StudyDesk Scholarships
About the scholarship
The University of Copenhagen (UCPH) — founded in 1479, Denmark’s oldest and largest university, with 119 master’s programmes across six faculties — offers the Danish Government Scholarship to a limited number of exceptionally talented students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland. Funded by the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science, the scheme exists to attract outstanding international talent into Danish research universities.
The defining feature of this award is its simplicity: there is no separate scholarship application. Every eligible non-EU/EEA applicant to a UCPH master’s programme is automatically evaluated for the scholarship as part of the admission process, and awards are made purely on academic merit. Depending on the faculty, the scholarship is granted as a full or partial tuition fee waiver, and in some cases as an amount covering basic living costs.
Eligibility
- Be a citizen of a country outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland.
- Be admitted to a full-time master’s degree programme at the University of Copenhagen.
- Be liable for tuition fees — students with a legal claim to Danish citizens’ rights, or who are eligible for the Danish State Educational Grant (SU), are excluded.
- Hold (or be able to obtain) a time-limited Danish residence permit for the purpose of study.
- Show an outstanding academic record — selection is competitive and based on excellence alone.
Benefits
- Full or partial tuition fee waiver for the standard duration of the master’s programme (typically two years), depending on the faculty’s award.
- Selected recipients also receive a grant covering basic living costs — note these grants are subject to Danish tax legislation.
- Automatic consideration — no separate form, no extra fee, no additional documents beyond your admission file.
- Study at one of Europe’s leading research universities, a member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU).
Documents required
- Your master’s admission application — the scholarship requires nothing beyond this file.
- Bachelor’s degree certificate (or proof of expected graduation) and official academic transcripts.
- Proof of English language proficiency (e.g. IELTS/TOEFL, where the programme requires it).
- CV and a motivation letter where the programme asks for them.
- Passport copy and any programme-specific supporting documents — requirements vary, so check your programme’s admission page.
How to apply
- Choose your programmeBrowse UCPH’s 119 master’s programmes and select one starting in September 2027 that matches your academic background.
- Apply for admission by 15 January 2027Submit your application through the university’s official admissions portal (studies.ku.dk) before the deadline.
- Upload the complete document fileDegree certificate, transcripts, English proof, CV, motivation letter and passport — everything the programme requires.
- Do nothing extra for the scholarshipEvery eligible non-EU/EEA applicant is automatically evaluated; no scholarship form exists.
- Watch your emailUCPH contacts nominees directly at the address in their admission application — check your spam folder too. You must accept or decline by the deadline in the email, or the offer is revoked and passed to another applicant.
FAQs
No. All eligible non-EU/EEA applicants to UCPH master’s programmes are automatically considered for the Danish Government Scholarship as part of the admission process.
No — EU/EEA and Swiss citizens do not pay tuition fees in Denmark, so the scholarship does not apply to them.
It can be. Awards are granted as a full tuition waiver, a partial tuition waiver, or an amount covering basic living costs, depending on the faculty. Check your award letter for exactly what your scholarship covers.
UCPH contacts scholarship nominees directly by email after admission decisions. Because you must accept or decline by a stated deadline, check your inbox — and spam folder — regularly.
The published terms do not promise combinability. Check your award letter and ask the university before accepting a second award.
Full-time master’s (MA/MSc) programmes starting September 2027. Most share the 15 January 2027 deadline, but a few programmes differ — confirm on your programme’s page.
Verified 23 Oct 2026: aktravelsltd.com (9 Jul 2026) — 15 Jan 2027 deadline for most September-2027 master’s programmes, no separate application, full/partial tuition waiver or living stipend, merit only, funded by the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science; scholarshiptab.com — automatic consideration via the official admissions portal (studies.ku.dk), email nomination with an accept/decline deadline, eligibility exclusions (SU eligibility, Danish-citizen rights); educatewithguide.com (8 Aug 2026) — full/partial waiver and/or living-costs grant depending on faculty, living grants subject to Danish tax, UCPH founded 1479 with 119 master’s programmes. Queue title “University of Copenhagen Danish Government Scholarships 2025-26 (Funded)” was stale — retitled to the live 2026-27 cycle.
