Study in Denmark from Nepal and India
Residence permit for higher education (Aliens Act § 9 i)
Non-EU students need a residence permit for higher education (fee DKK 3,060 in 2026) and must show funds equal to the SU rate of DKK 7,426 a month for up to 12 months, unless they have already paid at least the first semester's tuition. Students may work 90 hours a month and full time in June–August, and graduates get a 6-month job-seeking permit, or up to one year for Danish bachelor's/master's students who applied on or after 1 October 2026.
Denmark student visa at a glance
- Work in term
- See guide
- Term-time work
- Source: retsinformation.dk (opens the official website in a new tab)
- Stay after study
- 1 yr
- Job-seeking period
- Source: retsinformation.dk (opens the official website in a new tab)
Short answer: To study in Denmark you apply for the Residence permit for higher education (Aliens Act § 9 i). The main visa fee is DKK 3,060. You must also show DKK 7,426 per month: money that stays yours. Eligible bachelor's and master's graduates can get a post-study work stay of up to 12 months (rules and longer stays for some degrees below).
Check before you start
- This guide is for Nepali and Indian citizens applying from Nepal or India.
- You need an offer from a recognised institution. Check it on the official register in the sources below.
- Rules change often. Use the official links on this page to confirm before you pay or apply.
How much does it cost to study in Denmark?
Two different kinds of money: fees you pay (gone once paid) and funds you show as evidence (they stay in your account). Never add them together.
You pay
Fees. Not refunded.
- Residence permit for studies (application or extension), 2026DKK 3,060 one-offSet for 1 Jan–31 Dec 2026 (DKK 2,255 in 2025); payable to SIRI in DKK or EUR (EUR 410.19); DKK 750 is kept if the application is rejected on grounds other than non-payment.
- Accompanying family member permit (§ 9 n), 2026DKK 3,080 one-offFrom 1 Oct 2026 family permits under the student rules are listed only for PhD students and health-authorisation applicants.
- Work permit without restriction after a Danish degree (§ 9 i(18)), 2026DKK 840 one-off
You show
Evidence. It stays yours.
- Funds: SU rate for students living away from home (2026)DKK 7,426 per monthBank statement in your own name covering each month of the permit, capped at 12 months (DKK 89,112). Not required if you have paid the required tuition for at least the first semester.
This money proves you can support yourself. It is not paid to anyone.
Tuition and living costs (guide figures)
- Typical tuition (non-EU/EEA) – lower endDKK 45,000 per yearStudy in Denmark gives DKK 45,000–120,000 (EUR 6,000–16,000) a year; check the exact fee with the institution.
- Typical tuition (non-EU/EEA) – upper endDKK 120,000 per yearEU/EEA/Swiss students and permanent residents study free.
- Rent (typical range DKK 3,000–6,500)DKK 3,000 per monthStudy in Denmark also lists food DKK 2,000–3,500, transport DKK 300, insurance about DKK 300 and other personal costs about DKK 2,000 a month; no official total is given.
NPR and INR are estimates at Nepal Rastra Bank selling rates of 22 Oct 2026. Pay official fees only through the official channel.
What do I need for the Denmark student visa?
- Who decides
- You apply to the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) before coming to Denmark: create a case order ID, pay the fee, then submit after your institution completes its part. Source: studyindenmark.dk (opens the official website in a new tab)
- Admission
- You must be admitted to a state-approved higher education programme; SIRI asks the institution to confirm your admission. Source: retsinformation.dk (opens the official website in a new tab)
- Funds
- Show a bank statement in your own name equal to DKK 7,426 a month (2026 SU rate) for the permit period, at most 12 months, unless first-semester tuition is already paid. Source: retsinformation.dk (opens the official website in a new tab)
- Where to apply
- Apply from your home country or a country where you have lived legally for the last 3 months, at a Danish mission. Source: retsinformation.dk (opens the official website in a new tab)
- Permit length
- Granted for the standard length of the programme; it can be extended by a year if you are study-active and not more than a year behind. Source: retsinformation.dk (opens the official website in a new tab)
- Study activity
- The permit is conditional on you being study-active in the programme it was granted for. Source: retsinformation.dk (opens the official website in a new tab)
- Extensions
- Higher-education students can apply to extend up to 4 months before the permit expires. Source: retsinformation.dk (opens the official website in a new tab)
- Bachelor's application deadline
- Applicants with non-Danish qualifications apply via the national admission site optagelse.dk by 15 March, 12 noon CET. Source: studyindenmark.dk (opens the official website in a new tab)
Can I work while studying in Denmark?
- Term-time work
- Up to 90 hours per calendar month of part-time work. Source: retsinformation.dk (opens the official website in a new tab)
- Summer
- Full-time work is allowed in June, July and August. Source: studyindenmark.dk (opens the official website in a new tab)
- Older permits
- Work permits issued before 1 July 2024 allowed 20 hours a week averaged per month, or the new 90 hours a month. Source: retsinformation.dk (opens the official website in a new tab)
- Non-state-approved programmes
- The automatic work permit covers students on state-approved programmes; the order does not list students on non-state-approved programmes (§ 1(2)). Source: retsinformation.dk (opens the official website in a new tab)
Can I stay and work after graduating?
- Job-seeking period
- Your study permit comes with a residence permit for up to 6 months after completing the programme to look for work in Denmark. Source: retsinformation.dk (opens the official website in a new tab)
- One year (from 1 Oct 2026)
- Students who applied on or after 1 October 2026 for a Danish bachelor's, professional bachelor's or master's can get up to one year to look for work. Source: retsinformation.dk (opens the official website in a new tab)
- PhD graduates
- Danish PhD graduates can get up to three years to look for work. Source: retsinformation.dk (opens the official website in a new tab)
- Unrestricted work
- After a Danish degree you can apply for a work permit without restriction (fee DKK 840 in 2026) and may work while it is processed. Source: retsinformation.dk (opens the official website in a new tab)
- Establishment card
- The Aliens Act no longer contains the establishment card scheme; Act 333 of 28 March 2023 (in force 1 April 2023) kept it only for earlier applicants. Source: retsinformation.dk (opens the official website in a new tab)
What is different for Nepali and Indian students?
From Nepal
- Embassy for NepalNepal
- Denmark has no embassy in Nepal: visa and residence-permit matters are handled by the Royal Danish Embassy in New Delhi; there is an honorary consulate in Lazimpat, Kathmandu. Source: um.dk (opens the official website in a new tab)
- Pending cases
- Do not ask the embassy about pending residence-permit cases; it contacts you when it needs information or has the decision. Source: um.dk (opens the official website in a new tab)
From India
- Embassy for IndiaIndia
- Royal Danish Embassy, 33 B Dr. S. Radhakrishnan Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi; it warns that application fees can only be paid via nyidanmark.dk. Source: um.dk (opens the official website in a new tab)
- Fraud warningIndia
- The embassy in India warns of fraudulent job offers for work in Denmark. Source: um.dk (opens the official website in a new tab)
- Pending cases
- Do not ask the embassy about pending residence-permit cases; it contacts you when it needs information or has the decision. Source: um.dk (opens the official website in a new tab)
What are the top universities in Denmark?
The 6 highest-placed universities in Denmark in THE World University Rankings 2027, in that order. Rankings measure research and reputation, not whether a course suits you. Check entry rules, fees and the course on each official site. Checked 22 Oct 2026.
1. University of Copenhagen (UCPH)
Copenhagen · Public university · Some degrees in English
Known for: Health & Medical Sciences · Science · Social Sciences · Humanities · Law · Theology
Official website (opens the official website in a new tab)Faculties and schools (opens the official website in a new tab)Register: Danish Accreditation Council: positive institutional accreditation, 2nd round (19 Feb 2025) (opens the official website in a new tab)
81THE WUR 2027
2. Aarhus University (AU)
Aarhus · Public university · Some degrees in English
Known for: Business & Social Sciences · Arts · Health · Natural Sciences · Technical Sciences
Official website (opens the official website in a new tab)Faculties and schools (opens the official website in a new tab)Register: Danish Accreditation Council: positive institutional accreditation, 2nd round (24 Sep 2024) (opens the official website in a new tab)
=97THE WUR 2027
3. Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
Kongens Lyngby (Greater Copenhagen) · Public university · Some degrees in English
Strongest subjects in rankings: Engineering · Physical Sciences · Life Sciences · Computer Science · Clinical & Health
Official website (opens the official website in a new tab)Subject rankings (opens the official website in a new tab)Register: Danish Accreditation Council: positive institutional accreditation, 2nd round (21 Jun 2021) (opens the official website in a new tab)
110THE WUR 2027
4. Aalborg University (AAU)
Aalborg (also Copenhagen, Esbjerg campuses) · Public university · Some degrees in English
Known for: Engineering & Science · IT & Design · Medicine · Social Sciences & Humanities
Official website (opens the official website in a new tab)Faculties and schools (opens the official website in a new tab)Register: Danish Accreditation Council: positive institutional accreditation, 2nd round (12 Mar 2024) (opens the official website in a new tab)
=224THE WUR 2027
5. University of Southern Denmark (SDU)
Odense (also Kolding, Sønderborg, Esbjerg, Slagelse) · Public university · Some degrees in English
Known for: Humanities · Science · Social Sciences · Health Sciences · Engineering · Business (SDU Business School)
Official website (opens the official website in a new tab)Faculties and schools (opens the official website in a new tab)Register: Danish Accreditation Council: positive institutional accreditation, 2nd round (2 Mar 2021) (opens the official website in a new tab)
=277THE WUR 2027
6. Roskilde University (RUC)
Roskilde · Public university · Language of teaching: check with the university
Strongest subjects in rankings: Social Sciences · Business & Economics · Arts & Humanities · Physical Sciences
Official website (opens the official website in a new tab)Subject rankings (opens the official website in a new tab)Register: Danish Accreditation Council: positive institutional accreditation (re-accreditation after conditional decision, 24 Nov 2022) (opens the official website in a new tab)
501–550THE WUR 2027
What has changed recently?
Study residence-permit fee rose from DKK 2,255 (2025) to DKK 3,060 for 2026. Source: retsinformation.dk (opens the official website in a new tab)
New student order (BEK 829/2026): up to one year job-seeking for Danish bachelor's/master's graduates who apply from 1 Oct 2026; family members can generally no longer get permits under the student rules (PhD excepted). Source: retsinformation.dk (opens the official website in a new tab)
Check these yourself
We could not confirm these on an official page when we last checked, so we do not state them as facts.
- The fee, document list and current processing time — confirm on nyidanmark.dk before applying.
- Where Nepali and Indian applicants give biometrics.
- Whether a Danish health insurance or language-test requirement applies to your programme.
- Exact tuition for your programme — ask the institution.
Official sources for Denmark
Government and official pages we use for this guide, checked .
- 1Aliens Act – LBK 1183 of 25 Sep 2025law · § 9 i student permits, § 9 h fees, job-seeking work permit
- 2Student order – BEK 829 of 24 Sep 2026 (in force 1 Oct 2026)law · Funds (SU rate), 90 h/month work, 6-month / 1-year job-seeking, family rules
- 3Aliens Order – BEK 1354 of 17 Nov 2025law · Where to apply, extension timing
- 4Fee order – BEK 1612 of 7 Dec 2025 (2026 fees)fee · Study permit DKK 3,060; family DKK 3,080; work permit DKK 840
- 5Fee order – BEK 1570 of 9 Dec 2024 (2025 fees)fee · 2025 study fee DKK 2,255 (for change log)
- 6SU – rate for students living away from home (higher education)funds · DKK 7,426/month in 2026 (funds benchmark)
- 7Study in Denmark – residence permits (non-EU/EEA)study_portal · Process; 1 Oct 2026 family change
- 8Study in Denmark – student jobswork · 90 h/month Sep–May, full time Jun–Aug
- 9Study in Denmark – tuition fees and scholarshipstuition · DKK 45,000–120,000/yr
- 10Study in Denmark – bank & budgetliving · Monthly cost items
- 11Study in Denmark – how to applystudy_portal · optagelse.dk, 15 March deadline
- 12Royal Danish Embassy New Delhiembassy_india · Embassy for India; fraud/payment warning
- 13Denmark in Nepal (Embassy New Delhi + honorary consulate Kathmandu)embassy_nepal · Nepal served from New Delhi
- 14Royal Danish Embassy New Delhi – travel and residenceembassy_india · Pending residence-permit cases
Planning to study in Denmark?
Tell us your results, budget and intake. We reply with options and the official steps, free.
General information from official government sources — not legal or immigration advice, and not a guarantee of admission, scholarship, employment or visa approval. Rules change: always confirm on the official site before you apply.