SU at the University of Copenhagen offers assistance and guidance to help you understand the SU rules.
Check out our FAQ on this page to grasp the basic SU rules.
We also provide information about the new SU regulations, which were passed by the Danish Parliament on June 4, 2024.
In Denmark, students can receive monthly financial support from the Danish state to cover living expenses for students. It’s called SU (state education grant).
One month’s SU corresponds to one grant portion.
When you receive SU, you can also apply for a monthly (SU) loan. Interest accrues on the loan from the day you obtain it. You must start repaying the loan no later than one year after you have graduated.
As a non-Danish citizen, you must apply for equal status with Danish citizens to receive SU.
When you apply for equal status, you must meet specific requirements either under EU law or Danish rules and regulations.
You must be enrolled on a full-degree programme in Denmark in order to receive SU. You can’t be enrolled on a degree programme in another country and receive SU while studying a semester at the University of Copenhagen.
You apply for SU and equal status under minSU at su.dk/english. You must first apply for SU, and then for equal status. You must apply for equal status no later than three weeks after you have applied for SU on minSU. Your SU will only be approved and paid if your application for equal status is approved.
No, unfortunately not. To apply for and receive SU, you must have a Danish civil registration number (CPR number) and MitID. When you have moved to Denmark, you should contact the Citizens’ Service in your municipality to get help obtaining a CPR number and MitID.
Your SU will be paid on the last banking day of the month and is paid in advance. For example, your SU for May will be paid on the last banking day in April. To receive SU, you must have a NemKonto (bank account). If you are unsure whether you have a NemKonto, you should contact your bank in Denmark.
You can work while receiving SU. However, you will be subject to an earnings ceiling, which is calculated on a monthly and an annual basis. If you exceed the annual earnings ceiling, you must pay back some of your state education grant and, if any, loan. You should keep an eye on whether you stay within the annual earnings ceiling. To calculate your annual earnings ceiling, you can use the income calculator.
To calculate your annual earnings ceiling, you must add up the 12 monthly amounts you are allowed to earn. Your annual income must not exceed the annual earnings ceiling. That means that it doesn’t matter if you earn a large amount one month and less the following month as long as you don’t earn more than the annual allowed amount.
When you receive SU, you are subject to the study activity requirement. You must not be delayed by more than 30 ECTS credits on your degree programme when SU runs its study activity review every year in March and September. This means that it’s not possible to study part-time without being delayed by more than 30 ECTS credits at some point and you will lose your right to receive SU (until you are delayed by less than 30 ECTS).
If you are delayed in your degree programme due to illness (or council work or other special circumstances), you can apply for additional grant portions if you can document your illness by a doctor's note.
It’s a good idea to apply for additional monthly grant portions if you fall ill and become delayed in your degree programme. That’s because, if granted, you will have more monthly grant portions for your studies and the number of grant portions you have used on your programme will influence the assessment of whether you comply with study activity requirements and are entitled to receive SU.
If you have any questions about SU for your degree programme, you can contact the SU office at UCPH.
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