Denmark offers several scholarship and funding routes for international students seeking study, exchange or research opportunities at Danish institutions. The options include Erasmus+, Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters, Nordplus, Fulbright Denmark, Danish Government Scholarships for highly qualified non-EU/EEA students, and the Danish State Educational Support (SU), but the rules differ by programme and institution.
Key facts
- There is no single application deadline covering all Denmark scholarships.
- Danish Government Scholarships are administered by Danish universities, not through one central national application.
- Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters are open to both EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA students.
- Fulbright Denmark supports educational exchange between the United States and Denmark for study and/or research.
- SU is generally awarded to Danish residents, though some international students may qualify for equal status.
What this means for students applying to Denmark
For prospective students, the main practical takeaway is that eligibility depends on the route chosen. Exchange students, full-degree applicants, postgraduate researchers and home-university mobility students are not all being considered under the same rules, and many applications must be made through a home institution or a specific Danish university rather than via one national portal.
That makes the first step a programme check: students should identify whether they are looking at Nordplus, Erasmus+, Erasmus Mundus, Fulbright Denmark or a Danish Government Scholarship, then review the relevant university or programme deadlines, required documents and mobility conditions. For Danish Government Scholarships in particular, applicants must also meet nationality and residence conditions, and funding may include a tuition waiver, living-cost grant or both depending on the university.
- Exchange routes such as Erasmus+ and Nordplus depend on institutional participation.
- Erasmus Mundus applicants apply to individual joint master’s programmes.
- Danish Government Scholarships are limited and awarded by Danish universities.
- SU is not automatic for international students and depends on separate rules.
How do the main scholarship routes differ?
Erasmus+ is aimed mainly at students from EU, EEA countries and Switzerland who study abroad through their home institutions, with exchange periods that can range from 2 to 12 months. Nordplus is relevant to students enrolled at higher education institutions in the Nordic and Baltic regions and supports mobility within that region.
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters are more globally accessible. They are open to both EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA students and are delivered jointly by institutions in different countries, including Danish and other European institutions. Fulbright Denmark, by contrast, is focused on educational exchange between the United States and Denmark and is aimed at American scholars and postgraduate students at master’s or PhD level.
Who is eligible for Danish Government Scholarships?
Danish Government Scholarships are intended for highly qualified full-degree students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland who have been granted a time-limited residence permit in Denmark because of education. The scholarships are administered by Danish universities, which also select the recipients.
Some applicants are excluded, including those seeking admission to an Artistic Higher Education Institution, those with a legal claim to Danish citizens’ rights, certain residence-permit holders under Danish immigration provisions, and those eligible for a grant under the Danish State Education Fund.
What should applicants do next?
Applicants should start by identifying the specific programme and institution they want, then checking the university’s admission requirements, scholarship rules and deadline. Because the opportunities are spread across different systems, there is no single national deadline or single application form for all Denmark scholarships.
Students and researchers can also use broader databases such as Ploteus and the EURAXESS network to look for additional scholarship and mobility options linked to Denmark.
