Image of boats on Copenhagen canal

University of Copenhagen

Experience Danish "hygge" in Copenhagen, consistently ranked as one of the greenest and safest cities for LGBTQ+ individuals, and located only 35 minutes from Malmö, Sweden by train.

Inaugurated in 1479, the University of Copenhagen (UCPH) is among the oldest in all of Europe and is the highest ranked university in the Nordic Region (#20 in Europe, #73 in the world, QS 2018). With an assortment of historic buildings, laboratories hosting advanced technology, and expansive botanical gardens, its 40,000 students (almost 10% of which come from abroad) are well-prepared for life on and off campus. UCPH holds the title of largest Health and Life Science faculties in Scandinavia; six of its former professors have been granted Nobel Prizes in medicine and physiology, as well as physics.

Key information

Language

English, Danish

Semester

Fall, Winter, Academic Year

Program type

Exchange

Application information

Application status

Open October 1, 2024

Apply Now

2025-2026 applications

Fall 2025 and Winter 2026

Priority deadline: January 5, 2025

University-specific additional requirements

No reference letter required, with the exception of Law students; minimum GPA 2.7. See Eligibility section below for details.

2026-2027 applications

Open October 1, 2025

Student experience

The University of Copenhagen's Botanical Garden is a peaceful haven in the city centre. Some of its historical greenhouses were built in the 1800s! (Click the image to check out more tips on student life from "U.", UCPH's independent newspaper.)

Program details

Areas of Study: Copenhagen offers a wide variety of courses taught in English, including Anthropology, Biology (Life Sciences), Chemistry, Computer Science, Ethnology, Film Studies, Geography, Geology, Greek & Roman Studies, Health Sciences, History, Law, Math, Neuroscience, Philosophy, Political Science, Physics, Sociology and more. Additionally, the Danish Cultural Courses program offers a variety of course packages in subjects that vary each semester - past offerings have included Gender & Sexuality Studies, Nordic Mythology, Danish Cinema, Danish Architecture and Design, and Danish Philosophy.

Course requirements:
In Europe, full-time course load is 30 ECTS (European credits), and exchange students at Copenhagen MUST take 30 ECTS per semester. 6 ECTS = 3 units at UCalgary, or 1 standard semester course (1 HCE). 30 ECTS = 15 units at UCalgary, or 5 courses (5 HCE).

The amount of credits each course is worth corresponds to the workload/contact hours, so please be mindful of this in your selection. Most courses offered at Copenhagen are 7.5 or 15 ECTS but some may be worth more or less. You are also eligible to earn an additional 7.5 ECTS if you enroll in the Pre-semester Danish Language Course. 

At Copenhagen, students must choose courses from no more than 2 different Faculties. Please list your preferred faculty(s) in the course list section of your online application. 

Finally, please note that exchange students from the Law faculty must select master's level courses at Copenhagen. 

The academic year is divided into 2 semesters.

  • The Autumn semester runs from late August to late January. Students in some departments (such as Law) are able complete the Autumn semester in December; please contact the exchange advisor for more information.
  • The Spring semester runs from late January to late June. 
  1. Costs

    Exchange students pay their tuition and academic fees to the University of Calgary. Other expenses are paid directly to the service provider. 

    Monthly student cost estimates (based on 5 month semesters):

    Expense (low - high)

    Housing & Util. 7000 DKK - 10,000 DKK
    Food & Misc. Expenses 3000 DKK - 4000 DKK
    Danish Media Licence 215 DKK - 215 DKK
    Books & Materials 300 DKK - 400 DKK
    Public Transit 380 DKK - 1000 DKK
    Leisure Activities 2000 DKK - 2000 DKK
    Used Bicycle 160 DKK - 300 DKK

    Total Monthly Estimate 13,555 DKK - 17,915 DKK

    Additional financial information and cost of living estimates can be found online

    Also, remember to include things like visas, insurance, vaccinations, etc. in your budget planning. Please Note: Danish visa applications may require travel to the Vancouver consulate to submit documentation and take biometrics as needed.

    Copenhagen cost comparison vs. CalgaryClick Here

  2. Funding

    Did you know that you can take your UCalgary funding with you on exchange?   
    Since you remain a degree seeking student at UCalgary while on exchange you remain eligible for any awards and scholarships you are eligible to receive from the university as well as student loans.

    Our office administers several awards, including the Global Access Fund (based on a funding-first model where students apply prior to committing to a global learning program) and the Global Learning Award (students apply after being accepted to a global learning program; the amount varies year-to-year as the money is split among chosen recipients). Students may only receive these awards once. Please see the funding page, linked below, for more information. 

There is a private Housing Foundation that works in conjunction with the university to provide housing to all international exchange students. All housing is located off-campus in multiple residential areas throughout Copenhagen. Available housing is either "halls of residence", which are hallways of one- or two-person rooms with private or semiprivate bathrooms that share a common kitchen, or "shared apartments", which are private apartments that house between two and five people with shared bathroom and kitchen. The type and location of each residence determines the cost of rent; the full range of residences span 2500-5500 DKK per month (about $450-1000 CAD). The Housing Foundation can also provide some advice on finding your own housing privately.

Student Tips: "I lived in Nordre Fasanvej in Frederiksberg. Frederiksberg was fantastic. My building was really old but room was great because of the size, and I had my own kitchen and bathroom. [There was also a] grocery store located directly under the building. Laundry was in the basement but was included in rent and so did not require extra payment. I highly recommend bringing bedding with you if you can so you have something to sleep on/in when you arrive and don’t accidentally drop $500 on sheets at some store when you arrive because you’re exhausted and just want to sleep. [Also] bring good rain gear, or buy some there as there are many classic Danish brands that make excellent (though expensive) raincoats. "

This exchange is open to regular, full-time students in any faculty at UCalgary, who have completed at least 1 full year (10 courses) at the post-secondary level, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 (B-).

For applicants from the UCalgary Faculty of Law, an academic reference letter is required. Please click here to view the reference letter guidelines & submission instructions. It must be submitted at the time of your application to UCalgary.

Do I have to speak Danish?

No prior knowledge of Danish is required to participate in this exchange. UCPH offers a wide variety of courses in English.

What's so special about Copenhagen?

The University of Copenhagen has four campuses spread across Copenhagen: Frederiksberg to the East (which houses the Science faculty), North Campus (mainly Science & Health Sciences), City Campus (the central campus, consisting of Social Science and some from Science, Health, and Medical Science, as well as the university administration), and South Campus (Faculty of Law, Theology, and Humanities). While each campus is located in a different region of the city, they fall within a relatively short circumference and are easily accessible by bike or public transit. 

The city of Copenhagen is the Danish capital and the largest in the country, and offers a huge variety of local scenes to fit every interest; as described by Lonely Planet, it's "the coolest kid on the Nordic block"! It's also one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly cities in the world, and all of the more newly renovated university facilities offer gender-neutral bathrooms. 

What resources are available for new students?

The university has a Mentor Programme. Incoming students must contact them to be assigned a local mentor.

Each faculty also arranges its own orientation session for incoming international students.

The local chapter of the Erasmus Student Network, ESN Copenhagen, organizes a wide variety of events and unique travel opportunities for international students.

The university also has a range of student clubs, which are open to everyone and can be a great way to mingle with Danish students. 

What supports and accessibility resources are available?

The University of Copenhagen provides comprehensive support for students with disabilities, including support to find appropriate housing if necessary.

For information on accessibility and support services at campuses across Europe, please check out Inclusive Mobility. For city-specific services and places in Europe, the Jaccede interactive platform (website and/or smartphone app - both Android and iOS) also provides a searchable user-built database to identify important accessibility information of public places and locations.


Have questions?

Global Learning 101

Please watch this short YouTube playlist before reaching out or booking an appointment. In these videos, you will learn much of the basics about Global Learning, which may answer your initial questions.

Watch Global Learning 101

Academic Advising

Before applying to study abroad, you should ask your academic advisor how this program might align with your degree (e.g. best time to go, what courses you need).

After you are accepted, you should ask your academic advisor more specific questions about courses/transfer credits. It’s also recommended to follow up with your advisor again once you return to Calgary.

Find your academic advisor

Global Learning Advising

If you have questions, please reach out to our office! We offer drop-in advising for general inquiries, and if you have questions about this specific program or any others, you can book an appointment with the responsible advisor.

Please use the link below to find the most up-to-date information about our current advising options.

View the Global Learning Advising page

The advisor for this program is: Kathryn Bauer

How to Apply

Download the application guide

This PDF contains information on how to complete your application and what to do after you have applied.

Application guide

Identify three programs of interest

We recommend applying for your top three programs for the priority application deadline, as placement may be competitive. We will assess your applications in ranked order.

Check requirements and deadlines

These may vary by program, so check the individual program pages and make sure that you are aware of any different application deadlines or eligibility requirements.

Start your application

Once you have gathered everything you need, you can begin your application!

Please note: Applications will not be considered complete until all required documents are submitted in full.

APPLY NOW

International travel presents challenges that may not be found when attending classes on campus. There may be a lack of resources, emergency services, hospitals, accessibility issues and/or demands on the physical and the mental self, all of which can challenge individuals when away from their usual support systems and structures. Adequate preparation is essential.

For this reason, it is imperative that you evaluate all aspects of your own physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual condition against the rigors of the particular global learning program you are selecting. If you are unsure of whether or not this program is a good fit for you and/or if you have any circumstances that could impede your enjoyment of the program, please contact us. Our Global Learning Advisors will be happy to assist in finding the best options for you and arrange any supports or accommodations necessary to ensure your success.

If you have or are seeking a certificate from Student Accessibility Services, you should provide this early to your Global Learning Advisor to ensure that the option that you are seeking can support your needs.

Please note: All participants must adhere to COVID-19 and other vaccination-related requirements for the destinations visited on this program. Failure to do so may have consequences such as being denied access to accommodation/housing, program activities, or to the host country itself.