Danish Government Scholarships 2027 for Non EU Students

The Danish Government Scholarships (also called Danish State Scholarships) are funded by Denmark's Ministry of Higher Education and Science and help talented students from outside Europe take a full degree in Denmark. Each university chooses its own recipients.

Important: You do not apply to the government. You apply for a master's programme at a Danish university, and the university decides who receives the scholarship. Most deadlines for September 2027 are 15 January 2027.

What the scholarship covers

The scholarship has two parts. Universities can give one or both:

• A full or partial tuition fee waiver
• A grant for living costs

What you get depends on the university and faculty. For example:

• University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Science: tuition and living expenses for 22 months
• University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Theology: partial tuition waiver only
• Aarhus University, Arts and Aarhus BSS: tuition waiver plus a monthly living grant
• Aarhus University, Natural and Technical Sciences: tuition waiver only

Living grants are taxed in Denmark (some nationalities may be exempt).

Who can apply

• Citizens of countries outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, including Nigerians and other Africans
• Admitted to a full degree programme (usually a master's) at a Danish university
• You will hold a time-limited Danish residence permit for study
• Not eligible if you have the rights of a Danish citizen or receive the Danish State Education Grant (SU)

How you are selected

• Merit only. Awards are based on academic results, not financial need.
• It is very competitive. At Copenhagen's Faculty of Science, applicants need a bachelor's average above 90%, and 2025 recipients had at least 98%. You must also be admitted to your first-priority programme.

How to apply

1. Choose an English-taught master's programme at a Danish university (for example, Copenhagen, Aarhus, DTU, SDU or Aalborg).
2. Apply for admission before the deadline. At Copenhagen, the portal opens on 15 November and closes on 15 January at 23:59 (Danish time).
3. There is no separate scholarship application. Eligible applicants are considered automatically.
4. If you are selected, you will be told through the application portal. Accept the offer before its deadline or it goes to someone else.

Key dates (most master's programmes, September 2027 start)

• Mid-November 2026: applications open
• 15 January 2027: application deadline
• March 2027: admission decisions (Copenhagen replies by 13 March)

Study in Denmark: scholarships · University of Copenhagen scholarships · Aarhus University scholarships