Prepare your arrival

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 sdu.dk/admission 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.

Exchange or Guest Students

You will receive a response as soon as your application has been processed. This will include information on how to register for courses. EU citizens can expect a response during May (for study start in September) or November (for study start in February). Non-EU citizens can expect a response during April (for study start in September) or October (for study start in February).

It is easy to find housing in all SDU’s student 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 a full degree student. Exchange and guest students can apply for student housing as soon as they have submitted their application for studies at SDU. 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 Esbjerg, Kolding, Odense and Vejle. 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 student city.

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.

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.

If you are an non-EU/EEA applicant you are required to pay tuition fees. You will find the specific fee rate listed under each study programme.

Exchange students are exempt from paying tuition fees.

Before arriving in Denmark, make sure you have prepared the required documents, and that they are stamped and signed for verification.

EU/EEA and Swiss citizens

If you are an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen, you will complete your registrations with the Danish authorities after arriving in Denmark. 

SDU will assist you with information on where and when to register, and what documents to prepare. 

Non-EU/EEA citizens

Most non-EU/EEA 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.

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.

Exchange and Guest Students

You will receive information about residence permit from SDU International Office when your application has been processed.

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 are 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 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.