Study in Denmark

Find out what it's like to be a student in some of Denmark's major cities...

Copenhagen

Denmark’s capital city is one of the most celebrated cities in Europe – if not the world. The heady combination of romantic spires and edgy new architecture, the vibrant and colourful cultural scene, the innumerable cafés and bars, and the consistently high quality of life enjoyed by its residents probably all have something to do with this.

But, like all great cities it’s all really down to a certain je ne sais quoi - you’ll just have to visit to find out! It’s not the cheapest place in the world to study, but neither is London or Paris.

As well as the University of Copenhagen, the country’s oldest and most prestigious university (ranked 51 in the QS World University Rankings), Copenhagen is also home to the Technical University of Denmark, ranked 132, the Copenhagen Business School and the IT University of Copenhagen.

See where Copenhagen ranks in the QS Best Student Cities >

Aarhus

Aarhus, a port town located on the country’s main peninsula, is Denmark’s second city and is home to the country’s second highest ranked university, Aarhus University; 89 in the 2012/13 QS World University Rankings.

Like Copenhagen, it has a rich history and a stunning historical quarter – including not one but two 13th century cathedrals – as well as a rich cultural scene and plenty of nightlife, courtesy of its large student population. Aarhus can lay claim to the status of happiest city in the world - the conclusion of lifelong research by National Geographic’s Dan Buettner.

Odense

Located on the island of Funen, which sits between main peninsula Jutland and largest island Zealand, Odense is Denmark’s third most populous city. It is noteworthy for being the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen. It is also rich with Viking era history; you can see the skeleton of Saint Canute – the country’s patron saint – on display in the city’s historic cathedral.

University-wise, Odense is the location of the main campus of the University of Southern Denmark – ranked 318 in the 2012/13 QS World University Rankings, and resultantly this relatively small city is given an injection of life by the large student population.

Aalborg

An industrial city towards the north of Jutland, Aalborg is home to Aalborg University, which is ranked 352= in the 2012/13 QS World University Rankings. As you would expect from a large Danish city, it has a lot of well preserved historical architecture, but one of Aalborg’s main draws is Jomfru Ane Gade – a long street which is the center of the city’s café culture and nightlife.

It is also home to the largest carnival in Scandinavia, which traditionally occurs towards the end of May. The city’s waterfront is currently enjoying a long term regeneration and rejuvenation project.

Top ten things to do while studying in Denmark >