International Students Moving to Denmark: Complete Guide

Moving to Denmark as an international student involves one of the more pleasant financial surprises in European higher education: EU students pay no tuition, and the state will pay you a monthly grant just for being enrolled. The catch is that the first two to three months are expensive, bureaucratic, and cash-intensive in ways that catch almost everyone off guard.

This guide covers what you actually need: how much to arrive with, how SU works and who qualifies, what a realistic student budget looks like, and the financial mistakes that cost people the most.

Before You Arrive: The Financial Reality Check

Denmark requires non-EU/EEA students to prove they have at least DKK 7,426 per month for the duration of their studies, capped at 12 months of proof even for longer programs.

That number is a visa floor, not a budget. The first month alone typically costs far more once housing deposits, furniture, and setup costs are factored in.

Realistic savings to arrive with:

• EU/EEA students: DKK 25,000–40,000
• Non-EU students: DKK 40,000–60,000 on top of the proof-of-funds requirement

The gap comes almost entirely from housing. Rental deposits in Denmark are typically three months’ rent, payable upfront. In Copenhagen, that’s easily DKK 12,000–21,000 before you’ve bought a single grocery item.

Getting Your Money to Denmark

You’ve saved up DKK 40,000–50,000. Now you need to move it. How you do this matters: the cost difference between a bank wire and a specialist transfer service on a sum that size is easily DKK 1,000–2,000.

The gap is mostly exchange rate markup, not the transfer fee itself. Banks quote rates 1.5–3% worse than mid-market; Wise and Revolut use the mid-market rate and charge a transparent percentage. On DKK 50,000, that 2% difference is DKK 1,000 before the wire fee.

Practical notes: Revolut has monthly limits on fee-free transfers (around EUR 1,000 on a standard plan), so for a large arrival transfer, Wise is usually the cleaner choice. Set up a Wise account before you leave home, since verification takes a day or two. Transfer in one or two tranches rather than many small ones to minimise fees.

One thing worth knowing: your Danish bank account can’t receive international transfers until it exists, which requires your CPR number. Most students transfer an initial amount to a Revolut or Wise account they can access immediately on arrival, then move the bulk once the Danish account is open.

Housing: The Upfront Cost That Blindsides People

Student dormitories (kollegier) are the most affordable option and the hardest to get. Waiting lists of six to twelve months are normal for desirable properties in Copenhagen. The moment you receive your university acceptance, apply.

Typical kollegium costs:

Private room in a shared flat runs DKK 5,500-8,500 per month in Copenhagen, DKK 4,000-6,000 in Aarhus.

Upfront rental costs:

Deposits in Denmark are legally capped at three months’ rent. Landlords frequently ask for one to three months’ advance rent on top of that. Budget DKK 12,000–42,000 just to secure housing before you’ve paid a month’s rent.

Many kollegier come furnished and include kitchen basics. If you land one of these, your first-month costs drop substantially. It’s worth filtering for furnished options specifically when applying.

Housing benefit (boligstøtte):

If you end up in private rented accommodation, check whether you qualify for boligstøtte, Denmark’s housing benefit. It’s income and rent-tested, so eligibility depends on your specific situation, but students in private rentals frequently qualify. The benefit typically runs DKK 500–1,500 per month. Apply through borger.dk once you have your CPR number and a rental contract. It won’t cover your rent, but it takes a real chunk off it.

SU: How the Danish Student Grant Works

SU is Denmark’s state education grant. In 2026, the monthly amount is DKK 7,426 before tax — and crucially, SU isn’t subject to the 8% AM-bidrag that comes off a regular salary.

What you actually take home depends on your personal trækprocent and monthly fradrag, both of which sit on your forskudsopgørelse. A student whose only income is SU, and who hasn’t exhausted their personal allowance elsewhere, will typically see something in the region of DKK 6,000–6,500 per month after income tax. Add a side job into the mix and the number shifts.

Annualised, the gross grant runs to roughly DKK 89,000 — just for being enrolled. The eligibility rules, though, differ significantly by nationality.

Who qualifies:

Danish citizens are automatically eligible. For everyone else:

EU/EEA citizens can receive SU if they meet one of these conditions:

• Work at least 10–12 hours per week in Denmark (the most common path)
• Have lived continuously in Denmark for five years
• Are the child, spouse, or registered partner of an EU worker in Denmark
• Have recognised refugee or asylum status

Non-EU/EEA citizens face a much higher bar. You’d need to have worked in Denmark for at least two years at 30+ hours per week, or have lived here for five years, or have arrived with your parents before age 20 with permanent residence. For most new arrivals, SU isn’t accessible until those conditions are met.

The practical implication: most EU students qualify through the work route. Most non-EU students don’t qualify at all in year one.

A note for PhD students:

If you’re starting a Danish PhD, your financial setup is different from the start. Most PhD students at Danish universities are employed (not just enrolled), which means you receive a salary rather than SU. That also puts you on a full Danish tax code from day one. If you’ve been recruited from abroad, you may qualify for the researcher tax scheme (forskerordningen), which caps your effective income tax rate at 32.84% for up to 84 months. The minimum salary threshold to qualify is DKK 65,400 per month. This is worth investigating before you arrive: the window to apply is narrow and the tax saving over a three-year PhD is substantial. A cross-border tax adviser can confirm whether you meet the criteria.

Getting SU: The Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Get a job (10–12+ hours per week)

Any paid employment in Denmark where you pay Danish taxes qualifies. That means a pay slip, a contract, and the income reported to Skat. Unpaid internships, cash-in-hand work, and most freelance arrangements don’t count.

Common student jobs and approximate hourly rates:

Another common working arrangement is through agencies looking for temporary workers (Vikar). Agencies such as JKS, Temply and Moment etc often advertise for casual jobs in areas such as warehousing, hospitality and industry. This is often a good starting point if you are having issues finding employment through normal channels. 

Step 2: Get your CPR number and MitID

You can’t apply for SU without these. Budget two to four weeks after arriving in Denmark for both to come through.

Step 3: Apply at minSU (su.dk)

Log in with MitID and submit two applications simultaneously: one for SU itself, one for “equal status” as a non-Danish citizen. The equal-status application must be submitted within three weeks of the SU application. Missing this window means starting over.

Step 4: Upload documentation

You’ll need: employment contract and recent pay slips, proof of enrolment at a SU-approved institution, and your CPR registration confirmation.

Step 5: Wait two to six weeks

Your university’s study administration makes the final eligibility decision, not Skat. Processing time varies. SU is paid at the end of the month for the following month. April’s SU arrives on the last banking day of March.

The timeline matters. Even if you start working on arrival, SU is unlikely to come through for two to three months. Your savings carry you until then.

The SU Income Limit

SU and earned income can coexist, but not without limit. If your total income from work exceeds the annual ceiling, Skat claws back some or all of your SU after the end of the year.

The 2026 income limit is DKK 20,749 per month. Holiday pay (feriepenge) counts toward the limit.

Skat doesn’t flag this in real time. It surfaces at year end when your annual income is calculated. Repaying SU you’ve already spent is painful.

Most students manage this by keeping part-time hours in the 10–15 range per week, keeping total earnings in the range where SU remains intact. If your hours fluctuate significantly (say, full-time in summer, lighter during term), track your running total against the annual limit.

The SU Loan: Worth Taking?

On top of the grant, SU includes an optional loan component of approximately DKK 4,000 per month. It doesn’t count toward the SU income limit. Repayment starts after graduation, at an interest rate set by the state each year (historically low, typically 1–4%).

Most students don’t need it if their job income plus the grant covers living costs. But there are two situations where it makes sense to take it anyway.

The first is the arrival gap. Before your first SU payment arrives (often two to three months into your studies), the loan can bridge costs without drawing down savings faster than expected.

The second is strategic buffer. Some students take the loan in later years, leave it in a savings account, and repay it immediately after graduation when their tax situation is clearer. This only makes sense if the interest rate is low enough that the liquidity value outweighs the cost. It’s a small optimisation, not a major financial move.

What it isn’t: free money. Repayment is automatic once your income crosses certain thresholds after graduation; Skat takes it back through your tax return over several years. The total repayment period can stretch to 15 years depending on income. Take the loan with a clear reason, not as a default.

International students receiving SU can apply for the loan component through the same minSU portal.

First Month Costs: What You Actually Need

The first month hits differently. Most of your upfront costs land before your first pay cheque.

Before arrival / week 1:

• Housing deposit and advance rent: DKK 12,000–42,000
• Student visa (non-EU, usually paid before arrival): DKK 3,060
• Initial food and supplies: DKK 2,000–3,000

Weeks 2–4:

• Furniture if unfurnished: DKK 3,000–8,000
• Used bicycle: DKK 500–2,000
• Kitchen supplies: DKK 500–1,500
• Textbooks: DKK 500–2,000
• Clothes for Danish winters: DKK 1,000–3,000

Total first month: DKK 20,000–70,000, depending heavily on whether your accommodation is furnished and how large a deposit your landlord requires. You can read our full first 30 days in Denmark guide here for what else you should know before arriving. 

Working as a Student

EU/EEA students can work unlimited hours without a permit. The only binding constraint is the SU income limit.

Non-EU/EEA students are restricted to 20 hours per week during the academic year. June, July, and August allow full-time work. Exceeding your permit’s hours isn’t just an income issue; it’s an immigration one too.

Finding the first job typically takes one to three months. Danish language requirements shut out a lot of standard student roles (retail, hospitality). English-accessible options include international company offices, university departments, English-medium startups, and tourist-facing businesses. Most students don’t land work until their second semester, which is another argument for arriving with substantial savings.

Banking

You’ll need a Danish bank account within two to three weeks of arriving. Your salary, SU, and most Danish services require one.

The essentials: CPR number, passport, proof of enrolment. Most banks won’t open an account without the CPR number, so this step can’t happen on your first day.

Lunar is the most commonly recommended option for new arrivals: fully English-language app, fast setup, no fees. Danske Bank and Nordea both offer student accounts, with broader branch networks if you prefer face-to-face service.

The account you open becomes your NemKonto (Denmark’s universal payment account linked to your CPR). All government payments, including SU and tax refunds, go there automatically.

Free A-Kasse Membership While Studying

A-kasse is Denmark’s unemployment insurance system. Students can join most a-kasser for free while enrolled.

The reason this matters: after graduation, if you’re unemployed, you can receive dagpenge (unemployment benefits) immediately rather than having to serve a qualifying period. The 2026 maximum dagpenge rate is DKK 22,041 per month. That’s a meaningful safety net for the job-search period after finishing your degree.

Two a-kasser that accept students free of charge: Akademikernes A-kasse (for university students specifically) and Min A-kasse (open to all).

Sign up in your first semester. There’s no cost and the downside of not signing up is real: potentially months without income after graduation.

Tax as a Student

Part-time work and SU are both taxable. Denmark’s system withholds tax at source, so you don’t need to calculate it yourself, but understanding it prevents surprises.

8% is deducted first as AM-bidrag (labour market contribution) from gross income. Everything else (bottom bracket, municipal tax, church tax) is calculated on the remaining 92%.

For most students earning DKK 8,000–12,000 per month from work, effective total tax lands somewhere between 35% and 42% including AM-bidrag. The exact rate depends on your municipality and whether you pay church tax.

SU taxation: SU itself is taxed, but at a lower rate when designated to your B-kort (secondary tax card). Most students end up with around DKK 5,400 per month after tax on the full grant amount.

Tax refunds: Most students receive a refund of DKK 2,000–8,000 in March or April when Skat finalises the previous year’s calculations. Preliminary withholding tends to run slightly high for part-time workers. It’s not money to plan around, but it arrives at a useful time in the academic year.

The personal allowance for 2026 is DKK 54,100. Income below this threshold isn’t taxed. For students with modest part-time hours, this eliminates tax on a meaningful portion of earnings.

You can read more about taxes in Denmark in our full 2026 guide.

If you’re still paying tax at home:

Non-EU students in particular often have an unresolved question: does your home country tax your Danish income too? The answer depends on whether Denmark has a double taxation treaty with your country (it does with most) and how your home country defines tax residency. Some countries tax worldwide income until you formally deregister as a resident. Others stop the moment you leave.

Getting this wrong doesn’t just mean a surprise tax bill at home; it can affect your SU income calculation if home-country income counts toward limits you weren’t tracking. This is exactly where a cross-border tax adviser earns their fee before it becomes a problem rather than after.

Healthcare

A CPR number gives you full access to Danish public healthcare at no cost. GP visits, hospital treatment, emergency care, and subsidised prescriptions are all covered. Register with a GP within your first month at sundhed.dk.

What isn’t covered: dental care (except emergencies), physiotherapy, and psychology appointments unless referred by your GP. Some students add supplemental private insurance for these at DKK 150–400 per month.

The Mistakes That Cost People Most

Arriving with just the minimum required funds. The proof-of-funds requirement is a visa condition, not a budget. The first month routinely costs DKK 20,000–70,000. Arriving at the visa floor means running out of money before your first pay cheque.

Assuming SU starts immediately. It doesn’t. You need a job, then a CPR number and MitID, then an approved application, then two to six weeks of processing. Budget three months of expenses from savings before SU arrives.

Waiting to apply for student housing. Apply to kollegier the day you receive your acceptance letter. Treating this as something to sort out after arriving can leave you looking for private rentals on short notice, which are more expensive, harder to find, and require larger deposits.

Not tracking SU income against the annual limit. The limit applies to your total annual income including holiday pay. Skat doesn’t warn you when you’re approaching it. Keep a running total.

Not joining an a-kasse as a student. It’s free. Missing the window means qualifying from scratch after graduation, which takes time you may not have.

Paying rent in cash. Beyond the legal issues, cash rent arrangements mean no paper trail for housing benefits you might qualify for, and no tenant protections if something goes wrong.

Not checking boligstøtte eligibility. If you’re in private rented accommodation, a meaningful housing benefit may be sitting unclaimed on borger.dk.

FAQ

Can I work more than 10–12 hours per week and still get SU?

Technically, yes. EU students can work as many hours as they want. The constraint is your annual income limit (— for 2026), not your hours. Work more hours, earn more, but track your total carefully. 

What if I can’t find a job right away?

You can still study. Without the work requirement, most EU students won’t qualify for SU, so you’d need to cover costs through savings, family support, or scholarships. Budget for it. The first semester without SU is common.

How much does it cost to study in Denmark?

EU/EEA citizens pay no tuition at public universities. Non-EU citizens typically pay EUR 8,000–16,000 per year depending on institution and programme.

Can I get an SU loan as well?

Yes, and it’s worth understanding before dismissing. The loan (approximately DKK 4,000 per month) doesn’t count toward the SU income limit, accrues at a historically low interest rate, and repayment only starts after graduation once your income crosses certain thresholds. See the SU loan section above for when it makes sense to take it.

Can I stay after graduation?

Yes. Graduates receive an extension to job-search: six months for bachelor’s degrees, twelve months for master’s and PhDs. If you find employment, you can apply for a work permit from within Denmark. The financial mechanics of that transition (salary thresholds, permit costs, what happens to your SU debt) are covered in our post-graduation guide.

What if I travel a lot during my studies?

You’ll lose SU if you’re outside Denmark for more than six months in total during your studies. Brief holidays are fine; extended travel abroad isn’t compatible with SU.

I’m a PhD student: does any of this apply to me?

Some of it. But your situation is different enough that the PhD callout in the SU section above is the right starting point. You’re employed, not just enrolled, which changes your tax setup, your SU eligibility, and your access to the forskerordningen. If you’ve been recruited from abroad, get advice before you arrive.