the office of the director of the clinic, who turned out to be a young, pretty woman. The entire clinic consisted of 2-3 rooms on the first floor of a residential building. Where are the obstetricians, midwives, women in labor, happy fathers and screaming babies? I asked myself. Nothing like this. The director explained to me that this is a clinic for artificial insemination of women. They say that it is difficult for women in Scandinavia to find a spouse or just a man with whom she would like to have children. Therefore, recently more and more young and healthy women are resorting to the services of an artificial insemination clinic. The director of the clinic showed me a steel cylinder filled with liquid nitrogen in which flasks with sperm from male donors of all races are stored. A woman wants her child to have white skin and blue eyes - please, blond - no problem, brunette - too. All flasks are marked with a special index that carries information about the genetic inheritance of sperm.
And all the work in this clinic was to wipe the dust from this cylinder and vacuum the carpet. The director admitted to me that she would rather hire a student than a student, citing the fact that the clinic has many ill-wishers, including among politicians, and everything needs to be kept under wraps.
I found a job a week after my visit to the clinic. The Copenhagen company BLADKOMPAGNIET invited me to deliver fresh central newspapers to private addresses, such as: POLITIKEN - one of the most popular newspapers, INFORMATION - a newspaper read by the intelligentsia, EXTRA BLADET - a central tabloid, BORSEN - a newspaper about stock exchange news, BELINGSKE TIDENDE - a large newspaper for the bourgeoisie.
As a newspaper delivery guy, I was given a couple of bags, keys to entrances on 10 streets in Copenhagen, and a book with customer addresses. It was necessary to work at night on weekdays from 3 to 6 o'clock. Every time, sending me on a tour of the city, the operator said: “Have a nice life, Dimitrij...”
All customers like to receive a fresh newspaper with their coffee and hot cross buns in the morning, so all newspapers must be delivered by 6 am. The same newspaper delivery team included the Chinese, an Englishman, a Frenchman and me, a Russian guy from Moscow.
Take a look at the website of this company: www.budkompagniet.dk, by the way, they are constantly looking for fresh delivery people. The motto of this company is: “Vi levere morgenaviser til byens borgere” (We deliver morning newspapers to the citizens of the city). They need delivery people with good legs, because in Copenhagen the houses are mostly built in the 19th century, where in the old-fashioned way newspapers are delivered through a slot on the front door and sometimes you have to jump from the 1st to the 4th floor without an elevator.
It is possible to find a job as a cleaner in a cleaning company or as an au-pair for families. Check out the websites www.jobzonen.dk and www.ofir.dk/job.
Don't assume that all employers are squeaky clean. From my own experience, I can give an example when work done was not paid for.
The construction company ESJ needed a painter. The advertisement was composed as follows: “Painting work in new buildings and renovation of premises. There are jobs in greater Copenhagen and in Sjölland to choose from. Call Emil S. Jensen. Salary and job assignment after the meeting. Working hours 37 hours a week.” Emil turned out to be a tall young guy with an earring in his ear; the team consisted of people like me who decided to earn extra money for students and professional workers installing Swedish plumbing fixtures. After the renovation of a 5-story building, heaps of garbage, dried cement, and scraps of carpet and linoleum were left on the floors. All garbage had to be moved to the basement of the building. We also rearranged the door frames in the bathrooms on the floors so that the doors open inward rather than outward. You have to be a really skilled guy to do this kind of work. After working for two days at ESJ under the leadership of foreman Emil from 7 am to 4 pm, I developed sciatica, scratched my hands while tearing old carpet off the floor in offices and ... received an invitation from the labor market training school TAMU (Traening Arbejdsmarked Uddannelse) to immediately begin training . I called Emil, told him about the invitation from the school and asked him to transfer money for 2 full days of work to my bank account. It came out to about 1,600 crowns ($188), well, of course, minus the state tax (SKAT) on any living income. Emil promised to transfer money to my bank account, first at the end of the month, then on one Thursday, then a week later. But the money for my work was not transferred even after 3 months. Let this remain on Emil's conscience. That's it, trust, but verify.
Natural human curiosity and the ardor of a researcher led me to TAMU, a labor market training school; it turned out to be something of a local path. And I became interested in the profession of a cleaner. But to obtain a diploma for this path, it was necessary to work for free (!) 3-4 times a week for 6 months in so-called practical classes. In fact, we were just doing professional cleaning of construction huts in Kodbyen (Meat Town), i.e. where there has been a massacre in Copenhagen since time immemorial. I was given a uniform, gray pants with pockets, a blue hoodie, 3 crystal white T-shirts and white subs - the traditional shoes of professional cleaners. After attending practical classes 3-4 times and listening to tedious instructions on how to work with a vacuum cleaner, I thought: “It’s not clean where they clean, but where they don’t litter,” and I stopped going to school.
In addition to the profession of a cleaner, this school also provides training in the professions of a builder, carpenter, joiner and mason, but the diploma is issued after 6 months of practically unpaid work. Not counting overalls and free lunch in the poultry canteen, of course.
A brief acquaintance with the basics of the cleaning profession was enough for me to find a job in the company RENTEK through an advertisement and receive 69 CZK per hour net, of course, after deducting state income tax. The announcement sounded as follows: “The joint stock company RENTEK ApS is looking for an office and premises cleaning employee. We are looking for an employee over 22 years of age to perform morning cleaning duties at a technical school in the Fredericksburg area for 20 hours per week. If you speak Danish and are not late for work and have the necessary experience, call us by phone.”
What won't you do for money? I was given 3 gray T-shirts with a stencil from RENTEK ApS. I received the details: a blue plastic wheeled cart with all kinds of clamps for mops and rags, several cleaners for tiles, glass, metal, and keys to the building. My responsibilities also included cleaning the aula - the exam room: erasing drawings from desks, scraping gum off the floor, washing the floor, etc. But the floors in all 14 toilets of the technical school had to be scrubbed. This kind of work lasted me exactly a month, after which I thought: “It’s clean here,” and soon... I was fired for absenteeism.
I am quite satisfied with the profession of a journalist and have enough knowledge acquired at school and at the Moscow State University journalism department to write such articles.
WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENING?
An ice skating rink in the center of Copenhagen is at your service. Mystical lanterns of the city, green sculptures, the proximity of the Angliter Hotel and the New Harbor, where they dropped anchor sailing ships, the Royal Opera House make ice skating an unforgettable adventure in the changing evening light of the capital of Scandinavia. The skating rink is open from 12 to 22 every day. You can rent a pair of skates, elegant American bauers, for only 35 CZK ($4). Deposit for skates - ID with photo.
Want to take a ride to Sweden? No problem. Boats depart directly from Ny Haven to the Swedish city of Malmo. 25 minutes and you are in Sweden. The cost of such a romantic boat trip there and back is 100-200 CZK (11-12 dollars).
Next to New Harbor, on Bredgade Street, there is a temple of the Russian Orthodox Church of Alexander Nevsky, crowned with a golden onion dome, which in itself is a rarity in Scandinavia. Go to church services: Saturday 17.00, Sunday 9.00.
If you love nightlife, Copenhagen is at your service: all kinds of pubs, cinema, the city's jazz club located on Stroget - the main tourist street of the city, a cigar shop, the Royal Opera, where you can listen to Don Giovanni, Carmen, Romeo and Juliet", "Peer Gynt", "Othello". Tickets to the Royal Opera can be ordered by phone: (+45) 33 69 69 69 from 10.00 to 20.00.
TRANSPORT
Free newspapers are distributed in the S-bane overground metro: Metro Xpress and Urban, with short news that is easy to read on the go. The very names of the newspapers speak about the influence of the European Union and, above all, its big cities. How can you live without a metro in a big city? Be it Paris, London, Moscow or Copenhagen. Every morning newspapers publish news from the metro of other European cities. Copenhagen's S-bane train system is convenient and inexpensive. Cars with soft seats made of colored textiles. The doors, as in Paris, do not open on their own; you need to gently press the handle! The carriages have special compartments for smoking and drinking passengers. There are no turnstiles at the stations; they are replaced by inspectors who walk around the cars and meticulously check passengers' tickets. Traveling without a ticket is oh so expensive...the fine is 500 CZK ($60).
Buses are also not cheap; one ticket is valid for an hour and costs 13 CZK ($1.50).
A taxi in the city is always a lifesaver and will allow you to get rid of unnecessary headaches and get home faster. Headache, fare and tips are included in the taximeter reading.
The best and most reliable form of transport is a bicycle. A bicycle for city trips must be equipped with a secure lock, white and red lights for riding at night.
WHERE TO LEARN A LANGUAGE?
Language schools are a fun and enjoyable place to learn. Check out the websites of the best Copenhagen schools: www.kiss.dk, www.eeckolen.dk, www.studieskolen.dk.
The cost of training is divine - you will meet students from different countries of Europe, the USA, the Arab world, which of course relaxes the learning process, but in principle you can learn the Danish language in two months. Stock up on all the necessary dictionaries and textbooks. Textbooks are provided at the language school, but you will have to purchase dictionaries yourself. I recommend the new Danish-Russian and Russian-Danish dictionary edited by E. V. Babushkina-Lorentzen. This dictionary actually meets the most modern requirements. It includes vocabulary that is most commonly used in everyday life, when traveling, and when visiting cultural and scientific centers.
Knowing spoken “operational” Danish undoubtedly increases your chances of getting an elite education and an interesting job. Set yourself the goal of at least learning to read and translate with a dictionary, and you will see for yourself that knowing Danish will open the door to the family of Scandinavian languages.
HOW I LEARNED DANISH
I will never forget my first Danish teacher, Otto, and how he forced the class to recite the common phrase in chorus:
Hvor bo du? (Where do you live?)
Which vaguely resembled in Russian - svo-bo-du!
Another common phrase:
Had siger du? (What did you say?)
Careless students, who constantly asked questions to their interlocutor, were called vasidushkas behind their eyes.
I studied at several language schools, including one located in a hospital for people with hearing impairments. All schools are different and unique. I can probably recommend Studieskolen, located in the CITY of Copenhagen, on Antoniegade 6. Take a look at their website: www.studieskolen.dk. Or better yet, write them a letter about your desire to study Danish at: Studieskolen, Antoniegade 6, DK-1106, Copenhagen. K.
VIf you intend to study Nordic philology or rhetoric, or choose to study dentistry or medicine, you will still have to take the Danish Test 3 at that school before entering university.
Another of my teachers, Stig Bennikov, allowed me to make a copy of his local radio program, CANDYMAN (candy seller), which he successfully used in teaching his students from Russia, Turkey, Iraq, England, USA, Morocco. My teacher's radio program focuses on the use of banned food colors, flavors and emulsifiers by food companies, such as in candies and lozenges.
At the school where Stig Bennikov teaches lessons five days a week, a normal school day is two classes for an hour and a half. Every morning there is a dictation, on Fridays the class goes out into the street and begins practical communication with passers-by on a topic given by the teacher. It's better to do your homework.
I even made a film on a video camera based on my own script about the class's visit to the Royal Zoo and an exhibition of paintings from the Renaissance period.
The educational process is organized professionally, in each class there is a computer, a camera, a video camera, and a photocopier. Once a week, watch video films, such as films by one of the most popular Danish filmmakers, Lars Von Trier.
Dmitry Guzhov
To be continued
Studying in Denmark is extremely practical. Even universities do not engage in pure science, but actively cooperate with entrepreneurs and government agencies. This is probably why university education in Denmark can be obtained only in 8 institutions, but the total number of career-oriented universities is much larger:
- various creative educational institutions and maritime academies;
- High schools or colleges awarding degrees no higher than a bachelor's degree;
- business academies (Erhvervsakademi), combining business school programs with technical faculties.
Features include a special approach to learning. What is most valued here is our own work and conclusions. Moreover, for teachers it is not so important how correct they are. After all, the main thing is that the student does something of his own.
FEATURES OF ADMISSION TO UNIVERSITIES IN DENMARK
For Ukrainians, enrolling and studying at a university in Denmark is available only after completing 1–2 years of a higher education institution in their own or another country. Requirements differ not only among universities, but also among faculties. Therefore, you can enroll in Denmark to study at the same university both after the first and after the second year.
If there is no need to get an education in Denmark at a university, then a Ukrainian has a chance to enroll in another educational institution immediately after school on the basis of 11 grades.
As for entrance exams, they are usually absent. Admission is based on a competition of certificates. The only thing required is knowledge of English, Danish or German at a level of at least B2. Any international certificates are suitable for confirmation. If studying in Denmark in a certain specialty has already caused difficulties for foreign students, then applicants are asked to first pass language tests.
TYPE OF EDUCATION IN DENMARK
University studies in Denmark award standard European degrees:
- Bachelor's degree requires 3 years;
- Master's degree – approximately 2 years;
- Doctoral studies – 3 years, but can be extended.
The education system in Denmark has been recognized for several years as the best in the world, and a diploma obtained from Danish universities guarantees employment abroad.
Like any other country, Denmark has nurseries, kindergartens, and various educational activities for children. The nursery accepts children from 6 months to 3 years. There they are daily under the supervision of nannies in a group of 30 to 60 of the same kids.
Children go to kindergarten (groups from 20 to 80 people) at the age of three and remain there until about 6 years old, the age when they need to go to school. There are also private kindergartens with small groups, where children are given more attention. At the age of 5-6, children are usually sent to preparatory courses (group of 20 people) for school, where they are prepared to begin their studies.
Enshrined in legislation the right of every child to attend any preschool institution. To do this, the municipality decides how many places there should be in kindergartens or nurseries, and what their cost will be.
School education
In Denmark, at 5-6 years old, children do not go to first grade, but to zero. Compulsory schooling lasts 10 years, after which students can remain in the 10th additional grade. They can determine where to continue their education and what profession to choose, choosing a specialty in one of the following areas:
For those who did not go to 10th grade there is a high school. High school in Denmark lasts 4 years and is attended by students aged 15 to 19 years. After graduating from high school, graduates can apply to the university.
Unlike many other education systems, Students in Denmark can skip school and study at home. In addition, parents can send their children to private schools, where they have to pay for education. These are Waldorf or Christian school institutions. If parents do not have that kind of money, their children can study for free at any municipal school.
Waldorf schools - an alternative to traditional teaching methods
Features of higher education in Denmark
In 2020, higher education in Denmark took 5th place in the ranking best countries according to Universitas 21st and 2nd place among Scandinavian countries. The Danes try to keep up with the times and constantly combine traditional learning with new, innovative ones.
A large amount of time is allocated for group assignments: students make presentations, work in teams in laboratories, and participate in discussions on popular topics. But in addition to group classes, the student must prove himself individually, in particular, by working on projects.
Assessment system in Denmark
Universities in Denmark work closely with local and international programs, and therefore often recommend their students as interns. Practice is a compulsory part of the training and is allocated for a whole semester.
First hand. Video story about a non-standard approach to teaching students in Denmark
Cost of studying in Denmark
The Danes themselves and citizens of EU countries can enroll in any educational institution and study there absolutely free. However, students coming from abroad are required to pay tuition fees. In Denmark it is quite expensive compared to other European countries. One year at the university will cost from 6,000 to 16,000 euros.
Higher education in Denmark in English
Anyone who dreams of moving and starting a career in Denmark, but does not speak the local language, can choose one of 700 programs or one of 1,300 courses taught entirely in English.
English-language bachelor's and master's programs are available in every higher education institution in Denmark, so a foreigner should not have problems choosing the ideal direction and specialty.In addition, programs in English provide the opportunity to come to Denmark as an exchange student, participating in programs such as Erasmus+, Erasmus Mundus and Nordplus.
Student evening at Aalborg University
Some programs at Danish universities taught in English
- Bachelor of Arts in Architecture - VIA University College.
- Bachelor's Degree in Engineering - Absalon University College.
- Bachelor's Degree in Chemical and Bio-Engineering - Aalborg University.
- Master's in Chemical Engineering - Technical University of Denmark.
- Master's in Economics and Finance - Graduate Business School in Copenhagen.
- Master's in Health Sciences - University of Copenhagen.
And every year, almost every Danish university hosts summer schools and seminars, also in English. Typically, lectures and classes at summer schools are devoted to some popular topic, and a certificate of completion will be an ideal addition to your portfolio.
Danish universities
The University of Copenhagen is one of the prestigious universities in Denmark.
The education system in Denmark corresponds to the European one: to obtain a bachelor's degree, students must study for 3-4 years, a master's degree for 2 years, and a candidate of science for 3 years.
Danish universities are recognized as the best in the world, and diplomas allow employment in any country:
- Offers a choice of 3 bachelor's and 4 master's programs. The university specializes in the fields of humanities, design and business. Tuition fees range from 10,000 to 17,000 euros/year.
- Initially it consisted of only one campus in Udinese, but over time it added 4 more campuses in the nearby region. The university has more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs in all major areas. The cost of education at the University of Southern Denmark is 25,000 euros/year.
- Copenhagen Business School. A fairly young university, which was founded at the beginning of the last century. In addition to business and economics, you can study management, psychology, sociology, and jurisprudence. A very popular school for Erasmus+, Erasmus Mundus and Nordplus programs as it has partnerships with 360 other universities around the world. Tuition fees up to 40,000 euros/semester.
- Royal Danish Academy of Music. Directly controlled by the Danish Ministry of Culture, the Royal Academy is recognized as one of the best not only in the country itself, but throughout the world. You can study at a university both for individual performances and work, and for carrying out teaching activities. One year of study at the Royal Academy costs about 6,000 euros.
- School of Design in Kolding. One of the best design schools in Denmark. Students are taught materials science, techniques and methods, and given intensive theory on how to properly advertise and sell their product. The school annually welcomes a large number of foreign students, both exchange students and those accepted for one of the study programs. For a year at the Kolding Design School you will have to pay about 13,000 euros.
The University of Southern Denmark is one of the largest universities in the country
How to enter a Danish university?
Admission to Danish universities is regulated by the Ministry of Education. You can leave your application on a special website, and not send it to the university, as in other European countries. Application deadlines are also regulated - the website opens on February 1 and is open until March 15 (until 12.00).
In some cases, when there are technical problems between the university and the student portal and you cannot upload your documents for admission, you should write directly to the administration of this university and consult on this issue.
In general, the only two mandatory requirements for admission to university in Denmark are a high school diploma and a certificate of language proficiency (Danish or English). Of course, you shouldn’t forget about writing a motivation letter and drawing up a resume.
An example of a motivation letter in English for enrolling in a university abroad
Some universities have their own additional requirements, for example:
- A certain average score of the certificate.
- A grade not lower than that established for a specific subject (for example, students are accepted only with grades 4 and 5 in physics and mathematics).
- Successful passing of entrance exams.
After reviewing the documents, the university sets a date for the interview. It is not necessary to come to Denmark for this, because the interview can be done online, most often this is done via Skype. Interviews typically take place after March 15, the closing date for applications.
Some universities in Denmark are only allowed to accept a limited number of students. Therefore, students can submit their application to the waiting list and if a place becomes available, the waiting candidate is invited to study.
How to become a student in Denmark? Where to begin? What documents are needed? The answers to these and other questions are in the following video.
Studying in Denmark is an opportunity to receive a quality education and achieve a level of qualifications that suits employers in all developed countries. Education in this country has high standards and is under government control, and educational institutions must be regularly accredited.
Education system in Denmark
There are several categories of higher education institutions in Denmark:
- The first category is academies of higher vocational education, training in which lasts two years. They offer knowledge in business and information technology.
- Colleges (specialized and university), where training lasts 3-4 years along with an internship. Here you can get an education as a nurse, engineer, in the field of economics, IT and education.
- Universities that offer a bachelor's degree, which takes three years. To obtain a master's degree, you need to study for another two years. To become a Doctor of Philosophy you need an additional three years.
Danish universities offer more than 500 different study programs in English. A distinctive feature of the Danish education system is its focus on practical activities. A typical week for a Danish student consists of 10 hours in the classroom and 30 hours of independent study. During their studies, students are allowed to work 15 hours a week and 37 hours during holidays.
Basic requirements for applicants to Danish universities
- You need to obtain a visa and apply for a residence permit.
- It is necessary to provide a Danish certificate of complete secondary education (12-13 years of secondary school) or equivalent documents. If the certificate is not equivalent to the Danish one, the applicant is offered to undergo training at the university center and take the Higher Preparatory Examination, successful completion of which gives the applicant the opportunity to enter any university in Denmark.
- The level of English is not lower than English B (IELTS 6.5; TOEFL 79-93 iBT; Cambridge CAE certificate).
- You must demonstrate your knowledge of Danish as a second language by passing a test.
- You need to provide a bank account statement with an amount that will be enough to pay for education and living in the country.
Scholarship programs in Denmark
Education in Danish public and some private educational institutions is free for Danish students, as well as for students from EU countries.
You also do not pay tuition if, at the time of application, you:
- Do you have a permanent residence permit?
- Temporary residence permit that can be converted to permanent
- Residence permit as a parent accompanying a child and holding a residence permit based on employment
All other students must pay tuition. However, if you are a foreign citizen, you can apply for equal status with Danish citizens and receive a government educational grant (SU).
There are also several well-known study scholarships in Denmark:
Nordplus
- If you are enrolled in higher education educational institution Northern Europe or the Baltics, you can apply for a Nordplus grant.
Erasmus
- This is a set of scholarship programs within the European Union aimed at increasing the mobility of students and researchers within the European space.
- At the moment, there are two types of scholarships in the financial program of the European Commission: Erasmus Mundus and Erasmus Plus.
- Erasmus Mundus applies exclusively to the countries of the European Union, and Emasmus Plus is a global program and opens the opportunity to study in Europe for students from all countries.
The Danish Government Scholarships under the Cultural Agreements
- The Danish Government's Cultural Accords scholarships are aimed at highly qualified students and young researchers who want to immerse themselves in the study of Danish language and culture or other fields of study related to Denmark such as design, architecture, environmental studies and others.
- Cultural agreements offer scholarships for long-term study periods and summer language courses for international students.
- Long-term scholarships are offered to students from Brazil, China, Egypt, Japan, Russia and South Korea, and summer language courses are open to students from the above-mentioned countries and 35 European countries.
The Fulbright Program
- Through this program, American students wishing to study in Denmark can apply for a Fulbright Scholarship. Competitively selected US citizens have the opportunity to study in Denmark.
Danish government scholarships
- Designed for highly qualified non-EU students.
- Government scholarships come in two parts and can cover all or part of your tuition fees and living expenses.
- The scholarship is administered by Danish universities, each of which independently decides which students can receive this scholarship.
List of some universities that provide scholarships:
University of Copenhagen offers 12 scholarships to postgraduate students at the university
The Faculty of Humanities at the University of Copenhagen offers 4 scholarships for each department: English and Romance Studies; Department of Media and Communication; Department of Nordic Studies and Linguistics.
DTU H.C. Scholarship Program Ørsted Fellowships
The Technical University of Denmark (DTU) offers 16 scholarships under the H.C. Ørsted for researchers from around the world.
The program contributes to the development of a researcher’s career, expansion and deepening of his knowledge and skills. As part of the program, researchers from all over the world can present their projects in various fields of engineering.
Each researcher receives a grant as one of the university employees. The grant does not cover costs associated with the research project; these costs must be paid by the faculty.
Grant for study at the Department of Finance at Copenhagen Business School (CBS)
The school invites applications for scholarships in the field of finance. All scholarships are designed for the full period of study (3 years).
There are 3 types of scholarships:
- A scholarship from the Danish National Research Foundation, which covers research and other expenses.
- A scholarship from the European Research Council covers living expenses and related expenses.
- The Sapere Aude Scholarship covers empirical funding for entrepreneurial activities.
Candidates' projects must be focused in one of 4 research areas:
- Business and Management;
- Civil society;
- Finance and Markets;
- State policy and state institutions.
Royal Danish Conservatory Scholarships
The Royal Danish Academy of Music offers scholarships to master's students. The duration of master's studies is 2 years.
The purpose of the scholarship is to help students financially during their studies in Denmark. This includes accommodation or travel costs, not tuition fees. The scholarship can pay up to 20% of the tuition fee. The scholarship is paid only for 1 academic year in two payments.
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