Study in Copenhagen

Copenhagen for students

Copenhagen is famed for its high quality of life, progressive politics and beautiful landscapes. It scores well in the desirability indicator this year, which takes into account the overall quality of life to be had in each city, including factors such as safety and pollution.

There are two universities in Copenhagen ranked within the QS World University Rankings® 2023. The city’s flagship institution, the University of Copenhagen, currently ranks in 82^nd, followed by the Technical University of Denmark at =104^th.

Best universities in Copenhagen - QS Best Student Cities ranking: 47th

More about Copenhagen

The beautiful Copenhagen is one of Scandinavia's most popular study destinations. This is reflected in the city's desirability score, its top performing rankings indicator. In fact, Copenhagen offers a great standard of living from both a safety and infrastructural level.

To find out how each of the above categories is calculated, view the methodology.

Why study in Copenhagen?

Enjoy a high standard of living

The city ranks 2nd worldwide for desirability this year due to its high standard of living, safety levels, stunning scenery, and low levels of pollution.

Environmentally friendly

Alongside the city’s low levels of pollution, Copenhagen has invested in a number of environmentally friendly policies, such as its public transport, which runs on electricity or hydrogen. The city also has plenty of green spaces to walk around and enjoy.

Experience the Danish Hygge

Hygge is the feeling of being comfortable, cozy and content and is now a defining characteristic of Danish culture. 

You’ll get to a study at a world-class university

Copenhagen features two universities in the world rankings this year: University of Copenhagen in 82^nd place worldwide and the Technical University of Denmark in joint 104^th position.  

Cost of studying in Copenhagen

The Nordic countries are also known for being relatively expensive places to live. This is reflected in Copenhagen’s low score for affordability, ranking 140^th worldwide.

Despite this, the city charges relatively low tuition fees at its universities. On average tuition costs international students studying in Copenhagen around US$18,300 each year.

Rent in Copenhagen is pricey, but is still around 30 percent lower than in London, according to Numbeo. A one-bedroom apartment in Copenhagen’s city centre will set you back around US$1,580 per month. 

Life and culture in Copenhagen

Copenhagen manages to pack a lot of culture into a relatively small space. This includes an impressive selection of museums, galleries and theaters, as well as parks, waterways and charming cobbled streets, with lots of cafés and independent shops to explore.

If you’re interested in street fashion, Copenhagen is home to many fashion-conscious young people – particularly within the hip Nørrebro district – where monochromic layers, block-colored bikes and stripped-back sophistication are the standard.

Career in Copenhagen

Employers in Copenhagen value a good work-life balance. Unemployment in the city is generally quite low and the quality of life is high, making Copenhagen a great place to live and work after graduation. 

There are plenty of jobs on offer in engineering, medicine, dentistry and pharmaceuticals, as the city has a skills shortage in these areas.

While studying there are plenty of opportunities for summer work and internships, as the country’s tourist industry creates plenty of jobs for students. 

If you’re from inside the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you’ll be able to work in Denmark for up to three months before applying for a registration certificate. If you’re from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, you’ll need to apply for a residency permit.