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How does Brexit affect you?

Here you can read about how Brexit affects your rights within the area concerning higher education.

The United Kingdom's (UK) decision to leave the EU means that as of 31 January 2020, the UK is no longer an EU member state.

The British government and the remaining 27 EU member states have agreed on a Withdrawal Agreement, which entails the terms of the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

Amongst others, the Withdrawal Agreement regulates your rights as a British citizen residing in Denmark during and after the transition period, which ended by 31 December 2020.

Admission to higher education programs via the Coordinated Admission

Applicants applying for admission to higher education via the Coordinated Admission, ie. academy profession programmes, professional bachelor programmes and bachelor programmes, on the basis of an upper secondary diploma from an EU / EEA Member State, have their application processed in quota 1 and quota 2 on the same terms as applicants with a Danish upper secondary diploma. For assessment in quota 1, their grades are converted to the Danish 7-point scale. Citizens holding exams from EU / EEA countries that cannot be converted, or citizens holding exams from third countries can only apply for admission via quota 2.

Access to higher education is not affected by the Withdrawal Agreement. This means that applicants for higher education in Denmark with a diploma from the UK - regardless of nationality - can no longer apply for admission via quota 1, but only via quota 2. However, it has been decided to establish a transitional arrangement, valid until the summer admission 2023, that will enable applicants holding upper secondary exams from the UK to be assessed in quota 1 based on their grades . After the summer admission 2023, applicants holding upper secondary exams from the UK - regardless of citizenship - will only be able to apply for admission via quota 2 in the same way as applicants holding upper secondary exams from third countries, ie. USA.

If you hold or expect to hold an upper secondary diploma from the UK and have questions concerning admission to  higher education programmes via the Coordinated Admission, please contact the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science at kot@ufm.dk.

Admission to top-up study programmes and master's programs

If you want to apply for admission to a top-up study programme, you apply for admission on the basis of a relevant academy profession degree. If you want to apply for admission to a master's program, you apply for admission on the basis of a relevant bachelor's degree. If you have questions about admission to a top-up program or a master's program, please contact the educational institution where you want to apply for admission.

Access to regulated professions

As of 1 January 2021 all British citizens are considered third-country nationals in relation to new applications for professional recognition in Denmark. This means, for example, that doctors from the United Kingdom no longer have an EU-guaranteed right to automatic recognition in Denmark. They must apply for recognition on the same terms as third-country nationals.

Citizens of EU/EEA member states can still apply for professional recognition under EU rules if they have qualified to practice a regulated profession in the UK before 1 January 2021.

If you obtained permanent authorisation before 1 January 2021 to practice a regulated profession in Denmark based on qualifications from the UK, you will keep your authorisation.

If you have questions regarding access to regulated professions, please contact the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science at kontaktpunkt@ufm.dk.

Financial support for education in Denmark and abroad

According to the Withdrawal Agreement, British citizens already residing in Denmark as of 31 December 2020 according to EU law on free movement, and their family members, continues to be eligible for financial support for education in Denmark and abroad under the same conditions as EU citizens. This also applies to British frontier workers in Denmark and their family members.

In addition, you will only have to pay tuition fees for education in Denmark where EU citizens pay tuition fees.

This also applies to British citizens already residing in Denmark, who will begin their studies in Denmark after the end of the transition period - as long as they are residing in Denmark according to EU law on free movement before the end of the transition period - and as long as they continue to reside in Denmark according to the Withdrawal Agreement.

British citizens receiving Danish financial support for studies abroad

According to the Withdrawal Agreement, if you by the end of the transition period already have been granted Danish financial support for studies abroad you will continue to be eligible for Danish financial support for those specific studies you have been granted financial support for.

Danish citizens and other EU citizens receiving financial support for studies in the UK

Danish citizens and other EU citizens who by the end of the transition period are receiving Danish financial support for studies in the UK, continues to be eligible for Danish financial support for that specific study programme you have been granted Danish financial support for.

If you have questions regarding financial support for education in Denmark and abroad you can contact the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science at su@ufm.dk

If you have questions regarding residence rights under the Withdrawal Agreement you can contact the Ministry of Immigration and Integration on uim@uim.dk.

If you have general questions regarding Brexit you can contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark on brexitinfo@um.dk.

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last modified November 15, 2023