University of Southern Denmark (SDU) Summary
The University of Southern Denmark is one of Denmark’s largest public research universities and a strong institution for students who want a broad academic environment outside Copenhagen and Aarhus. SDU was founded in 1966 and has grown into a multi-campus university, offering education and research in Odense, Sønderborg, Kolding, Esbjerg, Slagelse and Copenhagen. The university is ideal for students looking for Danish research university quality combined with practical regional ties, English-taught degree programs, strong engineering programs, business education, health sciences, social sciences, humanities and applied scientific research.
For international students, SDU has a clear advantage, with a strong selection of English-taught bachelor’s and master’s programs. The university offers undergraduate English-taught programs in Artificial Intelligence, European Studies, Computer Science, Economics and Business Administration, Electronics, Engineering Innovation and Business, Interactive Technology Engineering, International Business Administration, Language and Culture, Market and Management Anthropology, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics and Software Engineering. This provides international applicants with more direct bachelor's access than universities where all undergraduate study is only taught in Danish.
The university has a particularly strong undergraduate portfolio in engineering, technology, software, business and international social sciences. Students can study artificial intelligence in Vejle, computer science in Vejle, business and European Studies in Sønderborg, anthropology in Odense and engineering programs in Sønderborg. This multi-city structure supports SDU in linking academic study with regional development, industry, entrepreneurship and international cooperation.
At the postgraduate level SDU offers many English taught master’s programs within engineering, science, health, business, law, humanities and social sciences. Exact programs include American Studies, Applied Mathematics, Artificial Intelligence, Biology, Business, Language and Culture, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Chemistry, Computational Biomedicine, Computer Science, Data Science, Economics, Economics and Business Administration specializations, Engineering Innovation and Business, Environmental and Resource Management, International Security and Law, Public Health, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Medicinal Chemistry, Operations Management, Physics, Population Studies, Product Development and Innovation, Quantum Computing, Robot Systems and Software Engineering.
SDU has a wide and more and more international research culture. The university has five faculties: Humanities, Science, Engineering, Business and Social Sciences and Health Sciences. At faculty level, doctoral education is provided by PhD schools and research environments. Candidates for a PhD may carry out research in engineering, health sciences, social sciences, humanities, science, business, law, public health, robotics, computer science, mathematics, physics, chemistry, medicine, welfare studies and interdisciplinary research.
Tuition fees at SDU are determined by study level, program and nationality. EU/EEA/Swiss students do not pay tuition fees as a rule under the Danish public higher education rules. Non-EU/EEA students are subject to program-specific tuition fees. For bachelor’s programs, SDU gives examples of €15,000 per year for European Studies, Economics and Business Administration, and Market and Management Anthropology, and €17,300 per year for several English-taught engineering, computing and AI programs. Master’s programs have different tuition fees depending on the program e.g. €10,800 per year for American Studies and Business, Language and Culture; €15,000 per year for Economics, Public Health and Population Studies; €17,300 per year for many science, technology, engineering and computing programs. SDU says students who are required to pay tuition will have to pay for the full first year of the program from the September 2026 intake.
Overall, University of Southern Denmark is a solid option for students seeking English taught Danish degree options, a multi-campus study environment, strong engineering and technology programs, solid business and social science options, and access to career pathways in Denmark, Europe and global markets.
For international students, SDU has a clear advantage, with a strong selection of English-taught bachelor’s and master’s programs. The university offers undergraduate English-taught programs in Artificial Intelligence, European Studies, Computer Science, Economics and Business Administration, Electronics, Engineering Innovation and Business, Interactive Technology Engineering, International Business Administration, Language and Culture, Market and Management Anthropology, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics and Software Engineering. This provides international applicants with more direct bachelor's access than universities where all undergraduate study is only taught in Danish.
The university has a particularly strong undergraduate portfolio in engineering, technology, software, business and international social sciences. Students can study artificial intelligence in Vejle, computer science in Vejle, business and European Studies in Sønderborg, anthropology in Odense and engineering programs in Sønderborg. This multi-city structure supports SDU in linking academic study with regional development, industry, entrepreneurship and international cooperation.
At the postgraduate level SDU offers many English taught master’s programs within engineering, science, health, business, law, humanities and social sciences. Exact programs include American Studies, Applied Mathematics, Artificial Intelligence, Biology, Business, Language and Culture, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Chemistry, Computational Biomedicine, Computer Science, Data Science, Economics, Economics and Business Administration specializations, Engineering Innovation and Business, Environmental and Resource Management, International Security and Law, Public Health, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Medicinal Chemistry, Operations Management, Physics, Population Studies, Product Development and Innovation, Quantum Computing, Robot Systems and Software Engineering.
SDU has a wide and more and more international research culture. The university has five faculties: Humanities, Science, Engineering, Business and Social Sciences and Health Sciences. At faculty level, doctoral education is provided by PhD schools and research environments. Candidates for a PhD may carry out research in engineering, health sciences, social sciences, humanities, science, business, law, public health, robotics, computer science, mathematics, physics, chemistry, medicine, welfare studies and interdisciplinary research.
Tuition fees at SDU are determined by study level, program and nationality. EU/EEA/Swiss students do not pay tuition fees as a rule under the Danish public higher education rules. Non-EU/EEA students are subject to program-specific tuition fees. For bachelor’s programs, SDU gives examples of €15,000 per year for European Studies, Economics and Business Administration, and Market and Management Anthropology, and €17,300 per year for several English-taught engineering, computing and AI programs. Master’s programs have different tuition fees depending on the program e.g. €10,800 per year for American Studies and Business, Language and Culture; €15,000 per year for Economics, Public Health and Population Studies; €17,300 per year for many science, technology, engineering and computing programs. SDU says students who are required to pay tuition will have to pay for the full first year of the program from the September 2026 intake.
Overall, University of Southern Denmark is a solid option for students seeking English taught Danish degree options, a multi-campus study environment, strong engineering and technology programs, solid business and social science options, and access to career pathways in Denmark, Europe and global markets.
