Admission Procedure: Application Process and Entrance Exams

 
Certain requirements must be fulfilled by students if they want to apply for higher education in Denmark. For most of the programmes, the students must have an upper secondary education to apply. For some programmes, specific types of educational qualifications are needed.

Entry Requirements

Most but not all programmes have certain specific entry requirements such as upper secondary courses for certain educational levels. Some even have a specific  mandatory grade requirements without which a student cannot be admitted into a course. If certain entry requirements are not met prior to July 5 of the academic year, students can also be admitted into the degree programmes after completing certain supplementary courses. Conditional admission may also be given  to students till they pass such courses.

The 2 Quotas For Admission in Danish Institutions

For most programmes, students will be given admission only if they fulfill entry requirements. Yet there are some programmes where the number of applicants is far more than the total number of seats. For such programmes where there is a huge rush, admissions are allocated as per Quota 1 and Quota 2.

Quota 1 Admissions

For admission in Quota 1, the grade point average of upper secondary education is the basis on which the decision is made. The GPA required for admission is published on July 30 every year. Educational institutions to which students apply can be informed about this.

Quota 2 Admissions

Admissions in Quota 2 are allocated as per the criteria published by the educational institutions for which application can be made. There are limited seats available in Quota 2.

Admissions Based on Other Considerations

There are some programmes where admissions are allocated on the basis of either admission tests or some other criteria.

Application Process for Students Applying to Danish Higher Education Institutions 

Students applying to Danish higher educational institutions (except for Master's or adult continuing education programmes) must apply via Optagelse.dk. Students can apply for up to eight programmes at one time. KOT will ensure that students do not receive more than one offer for a single study place and the offer will be at the largest possible priority.

The application deadline is 12 noon on March 15.

General Entry Requirements for Danish Degree Programmes

The foreign certificate of students who apply for higher studies should be on par with the Danish upper secondary school leaving certificate. For entry into Academy Profession degree programmes, the foreign certificate should be at par with the required Danish vocational qualification. For students from some countries, apart from high school, an additional year of study or in some cases, two years of higher education or any studies of supplementary nature is needed.

Specific Entry Requirements

Specific entry requirements also need to be met and this can include the subjects passed, marks obtained and grade point average. For undergraduate programmes, the student must possess an upper secondary certificate and proficiency in Danish/English for Danish/English medium programmes. For entry into Master's courses, students must possess globally recognised Bachelor's degree of high standards along with proficiency in Danish/English for Danish/English medium programmes. And for Phd degree courses, a Master's degree is vital.

Supplementary Courses for Higher Studies

The entry qualification may be supplemented through courses taken at higher preparatory/HF courses, adult education centres/VUC, upper secondary schools, schools with two-year upper secondary school leaving certificates/studenterkursus, vocational as well as  technical schools and access course of the study courses/degree programmes in engineering.

Standard International Tests

Depending upon whether the student is applying for Danish or English medium programmes, he/she must demonstrate understanding of the language used for instruction. This includes verbal as well as written proficiency.

1. Study Test in Danish as a Second Language/Studieproven i dansk som andetsprog: Most of the Danish medium courses can be applied to if the international student takes this test as proof of proficiency in Danish.
2. Danskprove 2/Danish Test 2: This is taken as proof of Danish proficiency in some courses.
3. Danskprove 3/Danish Test 3: This is proof of proficiency of the Danish language for certain degree programmes and courses.

Those who are from Nordic countries where Danish is prevalent in upper secondary education are exempted from taking the above tests.
For programmes that are taught in English, non-native English speakers must demonstrate proficiency through scores in one of the following tests:

• TOEFL
• IELTS
• ESOL/Cambridge Examinations/CAE

Read more about International Tests.

Application Deadlines

The important application and admission dates are as follows. The admission website Optalelse.dk starts receiving applications for admission to higher education from February 1st. The absolute deadline for applications for Quota 2 is March 15. The deadline for quota 2 expires on July 5. July 30 is the date by which applicants are sent the decision letter. You can learn more about the deadlines go to official website https://www.denmarkeducation.info/international-students/selecting-the-right-programmes.html

Applicants applying before 15 March will be considered in Quota 2 if the grade point average is convertible to the 7- point grading scale followed in Denmark. Students who are not admitted to any programmes they applied for can go in for vacant study programmes. More about this can be learnt at the educational institution itself or at Studievalg/eVejledning. Information about higher education in Denmark can be found at UddannelsesGuiden. Also, there is study as well as national guidance centres known as Studievalg and eVejledning.