Danish university paperwork can be confusing — especially when it arrives in Danish. This guide explains the most common documents international students receive, what they mean, and what you need to do with them.
Key documents explained
Admission letter
Danish: Optagelsesbrev
Your official confirmation of acceptance. It states your programme, start date, any conditions you must meet (e.g. submitting final grades), and instructions for enrolment. Arrives via e-Boks (Digital Post) and sometimes by email. Check for a conditional acceptance — if conditions are listed, you must fulfil them by the stated deadline or your offer may be withdrawn.
Transcript of records
Danish: Karakterudskrift
An official list of all completed courses, ECTS credits, and grades. Must carry an official signature or stamp from the issuing institution to be valid for applications. Danish universities require this for admission — unofficial screenshots or printouts are not accepted.
Degree certificate / diploma
Danish: Eksamensbevis / Uddannelsesbevis
Your official proof of completing a degree. Required when applying for master's programmes, jobs, or professional licences. If you are still studying, you will typically submit a provisional certificate and send the final one after graduation.
Student grant letter
Danish: SU-brev / Afgørelse om SU
A letter from the SU agency (Styrelsen for Uddannelse og Kvalitet) confirming your eligibility for the state education grant. Shows the amount approved and the period it covers. Managed via minSU.dk.
Enrolment confirmation
Danish: Studiebevis / Indskrivningsbevis
Confirms you are an active student. Used for student discounts, bank accounts, housing applications, and visa purposes. Request it from your university's student portal.
The Danish grading scale
Denmark uses a 7-point scale. Here is how it maps to international equivalents:
| Grade | Description | ECTS equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Excellent — exceptional performance | A |
| 10 | Excellent — above expected level | B |
| 7 | Good — meets all requirements | C |
| 4 | Fair — meets minimum requirements | D |
| 02 | Adequate — minimum acceptable | E |
| 00 | Inadequate — does not meet requirements (fail) | FX |
| −3 | Unacceptable (fail) | F |
Key application deadlines
- 15 March at 12:00: Deadline to apply via optagelse.dk for bachelor programmes
- 5 July at 12:00: Deadline to submit final certificates if you graduate the same year you apply
- Master's programmes: Deadlines vary — typically January to March for an autumn start. Check each university's website directly.
Translation requirement: Documents not issued in Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, or English must be accompanied by a certified translation. Translations must be carried out by an authorised translator or certified by the issuing institution — Google Translate printouts are not accepted.
SU — the Danish student grant
SU (Statens Uddannelsesstøtte) is a monthly state grant for students at approved Danish institutions. It does not need to be paid back. For 2026 the rate for students living away from home (udeboende) on a higher-education programme is approximately 7,426 DKK/month. Students living at home (hjemmeboende) receive 1,154–3,202 DKK/month depending on parental income — see su.dk for the full table.
Who is eligible:
- Danish citizens studying full-time
- EU/EEA citizens who work or have worked in Denmark (worker status)
- Non-EU students are generally not eligible
Apply early: SU is not paid retroactively. Apply via minSU.dk as soon as you receive your admission letter — payments begin from the month your application is approved.
What to do if your document is in Danish
If you receive a letter from your university or from a Danish government agency that you cannot read, upload it to Elify. We will explain what it says, what it means for you, and what action — if any — you need to take.
