Higher education in the Kingdom of Denmark is free of charge for citizens of the European Union.
EU citizens who work during their studies in Denmark may be eligible for government financial support amounting to 7,086 DKK/month (approximately 950 EUR/month) before taxes. One of the requirements for receiving the Danish SU (student grant) is based on EU regulations, which state that a person working at least 10–12 hours per week and holding a valid employment contract qualifies for employee status and, therefore, is entitled to this support. In addition, the SU office expects your monthly salary to be at least 4,500 DKK before taxes. Another condition for receiving SU is that your hourly wage must be between 90–100 DKK (12–13 EUR).
Note that the amount of the grant can vary depending on your income and type of studies. For more detailed information, you can visit the official SU website or contact the SU office at your chosen university.
Study materials fee
One Danish higher education institution charges a mandatory study materials fee, which covers books and other supplies needed for your studies (so you won’t need to worry about them yourself). This fee must be paid once you receive your official admission letter. It is a one-time payment made upon enrolment. Note: If you pay the fee but later decide not to start your studies, in most cases, the money will not be refunded.
- At Business Academy Aarhus, the study materials fee depends on the chosen program and ranges from €40 to €150.
Keep in mind that it’s always possible to avoid paying this fee by purchasing used books yourself at a lower price.
General expenses
Here we present several tables that should help you understand the approximate cost of living in Denmark. Keep in mind that the amounts listed are only estimates, so your actual expenses may differ depending on your personal needs, the city you’ll live in, the type of accommodation you find, where you buy groceries, and so on.
Average monthly expenses | Price in Euros | Price in Danish kroner |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation rent | 400-600 | 3000-4500 |
| Food and beverages | 200-268 | 1500-2000 |
| Phone | 13-20 | 100-150 |
| Transport | 40-90 | 300-700 |
Other expenses | 70-240 | 500-1800 |
| Total per month | 723-1218 | 5400-9150 |
Item | Quantity | Price in Euros |
|---|---|---|
| Bread | 500 g | 1.24 |
| Eggs | 10 pcs | 3.75 |
| Flour | 2 kg | 1.73 |
| Pasta | 500 g | 1.34 |
| Rice | 1 kg | 2.00 |
| Potatoes | 2kg | 2.50 |
| Cheese | 540 g | 6.00 |
| Butter | 200 g | 2.68 |
| Chicken fillet | 500 g | 4.69 |
| Minced pork | 400 g | 3.89 |
| Yogurt | 1 kg | 2.68 |
| Cereal | 450 g | 3.45 |
| Coffee | 400 g | 3.75 |
| Milk | 1 l | 1.50 |
| Juice | 1 l | 2.00 |
| "Fosters" beer | 6 x 0,33 l | 7.90 |
| Sugar | 1 kg | 1.60 |
| Salt | 1 kg | 0.77 |
The listed food prices are average and may vary depending on the store where you shop—some products may be more or less expensive. Many students choose to shop during sales or buy different items from different stores after comparing prices to save money.
Tips
- If you're looking to buy groceries and shop at lower prices, visit stores like Aldi, Lidl, Fakta, KIWI, Rema 1000, and Netto.
- More expensive and larger supermarkets include Bilka, Irma, and Kvickly.
- If you're concerned about food waste, the Too Good To Go app is perfect for your wallet, your plate, and your karma! This app allows you to order food from restaurants or cafes at reduced prices. Often, Danish eateries have leftover food at the end of the day that would otherwise be thrown away. Through this app, owners and chefs sell that food to users. So, if you like sushi – you’ll get plenty of it for half the price (or even less!).
- You can also find cheaper beauty products, cleaning supplies, and sweets in the store Normal.
- And if you’re looking for home decor or craft supplies – visit Søstrene Grene and Flying Tiger Copenhagen.
