Life in Denmark on a Government Scholarship
The scholarship covers your fees, and at some universities a monthly stipend. Here's what that money actually gets you — and the practical realities every new international student in Denmark needs to know.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
7 min read
Updated Oct 6, 2026
The cost of living reality
Denmark is one of the most expensive countries in Europe. That won't surprise most international students — but the gap between “I know it's expensive” and “here are the actual numbers” matters for planning.
Copenhagen (UCPH, CBS, ITU)
| Rent (room or shared apartment) | DKK 4,000–7,500/mo |
| Food (discount supermarkets — Netto and Rema 1000 are the cheapest) | DKK 2,000–2,500/mo |
| Public transport (student, zones 1–2) | DKK 435/mo |
| Phone | DKK 100–200/mo |
| Other essentials | DKK 500–800/mo |
| Total (no entertainment) | DKK 7,035–11,200+ |
The CBS stipend after tax (~DKK 6,500) is just under break-even without cheap housing. Private-market housing is the biggest variable.
Aarhus (Aarhus University)
Rent runs about DKK 3,000–5,000, food DKK 1,800–2,300 and transport DKK 250–350 a month — a total of roughly DKK 5,500–8,500. More comfortable than Copenhagen, especially if you secure university-associated housing.
Sønderborg (SDU MSc Engineering)
Rent runs about DKK 2,000–3,500 and food DKK 1,500–2,000 a month — a total of roughly DKK 4,000–6,500. SDU’s scholarship is a tuition waiver with no living grant, so plan to fund these costs yourself.
Aalborg (Aalborg University)
Comparable to Aarhus — roughly 10–15% cheaper than Copenhagen. Good student housing availability. A realistic option if you want a lower-cost city with strong academic programmes, and AAU’s scholarship stipend (DKK 11,225 a month at the 2026 rate) is the highest published in Denmark.
The housing problem
This is the most underestimated challenge for incoming international students in Denmark.
- Danish universities offer little traditional on-campus housing. Most students find accommodation independently.
- In Copenhagen, subsidised student housing is in short supply.
- Waiting lists for subsidised student housing in Copenhagen are years long for the general queue.
- Many universities have housing offices that can register you for shorter emergency or priority queues — apply the moment you accept your offer.
- In August, Copenhagen runs a “Startup Housing” programme for new international students — temporary accommodation from August through November while you search.
In practice, many scholarship students in Copenhagen end up in private-market shared apartments, which cost DKK 5,000–7,500 a month for a room — significantly more than subsidised student housing (DKK 2,500–4,000).
How to approach it
- 1
Contact your university's housing office the day you accept your scholarship and admission offer.
- 2
Register with kollegierneskontor.dk (student residences).
- 3
Join Facebook groups for Copenhagen or Aarhus international student housing.
- 4
Consider temporary housing for your first 1–2 months while you search for something longer-term.
CPR number — your first priority on arrival
The CPR number (Det Centrale Personregister) is Denmark's civil registration number. It unlocks almost everything:
Register with a GP and get your yellow health card.
Most Danish banks require a CPR number.
Essential for not losing 55% of your stipend.
Library access, sports clubs, most public platforms.
How to get it: register at your local Borgerservice (citizen service centre) within 5 days of arrival. In some municipalities, you can register up to 1 month before arrival.
You'll receive your CPR number by post. While waiting: arrange private health insurance to cover the gap, use an international bank card for expenses, and prioritise this registration above everything else after arrival.
Healthcare
After CPR registration and receiving your yellow health insurance card (Sygesikringskort):
GP visits; hospital treatment; emergency care; prescriptions (subsidised, with a modest co-pay).
Dental care (basic check-ups); physiotherapy (except limited specialist referrals); eye examinations and glasses; travel vaccinations.
Before you have your CPR and yellow card, only emergency hospital treatment is free. Other care requires payment. Private travel insurance covering health is essential for your first weeks.
Getting a bank account
Danish banks typically require a CPR number, a Danish address and a residence permit (for non-EU citizens).
- Without CPR: Revolut, Wise or N26 don't require a CPR number for a basic account; Jyske Bank and some cooperatives may open accounts before CPR with enough documentation.
- With CPR, common choices: Danske Bank, Nordea, Sydbank.
Account opening typically takes 2–3 weeks after CPR. Ask your university's international office which bank they work with — some have partnerships that speed up the process.
Taxes and the 55% withholding problem
If you start receiving your stipend before obtaining a tax card, Denmark automatically withholds 55% (the default rate for taxpayers without a card). It is corrected in your annual tax return, but losing half your stipend for weeks is a significant cash-flow problem.
Solution: register with SKAT (skat.dk) immediately after receiving your CPR number and apply for a tax card. Once issued, your stipend is taxed at the correct rate.
| The actual tax situation (CBS example) | Approximate figure |
|---|---|
| Personal deduction | DKK 51,600/year at the 2025 level — income below this is tax-free (check skat.dk for the current amount) |
| CBS stipend, annual | DKK 8,000 × 12 = DKK 96,000 |
| Taxable amount above deduction | ~DKK 44,400 |
| Approx. annual tax | ~DKK 16,000/year |
The effective monthly rate is far lower than the 55% default. You'll get a refund at year-end if you were overtaxed during the initial period.
Part-time work
The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration sets the limit for students in state-approved programmes at 90 hours a month during the study year (older guides quote 20 hours a week).
Reality check on finding work
- Most service-sector jobs (cafes, retail, supermarkets) require functional Danish — even in Copenhagen, where everyone speaks English, employers often prefer Danish-speaking staff.
- University and campus jobs (student assistants, research helpers, library staff) often accept English-speaking applicants.
- Tutoring, online freelance work, and English-language tech or business jobs are more accessible.
SDU students in Sønderborg: the city is smaller and English-language job access is more limited. Supplement income through remote or online work if needed. Learning basic Danish opens significantly more opportunities in every city.
The Danish winter — an honest description
This is consistently the biggest personal adjustment for international students from tropical or subtropical countries.
How to prepare
- Bring (or budget to buy) warm winter clothing: thermal layers, a proper winter coat, waterproof shoes.
- Invest in a daylight lamp — widely available and genuinely helpful for seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which is more common than students expect.
- Plan outdoor activities during daylight hours — weekday lunches outside help.
- Join social groups early — isolation in dark winters is harder than isolation in summer.
The other side: Danish summers are extraordinary. June and July see 17–18 hours of daylight. The contrast is dramatic, and most students end up appreciating both extremes.
Social life and integration
Denmark is one of the safest countries in the world — personal safety is not a concern. Danes are friendly, polite and helpful. But making close Danish friends takes time: Danish social culture is more reserved than in many other countries, and international students often form their first social circles with other international students.
Dormitory living dramatically helps integration — the mix of nationalities and the shared setting builds connections faster than off-campus apartments.
Notably flat: professors are addressed by first names, opinions are valued regardless of seniority, and independent thinking is expected. If you come from a more hierarchical academic tradition, this takes adjustment.
What helps:
- Join student clubs or associations at your university.
- Take part in fadderuge (buddy week) orientation programmes — this is when most early friendships form.
- Show up to events even when you'd rather stay home — the first events are how friendships start.
After graduation — can you stay?
Students who complete a full degree at a state-approved programme can apply for a post-study job-seeking permit:
Job-seeking permit after graduation.
For Bachelor's, Master's and PhD graduates from state-approved programmes (the length depends on your level and application date). Same work rights as during studies (90 hours a month in the study year, full-time in summer).
Path to permanent residency
- 1
8 years of legal residence (study time counts toward residence years, not the work requirement).
- 2
Danish Language Test 2 (or higher).
- 3
3.5 years of full-time work in the last 4 years.
- 4
A clean record and consistent tax compliance.
To work full-time without restriction during the job-seeking period, you need a separate work permit tied to an employer. Bachelor's and master's graduates of state-approved programmes can apply for a work permit without limitations once they complete their programme.
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