PhD (Full Degree)

You will be participating in a full degree PhD study programme linked to a Danish educational institution.

You can be granted a Danish residence permit as a full degree PhD if you are enrolled as a PhD student at a Danish university and receive a salary from the university or a company affiliated with the PhD programme, or you are enrolled in a PhD programme without receiving a salary

It is a requirement that you have been enrolled in a PhD programme in Denmark.

If you are enrolled in a PhD programme on one of the flexible PhD models (3+5 or 4+4), you must choose whether you want to apply for a residence permit to complete your master's degree and, subsequently, apply a second time to complete your PhD programme, or whether you want to apply for a residence permit valid for the full duration of your education (4 or 5 years).

The educational programme must be a full-time study.

You must be able to speak and understand the language of instruction. You must also be able to understand either Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, English or German with a reasonable level of proficiency.

If you are employed by a university or by a company, your self-support is secured by your salary. If you are not employed and therefore do not receive a salary, you must have sufficient funds to be able support yourself during your stay in Denmark.

You have sufficient funds if your disposable amount corresponds to DKK 7,426 (2026 level) for each month you will be a PhD student in Denmark - only for a maximum of 12 months, however.

For example, if you wish to stay in Denmark for 1 year or longer, you must have a disposable amount corresponding to 12 times DKK 7,426 (2026 level). That means a maximum of DKK 89,112 (2026 level).

You are allowed to work full-time at the university in which you have been enrolled or in the company affiliated to your PhD programme. This only applies to work tasks that are part of your PhD programme and only for the period while you study.

The limited work permit allows you to work: for up to 90 hours per month during the normal period of study from September to May, and full-time through June, July and August

A residence and work permit based on PhD studies in Denmark allows your family to come with you to Denmark.

You can stay in Denmark for the standard (nominal) duration of your PhD programme, provided that you participate actively in the programme.

If you do not complete your PhD programme within the nominal period of study, it is important that you apply for an extension of your permit.

If you have completed a PhD programme in Denmark, you can be granted a 3-year residence permit to look for a job in Denmark.

If you are granted a permit to complete a full PhD programme, you will generally be granted the 3-year job seeking permit along with your residence permit.

A residence permit for job seeking gives you the same rights to work as you had during your studies: 20 hours per week and full-time through June, July and August.

If you wish to work more that 20 hours per week in the job seeking period, you can apply for a work permit without limitations after you have completed your educational programme.