Study in Denmark in 2027: 800 New English-Taught STEM & IT Study Places
New opportunities for international students who want to study, work and build a career in Denmark
Updated September 2026
If you are considering studying engineering, IT, software, robotics or another STEM subject abroad, Denmark may be one of the countries worth putting on your list for 2027.
From the summer intake of 2027, Denmark is opening 800 additional study places on English-taught STEM and IT programmes, including engineering, technology and maritime education.
And there is an important reason behind this decision. The new places are being created in fields where Denmark has demand for qualified workers, where graduate employment is high and where unemployment among graduates is relatively low.
According to the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science, the programmes should also be in areas where many international students are expected to remain in Denmark and work after completing their education.
For international students thinking beyond the degree itself, that makes this development particularly interesting. You are not simply choosing where to study, but also where to begin your professional career.
Why Is Denmark Creating 800 New English-Taught Study Places?
Like many European countries, Denmark needs qualified workers in a number of specialised technical fields. As part of a wider reform of Denmark’s professional and business-oriented higher education system, a broad political majority agreed to create 800 additional English-taught study places from the summer intake of 2027.
The places can be created on both new and existing programmes and must be within STEM and IT, including the maritime field. They will also be located outside Copenhagen and Aarhus.
This is important because the initiative is not simply about bringing international students to Denmark, but it is also connected to the needs of the Danish labour market.
The government specifically targeted programmes where there is demand for graduates’ skills, strong employment among recent graduates and relatively low unemployment.
It includes areas such as engineering, IT, software, robotics, automation, technology and maritime education.
For an international student deciding where to invest years in an education, the connection between what you study and what employers need afterwards is worth considering.
New Study Opportunities Are Already Being Prepared for 2027
The 800 places don’t mean that Denmark is creating 800 different programmes. They are 800 additional study places distributed among English-taught programmes.
In June 2026, the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science announced the approval of 44 new programmes and programme offerings across Denmark.
The ministry specifically highlighted that several institutions had received approval for new offerings as they prepare to admit students to English-language STEM and IT programmes from 2027.
Among the examples mentioned by the ministry is Mechanical Engineering in Horsens, while other new technical and STEM opportunities are being developed across Denmark.
You can read the official announcement about the 44 newly approved programmes from the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science.
Where Could You Study in Denmark?
One thing international students often do when researching Denmark is concentrate almost entirely on Copenhagen and Aarhus, but the new 800 English-taught places are specifically being established outside Copenhagen and Aarhus.
This means prospective students should also explore institutions and study cities elsewhere in Denmark. Institutions involved in the expansion include professional and business-oriented higher education providers such as:
This could create interesting possibilities in cities and study locations such as Horsens, Aalborg, Odense, Kalundborg, Næstved and other parts of Denmark, depending on the final programme offering.
Denmark also already has established universities offering international programmes including:
The important distinction is that the 800 new places are additional opportunities within Denmark’s professional and business-oriented higher education sector. They are not the entirety of the English-taught higher education already available in Denmark.
In fact, the official Study in Denmark portal currently states that Danish higher education institutions offer more than 500 English-taught study programmes.
Can You Apply for the New 2027 Study Places Now?
As of September 2026, institutions are preparing their offerings for the 2027 intake, and the exact programmes, admission requirements and application information will depend on the individual institution.
The first students on the additional English-taught places can begin in the summer of 2027.
That doesn’t mean you should wait until 2027 to start thinking about it.
If you are considering Denmark, the coming months are an important time for checking the entry requirements, preparing documentation and understanding how the Danish university and higher education application system works.
For many international applicants to undergraduate programmes, 15 March at 12:00 CET is an important application deadline, particularly when applying on the basis of a non-Danish upper-secondary qualification. Always check the current requirements and deadline for the particular programme you want to apply for.
Want to understand how studying and applying for university in Denmark works?
Our digital guide Living in Denmark – Study, Work, and Settle contains an entire chapter dedicated to Student Life in Denmark (look inside the guide's chapters)
It explains the Danish higher education system, universities and degrees, recognition of foreign qualifications, credit transfer, student finances, SU, student housing, transport, student jobs, taxes, unemployment insurance and other practical parts of becoming a student in Denmark.
Rather than waiting until the application deadline approaches, understanding the system early can make planning your move considerably easier.
Could You Study STEM, IT, Engineering degrees in Denmark Without Paying Tuition Fees?
For many European students, this is one of the biggest advantages of considering Denmark.
Higher education in Denmark is generally tuition-free for citizens of the EU/EEA and Switzerland, as well as certain other students who qualify for equal treatment or meet particular residence conditions.
This means an EU student can potentially complete a degree in Denmark without paying university tuition fees. You will, of course, still need to finance housing, food, transport and everyday life in Denmark, and eligibility for financial support such as SU is a separate question with its own conditions.
What about non-EU students?
Students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland who don’t qualify for an exemption normally pay tuition fees.
According to the official Study in Denmark – Tuition Fees & Scholarships portal, annual tuition fees for full-degree students are typically around DKK 45,000–120,000 per year, or approximately €6,000 - €16,000.
The actual amount depends on the programme and institution, so non-EU students should always check the specific fee before applying. Scholarships and tuition waivers may also be available in certain circumstances.
What Happens After You Graduate?
The Danish government’s criteria for the additional English-taught places specifically include programmes where employment among graduates is high, unemployment is low and there is an expectation that many students will choose to remain in Denmark and work.
Your opportunities will depend on your degree, specialisation, experience, language skills, internships, student employment, networking, the companies you approach and the labour market when you graduate.
What Could Engineers and STEM Graduates Earn in Denmark?
Denmark does not have a statutory national minimum wage. Salaries depend on profession, qualifications, sector, collective agreements and individual employment conditions.
The Danish Society of Engineers, IDA, publishes minimum salary recommendations for STEM professionals.
For 2026, IDA recommends around 45,300 DKK per month (€6,060) for newly qualified graduate engineers, bachelor’s graduates and others with medium-length higher education.
For MSc graduates, the minimum is around 47,400 DKK per month (€6,340), while for Masters of Engineering and others with long higher education, it is approximately 48,200 DKK per month (approximately €6,450).
Your actual salary will depend on your education, specialisation, employer, industry, location and experience. You can see the current figures directly from IDA – Indicative Minimum Salary for STEM Professionals.
What About Non-EU Students Who Want to Stay After Graduation?
Under the current rules, eligible international students who complete a Danish state-approved professional bachelor’s, bachelor’s, master’s or PhD programme can qualify for a residence permit allowing them to seek employment in Denmark for up to three years after completing their education.
SIRI states that, where applicable and passport validity permits, the three-year job-seeking period may already be granted together with the original study permit.
The exact rules depend on your programme and residence permit, so non-EU students should always check their own circumstances through the official SIRI / New to Denmark information about job seeking after studies.
Student Life in Denmark Is About Much More Than University
Getting accepted is only the beginning and once you actually decide to move to Denmark, a completely different set of questions appears.
Where are you going to live?
How does student housing work?
What is CPR? When do you need MitID?
How do you get a tax card?
Can you receive SU?
How do you find a student job?
What about healthcare, banking and transport?
What happens after graduation?
That is why if you are planning to study in Denmark you need to start preparing early.
Get Our Digital Guide and Find the Answers to Your Questions.
Our digital guide Living in Denmark – Study, Work, and Settle was created to bring together the practical information internationals need when preparing for and building a life in Denmark.
The Student Life chapter covers all you need to know about studying in Denmark- degrees, applications, recognition of qualifications, SU, student housing and support, transport, student jobs, taxes, unemployment insurance, internships and practical insights based on real experience of studying and living in Denmark.
And Student Life is only one of the guide’s 10 comprehensive chapters. The rest of the digital guide takes you through your first registrations in Denmark, housing and work, taxes, healthcare, family life, permanent residence, Danish citizenship and many of the practical systems you may encounter if you eventually decide to stay.
Official Sources & Further Reading
Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science - Information about the 800 additional English-taught STEM and IT study places from 2027 Read the official announcement
Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science - Information about 44 new programmes and programme offerings approved in June 2026. Read the official announcement
Study in Denmark - Official information about tuition fees and scholarships for international students.Tuition Fees & Scholarships
IDA – Danish Society of EngineersCurrent indicative minimum salary recommendations for STEM professionals in Denmark.Indicative Minimum Salary for STEM Professionals
SIRI / New to DenmarkOfficial rules concerning job-seeking residence permits after completing higher education in Denmark.Job Seeking After Studies
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