Confirm your study place and register for courses on time
The process is different depending on whether you will be studying at bachelor's or master's level.
Bachelor's student
- You will receive a response to your application by 28 July. Find the final response via the admission self-service portal optag.sdu.dk and accept your study place before the deadline.
- When you have accepted your study place, SDU will automatically enroll you on your courses for the first semester.
Master's student
- You will receive a response to your application by 10 June (for study start in September) or 10 December (for study start in February).
- If you are offered a study place, you must confirm it via the application portal by 15 June (for study start in September) or 15 December (for study start in February).
- You must register for courses through SDU's Student Self-Service pages.
Start looking for accommodation
It is easy to find housing in all SDU’s campus cities. If you wish to apply for accommodation through SDU, you can start your housing application 3 days after submitting your application to your study programme. If you are not offered a study place at SDU, your housing application will be cancelled automatically.
There is guaranteed housing for international students in Odense, Kolding and Esbjerg. To be guaranteed accommodation you must apply before 1 May for study start in September and 1 November for study start in February.
The application process is different for each campus.
If you decide to look for housing on your own, you can use online portals like boligportal.dk and lejebolig.dk. Social media platforms can also be very helpful, particularly Facebook groups dedicated to housing in specific cities.
Check your finances
It's important to make sure your finances are in order to avoid any delays in your admission process, such as missing payments for tuition or other fees.
Pay the tuition fee, if required
Non-EU/EEA/Swiss applicants are required to pay tuition fees. You will find the specific fee rate listed under each study programme.
Prepare the necessary documents
Before arriving in Denmark, make sure you have prepared the required documents, and that they are stamped and signed for verification.
EU/EAA and Swiss citizens
For EU/EEA and Swiss citizens, all registrations with the Danish authorities happen after your arrival.
SDU will assist you with information on where and when to register, and what documents to prepare.
Non-EU/EAA citizens
Most non-EU/EEA and Swiss citizens will need a student residence permit. If you are progressing from bachelor's to a master's programme, you will need to apply for a new residence permit.
Once you are admitted to your study programme and you have paid the first tuition fee rate (if applicable), SDU will help start the application process for your residence permit.
The application is processed by the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI), you will need to pay a fee to SIRI, which is separate from any SDU fees.
Get a residence permit
Non-EU citizens
Bachelor students: Once you have paid the tuition fee, SDU will initiate the application and keep you informed.
Master's students: You will receive instructions on how to apply for a residence permit via the application portal, when you have paid the tuition fee. Apply as quickly as possible.
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens
You will receive information in your SDU mailbox in mid August (for study start in September) or mid January (for study start in February). You register with the Danish authorities after you arrive in Denmark.
Nordic citizens
You do not need a residence permit.
Check your insurances
It is recommended that you obtain travel insurance with health coverage for the first three months of your stay in Denmark until you receive your Danish civil registration number (CPR).
Once you have a CPR number, you will be covered by the Danish health insurance system.
It is also recommended to purchase third-party liability, accident insurance and home insurance. SDU cannot help you find insurance, but most Danish insurance companies provide information in English.
Plan your arrival
Plan your arrival to Denmark and SDU so that you have enough time to register with the authorities. We also strongly recommend arriving in time for the introduction days, which will help you settle in smoothly. The introduction days are often placed prior to semester start.
The semester starts 1 September and 1 February, so you should arrive no later than this.