University of Copenhagen Scholarships 2026 in Denmark

Denmark consistently ranks among the happiest, safest, and most innovative countries in the world, with one of the strongest education systems globally. The University of Copenhagen (UCPH / Københavns Universitet), founded in 1479, is Denmark’s oldest and largest university and one of Europe’s top research institutions (QS World Ranking top 100). It offers tuition-free education for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and very generous University of Copenhagen scholarships support for non-EU/EEA students. Also apply for King Salman International Scholarship 2026

For the 2026 intake, UCPH provides a wide range of merit-based, excellence, and faculty-specific scholarships for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD programs and many taught entirely in English. These awards cover full or partial tuition (where applicable), living stipends, insurance, and research support, making high-quality Nordic education accessible to talented students worldwide.

Why Study at University of Copenhagen?

• Tuition-free for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens; low or no tuition for many non-EU programs with scholarships
• Over 700 English-taught courses and full degree programs
• Extremely strong research output (especially in life sciences, health, environment, social sciences, and humanities)
• Highly international campus (students and staff from 100+ countries)
• Copenhagen is repeatedly ranked one of the most livable cities globally
• Generous post-study work visa options (up to 3 years for graduates)

Main Scholarships 2026 – Overview

1. Danish Government Scholarships / Non-EU/EEA Tuition Waivers
   • Full tuition fee waiver (100%) for the entire program
   • Automatic consideration for top applicants (merit-based)
   • No separate application for most programs
2. UCPH Excellence Programme Scholarships
   • Full tuition waiver + monthly stipend (≈ DKK 6,500–8,000 / €870–1,070)
   • Highly competitive – awarded to exceptional Master’s applicants
3. Faculty-Specific & Departmental Scholarships
   • Faculty of Science: Science Excellence Scholarships
   • Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences: Full or partial waivers + stipends
   • Faculty of Humanities: Merit-based tuition waivers
   • Faculty of Social Sciences: Partial funding + research grants
   • Faculty of Law: Merit and need-based awards
4. PhD Fellowships (fully salaried positions)
   • Full salary (≈ DKK 28,000–32,000/month before tax) + pension
   • Tuition-free + health insurance
   • Most PhD positions are advertised as paid jobs

Most scholarships are automatic upon admission and no separate form for many awards.

Also apply for:

• British Turing Scholarship 2026 in UK (Funded)
• KNB Indonesian Government Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria

Common requirements:

• Non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizenship (for tuition waivers and stipends)
• Strong academic record (high GPA, excellent grades in relevant subjects)
• English proficiency:
  • IELTS 6.5–7.0 / TOEFL iBT 83–100 (varies by program)
  • MOI certificate accepted if previous degree was taught in English
• Meet program-specific entry requirements

Bachelor’s:

• High school diploma equivalent to Danish upper secondary
• Strong grades (usually 80%+ equivalent)

Master’s:

• Bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS) in relevant field
• GPA equivalent to Danish 8–10 (≈ 3.0–3.5/4.0) for competitive scholarships

PhD:

• Master’s degree (120 ECTS)
• Strong research proposal
• Supervisor support (contact potential supervisors early)

Scholarship Benefits

Tuition fees (without scholarship): DKK 90,000–150,000/year (≈ €12,000–20,000) for most non-EU programs.

Programs You Can Pick

Bachelor’s (3 years) – many English-taught or bilingual:

• Computer Science
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Biology / Molecular Biomedicine
• Environmental Science
• Economics
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Anthropology

Master’s (2 years) – very strong English-taught portfolio:

• Computer Science
• Data Science
• Artificial Intelligence
• Environmental Science
• Global Health
• Public Health
• Economics
• Political Science
• Security Risk Management
• Cognition & Communication
• Climate Change
• Food Innovation & Health
• Bioinformatics
• Neuroscience

PhD: All research fields (salaried positions advertised as jobs).

Required Documents

For admission + scholarship consideration:

• Passport copy
• High school diploma/transcripts (bachelor’s)
• Bachelor’s degree/transcripts (master’s/PhD)
• English proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL or MOI certificate)
• CV/resume
• Motivation letter / statement of purpose
• Recommendation letters (graduate/PhD)
• Research proposal (PhD)

Living Costs in Copenhagen

Single €1,200–1,800/month (Numbeo Jan 2026) Rent €600–1,000 shared Food €300 Transport €80 (bike culture is strong)

Stipends (Excellence/PhD) cover living costs well.

Application Checklist

• Choose English-taught program
• Prepare MOI certificate (no IELTS needed in many cases)
• Collect transcripts & passport
• Write strong motivation letter
• Apply online by January 15 (Master’s) / March 15 (Bachelor’s)
• Track application status
• Prepare residence permit docs (non-EU)

How to Apply

1. Choose program on studies.ku.dk
2. Apply online via the UCPH application portal (opens usually December 2025 – January 2026)
3. Upload all required documents
4. Pay application fee (≈ DKK 750 / €100, non-refundable)
5. Submit by program deadline
6. Scholarship eligibility assessed together with admission
7. Results: March–May 2026

Tip: Apply early as scholarships are limited and awarded to top applicants first. MOI certificate often replaces IELTS.