Application deposit fee and tuition fees

When planning to study at the University of Copenhagen, you will need to make a budget and assess whether you have sufficient funding for your studies. 

Reading about application and tuition fees and costs of living will give you a general idea of expenses. 

If you are looking for funding read about scholarships and loans.

Application deposit fee

If you are a citizen from outside EU/EEA or Switzerland, you are required to pay an application deposit fee of DKK 1,120 (app. EUR 150), when applying for one or more master’s degree programmes in the same application round. 

You will only have to pay the application deposit fee once each application round regardless of whether you choose to apply for one, two or the maximum of three master's degree programmes per application round.

  • Payment can only be made in DKK and only through the webshop.
  • You need to pay the application deposit fee before you send your application(s) to the University.
  • You have to upload your receipt of payment along with each of your applications for admission.
  • If you do not receive your receipt for payment of the application deposit fee, you can still apply for admission. In that case, you upload a document explaining the issue under the application deposit fee question, and complete and submit your application. Subsequently, you must send an email to student guidance and inform them of the missing receipt.
  • If you are exempt from paying the application deposit fee (see below), you have to upload documentation and an explanation along with each of your applications for admission.
  • Your application(s) will only be processed if the total amount is paid and your receipt (or documentation and explanation for right to exemption) is uploaded.

Contact the student guidance

Please note that you are exempted from paying the application deposit fee if you:

  • hold a Danish Bachelor’s degree or a Danish Professional Bachelor’s degree.
  • hold a permanent residence permit in Denmark (including Greenland and the Faroe Islands).
  • hold a temporary residence permit “with a view to” or “with the possibility of” permanent residency in Denmark (including Greenland and the Faroe Islands) and your permit states: “mhp. varigt ophold” or “mmf. varigt ophold”.
  • hold a permanent residence permit in one of the other Nordic countries (Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland), cf. Article 1 of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affair’s Order No 54 of 17 June 1999 between Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden regarding access to further education, provided you maintain your official residence in that country while enrolled at the University of Copenhagen.
  • have become an EU citizen or enjoy equality of treatment with an EU citizen pursuant to the Executive Order on Residence in Denmark for Aliens Falling within the Rules of the European Union (EU Residence Order).
  • have been granted a temporary residence permit cf. section 7 and section 8(1) or 8(2) of the Danish Aliens Act.
  • have been granted a temporary residence permit on the grounds of family reunification, cf. section 9(1) or 9C(1) of the Danish Aliens Act as a consequence of a familial relationship to a foreigner with a residence permit pursuant to section 7 or section 8(1) or (2).
  • have been granted a temporary residence permit cf. section 9B(1) of the Danish Aliens Act.
  • have been granted a residence permit pursuant to Section 9M (previously 9C) of the Danish Aliens Act as a consequence of your parents having been granted residence permits pursuant to Section 9A of the Danish Aliens Act.
  • have been granted a residence permit under the Danish Act on Temporary Residence Permit for Persons who Have Assisted Danish Authorities, etc. in Afghanistan, cf. Danish Ministerial Order no. 1957 of 15 October 2021 as amended by Danish Ministerial Order no. 2141 of 24 November 2021.
  • hold dual citizenship (EU/EEA + non-EU/EEA) and decide to enter Denmark as an EU/EEA citizen.
  • only apply for an Erasmus Mundus programme.
  • have been granted a residence permit under the Danish Act on Temporary Residence Permit for Displaced Persons from Ukraine; cf. Danish Act no. 324 of 16 March 2022.

Applicants with a temporary work permit in Denmark (e.g. Green Card) have to pay the application deposit fee.

If you are unsure whether you must pay the application deposit fee, please contact the student guidance before the application deadline.

  • If your application is successful, the application deposit fee will be deducted from the first tuition fee payment that you make to the University of Copenhagen.
  • If your application is successful and you are awarded a tuition fee waiver, a refund will not be given.
  • If your application is unsuccessful, or if your application is successful but you choose not to accept the admission offer, a refund will not be given.
  • A direct refund of the application deposit fee is only possible if you have made one or more payments of the application fee without having submitted the relevant number of applications, or if you have paid the application deposit fee even though you are exempt from it. Once you have submitted an application, you are liable for the application deposit fee, even if you cancel the application. This means that if you pay the application deposit fee, but change your mind about applying, you can only get a refund if you have not yet submitted the application. 

Tuition fees

Applicants with citizenship from countries outside of the EU/EEA or Non-Nordic Countries must pay tuition fees (for possible exemptions please see below). 

The University of Copenhagen uses the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS). The ECTS system defines a full study load for one year as 60 ECTS. The master programmes last two years and are made up of 120 ECTS. Students always pay for 120 ECTS/four semesters, even if you take longer – or finish faster. The tuition fee covers up to three attempts to pass each course.

Along with an offer of admission, you will receive information on how and when to pay tuition, as well as term of payment. 

Tuition fees vary depending on the programme. Below you can find the programme specific tuition fee offered at the University of Copenhagen. The tuition fee is for 60 ECTS.

Tuition fee exemptions

In certain situations, you are exempted from paying tuition fee.

You are exempted from paying tuition fee if you:

  • hold a permanent residence permit in Denmark (including Greenland and the Faroe Islands).
  • hold a temporary residence permit “with a view to” or “with the possibility of” permanent residency in Denmark (including Greenland and the Faroe Islands) and your permit states: “mhp. varigt ophold” or “mmf. varigt ophold”.
  • hold a permanent residence permit in one of the other Nordic countries (Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland), cf. Article 1 of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affair’s Order No 54 of 17 June 1999 between Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden regarding access to further education, provided you maintain your official residence in that country while enrolled at the University of Copenhagen.
  • have become an EU citizen or enjoy equality of treatment with an EU citizen pursuant to the Executive Order on Residence in Denmark for Aliens Falling within the Rules of the European Union (EU Residence Order).
  • have been granted a temporary residence permit cf. section 7 and section 8(1) or 8(2) of the Danish Aliens Act.
  • have been granted a temporary residence permit on the grounds of family reunification, cf. section 9(1) or 9C(1) of the Danish Aliens Act as a consequence of a familial relationship to a foreigner with a residence permit pursuant to section 7 or section 8(1) or (2).
  • have been granted a temporary residence permit cf. section 9B(1) of the Danish Aliens Act.
  • have been granted a residence permit pursuant to Section 9M (previously 9C) of the Danish Aliens Act as a consequence of your parents having been granted residence permits pursuant to Section 9A of the Danish Aliens Act.
  • have been granted a residence permit under the Danish Act on Temporary Residence Permit for Persons who Have Assisted Danish Authorities, etc. in Afghanistan, cf. Danish Ministerial Order no. 1957 of 15 October 2021 as amended by Danish Ministerial Order no. 2141 of 24 November 2021.
  • hold dual citizenship (EU/EEA + non-EU/EEA) and decide to enter Denmark as an EU/EEA citizen.
  • have been granted a residence permit under the Danish Act on Temporary Residence Permit for Displaced Persons from Ukraine; cf. Danish Act no. 324 of 16 March 2022.

Applicants with a temporary work permit in Denmark (e.g. Green Card) have to pay the tuition fee.

If you are unsure whether you must pay the tuition fee, please contact the student guidance before the application deadline.

Payment policy and deadlines

The University of Copenhagen charges tuition fee for one semester (30 ECTS) at a time. It is not possible to split the payment into additional instalments.

All fee-paying students must pay the tuition fee in full for four consecutive semesters regardless of how many ECTS they are registered for each respective semester. 

You only need to pay for maximum four semesters. If you, against expectation, do not complete your degree within the prescribed four semesters, you will not need to pay a fifth semester of tuition fees.

The letter with your offer of admission will include a link to our payment portal and instructions on how to make the payment.

NB: Your bank may retain a service fee when processing the payment transfer. The Payer (sender of the payment) will bear all of the transaction fees.

Tuition fee refund policy

The deadline for getting a full tuition fee refund as a newly admitted student is 31 July (autumn semester) and 31 December (spring semester). 

After this date, you can only get a refund in one of the following instances:

  • If your application for a Danish residence permit is rejected.
  • If you are conditionally accepted but do not fulfil the conditional requirements stated in your official letter of admission before the indicated deadlines.
  • If you have paid for the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th semester, but withdraw from the degree programme before the semester starts (the withdrawal deadlines are 31 August or 31 January).
  • If you subsequently obtain a residence permit or citizenship, exempting you from paying the tuition fee. The validity date of the permit, or citizenship, must be before the semester starts (the official validity date must be 31 August or 31 January at the latest).

Please note that our bank may retain a service fee when processing the reimbursement. The person who paid (sender of the payment) bears the payment transaction fees.

Payment by and reimbursement to third parties

We often receive tuition fee payments made by third parties — such as parents, spouses, or others — on behalf of applicants. Please note that the refund will be issued to the original payer, not the applicant. Furthermore, the refund will be issued to the credit card/bank account used to make the payment without exceptions.

Although payment is made on the applicant’s behalf, the applicant is not entitled to receive reimbursement. Only the individual who made the original payment is eligible for a refund.

Living costs

When planning to study at University of Copenhagen budgeting right early on is important. Your budget should consist of items such as tuition fees (if it applies to you), international travel expenses, insurance, settling expenses, and monthly living expenses in Copenhagen.

Monthly living expenses include items such as rent and utilities, internet and phone subscriptions, food and household supplies, local transportation, books and other study material, as well as sport and leisure activities.

Living expenses will vary on an individual basis depending on cost of housing and your personal lifestyle choices. Living in Copenhagen is estimated at EUR 1,280-1,800 per month.

Read more about housingRead about scholarships and loans

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