Grants & Scholarships

One of the most extraordinary features of the Danish education system, and one that surprises many prospective international students when they first encounter it, is the SU: the Danish state education grant that pays students a monthly allowance simply for studying.

The SU, which stands for Statens Uddannelsesstøtte, is available to Danish citizens and to EU and EEA nationals who work or have worked sufficiently in Denmark to qualify under EU free movement rules. Eligible students receive a monthly grant of approximately 6,000 to 7,000 DKK, which in many cases is sufficient to cover a significant portion of living expenses during study, particularly when combined with student housing and part-time work.

The SU can be received for a maximum number of months roughly corresponding to the standard duration of the programme being studied, and students who complete their programmes ahead of schedule may qualify for a completion bonus. Beyond the SU, there are numerous additional sources of financial support available to students in Denmark. Danish universities and professional foundations offer a range of scholarships targeting specific nationalities, academic disciplines, or categories of student.

The Danish Government Scholarships and Excellence Scholarships provide tuition fee waivers and stipends to a small number of exceptional non-EU international students each year through partnerships with specific universities. Private Danish foundations, of which there are thousands, fund research grants, travel grants, study grants, and innovation awards across virtually every academic and professional field.

Understanding which financial support you are eligible for, how to apply, and how to combine different sources of funding is an important part of planning your studies in Denmark, and the potential for substantial financial assistance makes Denmark significantly more affordable for international students than its reputation as an expensive Scandinavian country might initially suggest.