PhD degree in Denmark: All you need to know

Denmark is a popular destination for international students seeking to pursue a PhD degree. Danish universities offer a range of high-quality PhD programs in a variety of fields, including natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and engineering. In this post, our Fastepo team attempts to give you all information for finding matched PhD degree (position) in Denmark, application requirements, application process and enrollment process (all you need to know).

Finding a PhD degree (vacancies) in Denmark

For finding a studentship PhD position the candidates can find it on the website of the University wherein the application requirement for each particular post is given (you can find some examples of PhD student positions in the Academic Career section). However, as soon as the PhD position terminates (after three years) if the student cannot find another job, he/she can get unemployment support (salary) from the state for a year.

Industrial PhD 

The industrial PhD is a collaboration between university and industry and the Students matriculate at a university but work in an industry for 3 years.
The industrial PhD programs are managed by Innovation Fund Denmark. The deadline for these programs in 2017 is 20 March, until 12.00 PM. The candidates should apply for a subsidy in the private sector during the deadline.

External Stay

PhD students should spend 3-6 months of their PhD study period outside of the university where they are enrolled while still being paid by the host Danish university (not by the external host). This is in principle part of the study program.

Admission requirements:

To be eligible for admission to a PhD program in Denmark, you need to hold a master’s degree or an equivalent qualification. You will also need to demonstrate proficiency in English by submitting your scores from an English language proficiency test, such as TOEFL or IELTS.

Application process:

To apply for a PhD program in Denmark, you will need to identify a research area of interest and contact a potential supervisor at a university in Denmark. If the supervisor is interested in working with you, they will help you prepare an application that outlines your research proposal and demonstrates your academic and research experience.

Funding:

PhD students in Denmark are typically funded through a combination of scholarships, research grants, and salary from teaching or research assistantships. Many universities and research institutions in Denmark offer competitive funding packages to attract talented students from around the world.

Program length:

PhD programs in Denmark typically take three to four years to complete, although some programs may take longer depending on the field of study and the nature of the research project.

Research environment:

Denmark has a strong research culture and is home to many world-class research institutions. As a PhD student in Denmark, you will have access to state-of-the-art research facilities and be part of a vibrant academic community.

Work opportunities:

After completing your PhD in Denmark, you will be well-positioned for a career in academia, research, or industry. Denmark offers a range of work opportunities for PhD graduates, including positions in universities, research institutions, and private companies.

Comparison of the PhD program in Denmark and Germany

In contrast to PhD studies in Germany, in Denmark is not possible to study for more than 3 years (unless special conditions are met). Since the PhD students are employed at the University for the completion of a research project in the frame of PhD project, as soon as the student graduate the work contract terminates (even when it is shorter than 3 years). But in Germany, the program can be much longer and it is legal if PhD students do not get any financial support during their studies! The other difference is that in Germany most of the PhD scholars are not considered students and do not need to have any course in addition to their research activities. But in Denmark, PhD student should earn 30ETCS in addition to the completion of the research projects in order to graduate.

Is studying in Denmark free or the tuition fees should be paid?

The general documents for admission are English certificates such as IELTS, TOEFL or Cambridge Advanced English. For such programs, you need to have a test score of at least 6.5 points or a test score of at least 7.0 points (IELTS). You can also apply for these programs with test scores in the ranges of 550-583 (paper-based), 213-237 (computer-based test), or 79-93 (internet-based test) or test scores in the ranges of 587-610 (paper-based), or 240-253 (computer-based test), or 94-101 (internet-based test) (TOEFL). Or Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Certificate of Proficiency (CPE) (Cambridge Advanced English). The candidates need to send certified copies of your educational qualifications with original stamps and signatures or signs of two persons with their name, address, and birth date.

Would you like to know the salary amount of PhD and postdoc positions in Europe? 

You can find all the available full-funded PhD positions in different countries here.