The QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020 shows us how the two universities compare for different subjects.

The University of Copenhagen features 37 subjects in the rankings this year, with 19 of these in the worldwide top 50. Aarhus University makes 38 appearances in the subject rankings, with seven of these subjects appearing in the world top 50.

See the below table to see how the universities compare for each subject:

Copenhagen is the largest of the two cities. The cost of living is generally a lot cheaper in Aarhus, with rent prices 30 percent lower than in Copenhagen. Both cities have a large art and cultural scene.

Copenhagen is Denmark’s capital city and most populous city of Denmark, located on the coastal islands of Zealand and Amager. The city is home to the Royal Danish Opera House and Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, plus plenty of new galleries and modern architecture. The city is easy to get around, with the public transport infrastructure of Copenhagen renowned for its efficiency and reliability.

Aarhus is Denmark’s second-largest city and is located on the East coast of the Jutland Peninsula. Aarhus is home to a variety of galleries, exhibitions and art museums, including the ARoS Aarhus Art Museum, which lets you view the city from a rainbow panoramic skywalk. Getting around Aarhus is easy, with the city’s extensive network of buses and trams, as well as Denmark’s first light rail, Letbanen.

The following table gives a rough overview of how much you can expect to pay for full-time courses per year, depending on your study level and nationality.

Check the university websites for exact rates, and bear in mind there is significant variation in the amount charged for postgraduate courses, and for non-EU students on undergraduate courses, depending on the subject. 

If you’re a citizen of the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you will not be required to pay tuition fees for any Danish universities, as tuition is free at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Although education is free for Danish students, as well as those from the EU, EEA and Switzerland, Denmark has a generous funding program for overseas students. 

The Ministry of Science, Innovation and Higher Education is the main provider of grants in Denmark and students can decide how they use these grants, and how often they receive the grant money throughout the year.

University of Copenhagen

The University of Copenhagen offers several tuition waivers and grants through the Danish Government Scholarship Program to graduate students from outside the EU. It isn’t necessary to apply for these scholarships as the university will contact those nominated through email and they can either accept or reject the scholarship.

University of Copenhagen undergraduate and postgraduate students can also apply for the William D. Ford loan program, which consists of several different types of loan, including: subsidized loans, for undergraduate students and based on financial need; unsubsidized loans, for postgraduates and not based on financial need; and PLUS loans, unsubsidized loans for graduate students to pay for education expenses.

Find out more about these loans and scholarships on the University of Copenhagen’s website.

The university also offers a range of country-specific scholarships and loans which you can find out about here. 

Aarhus University

Aarhus University offers four scholarship programs for fee-paying graduate students (i.e. non-EU students) These are funded by the Danish state and apply to four different subject areas: arts, business and social sciences, science and technology, and health. These scholarships generally include a full tuition waiver and a monthly scholarship for a maximum of 23 months.

Aarhus University is also approved for the William D. Ford loan program, which offers financial support to American students - you can learn more here.

Foreign students enrolled in Danish degree programs at Aarhus University are not eligible for domestic financial support. Exceptions are made on the basis of specific conditions, for refugees and other foreign students, provided that they have been living and working in Denmark long enough.

The university also offers a range of country-specific scholarships and loan programs for Russia, Canada, the US and Mexico.

You can find out more about the scholarships offered by the university here.