The University of Copenhagen (UCPH), founded in 1479, is Denmark’s oldest and largest university, with campuses across the Danish capital. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it rose from 101st to 90th in the world and was the highest-ranked university in Denmark. It’s known for the life sciences, pharmacy, health sciences, economics and the humanities, and the physicist Niels Bohr studied and worked there.
UCPH teaches all its bachelor’s programmes in Danish, so most international students come for one of its master’s programmes taught in English. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on the University of Copenhagen’s own guidance and official Danish government information.
1. Know that bachelor’s programmes are taught in Danish
Every UCPH bachelor’s programme is taught in Danish. If you have a foreign or international school qualification, you must prove academic Danish, for example by passing the national test Studieprøven i dansk, as well as the programme’s own requirements. If you don’t speak Danish, plan to come to UCPH for a master’s instead. UCPH: bachelor’s admission requirements.
2. Choose one of the English-taught master’s programmes
UCPH offers dozens of master’s programmes taught in English, in areas such as economics, the life sciences, computer science, public health and the humanities. Most last two years (120 ECTS credits), and each sets its own academic requirements, so check that your bachelor’s degree covers the subjects your programme asks for.
3. Apply by 15 January if you’re from outside the EU
For master’s programmes starting in September, applicants from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland generally have to apply by 15 January at 23:59 (CET), earlier than EU applicants, so there’s time for a residence permit. You’ll get an answer by 15 May at the latest. Deadlines vary between programmes, so check yours.
4. Pay the application deposit fee
If you’re from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland, you pay an application deposit fee of DKK 1,120 (about EUR 150) when you apply for one or more master’s programmes in the same round. It’s paid in Danish kroner through UCPH’s webshop. UCPH: tuition fees and scholarships.
5. Prove your English
For English-taught master’s programmes, you must document English at the level of the Danish upper secondary course English B, usually with a recognised test such as IELTS Academic or TOEFL. Check the exact scores your programme accepts. Practise with our free IELTS and TOEFL practice tests.
6. Write a strong application
Admission to UCPH’s master’s programmes is competitive and based mainly on your bachelor’s degree, grades and relevant courses, and some programmes also ask for a motivation letter or CV. Make sure every required document is uploaded before the deadline.
7. Understand the fees
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens don’t pay tuition fees. Other students pay fees that vary by programme, roughly EUR 10,000 to 17,000 a year, and UCPH doesn’t offer its own financial support or scholarships to international students, so you’ll need to fund your studies yourself or find a scholarship in your home country.
8. Budget for life in Copenhagen
Copenhagen is one of Europe’s more expensive cities, and student housing is in short supply. Start looking for accommodation as soon as you’re admitted, and budget for rent, food and transport on top of your fees.
9. Apply for your residence permit
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens don’t need a permit to study in Denmark, but they must register for an EU residence document if they stay more than three months. Other students apply to the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) for a residence permit once the University of Copenhagen has admitted them, paying a processing fee and creating a case order ID first. You must show that you can support yourself with DKK 7,426 a month (2026 level), up to a maximum of DKK 89,112 if you’ll study for more than a year, and paying your first semester’s tuition counts as part of your documentation. From 1 October 2026, students on state-approved programmes can no longer bring a spouse, partner or children as accompanying family members. New to Denmark: higher education.
10. Plan for work during and after your studies
As a student on a state-approved programme, you get a limited work permit: up to 90 hours a month from September to May, and full time in June, July and August. When you complete your degree, you’re normally entitled to a job-seeking permit with the same work rights. If you applied for your residence permit on or after 1 October 2026, this is generally 6 months or 1 year (it was previously up to 3 years). If you get a job offer, you can apply for a new residence and work permit based on the job.
Applying for a PhD at UCPH?
PhD positions at UCPH are usually paid, three-year positions advertised by each faculty, and you normally need a relevant master’s degree. See our 50 sample SOPs and free GRE practice tests.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
UCPH’s English-taught master’s programmes are competitive, so apply to other options too. Read our guides to DTU, Aarhus University, the University of Southern Denmark and Aalborg University. Our guide to studying in Denmark explains how the Danish system works, and our free study abroad assessment can help you build a shortlist.
Information was taken from the University of Copenhagen’s official admissions and fee pages, Danish government sources and the QS World University Rankings 2027, and checked in October 2026. Admissions rules, deadlines, fees and immigration rules can change, so always confirm the details on UCPH’s master’s admissions website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with the University of Copenhagen.