All EU/EEA/Swiss citizens are exempt from payment of tuition fees.
All non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens (including students holding a British national overseas passport) are liable to pay tuition fees.
Exempt from payment of tuition fees are students:
You cannot obtain a study residence permit in Denmark without having paid your tuition fees. Aarhus University is not allowed to inform The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration of your expected arrival before you have paid your tuition fees. In addition, after that date, the Agency will spend up to two months dealing with your application for a study residence permit. Thus, for you to obtain your study residence permit in due time before commencement of studies, we strongly advise you to pay your first tuition fee instalment two-three months in advance.
If applicable, your current residence permit in Denmark must always be uploaded in your application(s) for admission in order for Aarhus University to determine whether or not you are liable to pay tuition fees.
In case of changed residence status during your enrolment, you must always notify Aarhus University and submit your new residence permit. Please use the contact information below.
For further information, please contact AU Studies Administration, Admissions:
The tuition fee rates are determined by the university faculties and may be subject to change, also for enrolled students during their degree programme.
Tuition fee rates for non-EU/EEA students for academic year 2019-20:
Tuition fee rates for non-EU/EEA students for academic year 2018-19:
Valid from 1 January 2012
Top up students must always pay for the total number of remaining ECTS for the Bachelor’s degree programme before commencement of studies.
The above is stipulated pursuant to Section 3 of the
Ministerial Order no. 598 of 8 March 2015 on Funding and Accounts, etc. at Universities.
Please note that Aarhus University is generally unable to offer financial support to foreign students, which means that you must either have sufficient financial means to pay your tuition fees and cover your stay in Denmark or apply to your own national authorities for a study grant.
Aarhus University does not offer any scholarships for EU/EEA/Swiss students, who should be able to support themselves.
As a rule, foreign students enrolled in Danish degree programmes are not eligible for educational support. Exceptions are made on the basis of specific conditions for refugees and relatives of refugees and for other foreign citizens provided - among other stipulations - that they have been living and working in Denmark long enough.
As far as EU rules and regulations make it possible, EU citizens can gain support from the Danish system.
Aarhus University administers four scholarship programmes funded by the Danish state for highly qualified non-EU/EEA/Swiss applicants admitted to two-year Master’s degree programmes. Aarhus University also collaborates with a small number of countries on selected national scholarship programmes.
Students from so-called developing countries (as defined by the Danish Tax Council) can be exempted from paying tax in Denmark.
Aarhus University does not offer any student loan service.
This page is aimed at scholarship recipients.
A Danish state scholarship is usually a combination of a full or partly tuition waiver and a monthly scholarship towards living expenses.
Please be aware that the scholarship may not cover all your living expenses in Denmark, and that you may have to supplement your monthly scholarship with your own savings, a students loan from your home country or a student job. Especially at the beginning of you stay in Denmark, you should expect additional settling-in-costs in terms of paying a deposit for your room, buying some furniture, a bicycle or bus card, etc.
Aarhus University is not able to grant you any further financial assistance.
To receive your monthly scholarship payment, please follow the below instructions after your arrival in Denmark:
In order to receive your monthly scholarship on your bank account you must have a so-called Digital Payslip (E-Boks) and a Danish NemKonto account (“Easy Account”). You can learn more about these facilities at the following websites:
Ask your mentor or our International Centre for assistance with regard to applying for a permanent Danish CPR number (social security number).
When you have received your CPR number – which may take a couple of weeks – you must set up an Easy Account with a Danish bank, which may take an additional 2-3 weeks. Aarhus University is then automatically informed of your Easy Account.
Until you have a Danish tax card, 55 % of your scholarship is automatically deducted as tax, but regulated later when you have received your tax card.
To get a tax card, please contact the Danish Tax Authorities after your arrival in Denmark. Remember to bring your scholarship letter. The tax card is digital and information about your tax rate in Denmark will be transferred to Aarhus University electronically and connected to your CPR number and Easy Account.
Primary and secondary tax card
Residents in Denmark may earn a certain amount of money each year before having to pay tax. As a scholarship recipient, you earn more than what your tax exemption card allows you to, and you will therefore get a primary tax card and a secondary tax card. You must inform Aarhus University Salaries Office whether to use your primary or secondary tax card for the payment of your monthly scholarship. We urge you to read about the difference between primary and secondary tax card here.
If you do not actively inform Aarhus University about your preferred tax card, your monthly scholarship will automatically be connected to your secondary tax card. Please be aware that if you do not have a second income (e.g. a part-time job), this may not be the best solution for you.
We do not expect you have set up a Danish Easy Account before your first scholarship payment is due. Instead, your first scholarship payment will be paid to your international bank account. Aarhus University will contact you well in advance of your first monthly payment and ask you for the banking information needed to make a bank transfer to your specific country.
The first payment cannot be made until the last work day before the first day of your official scholarship period. All other monthly payments will also be made in advance.
You are expected to set up a Danish Easy Account as soon as possible after your arrival in Denmark, and after that, your monthly payment will be transferred to your Easy Account.
As a rule, all scholarship holders must pay regular Danish income tax. Read about taxation in Denmark.
Scholarship holders from so-called developing countries may be exempted from paying income tax from their scholarship.
The income tax will be deducted before the monthly payout. If you do not have a tax card in Denmark, you must contact a tax centre to obtain one. As long as you do not have a tax card, 55 % per cent of your monthly grant will be withheld as tax, but regulated later when you have received your tax card.
Too much deducted tax will be reimbursed by Aarhus University and transferred to your Easy bank account.
You must renew your tax card for the following year at the end of each year to avoid a 55 % taxation of your scholarship from January the year after.
Read more about taxation when Coming to Denmark to study.
Apply for your tax card and possible tax exemption at your local Tax Centre.
Tax Centre Aarhus (Skattecenter Aarhus)
Lyseng Alle 1, DK - 8270 Højbjerg
For other cities with tax centres in Denmark see this page.
Office hours (may be subject to change) | |
Monday | 10:00 - 16:00 |
Tuesday - Friday | 10:00 - 14:00 |
Telephone hours (may be subject to change) | |
Monday | 9.00 - 17.00 |
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday | 9.00 - 16.00 |
Friday | 9.00 - 14.00 |
Tel: (+45) 7222 1818 (press 8 for information in English) – www.skat.dk
You can also contact the Danish tax authorities by email using this contact form.
Please notify your salary administrator when all the formalities regarding your permanent CPR number, Easy Account and tax card are completed, allowing your salary administrator to acquire your tax information electronically from the tax authorities and transfer your future payments to your Easy Account.
Your monthly scholarship will subsequently be regulated in accordance with your tax card and paid to your Easy account every month in advance.
Find your salary administrator here.
To retain your study permit in Denmark, your enrolment at Aarhus University and the continued payment of your monthly scholarship and tuition waiver, you are required to meet all three types of study activity requirements described below.
Your active involvement in a study programme is evaluated twice a year at the beginning of March and at the beginning of September.
1. Your study residence permit
To retain your study residence permit, the Danish Agency for International Integration and Recruitment requires you to be an active full-time student.
To be actively involved in your study programme as a full-time student, the minimum number of examinations you must sit each semester corresponds to 30 ECTS points (as a minimum).
You must make a serious effort to pass your exams. An examination attempt which the examiner has been unable to mark is not considered a serious effort, i.e. the exam result ‘BF’ (used attempt) is not accepted. Cheating at exams is not tolerated and will also not be considered a serious attempt.
Aarhus University is required to inform the Danish Agency for International Integration and Recruitment if you are not to be considered an active full-time student.
2. Your tuition waiver and monthly scholarship payment
Following the rules of the Danish grants and loan scheme:
To retain your monthly Danish state scholarship, you must never be more than 30 ECTS credits behind schedule in terms of passed exams.
Failure to meet the above study activity requirements will result in termination of your tuition waiver and monthly scholarship without the possibility of recommencing it. In this case, your continued enrolment will be conditioned on payment of tuition fees based on your remaining ECTS workload.
Students who have started writing their thesis, but who have been delayed relative to the prescribed period of study, must send a copy of their thesis contract stating their new expected end date to ma.admission@au.dk
3. Your enrolment at AU (The Study Progress Reform)
Danish universities have been obligated by Danish law to ensure faster completion times for students. Thus, as a student at Aarhus University you are always required to follow the current study activity requirements of the so-called Study Progress Reform.
To retain your active enrolment at Aarhus University, you are never allowed to be more than 45 ECTS behind schedule in terms of passed exams.
In addition, please be aware that the maximum time of study is the stipulated time of study plus 6 months.
Please consult www.students.au.dk for further information regarding the details of these regulations concerning your own study programme.
Exceptions to the study activity requirements
Exceptions to the study activity requirement with regard to your tuition waiver and monthly scholarship can be made in certain documented circumstances, such as e.g. serious illness or the death of a close relative, in which your tuition waiver and monthly scholarship can be extended by up to six months.
Written applications for an extension regarding your forthcoming semester are processed by AU Education, Admission. Email: ma.admission@au.dk
Please always contact your salary administrator directly by email or telephone with any questions or problems regarding the payment of your scholarship.
Only questions regarding the conditions of your scholarship should be sent to Administrator, Annette Larsen (Ms), Admissions Office, ala@au.dk
British students applying for a full degree at Aarhus University from fall 2019
The United Kingdom has decided to leave the EU. It is yet unknown what the impact of the decision will be within the area of education, and in particular, how it may effect tuition fees for UK citizens at Danish institutions. As soon as the University has any confirmed information concerning the status of UK students, it will be posted on this website: https://international.au.dk/life/studentscomingtoau/brexit-how-will-it-affect-you-as-a-student/
Until now, UK students have not been charged tuition fees as pertaining to their EU citizen status. This may change when the UK leaves the EU. Students applying for admission in 2019 are advised to take note of the undetermined situation.
Please read more on the Brexit-page of the Danish Foreign Ministry
And also on the page of the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science – regarding tuition fees and student grants
For full degree students currently enrolled at Aarhus University
The British government and the EU have reached an agreement on a Withdrawal Agreement, which secures rights for EU citizens in the United Kingdom and for British citizens in the EU.
If the Withdrawal Agreement is not approved and the United Kingdom leaves the EU without an agreement (the no deal-scenario), the Danish government is expected to put forward a legislative proposal to extend your existing EU rights as a student in Denmark for a transitional period.
Please read more on the Brexit-page of the Danish Foreign Ministry
And also on the page of the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science – regarding tuition fees and student grants
Should you have any further questions regarding admission to full degree Master’s programmes and Brexit, please contact ma.admission@au.dk.
