Information
Fiolstræde 44
PhD opportunities in Denmark
Attracting highly qualified students worldwide to study for a PhD in Denmark –
particularly in the fields of the natural, technical and health sciences - is a top
priority for the Danish Government.
As a knowledge-based society with a compre-
hensive welfare state and a bustling economy,
Denmark provides an ideal environment for PhD
studies. Danish universities, research institutions
and industry offer excellent research, library and
laboratory facilities for researchers and PhD stu-
dents.
This fact sheet provides a general outline of PhD
opportunities in Denmark. Students interested in
studying for a PhD are often informed about
possible positions through their academic net-
works or by contacting potential research institu-
tions/supervisors directly. You can find a list of
universities, faculties or research institutions at
the end of the document.
Admission requirements
A Danish PhD-programme usually lasts three
years. The admission requirement is usually a
Master’s degree, comparable to the Danish 2-
year Master’s qualification - the Candidatus
Some faculties also offer 4-year PhD pro-
grammes for students who have yet to complete
a Master’s degree.
In order to get admitted, you also need to have
your PhD proposal approved by the institution
where you wish to undertake your PhD. Fur-
thermore, funding arrangements for the entire
programme need to be in place (please refer to
the Funding section for further information
about funding your PhD).
DK-1171 Copenhagen K
Tel +45 33 95 70 00
Fax +45 33 95 70 01
cirius@ciriusmail.dk
www.ciriusonline.dk
April 2008
Programme requirements
The components of a PhD programme are:
• independent research under supervision
• Participation in courses and seminars (ap-
proximately 30 ECTS)
• Teaching or another type of knowledge dis-
semination, which is, as far as possible, related
to the PhD project
• Participation in research networks, including
placements at other, primarily foreign, re-
search institutions
• The completion of a PhD thesis (and the public
defence of the this)
Students are attached to a graduate school and
a research programme in the subject area of
their PhD. Even though the official language in
Denmark is Danish it is possible to undertake a
full PhD programme in English.
Funding
A Danish PhD programme can be funded in a
variety of ways:
PhD Studentships
PhD studentships (sometimes also called PhD
scholarships or PhD fellowships) are three-year
full-time positions offered by universities, re-
search institutions, companies and public and
private foundations. Students are provided with
a work station, free tuition and a monthly salary.
In return, students in receipt of studentships
usually have teaching obligations.
Industrial PhD Fellowships
Industrial PhD fellowships are offered through a
collaboration between the universities and in-
dustry. The purpose of the programme is to
educate researchers at the highest level with an
insight into business aspects of research and
innovation. The PhD project is carried out as a
traditional research project by the Industrial PhD
fellow in collaboration with a private enterprise
and a university. Industrial PhD Fellowships usu-
ally last three years.
The programme is open to recently qualified
post-graduate candidates as well as to young
professionals with an educational background in
science, technology, health care or social sci-
ence.
Similar to the studentships, the Industrial PhD
fellows are treated as employees and are paid a
salary throughout the study period. Industrial
PhD fellows usually divide their time between
the university and the company.
Self-funded PhD programmes
Most universities and research institutions have
places available for self-funded PhD students
with suitable PhD proposals. As a self-funded
PhD student you are responsible for funding
your own studies (tuition fees, accommodation
costs and living expenses). In some cases how-
ever, universities may offer full or partial tuition
fee waivers. The tuition fees vary, but are usually
between 10,000 and 16,000 Euro per year. Read
more about accommodation costs and living
expenses on www.studyindenmark.dk.
International financial support
In addition to the opportunities outlined above,
your home country or international organisations
such as the EC research programmes, might
have funding schemes for PhD studies in place
(please refer to the section with relevant links).
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Residence and work permit for non-
EU/EEA citizens
At the Danish Immigration Service’s homepage
www.newtodenmark.dk you will find detailed
information about how to apply for a residence
permit. You should also contact the institution
where you have been admitted for further in-
formation about your residence and work per-
mit. Please note that you should apply for the
residence permit in your home country.
Can I bring my family?
As a non-EU/EEA citizen you do not automati-
cally have the right to bring your family with you
to Denmark. Your family is able to obtain a resi-
dence permit and allowed to work full-time, if
your residence permit allows you to stay in
Denmark for three years or more or can be ex-
tended to three years. However, your family
members must be able to support themselves
throughout the period and you have to live to-
gether in Denmark.
Stay and work in Denmark – career
opportunities
Denmark has a thriving economy and needs
highly qualified professionals. It is therefore in
the interest of the Danish society that interna-
tional students stay in Denmark after having
completed their higher education programme.
If you complete a study programme in Denmark,
your residence permit will be extended by six
months to allow you to look for work in Den-
mark.
Links to further information The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts,
Danish universities with PhD programmes: School of Conservation
www.kons.dk
University of Copenhagen
Faculties: Health Sciences, Humanities, Law, The Royal School of Library and Information
Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Theology, Science
Pharmaceutical Sciences, Life Sciences www.db.dk
www.ku.dk The Royal Danish Academy of Music
Aarhus University www.dkdm.dk
Faculties: Humanities, Health Sciences, Natural Danmarks Designskole
Sciences, Social Sciences, Theology, Agricultural www.dkds.dk
Sciences, Environmental Research Institute,
School of Business, School of Education Designskolen Kolding
www.au.dk www.designskolenkolding.dk
University of Southern Denmark The Danish Mobility Centre for Researchers
Faculties: Health Sciences, Humanities, Natural The mobility centre offers foreign researchers a
Sciences, Engineering, Social Sciences single entrance to information and personal
www.sdu.dk counselling. Link to the mobility centre:
Roskilde University www.workindenmark.dk/For-researchers-
Networking
Faculties: Humanities, Natural Sciences, Social
Sciences
www.ruc.dk You can find more information about Denmark
and the Danish society, including practical in-
Aalborg University formation about residence and work permits,
Faculties: Engineering and Natural Sciences, health insurance, taxation etc. at
Humanities, Social Sciences www.workindenmark.dk.
www.auc.dk
CIRIUS
Technical University of Denmark An authority within the Danish Ministry of Sci-
Engineering and Natural Sciences ence, Technology and Innovation, CIRIUS sup-
www.dtu.dk ports the internationalisation of education and
training in Denmark and promotes Danish edu-
Copenhagen Business School
cation abroad. CIRIUS also works with assess-
Faculties: Business Administration, Modern Lan- ment and recognition of foreign qualifications in
guages Denmark. Link to CIRIUS: www.ciriusonline.dk.
www.cbs.dk
Link to information about studying in Denmark:
The IT-University of Copenhagen www.studyindenmark.dk
Information Technology
The Danish Agency for Science, Technology
www.itu.dk and Innovation
The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, The Danish Agency for Science, Technology and
School of Architecture Innovation deals with research funding, research
www.karch.dk mobility and international co-operation in re-
search. The Danish Councils for Independent
Aarhus School of Architecture Research and the Danish Industrial PhD pro-
www.aarch.dk grammes are also administered by the Agency.
Information on funding for research and PhD
projects can be found at http://fi.dk/site/english

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The National Danish Research Foundation
The Danish National Research Foundation is an
independent foundation working towards
strengthening Danish research, mainly through
the setting up and funding of Centres of Excel-
lence.
www.dg.dk

For information about the Industrial PhD

programme:
http://fi.dk/site/the-industrial-phd-program

The European Researcher’s Mobility Portal

A web portal with information about mobility
for researchers and PhD students, including
funding. It is also possible to place your CV on
the portal.
www.ec.europa.eu/eracareers