The Danish Government Scholarship is not a single program with uniform terms. Each participating university receives an annual allocation and runs its own process with its own rules. This is the single most important thing to understand. Knowing how CBS handles it tells you nothing about how DTU handles it. They're effectively eight separate scholarships sharing a legal basis.
Technical University of Denmark
Kongens Lyngby — 15 minutes from Copenhagen
The DTU scholarship has one rule that trips many applicants: you must submit a separate personal statement explicitly requesting the tuition fee waiver. It is not automatic consideration. If you don't submit this document, you are not considered for the scholarship — period.
What DTU looks for in the personal statement
- ▶Undergraduate academic achievements (GPA, class ranking)
- ▶Research experience, publications, awards, or competition results
- ▶International experience
- ▶Extracurricular activities
Beyond the statement, DTU weights GPA heavily alongside the prestige of your bachelor's institution and research output. The scholarship is specifically for STEM fields (engineering, physics, mathematics, computing, biotech) and does not apply to PhD programs.
University of Copenhagen
Copenhagen
All admitted non-EU/EEA students are automatically considered — there's nothing extra to submit. Your admission application is your scholarship application. Decisions come after admissions are processed.
Coverage by faculty
Aarhus University
Aarhus — Denmark's second largest city
After receiving a scholarship offer from Aarhus, there is a very short acceptance window. Students who don't respond quickly lose the offer. When you get the email, respond immediately.
Copenhagen Business School
Frederiksberg — effectively Copenhagen
The DKK 8,000/month stipend is taxable under Danish law. With the personal deduction (DKK 51,600/year), the effective tax rate is modest for the first year. Take-home is approximately DKK 6,500–7,000/month. Maximum duration is 22 months.
CBS requires a personal statement (maximum 2 pages). The statement must be "personal and specific" — not a template. It should address academic achievements, relevant work or life experience, and specific reasons for choosing your program and CBS. Selection may include an interview.
University of Southern Denmark
Sønderborg (engineering) & Vejle (tech/computing)
Eligible programs — very specific
- Electronics / Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mechatronics
- Artificial Intelligence
- Computer Science
- Interactive Technology Engineering
- Software Engineering
The SDU scholarship includes an online interview assessing motivation and technical capability. It does not require specific preparation beyond knowing your field. Academic requirement to maintain the scholarship: ≥30 ECTS credits per semester.
Aalborg University
Aalborg (main), plus Copenhagen and Esbjerg campuses
AAU participates in the government scholarship program. Coverage and awards vary — check directly with AAU admissions for current availability and deadlines, as their process details are not consistently published centrally.
AAU is strong in engineering, social sciences, humanities, and business. It is known for its problem-based learning approach — students work in groups solving real-world problems from the start. This is unusual in European academia and may be a strong fit for applicants with professional backgrounds.
IT University Copenhagen
Copenhagen
ITU participates in the government scholarship program. Coverage details require direct confirmation from ITU. Programs focus on IT and computing: software engineering, data science, and digital innovation.
ITU is a specialized university. If your background and goals are in computing or tech, ITU is worth exploring alongside DTU and UCPH for scholarship opportunities.
Roskilde University
Roskilde — 30 minutes from Copenhagen
RUC participates in the program and is strong in social sciences, humanities, and natural science. It uses a project-based and interdisciplinary approach.
University Comparison
| University | City | Scholarship Type | Includes Stipend | Approx. Awards | Deadline | Extra Statement? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DTU | Kongens Lyngby | Tuition waiver only | No | Very limited | Jan 15 | Yes — required |
| UCPH | Copenhagen | Automatic consideration | Some faculties | 2–4 per faculty | With admission | No |
| Aarhus | Aarhus | Automatic consideration | Some faculties | 1–2 per program | Jan 15 / Sep 15 | No |
| CBS | Frederiksberg | Waiver + Stipend | Yes — DKK 8,000 | ~25 | Jan 15 / Oct 15 | Yes — 2 pages |
| SDU | Sønderborg / Vejle | Waiver + Stipend | Yes — DKK 6,090 | Not published | Feb 1 / Mar 15 | Interview |
| AAU | Aalborg | Varies | Check directly | Not published | Check directly | Check directly |
| ITU | Copenhagen | Varies | Check directly | Not published | Check directly | Check directly |
| RUC | Roskilde | Varies | Check directly | Not published | Check directly | Check directly |
Which University Should You Apply To?
Each application is a separate pool. You can only hold one scholarship, but applying to multiple costs nothing extra — all are automatic consideration or bundled with admission.
CBS publishes clearer terms and offers approximately 25 awards per year — the highest of any Danish university. SDU has a clear, structured process and includes a stipend. Both are your strongest bets for actually receiving a scholarship offer.
DTU is highly prestigious but competitive and covers tuition only. SDU has a clearer process, includes a stipend, and covers specific engineering and computing programs. If you meet SDU's eligible programs list, apply there.
CBS is the strongest option for business-focused applicants — highest stipend, most awards, and the most transparent process. The personal statement requirement is manageable; treat it seriously.
Both use automatic consideration — your admission application doubles as a scholarship application, so there's no extra effort. Competition is intense at UCPH. Aarhus is slightly less saturated, more affordable, and has better housing availability.
Each application goes into a separate pool. Applying broadly costs nothing extra — for automatic consideration universities, you're already applying. Write one strong CBS statement if business applies to you; submit DTU's extra statement if you're STEM-focused. You can only accept one offer, but more applications mean more chances.