Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
Copenhagen (Lyngby), DENMARK
University Info | Exchange Student Info
Fast Facts
- Denmark’s first driverless bus is currently roaming around the DTU campus, and will eventually become an on-campus transport solution for students, staff and visitors.
- 42% of MSc students admitted to DTU are international students, representing more than 100 nationalities.
- DTU has its very own brewery on campus, where students and researchers test out and experiment with the latest technologies.
- Every year, DTU hosts “Green Challenge”, a conference where students address global challenges and are able to showcase their own environmentally friendly project.
- DTU’s student organization was founded in 1845 and is the oldest in Denmark.
Introduction
In 1829, when Hans Christian Ørsted founded what became the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), he created an eloquent response to an important need in society: to make use of scientific progress in the service of society by applying technology.
DTU has applied this fundamental idea for the past 184 years. Based on intensive efforts in research, innovation and the transfer of knowledge, DTU has contributed to Denmark achieving a leading position within such diverse fields as design, wind energy, biotechnology, electronics and telecommunication. DTU thereby deserves a substantial share of the credit for Denmark being able, despite its modest size, to create and maintain a welfare society that is the envy of many nations.
At DTU, we have always taken our role as a leading force within the technical and natural sciences seriously. We provide education, research and innovation at a high international level. Further, DTU has strived since 1829 to build sustainable bridges between academia and industry. In 2005, DTU manifested this by such accomplishments as concluding 350 partnership agreements with companies.
DTU is a leading technical university in northern Europe and benchmarks with the best universities in the world. The number of publications in frequently cited scientific journals has increased in recent years, and 44% of the publications registered by the Science Citation Index of the Institute of Scientific Information (ISI) in 2005 were prepared in collaboration with one or more researchers based outside Denmark. The internationalization of DTU also continued with more than one fifth of DTU's scientific staff being recruited from outside Denmark and with an increasing number of international students.
The special Scandinavian way pervades life at DTU. Students and teachers work more informally than at most other Universities. Education is largely based on the students' active participation and taking independent responsibility. Students learn to work individually and in groups. They also learn to ask questions, be innovative and to find and explore interrelationships. Thus, they are trained to create new value.
Terms of Exchange
Study Level
- Undergraduate students: Accepted
- Graduate students: Accepted
- Computer Science majors: Accepted
Eligibility Requirements
- Students must be nominated through their home university.
- If there is a bilateral agreement between the student’s home institution and DTU, the student should use this agreement instead of the Global E3 option.
Language of Instruction
Courses are available in both English and Danish.
English Proficiency Requirements
We don’t require a TOEFL, but some certification that students are able to study in English.
Study Period
Fall, Spring, or Academic Year
Academic Calendar | Semester Dates (including exam period)
Each semester at DTU consists of a 13-week period and a 3-week period. Students may stay for the entire semester or follow courses for 13-weeks, take exams, and then go back to their home university.
This allows students that go abroad for the fall semester to end their exchange abroad before Christmas, and return to their home institution for further studies. It is therefore a good fit with quarter structures as well as semester structures.
- Autumn Semester: September to January
- Spring Semester: February to July
Academic Information
Disciplines Available
- Architectural Engineering
- Biotechnology
- Biochemical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Science
- Design and Innovation
- Electrical Engineering
- Engineering Management
- Environmental Engineering
- Food and Nutrition
- Mathematical Modellings
- Mechanical Engineering
- Pharmaceutical Design
- Physics and Nanotechnology
- Sustainable Energy
- Wind Energy
Course Contents
See the course catalogue for courses in English. You can also search the catalogue by department.
Workload per Semester
At BSc and MSc level, the maximum number of courses you can sign up for per semester is 35 ECTS worth of courses. 60 ECTS constitute a full academic year.
Additional Application Materials
Students nominated by IIE to DTU will need to complete the DTU on-line application. The application must also be printed out and mailed in. Students will receive their acceptance packet on a rolling basis.
Housing
At DTU, we try to help our international exchange students to find housing, but unfortunately we cannot guarantee accommodation to all international exchange students. We provide accommodation services only under strict conditions as there is a housing shortage in Denmark and rooms are in short supply.
Estimated Cost of Living
Student Budget
Food/meals – about 1500 - 1700 DKR
Housing
Local transportation
The cost of transport can be high; we cannot accommodate all students close to the campus. During the induction week you will receive information about the transport system in the Copenhagen area. But please note that international students do not qualify for student discounts in Denmark.
You may find it most economical to buy a monthly travel card entitling you to unlimited use of public transport. As of 9 August 2013, the cost of such cards varies between 320 and 1180 DKK depending on the number of zones it covers. Copenhagen and Denmark are zoned throughout.
Cheaper still is the use of a bike. The Copenhagen area has an extensive cycle-path system. We strongly advise you to invest in a bike. You can buy a used bike for around 1000 DKR.
Academic expenses (e.g., books, stationery) – about 400 DKR
Personal expenses – varies with individual students. For suggestions of budgets, see our international student guide.
Contact
Office Responsible for International Exchange Students
International Affairs Office | international@adm.dtu.dk
City Info
The DTU campus is situated in beautiful green surroundings (close to the national park of Dyrehaven), 10km north of the centre of Copenhagen. The full name of the city is Kongens Lyngby, though it is now more often known simply as Lyngby (or Kgs Lyngby). It used to be a village inhabited by the king's tenants (hence Kongens Lyngby = 'King's Lyngby'). Today Lyngby is part of Greater Copenhagen.
