Health and Medical Sciences, Natural Sciences, Humanities
Founded in 1479, the University of Copenhagen is the oldest and largest university in Denmark. It is a world-renowned public research university with a comprehensive range of programs and numerous Nobel laureates.
The University of Copenhagen is the largest and oldest university in Denmark, with about 37,500 students and 9,000 staff, and roughly one student in ten comes from abroad. Its buildings are spread over four campuses: the City campus around Nørregade in the old town, the South campus on Amager, the North campus with the natural sciences, and Frederiksberg with life sciences and veterinary medicine.
Danish scientific history runs through the university. Niels Bohr studied and worked here, and the Niels Bohr Institute, opened in 1921, became one of the world’s centres for quantum physics, drawing Heisenberg, Pauli and many others to Copenhagen in the 1920s and 1930s. Hans Christian Ørsted discovered electromagnetism in 1820 while teaching in the city, and the philosopher Søren Kierkegaard studied theology here. Aage Bohr, Niels’s son, also received a Nobel Prize in physics.
Health and medical sciences, natural sciences and the humanities are the largest areas. Researchers collaborate with the Medicon Valley biotechnology cluster that links Copenhagen with Lund across the Øresund, with companies such as Novo Nordisk, and with the Rigshospitalet university hospital. The university belongs to the League of European Research Universities and the International Alliance of Research Universities, which supports exchange and doctoral cooperation.
Tuition is free for students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland, and students from other countries pay fees that depend on the programme and run to tens of thousands of kroner per year. Many master’s degrees are taught in English, while bachelor programmes are mostly in Danish. Admission is competitive, and the application deadlines for international students fall in the winter and spring.
Housing is the main practical challenge. Copenhagen has a shortage of student rooms, rents are high, and international students should start searching or apply to student housing organisations as soon as they are admitted. About 200,000 people have graduated from the university since 1479.
Domains taught:
Bioinformatics, Chemistry, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Nanotechnologies, Physics, Statistics
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
KU is a member of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU) and the League of European Research Universities (LERU). It collaborates with numerous public and private partners, including major pharmaceutical companies in the ‘Medicon Valley’.
Research:
KU is one of the world’s leading research institutions, with groundbreaking research in areas like quantum physics, cancer research, and plant science. It is home to numerous international research centers.
Famous Alumnis:
Niels Bohr, Søren Kierkegaard, August Krogh
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
9000
Current students***:
37500
Foreign students***:
10%
Cumulative former students***:
200000
Pros
One of the highest-ranked universities in the Nordic region with a long and prestigious history. It offers outstanding research opportunities and a vibrant student life in the capital city.
Cons
The university is very large and spread across four campus areas in Copenhagen. The admission process is highly competitive, and the cost of living in Copenhagen is high.
Best For
Students with high academic ambitions seeking a world-class education at a historic, research-intensive university in a major European capital.
For students who like the nanotechnologies, chemistry and physics focus of this institution but want another option nearby, Aarhus University fits well: it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and covers astroscience and agriculture as well.
Roskilde University takes a similar route through chemistry, physics and mathematics, and it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
Think of University of Southern Denmark when life sciences is the priority: it is slightly smaller, at about 27,000 students against roughly 37,500 here, and is also a public institution.
Think of Technical University of Denmark when numerous, centers and education is the priority: it covers civil engineering and bioengineering as well, and is smaller, enrolling about 13,400 students against roughly 37,500 here.
Aalborg University sits close to this institution on health; it covers project management and telecommunications as well, and is smaller, enrolling about 20,000 students against roughly 37,500 here.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
The closest overseas parallel on chemistry, statistics and physics is Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, located in Germany; it covers finance and microbiology and genetics as well, and has almost the same size, at about 36,569 students.
In Austria, University of Vienna teaches much the same core subjects, chemistry, statistics and physics, and it is larger, enrolling about 85,243 students against roughly 37,500 here, and is also a public institution.
Seen from abroad, Université Paris Cité (France) is a close relative on subject matter, since chemistry, statistics and physics are central to both, and it is larger, enrolling about 64,100 students against roughly 37,500 here, and is also a public institution.
Hebrew University of Jerusalem, based in Israel, is built around chemistry, statistics and physics much like this university, and it covers agriculture and microbiology and genetics as well, and is smaller, enrolling about 23,000 students against roughly 37,500 here.
University of Seville in Spain shares the chemistry, physics and mathematics orientation of this university, and it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and covers finance and aerospace as well.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is the University of Copenhagen?
The central address is Nørregade 10 in Copenhagen. Further campuses are on Amager, in the north of the city and in Frederiksberg.
How large is the university?
About 37,500 students and 9,000 staff, with around 10 percent of students from abroad.
When was it founded?
In 1479, which makes it the oldest university in Denmark.
What is the Niels Bohr Institute?
It is a physics institute at the university, founded in 1921, where Niels Bohr led the development of quantum theory with scientists from across Europe.
What are its strongest fields?
Health and medical sciences, natural sciences and the humanities, supported by the Rigshospitalet and the Medicon Valley biotechnology cluster.
Is tuition free?
Yes for students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland. Students from other countries pay fees that depend on the programme.
In which language are courses taught?
Bachelor programmes are mostly in Danish. Many master's programmes are taught in English.
Which networks does it belong to?
The League of European Research Universities and the International Alliance of Research Universities.
Who are famous people linked to the university?
Niels Bohr, Hans Christian Ørsted and Søren Kierkegaard studied or worked at the university.
Is it hard to find housing in Copenhagen?
Yes. Student rooms are scarce and rents are high, so international students should begin searching as soon as they are admitted.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Bioengineering, Biomedical Sensors, Health Sciences, Healthcare, Innovation, Research and Development, Sustainable Development
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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