Danish Government Scholarship under the Cultural Agreements
The Danish Government Scholarship under the Cultural Agreements supports postgraduate study at Danish universities for outstanding non-EU students. It covers full tuition fees and provides a monthly living grant of DKK 5,000-7,000 (roughly €670-940). Awards are administered through the Danish universities themselves — each institution receives a fixed quota and nominates its strongest international Master's admits from cultural-agreement countries. Sri Lanka maintains an active cultural agreement with Denmark, making Sri Lankan applicants eligible at most Danish universities.
Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science
Government-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
Tuition
100% covered
Living Grant
DKK 5,000-7,000 / month
Duration
1-2 Year Master's (typically partial — full term less common)
Awards
Limited quota — competitive per university
fact_check Eligibility Criteria
Non-EU / Non-EEA Citizen
Open to citizens of countries with cultural agreements with Denmark — Sri Lanka is on the list. EU and EEA students don't qualify as they already access free Danish higher education.
Admitted to a Danish Master's
You must hold or be applying for admission to a Master's programme at a Danish public university (Copenhagen, Aarhus, DTU, Aalborg, SDU, Roskilde, ITU). Bachelor's and PhD applicants apply through separate schemes.
Outstanding Academic Record
Strong Bachelor's degree (typically first-class or upper second from a Sri Lankan university). Selection is heavily academic-merit weighted at the host university level.
Not Currently in Denmark
You must apply from outside Denmark. Students already enrolled in a Danish degree or holding Danish residency typically don't qualify under the cultural-agreements scheme.
account_tree Application Process
Apply to a Danish Master's programme
Submit your Master's application to the Danish university of choice by their international admission deadline (typically 15 January for September entry — DTU, Copenhagen, Aarhus broadly align). Include transcripts, references, motivation letter, and English-test results.
Indicate scholarship interest
Most Danish universities have a scholarship section on the application — tick the Danish Government Scholarship / Cultural Agreements box. There is no separate scholarship form.
University nomination
Each Danish university nominates a fixed number of admitted international applicants for the Danish Government Scholarship. Selection is based on academic merit and country-of-origin agreement coverage.
Funding offer + visa
Nominated candidates receive a scholarship offer alongside their admission letter, typically April-May. Use both for the Danish residence permit application (handled via VFS Global / the Danish embassy).
Why Denmark?
Denmark hosts some of Europe's top research universities (Copenhagen, DTU, Aarhus — all top 200 globally) with most Master's taught in English. The Danish model emphasises group work, problem-based learning, and close faculty-student relations. Copenhagen consistently tops global liveability rankings.
Top 100
Copenhagen QS Ranking
7
Public Danish Universities
#3
Mercer Quality of Living (Copenhagen)
Similar Scholarships
Other curated opportunities for Sri Lankan students.
Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Programme
French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
Holland Scholarship (NL Scholarship)
Dutch Ministry of Education / Nuffic
Master Mind Scholarship (Flanders Government)
Flemish Government / Government of Flanders