Most foreign students now opt to pursue their education in Copenhagen, Denmark.

International Students Escalate in Copenhagen, Decrease Across Denmark* Sound Off Below

An astounding shift in international student distribution has occurred in Denmark, with the majority now studying in Copenhagen. This transformation comes as a result of the significant reduction in English-language courses offered outside the city from 2017 to 2022, according to data unveiled by Copenhagen Municipality.

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FatChilli The number of international students joining the Capital Region of Denmark skyrocketed by approximately 50% over the past decade. The influx grew from 2,500 international students in 2012 to 3,700 in 2022, per details recently released by Copenhagen Municipality.

In contrast, the number of international students in the rest of Denmark plummeted by roughly 40%, dropping from 3,900 in 2012 to a mere 2,300 in 2022.

The report's analysts link this drastic change to past governments' decisions to lessen the quantity of English-language courses in 2017, 2018, and 2022.

VIA University College, which operates eight campuses across Jutland, was previously the leader in Denmark, educating the most international students in 2012, with 691 students. However, they now rank seventh in 2022, with only 274 students.

Meanwhile, the number of international students at the DTU Technical University of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, and Copenhagen Business School almost doubled, going from 691, 601, and 562 students respectively, to 1,122, 1,046, and 872 students, respectively.

The situation has started to improve since 2022. The government recently announced plans to establish 400 additional places on STEM degrees taught in English to reduce tuition costs.

Now, on VIA's website, the institution boasts having over 1,000 international students studying its nine English-language courses.

Another noticeable change over the 2012-2022 period was the substantial increase in the proportion of international students in the Copenhagen area who held part-time jobs during their studies. The analysts behind the report speculate that these jobs may encourage students to stay in the country after graduation.

In 2012, 60% of international students in the Copenhagen area held jobs during their studies. By 2022, that number had risen to 75%. International students coming in 2022 most frequently found employment in hotels and restaurants (27%), education (19%), or travel agents and cleaning (11%) fields.

They worked an average of 15 hours per week and held their jobs for roughly seven months during each year of their studies.

International students on vocational education programs worked on average 24 hours per week for 8.5 months per year, whereas students on a standard bachelor degree with a side job worked an average of 12 hours per week for 6.4 months per year.

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Additional Factors Influencing Trends

Various factors could contribute to the shift in international student distribution, such as:

Policy changes
Economic factors
Infrastructure and resources
Global competitiveness
Political and geopolitical considerations

Without specific data or reports, it's difficult to pinpoint the exact reasons for any decreases in regions outside of Copenhagen. However, these factors play a crucial role in shaping student enrollment patterns.

The unfolding events in Denmark's education sector underscore the substantial impact of art and science, particularly in the realm of international education.
In the past decade, a significant rise in the enrollment of international students has been observed, specifically in the Capital Region of Denmark, a trend supported by data from Copenhagen Municipality.
With the average intake of international students in Copenhagen escalating by roughly 50%, it's evident that technology, travel, and space-related fields have garnered increased interest among international students.
In stark contrast, regions outside of Copenhagen have witnessed a decrease in international student enrollment, with a fall of around 40% over the past decade, according to the same data.
Given the significant drop in English-language courses offered outside Copenhagen from 2017 to 2022, it's worrying that fewer students are now pursuing education and self-development opportunities in parts of Denmark other than the capital.
In an attempt to revitalize international education outside Copenhagen, the government has recently announced plans to increase the number of STEM degrees taught in English by 400 places and reduce tuition costs, offering a promising outlook for the future.

Most foreign students now opt to pursue their education in Copenhagen, Denmark.