Denmark has five types of higher education institution: universities, university colleges, business academies, artistic higher education institutions, and schools of maritime education and training. Which one you pick depends on whether you want a research-oriented degree or a more practical, professional one.
The five types at a glance
Study in Denmark groups them like this:
- Universities, offer university bachelor's, Candidatus/master's and PhD programmes.
- University colleges, offer academy profession programmes and professional bachelor's degrees.
- Business academies, also offer academy profession programmes and professional bachelor's degrees.
- Artistic higher education institutions, offer university-level programmes within the arts.
- Schools of maritime education and training, offer professional bachelor's and academy profession programmes.
That is the whole list: there is no sixth category hiding somewhere. If you are comparing names, start with our list of all institutions, we currently list 24 Danish higher education institutions and 422 programmes imported from the Study in Denmark register.
Universities: the research route
Universities are where you go for a bachelor's degree that can lead into a master's (Candidatus) and then a PhD. The teaching is research-based and the degrees are built for students who want to go deep into a subject.
They are also the place to look if you want a full degree with a clear academic progression. You can browse all universities in Denmark to see which ones offer your subject.
One thing to know: universities, like every other institution on this list, have a high degree of autonomy but must follow national regulations on teacher qualifications, degree structures and examinations. So the framework is the same even though the institutions are independent.
University colleges and business academies: the professional route
These two are often lumped together, and for good reason: both offer academy profession programmes and professional bachelor's degrees. The difference is usually in the subject mix, business academies lean towards business and commerce, university colleges towards fields such as teaching, health and social work, but the degree types are the same.
If you want a shorter, more applied qualification, an academy profession programme is the one to look at. If you want a full professional bachelor's, that is also here. Either way, check the specific institution for what it actually offers.
One advantage of this system: you can sometimes transfer between institutions, and you can find single-subject courses, exchange programmes and summer schools alongside full degrees. Use our programme search to filter by type and subject.
Artistic institutions and maritime schools
Artistic higher education institutions offer university-level programmes within the arts. One practical point for international students: their students are not eligible for Danish government scholarships. If funding matters to you, factor that in early.
Schools of maritime education and training offer professional bachelor's and academy profession programmes, the same degree types as university colleges and business academies, but in the maritime field.
Both are small categories, so if you are interested, go straight to the institution's own pages rather than relying on general lists.
What they all have in common
All Danish higher education institutions use ECTS credits. That makes credit transfer easier if you have studied elsewhere, and it means a 60-credit year is a 60-credit year wherever you go.
They also all follow national rules on teacher qualifications, degree structures and examinations, the autonomy is real, but it sits inside a national framework.
Where they differ is in what they teach and which degrees they award. That is the bit you need to check institution by institution.
How to apply, and what it costs
Undergraduate applications are coordinated centrally through optagelse.dk, but they are assessed by the institutions themselves. The deadlines are 15 March and 5 July, both at 12 noon (CET).
Higher education is free of charge for students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland, and for students entitled to the same status as Danish citizens under EU law. Other full-degree students pay tuition fees set by each institution. Tuition fees and application deadlines on this site are shown as listed in the Study in Denmark register, always confirm them with the institution before you plan around them.
If you are from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland, you normally need a residence permit for study before you come. Apply through the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI); the details are on nyidanmark.dk. SIRI decides on permits, just as the institution decides on admission.
Not sure where in Denmark you want to be? Our city guides will help you narrow it down before you start comparing institutions.
| Institution type | Degrees offered |
|---|---|
| Universities | University bachelor's, Candidatus/master's, PhD |
| University colleges | Academy profession programmes, professional bachelor's |
| Business academies | Academy profession programmes, professional bachelor's |
| Artistic higher education institutions | University-level programmes within the arts |
| Schools of maritime education and training | Professional bachelor's, academy profession programmes |
Sources
- Study in Denmark, higher education institutions
- Study in Denmark, what can I study
- Study in Denmark, scholarships
- Study in Denmark, guarantee for a quality experience
- Study in Denmark, how to apply
- Study in Denmark, tuition fees and scholarships
- Study in Denmark, residence permits for non-EU/EEA citizens
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a university and a university college in Denmark?
Universities offer university bachelor's, Candidatus/master's and PhD programmes. University colleges offer academy profession programmes and professional bachelor's degrees. So the degree types are different, even though both are higher education institutions.
Do business academies in Denmark offer bachelor's degrees?
Yes. Business academies offer academy profession programmes and professional bachelor's degrees, the same degree types as university colleges. Check the individual academy for the subjects it covers.
Are artistic higher education institutions in Denmark free?
Higher education is free of charge for students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland. Students at artistic higher education institutions are not eligible for Danish government scholarships, so if you need funding, check with the institution directly.
How do I apply to a Danish higher education institution?
Undergraduate applications go through optagelse.dk, but the institutions assess them. The deadlines are 15 March and 5 July, both at 12 noon (CET). Always confirm deadlines with the institution.