Understand the Quota 1 and Quota 2 application system

It is necessary to understand the application process if you want to study abroad at University of Copenhagen in Denmark. Here you can read about quota 1 and quota 2 and how to apply for admission for a bachelor programme at University of Copenhagen (UCPH). Furthermore it is important to know the admission requirements for the bachelor programme you wish to apply for. Be aware, at the University of Copenhagen all bachelor programmes are taught in Danish and require the highest level in Danish or documentation for academic language skiulls in Danish. Find out how to obtain Danish language qualifications 

If you have a non-danish exam you can apply for admission via quota 1 and quota 2 before the 15 March 12.00. You need to fulfill the admission requirements no later than the 5 july 12.00 the year you apply. You can apply for admission to the University of Copenhagen’s bachelor programmes via optagelse.dk. The information on optagelse.dk regarding the University of Copenhagen is in Danish only. 

You are welcome to send your application from 1 February, when the application period at optagelse.dk starts. 

01

What is quota 1?

You are only eligible for admission through quota 1 if your upper secondary education is from within the EU or you have an International Baccalaureate (IB) or an European Baccalaureate (EB).

Furthermore, you are not eligible for admission via quota 1 if you have a vocational secondary education.

If you have a foreign exam where it is possible to convert your grade point average (GPA) into a Danish GPA (only scandinavian and EU/EEA countries), your converted GPA must be 6.0 or higher if you want to apply in quota 1. 

If you are applying in quota 1, your application is exclusively based on your GPA from your original or first given exam certificate/diploma. Each bachelor degree programme will be given a specific GPA each year. If you are uncertain whether your GPA is high enough, you can also apply through quota 2. Please note that grades can be assessed in very different ways from country to country. If your converted GPA is 5.9 or less, it is not possible to be assessed in quota 1 and you can only apply through quota 2.

See the minimum grade point averages for admission from the past few years (in Danish only).

Learn more about quota 1 (in Danish)

02

What is quota 2?

Diplomas from outside EU/EEA and non-Nordic countries

Please note, that if your upper secondary education is not from within the EU or you have an International Baccalaureate (IB) or European Baccalaureate (EB), or the Scandinavian countries you can only apply through quota 2.

The quota 2-proces at the University of Copenhagen consists of a quota 2 admission test and a quota 2-interview. This is made so you can apply for admission, if you are uncertain if your GPA is high enough to get admitted through quota 1 or you GPA is below 6.0 GPA. You can apply for admission via quota 2 if:

  • you have a qualifying exam, and you fulfill the specific admission requirements
  • your degree does not qualify for quota 1 because it is not from a country within EU/EEA or is a vocational secondary education
  • you are uncertain of your grade point average is high enough to be admitted in quota 1
  • your GPA is below Danish 6.0
  • you fulfill the language requirement
  • Pass the quota 2-test. Please note that you must enroll separately in the quota 2 admission test before the 21 March if you want to apply for admission in quota 2. Applicants that have not participated and passed the quota exam will not be considered for admission. The quota 2-test is in Danish. 
03

Quota 2 admission test

When you have applied for admission via quota 2 before the 15 March at 12:00, you need to pass a quota 2 admission test. 

The quota 2 admission test is in Danish. 

Please be aware that you have to enroll separately in the quota 2- admission test if you want to apply for admission in quota 2. 

Applicants who have not participated and passed the quota 2 admission test will not be considered for admission. 

Deadline for enrollment in quota 2 admission test

The deadline for enrollment in the quota 2 admission test is 21 March at 12:00. Applicants who pass the quota 2 admission test and get the best results will be invited to an oral or written interview. The interview can be held in either Danish, Norwegian or Swedish. 

Then the University of Copenhagen will make an overall assessment based on your test and interview. 

Learn more about quota 2 (in Danish)

04

Application process

When will I know if I am admitted to the study programme?

On 26 July you will know if you are admitted to UCPH. 

You will receive a notification to your application, which will be visible on the self-service Mit KU. If offered admission, you must accept or decline the offer within the deadline given on Mit KU. Please note that all communication with the University takes place on Mit KU.

For more information on admission to Danish higher education, please see the website of The Danish Agency for Science and Higher Education

Enrolment to all bachelor programmes at the University of Copenhagen takes place once a year, on  September 1st. There will be an introduction in late August where you meet your fellow student. 

The only exception to this rule is the bachelor programme in Medicine where students enroll twice a year, on 1 September and 1 February.

You can apply for admission to the University of Copenhagen’s bachelor programmes via optagelse.dk

The information on optagelse.dk regarding the University of Copenhagen is in Danish only, as all our bachelor's degree programmes are taught in Danish.

For applicants with a non-Danish secondary (high) school education, the application deadline for bachelor programmes in quota 1 and quota 2 is 15 March at 12:00. You are welcome to send your application from 1 February at optagelse.dk, when the application period at optagelse.dk starts. 

When you apply before 15 March at 12:00 your application is automatically linked to quota 2 and quota 1 (if quota 1 applies to you). If you do not wish to apply through quota 2, please let us know through the self-service Mit KU .

Remember, that you need to enroll in and pass a quota 2 admission test.

05

Diplomas from the Nordic countries

Based on the Nordic Treaty on Recognition of Qualifications and Access to Higher Education, Nordic applicants are evaluated for admission on equal terms as applicants with a Danish upper secondary school examination − both in quota 1 and quota 2. 

Learn more about quota 1 (in Danish)

Learn more about quota 2 (in Danish)

06

IB and other international diplomas

Applicants with an International Baccalaureate (IB) or European Baccalaureate examination are evaluated for admission on equal terms as applicants with a Danish upper secondary school examination − both in quota 1 and quota 2.

Find out more about International Baccalaureate (IB)

07

Diplomas from the EU/EEA

On the basis of the EU/EEA Treaty on Recognition of Qualification and Access to Higher Education, applicants from the member countries are evaluated for admission on equal terms as applicants with a Danish upper secondary school examination both in quota 1 and quota 2.

Find out more about Diplomas from the EU/EEA

08

Diplomas from non-EU/EEA and non-Nordic countries

Applicants with other foreign upper secondary (high) school examinations are evaluated on the basis of a Danish quota 2 test and interview. 

Only the following programmes will conduct oral interviews (all in Danish):

Find out more about Diplomas from non-EU/EEA and non-Nordic countries