Student work rights in Denmark
Rules for working while studying in Denmark, including work limits, internships, tax steps and post-study routes where covered by the guide.
Read the complete Denmark study abroad guide.
Part-time Jobs
A third-country student in a state-approved higher-education programme is normally granted a limited work permit together with the study residence permit. The current limit is 90 hours per calendar month from September through May and full-time work in June, July and August.
This replaced the old 20-hours-per-week rule on 1 July 2024. Some older residence cards may still show the previous wording, but SIRI's current 90-hours-per-month rule applies. Students on a master's programme for working professionals have a separate limit of 112.5 hours per month under that scheme.
Working beyond the permitted limit is illegal work and can lead to a warning, fine, refusal of extension or revocation depending on the circumstances. Keep your own monthly record when you have more than one employer.
EU/EEA/Swiss and Nordic citizens are not subject to this student work-hour restriction. For third-country students admitted to certain non-state-approved programmes on or after 2 May 2025, the limited student work permit is not granted.
Source: https://www.nyidanmark.dk/en-GB/You-want-to-apply/Study/Higher-education
Post-study Work
If you complete a Danish professional bachelor's, bachelor's, master's or PhD programme approved by a state authority, you can qualify for up to three years of job-seeking residence. SIRI normally grants the three-year job-seeking period together with the study permit when passport validity allows, so many students do not need a separate application at graduation.
A separate application may be needed if the original period was shortened by passport expiry, you were initially granted only six months, or you completed after the prescribed study period. Students on a master's programme for working professionals are eligible for up to six months rather than three years. Some other higher-education programmes, including Academy Profession routes, can also fall under a shorter six-month job-seeking scheme rather than the three-year route.
During a three-year job-seeking period, the limited work right remains 90 hours per month and full time in June, July and August. If you want to work beyond that while job seeking, you can apply for an unrestricted work permit if eligible, or switch to an appropriate residence-and-work scheme based on the job.
Source: https://www.nyidanmark.dk/en-GB/You-want-to-apply/Study/Study---job-seeking/Study---3-years-job-seeking
Common questions
What should international students know about work in Denmark?
For qualifying third-country students: 90 hours per month September-May, full time June-August; the old 20-hour weekly rule is obsolete.
What should international students know about post study in Denmark?
Qualifying state-approved professional bachelor/bachelor/master/PhD graduates can receive up to three years; some other programmes receive only six months.