Aarhus University Admissions 2025: Application Deadline, Requirements & Costs

One of Denmark’s oldest and leading research universities, the Aarhus University is considered among the 25 best universities in the European Union. It consistently features in the top 3 universities of Denmark and top 30 universities of EU according to leading world rankings such as Shanghai, Leiden, QS, etc.

Located in Denmark, which is considered one of the safest, most secure places in the world to live, international students can seek support from the IAS (International Academic Staff) for issues related to visa, work permit, accommodation, housing services, etc. The medium of language is English for all the PhD programs. Therefore, international students can easily pursue their academic goals at this university.

Courses Offered

What are the courses available to international students?

More than 60 bachelor’s and master’s programmes are taught in the English language at the Aarhus University. Over 90 bachelor’s and more than 130 master’s programmes are taught in the university. The image below shows the number of bachelor’s and master’s programs taught by each of the five faculties at the Aarhus University:

International students may choose their areas of specialisation in either of the aforementioned fields.

Eligibility & Documents Required

What are the eligibility requirements?

Discussed below are the minimum eligibility requirements for international applicants at Aarhus University:

Undergraduate Eligibility Requirements -

1. Academic Requirements: Students who have cleared the European upper secondary school exams or secondary school degrees in technical/business subjects can apply for the undergraduate programmes at the Aarhus University. Students with American high school diplomas or non-European secondary school certificates need to complete at least one year of college or university level higher education.

International students must clear the following qualifying examinations to apply to the undergraduate programmes at the Aarhus University:

• DFB-Danish/French Baccalaureate
• EB - European Baccalaureate
• International Baccalaureate
• OIB - Option International Da Baccalaureate
• (I) GCSE AS and A-Levels and (I) GCSE

2. English Proficiency: The language requirements for international undergraduate candidates from non-English-speaking countries are given in the table below:

English Proficiency Test	Minimum Expected Score
TOEFL iBT (English B)	83
TOEFL iBT (English A)	100
IELTS (English B)	6.5 (Overall)
IELTS (English A)	7.0 (Overall)
CAE (English B)	180
CAE (English A)	190

Graduate Eligibility Requirements -

1. Academic Requirements: Students who wish to enrol in the PG programmes must hold a relevant degree equivalent to the Danish Bachelor’s Degree (180 ECTS) from a recognized university.

2. English Proficiency: The language requirements for international graduate candidates from non-English-speaking countries are given in the table below:

English Proficiency Test	Minimum Expected Score
Danish Upper Secondary School Level or English B Level	GPA 3.0
TOEFL iBT (English B)	83
IELTS (English B)	6.5
CAE (English B)	180

Note: Some of the courses may have higher score requirements or different academic and language requirements. Please refer to the intended course page on the university website to check the exact limit on each course.

What are the documents needed for the application?

The documents that undergraduate students must submit with their application form are listed below:

• Academic transcripts (certified copies) along with translated copies in English (if the transcripts are in another language)
• Documents related to specific courses in which a student wants to enrol
• Subject-level documents
• Documents that validate citizenship, such as the passport or any other valid ID card
• Residence permit copy
• Any additional documents that can add value to the application
• English language test scores

The documents that graduate students must submit with their application form are listed below:

• Official transcripts along with copies translated in English (if the transcripts are in any other language)
• English language test scores
• A copy of the passport or any other identity card

Note: Document requirements may vary with different programs. To check the exact requirements, please refer to the intended course page on the university website.

Application & Tuition Fees

Is there an application fee?

International students need to pay EUR 100 as the application fee irrespective of whether they are applying for an undergraduate or a postgraduate programme.

What is the fee structure of the courses offered by the university?

The estimated annual tuition fee for international students for the academic year 2021-2022 is given below:

Source: Aarhus University

Note: Tuition fees might be different for different courses and majors. Additionally, the overall cost of the study is likely to include additional charges such as books, supplies, health insurance, student fees, living expenses, and miscellaneous expenses. University reserves all rights to revise the tuition fee before a new academic session. To learn about the latest course fees, it is recommended to check the university website.

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Is there a scholarship or financial aid available for international students?

Students who have applied for master’s programmes can apply for Danish State Scholarships that usually provide a complete or partial tuition fee waiver. It also includes a grant paid monthly to cover the living costs of the students. However, some faculties of the Aarhus University offer only tuition fee waivers.

Scholarships are offered by the faculty of the university. Therefore, there are 4 types of scholarships to which the students can apply. These scholarships are given in the below table:

Scholarship Type	Benefits
Faculty of Arts Scholarship	A tuition fee waiver and a grant to cover monthly expenses
Aarhus BSS	A tuition fee waiver and a grant to cover monthly expenses
Faculty of Natural Sciences	A tuition fee waiver
Faculty of Technical Sciences	A tuition fee waiver

Students need not apply separately for these scholarships as the application form submitted during admission is accessed to select the students who qualify for the Danish State Scholarship. However, preference will be given to students with excellent academic qualifications. A limited number of scholarships are offered under this scholarship programme.

International students can also apply for external scholarships or loan programmes to fund their educational expenses. Specific country-based scholarships and loan offers are covered under these programmes.

The university also offers 3-year Ph.D. fellowships and 4-year and 5-year Ph.D. scholarships to students based on their ECTS credits.

Note: Scholarship deadlines and amounts may vary. For more details on the scholarship application process and deadlines, please visit the university’s scholarship webpage.

Admission Process

When do the admissions start?

The tentative deadlines for international students applying to various programmes at Aarhus University are given below:

Undergraduate Application Deadlines
Quota of Application	Application Deadline*
Quota 1	Early July
Quota 2	Mid-March
Postgraduate Application Deadlines
Application Event	Deadline*
Opening date	Early November
Closing date	Mid-January

*Deadlines vary depending on the course and can change frequently. We encourage students to check the school/department’s website for the exact deadlines.

How do I start my application?

International students may apply online by visit the university’s application portal.

Undergraduate Admission Process

Undergraduate applicants are categorized into Quota 1 and Quota 2 applicants according to their academic qualifications. The Quota 1 applicants may need to clear a qualifying examination to become eligible to apply to a bachelor’s programme, while Quota 2 applicants must fulfil all the eligibility requirements and submit the necessary documents to secure admission.

Graduate Admission Process

Students who want to apply to postgraduate programmes should first verify whether they are eligible for the programme by checking the programme-specific requirements. After that, they can upload the required documents and prioritize up to 3 applications based on their preference.

Aspirants may follow the step-by-step application process explained in the next question.

What are the steps to the application process?

Applications for both graduate and undergraduate courses is the same at Aarhus University. International students need to follow the steps given below to submit their applications successfully:

Step 1: Visit the application portal at www.optagelse.dk.

Step 2: Now, students must choose an option based on whether they wish to enrol in a programme taught in Danish or English. Students who have not yet registered on the portal should first register using their email IDs. Those who have already registered can log in with their email ID.

Step 3: After registering on the portal, the student will receive the link to their profile at their registered email ID. Students can complete their profiles by entering all the relevant details.

Step 4: Students can then apply for the entrance examination or directly submit their application, depending on whether they belong to the Quota 1 or Quota 2 category of applicants.

Next, the necessary documents and application fee can then be submitted to complete the application process.

When will I hear from the university after I submit my application?

Undergraduate applicants will receive a response before the end of July. Graduate applicants seeking entry in the September intake will receive a reply from the university by early June if they are EU, Swiss, or EEA applicants. Non-EU applicants will receive a reply between early May and early June.

Graduate students seeking entry in the February intake will receive a reply before the end of October if they are EU, Swiss, or EEA applicants, and students from other countries can expect a response by early November. The EU, EEA, and Swiss applicants who submit their applications before mid-October may receive rejection, admission, or a conditional admission letter by early December.

Please note that decisions dates may vary depending on the course and can change frequently. We encourage students to check the school/department’s website for the exact dates.

Student Diversity & Preferred Profile

What are the chances of getting into this university?

The chances of securing admission to the Aarhus University depends on the academic qualifications and English language test scores of the students. Also, if they have taken an entry exam, the scores or grades scored on such exams are also considered while evaluating an application.

Aarhus’s selection criteria when the number of seats is lower than the number of students who qualify are given below:

• The application assessment will be based on the documents submitted by the students.
• Applicants who meet the required criteria for admission will be given a higher priority.
• The current students who have taken subsidiary subjects will be preferred over the new applicants.
• Applicants who need to take supplementary courses to secure admission to a master’s degree at the Aarhus University will be preferred.

The university also allows students to undergo pre-assessment to help them determine whether they are eligible to apply for a particular course or programme. The pre-assessments can usually be taken between early October and early December every year.

How many Indian/international students study at the university?

Each year, nearly 3,000 international students join Aarhus University from over 120 countries.

International Students Data 2016-2019

The number of international students enrolled at Aarhus University in the last four years is given below:

Academic Session	Number of International Students
2016-2017	2,959
2017-2018	2,913
2018-2019	2,962
2019-2020	2,790

Source: Aarhus University

Based on this table, it can be observed that the number of enrolments is almost constant every year.

Graphical Representation

The percentage of international and domestic students are given in the image below:

Source: Aarhus University

As the chart shows, out of 40,000 students at Aarhus, approximately 12% are international, which includes Indian students as well.

Part Time Work While Studying

Can I work while studying here?

International students can work part-time while studying at the Aarhus University. After completing their degree, they can also apply for a full-time job. International students from the EU and Nordic region can work up to 37 hours every week, while students from foreign countries can work only up to 20 hours during their study period. The work permit is issued with the residence permit (when students apply for the residence permit). Students who belong to the Nordic region can work even without a work permit.

If students do not comply with the working hours specified, they risk deportation, or a fine may be imposed on them along with their employer. The employer may also be imprisoned for allowing students to work more than the stipulated hours.

Students living outside of EU or EEC countries can work as trainees or interns with a researcher of their respective departments. The internship should be related to their coursework, and the students will have to look for such opportunities independently before or after arriving on the university campus. Students need to fill the PR3 form before arrival to obtain permission to work as an intern.

Note: International students are advised to check the conditions of working in a foreign country on their study visa. They are also advised to confirm any specific instructions on the same from their respective departments and faculties. Under no circumstances should they be found compromising with the law and order of the country.

Students must also get familiar with the rules and regulations of working in a foreign country and learn about the minimum wages they are entitled to. For more details, students can check the on and off-campus opportunities on the university website.

Campuses & Accommodation

How many colleges or campuses does the university have?

Aarhus University has three campuses. This includes the main campus at Aarhus and two others at Emdrup and Herning.

Apart from these, the university has 18 research centres in Greenland, Denmark, and Tenerife. It also has 26 departments that fall under the five faculties discussed in the courses section, i.e., Arts, Health, Natural Sciences, Technical Sciences, and BBS.

Is on-campus housing available? How much does it cost?

Aarhus University offers separate accommodation for exchange and free mover students, Erasmus Mundus, and joint program students. Different accommodation options will be provided, depending on whether a student is a full-time EU or full-time non-EU student. Interns, visiting students, PhD students, and guests are provided with separate accommodation options.

International Accommodation

Students who are not from the EU and Nordic region can be accommodated in a dorm room. However, for this arrangement, they will need to apply via the Student Housing Aarhus. Students belonging to EU countries can be accommodated in one of the numerous residence halls at Aarhus. For this facility, students need to apply via the Student Housing Aarhus portal. The Student Housing Aarhus portal is an independent organization that takes care of accommodation services.

Accommodation Details

The accommodation type and estimated monthly prices for the academic year 2021-2022 are given in the table below:

Accommodation Type	Accommodation Facilities	Price* (Danish Krone - Kr)
1-room apartment with private bathroom/toilet	Storage room, shared laundry, TV and internet, etc.	Kr. 2.114 to Kr. 4.600, depending on the choice of the hall
2-room apartment with private shower and toilet	Laundry services, TV and internet, etc.	Kr. 4.236 to Kr. 6.555, depending on the choice of the hall
Single room with shared living room, bathroom, and kitchen	Common Bar, kitchen, laundry services, TV and Internet, Roof terraces, etc.	Kr. 2.441 to Kr. 3.481, depending on the choice of the hall
1½-room apartment (Single room with private bathroom/toilet)	TV and internet, storage room, laundry services, lift, etc.	Kr. 5.264 to Kr. 5.951, depending on the choice of the hall

Source: Aarhus University

Aarhus Cost of Living

Students may refer to the following cost of living while creating their monthly budget for living at Aarhus:

Expense Type	Cost* (in Euros)
Rent	EUR 450
Books and study supplies	EUR 25
Local Transport	EUR 30
Food and Utilities	EUR 300
Phone and Internet	EUR 45
Other Expenses	EUR 100
Total Expenses	EUR 950

Source: Aarhus University

*Living costs vary depending on students’ lifestyle choices. Additionally, housing and dining rates are subject to change with progressive years. To know the exact costs of on or off-campus accommodation, please check the university’s accommodations webpage.

University Contact Information

Whom should I contact in case of doubts?

The students can use the below-mentioned contact details if they have any queries or doubts:

Address: Aarhus University, Nordre Ringgade 1 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark

Website: international.au.dk

Phone: +45 8715 0000

Email: au@au.dk