Surge in international students to Copenhagen continues in 2009

More overseas students than ever can now call the University of Copenhagen (U of C) their university.

The U of C now has more than 2000 students from abroad enrolled, a 5.5 per cent increase over last semester. This is according to preliminary data from the International Office, which does not include full degree students.

The upsurge comes on the back of several years of increases. Since 2005, the number of international admissions has gone up by 40 per cent.

An alternative to the UK or USA

A possible explanation for the increase in overseas admissions is the number of courses offered in English.

This attracts students who would otherwise choose to go to Britain or the US, according to Daria Irena Markov, Head of Section at Copenhagen University’s International Office. The University of Copenhagen currently offers more than 500 courses in English every semester.

»Copenhagen’s reputation as a safe and ‘hyggelig’ (Danish for ‘cosy’) city also attracts many students«, she adds.

Free tuition in Denmark makes the University of Copenhagen an economically attractive option compared to other EU countries such as the UK or Germany, although this is more relevant for full degree students, as exchange students still pay tuition fee at their home university, she explains.