Cheapest Universities of Denmark
Despite being a small European country, Denmark consistently ranks highly in global rankings. They are ranked in the top ten for their high-quality healthcare and education systems, as well as their economic and social progress and citizen happiness levels.
These are all important factors for international students to consider while choosing a country to study in.
List of cheapest universities in Denmark
1. University College of Northern Denmark
Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: $7,225 per year
Undergraduate Tuition Fee Link https://www.ucn.dk/english/programmes-and-courses/admission/tuition-for-non-eu/non-eea-citizens
UCN Denmark, which was established in 2008, is a college that offers courses that are relevant to the workplace. With tuition prices starting at $7,225 per year, UNC Denmark is the cheapest university in Denmark for international students.
UCN offers 2-year academy professional degrees in collaboration with Aalborg University. Hospitality, Digital Concept Development, Software, Sport, Web Development, and Sales & Marketing are among the 1.5-year top-up programs available.
Architecture and Export Management are also available as 3.5-year bachelor’s degrees at UCN. Despite the fact that it does not offer post-graduate degrees, UCN conducts extensive research. Because of its low costs, UCN Denmark has attracted a large number of international students — 1,200 full-time students to be exact.
Campuses are currently located in Aalborg, Thisted, and Hjorring.
2. University of Southern Denmark
Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: $7,515 per year
Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: $7,515 per year
Undergraduate Tuition Fee Link https://www.sdu.dk/en/uddannelse/tuition
In the year 1998, the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) was founded. It has two campuses: one in Southern Denmark and one in Zealand.
Despite its youth, it is regarded as one of the top 50 universities under the age of 50. SDU’s world-class programs, which are divided into the Faculties of Engineering, Social Science, Humanities, Engineering, and Science, have demonstrated this.
SDU is Denmark’s third-largest university, with about 22,500 students, 14 percent of whom are international students.
3. Aarhus University
Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: $9,697 per year
Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: $9,697 per year
Undergraduate Tuition Fee Link https://kandidat.au.dk/fileadmin/siab.kandidat.au.dk/optagelse/Bachelor_tuition_fee_2021-2022__2_.pdf
For overseas students, Aarhus University is another economical university in Denmark. The institution, which is based in Aarhus, was formed in 1928, making it the country’s second-oldest. In terms of rankings, it is currently second only to the University of Copenhagen.
Arts, Natural Science, Health, Business, and Technical Science are the five faculties in which the university’s programs are organized.
Studying in Denmark on a budget — what the fees above actually mean
Tuition is only one line in the budget, and on its own it is a poor guide to whether you can afford to study in Denmark. A country with low tuition and high living costs can end up more expensive than one with higher tuition and cheap accommodation. Work out the total annual cost before you compare anywhere.
How to check a tuition figure before you rely on it
Fee figures on any website — including this one — go out of date. Universities revise tuition annually, and governments change policy. Before you rely on a number:
- Open the university’s own website and find the fees page for international or non-national students. That is the only figure that counts.
- Check the academic year the figure applies to. A 2023 fee table tells you very little about what you will pay in 2026/2027.
- Confirm whether the price is per year, per semester or per credit. Per-credit pricing is common and makes cheap-looking programmes expensive.
- Check whether international students pay a different rate. In many systems local and EU students pay far less than everyone else.
- Email the admissions office and keep the reply. A written quote protects you.
A live example of why this matters: Norway’s public universities were free for everyone until 2023, when parliament introduced cost-covering fees for non-EU/EEA students — and non-European enrolment fell by roughly 80% within two years. In June 2025 the government proposed letting institutions set their own fees again, including at zero, from August 2026. Anyone relying on a five-year-old “tuition-free” article would have got it badly wrong in both directions.
Entry route: Denmark is in the Schengen area, so you will apply for a national long-stay student visa (type D) at the embassy or an accredited visa centre in Abuja or Lagos, not a short-stay Schengen visa. Expect to show an admission letter, proof of funds in a blocked or verifiable account, health insurance and accommodation. A major advantage: once you hold a residence permit you can travel across the Schengen area.
Language of instruction: Denmark offers a substantial number of degree programmes taught entirely in English, particularly at master’s level. Undergraduate teaching is more often in the local language. An English test is usually required, though some institutions waive it where your previous degree was taught in English. Confirm both the programme language and the waiver policy in writing before applying.
Build a realistic total-cost budget
Before applying to any institution in Denmark, price all of the following. Applicants routinely underestimate the second half of this list:
- Tuition for international students, for the correct academic year
- Application and acceptance fees, which are usually non-refundable
- Accommodation — on-campus versus private rent can differ enormously
- Living costs — food, transport, data, utilities
- Health insurance, which is compulsory in most study destinations
- Visa or permit fees, plus biometrics and courier charges
- Flights, and a return flight if the visa requires proof of one
- Proof of funds — money you must show you hold, on top of what you actually spend
- Document costs — transcripts, notarisation, apostille, translation, courier
- The naira exchange rate, and how a further depreciation would affect year two
How to bring the cost down honestly
- Apply for scholarships in parallel, not afterwards. Most funding deadlines fall before or alongside admission deadlines, not after.
- Look at government scholarships from Denmark itself. Many countries fund international students directly, and these are often less competitive than the famous named awards.
- Ask about assistantships and tuition waivers at postgraduate level. Teaching or research assistantships can cut or eliminate tuition.
- Ask about fee instalments. Many institutions allow termly payment, which matters when you are converting naira.
- Check student work rights on your visa — how many hours, and whether you may work at all. Never plan a budget that depends on illegal work.
- Compare smaller cities. Rent outside the capital is often the single biggest saving available.
A warning about agents
No agent can guarantee you admission or a visa. If someone promises either in exchange for money, walk away. Legitimate agents are paid by institutions, publish their registration details, and will never ask you to send money to a personal account. Apply directly to the university wherever you can — almost every institution accepts direct applications, and it is free or cheaper.
Frequently asked questions
Can Nigerians study in Denmark?
Yes. Nigerian students are admitted to institutions in Denmark subject to meeting the academic entry requirements, the language requirement and the immigration rules set out above.
Is the cheapest university the best choice?
Not automatically. Check that the institution is recognised by the national regulator in Denmark and, if you plan to return home or move on, that its degrees are accepted where you intend to work. A cheap degree from an unrecognised institution costs you everything.
Do I need IELTS to study in Denmark?
It depends on the programme and the institution. Where teaching is in English, many institutions waive the test for applicants whose previous degree was taught in English — which covers most Nigerian graduates. Always confirm in writing before paying for a test.
How much money do I need to show?
That is set by the immigration authorities, not the university, and it changes. Check the official government source for Denmark shortly before you apply, because the figure is usually updated annually.
Can I work while studying?
Some countries permit limited part-time work on a student visa and some do not. Confirm the rule for your specific visa type, and treat any earnings as a supplement rather than the basis of your budget.
Related guides
- Full list of universities in Denmark
- International scholarships for Nigerians
- Best scholarships for Nigerians and Africans
- More study-abroad and scholarship guides
Tuition fees, visa rules and proof-of-funds thresholds change every year. Always confirm the current figures on the official university and government websites for Denmark before you apply or pay anything.