Study in Denmark

Types of higher education institutions
Universitet/universitetcenter –
university, institution that offers academic courses on all the three levels
Hojskole - specialized college of higher education, normally offering short and medium-length professionally oriented courses (2-4 years)

Structure of university studies
The academic year in Denmark starts in September and ends in June. Danish is the basic language at all the Danish universities, however, many courses at the postgraduate level are instructed in English.
If the course is instructed in Danish, students must pass a Danish language test before being admitted to the institution. Universities offer Danish courses for foreigners.

1st level – undergraduate studies offer different types of courses leading to diploma or Bachelor degree
* Bachelor' s degree - 3 years full-time study
* Candidatus - some courses require 5 - 6.5 years full-time study, e. g. medicine, veterinary medicine, engineering and lead to Candidatus title (equivalent of master's degree).

2nd level - graduate studies
* Candidatus/Magister Artium (in humanities) - 2 - 3.5 years full-time study and research

3rd level – doctoral studies
* Doctor of Philosophy - normally a minimum of three years full-time study. This award (PhD) is by research and thesis and may be taken after successful completion of a Master degree.

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Application procedures

- deadline for applying is 15 March with a view to starting in September or 1 September for the summer term
- for the first year of undergraduate studies, the International Baccalaureate exam is required; some universities may require admission to the university in student' s home country
- various institutions often have special requirements concerning the level of certain subjects; they may also require extra conditions
- students who have spent part of their undergraduate studies at a university outside Denmark can ask for transfer of credits
- where the student's native language is not English, proof of English proficiency is required (TOEFL, IELTS, CAE; see chapter "Tests")
- application forms should be send to the faculty' s office through the Danish embassy in the student's home country

Financing of university studies
- there are normally no tuition or registration fees for degree students on undergraduate study programs in Denmark
- special arrangements apply to the PhD programs as most of the universities require tuition fees
- PhD students can apply for financial aid at the university of their interest or at the Danish Research Academy or at the SU-styrelen
- the living expenses in Denmark are about DKK 4, 000 for a month
- students from outside Scandinavia or EU countries cannot work in Denmark unless they have a valid work permit made through the Danish consular representative in their home country

Health insurance
Should the length of stay exceed 3 months, the student is supposed to register at the National Registration to get the Health Insurance Card. Students who are registered with the national registry in Denmark are automatically covered by Denmark's health insurance scheme after a period of 6 weeks. If the stay of study is less than 3 months students should arrange for the insurance in their home country.

Visa
Foreign students from outside Scandinavia will need a residence permit if their stay exceeds 3 months. Applications from students outside the EU countries must be made through the Danish consular representative in the student's home country.

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Important addresses

Ministry of Education
Frederiksholms Kanal 26
DK-1220 Kobenhavn K

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Danish Democracy Fund
2 Asiatisk Plads
DK-1448 Kobenhavn K
tel. +45 (33) 92 50 00
fax +45 (33) 92 07 88

Ministry of Research
H.C. Andersens Boulevard 40
DK-1553 Kobenhavn V
tel.: +45 (33) 92 97 00

The Danish Rectors’ Conference
Vester Voldgade 121A, 4. sal
DK-1552 Kobenhavn V
tel. +45 (33) 92 54 32
fax: +45 (33) 92 50 75
e-mail: vr@rks.dk

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Information Centre for International Study and Exchange
Vandkunsten 3
DK-1476 Kobenhavn K

The Danish Research Academy
Observatorievejen 3
DK-8000 Aarhus C

SU-styrelsen (State Education Grant and Loan Scheme Authority)
Danasvej 30
DK-1910 Frederiksberg C
tel./fax: +45 (33) 26 86 00

Useful publications

title: Higher Education in Denmark - A Guide for Foreign Students
published: The Danish Rectors Conference Secretariat 1994 title: Studying in Denmark
published: The Danish Rectors’ Conference Secretariat 1993

Internetové adresy
http://www.uvm.dk - information on higher education
http://www.shu.edu/world/schools/dk.html - universities' programs
http://www.abo.fi/norden/uniinf_e.htm - information on the scandinavian universities

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