1. The Core Principle — No Central Portal
There is no central Danish Government Scholarship application portal. You don't go to a government website and apply for the scholarship separately. Each scholarship is managed by each university, tied to their admission process.
In practice: you apply for admission to a Danish university. The scholarship consideration happens as part of that process — automatically at most universities, with additional documents required at CBS and DTU.
Automatic consideration
UCPH, Aarhus, AAU, ITU, RUC — apply for admission and you're automatically considered for the scholarship. No extra documents.
Action required
CBS and DTU require you to submit an additional scholarship personal statement. Without it, you are not considered.
Research and Select Your Universities
Before anything else:
- Identify which universities offer programs in your field that are eligible for government scholarships
- Check whether the university has an automatic or manual scholarship process
- Verify that the program you want is accredited — not an artistic institution
- Compare what each university's scholarship actually covers — tuition only vs. tuition + stipend
- Check whether your intended program's specific department offers scholarship awards (varies at UCPH)
Pro tip
Apply to 2–3 Danish universities to maximize your chances of receiving a scholarship. Each university is a separate pool. There is no penalty for applying to multiple institutions simultaneously.
Prepare Your Core Documents
Common across all universities:
CBS and DTU only
You also need a separate scholarship personal statement. This is in addition to your admission motivation letter — they serve different purposes and should not be the same document.
Apply Through Each University's Portal
Technical University of Denmark
Apply at apply.dtu.dk. January 15 deadline. Upload your scholarship personal statement as a separate document in the "additional documents" section.
Without this statement, you are not considered for the waiver.
University of Copenhagen
Apply at ku.dk via the online application portal. No separate scholarship action needed. Scholarship is considered automatically for all admitted non-EU/EEA students by faculty scholarship committees.
Aarhus University
Apply at au.dk through their online system. No separate scholarship action needed. Scholarship consideration is included with admission.
Copenhagen Business School
Apply at cbs.dk/en. In the application portal, check the box indicating scholarship interest. Upload your scholarship personal statement (max 2 pages) as a separate file.
Two rounds available: January 15 and October 15 deadlines.
University of Southern Denmark
Apply at sdu.dk. The scholarship interview is included in the admission process — SDU will contact shortlisted applicants for an online interview after reviewing applications.
Aalborg, IT University, Roskilde
Apply through each university's portal. Automatic consideration with admission. Check individual university pages for current deadlines.
The CBS Personal Statement
If you're applying to CBS, your scholarship personal statement is what differentiates you. It should be maximum 2 pages. CBS explicitly states it must be "personal and specific" — not a generic statement. What this means:
- Address your specific academic achievements: GPA, honors, awards, publications
- Describe work or life experiences that relate to your intended program
- Explain specifically why you chose this CBS program — what about the curriculum, the professors, the school's approach
- State your post-graduation plans — what you want to do, what role the degree plays
- Be personal: avoid corporate language and templates
What separates strong from weak CBS statements
The worst CBS statements are ones that could have been written by anyone applying anywhere. The best ones make the reader feel they know who you are and why you specifically should be selected.
The DTU Scholarship Statement
DTU's scholarship statement is different in purpose from CBS's. At DTU:
- It's primarily about achievements, not aspirations
- Focus on: GPA, rank in class, research outputs, publications, competition results, international experience
- This document is evaluated alongside the rest of your application to determine if you rank among the very top admitted candidates
- A typical successful applicant at DTU has a high GPA from a well-regarded institution, some research or publication track record, and clear evidence of academic excellence
Keep it focused. This is not a letter about your future — it's a record of what you've already done.
Wait and Be Ready to Respond Quickly
After submitting:
Expect scholarship decisions with or shortly after admission decisions (March–April for January applications)
Scholarship communication in April (Round 1) or December (Round 2)
Interview invitation 3–6 weeks after deadline, with decision following interview
Act immediately when you receive an offer
Especially at Aarhus, the acceptance window is very short — sometimes just a few business days. Have all required documents ready and a decision made before the email arrives.
After Receiving a Scholarship Offer
Once you have a scholarship offer, move on these in sequence:
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1
Accept officially through the university's system by the stated deadline
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2
Apply for your Danish student residence permit immediately (at nyidanmark.dk)
Processing takes up to 2–3 months. Don't delay.
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3
Start housing search immediately
Copenhagen and Aarhus have long waits for student housing.
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4
Arrange private travel/health insurance for your first weeks
Public health coverage doesn't start until CPR registration.
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5
Register for CPR number online up to 1 month before arriving
If the option is available for your municipality.
Applying to Multiple Universities
Apply to 2–3 universities simultaneously where possible. Each pool is separate, and increasing your options significantly increases your scholarship chances. There's no penalty for applying to multiple institutions.
If you receive multiple offers, you can only accept one scholarship. Choose based on:
Program quality
Does the program match your specific field and research interests?
City and living costs
Copenhagen is more expensive than Aarhus or Odense. Factor in whether you'll need to supplement.
Scholarship coverage
Tuition-only waiver vs. tuition + monthly stipend are meaningfully different offers.
Career fit
Where do the graduates end up? Which institution is better known in the industry you're targeting?