Further education in Greenland
In Greenland you can apply for programmes of further education after taking the upper secondary school leaving examination (GUX). Further education in Greenland is divided into short-cycle, medium-cycle and long-cycle study programmes.
Some of the short-cycle study programmes in Greenland are academy programmes (AU) which train students for specific professions, such as in commerce, finance, administration, IT, transport/logistics and service industries. There are also tourist guide programmes with a special focus on Arctic tourism, as well as a study programme in drama and a one-year art study programme.
The short-cycle programmes of further education alternate between school attendance and periods of internship. The basic admission requirement is a passed GUX examination or other basic programme, but exemptions may be granted if the applicant has relevant professional experience.
You can take short-cycle study programmes at:
- Campus Kujalleq in Qaqortoq
- INUILI, Food College Greenland, in Narsaq
- Niuernermik Ilinniarfik, the Greenland Business School, in Nuuk
- Imarsiornermik Ilinniarfik, Greenland Maritime Academy
- Nunatta Isiginnaartitsinermik Ilinniarfia, National Acting School of Greenland
- Nunatsinni Eqqumiitsuliornermik Ilinniarfik, Greenland Art School
In Greenland, a number of Professional Bachelor programmes are available that combine theoretical and practice-oriented education. Internships are included in the programme. Professional Bachelor programmes are oriented towards a particular profession, such as teaching, nursing, journalism, social work, interpreters, pharmacists, etc.
Medium-cycle study programmes are available from:
- Ilisimatusarfik, University of Greenland, in Nuuk
- Niuernermik Ilinniarfik, Greenland Business School, in Nuuk
- KTI (Tech College Greenland), in Sisimiut
- Perorsaanermik Ilinniarfik, Social Educational College in Ilulissat
A long-cycle programme of further education in Greenland consists of a Bachelor degree and a Master’s degree, both of which may be taken at Ilisimatusarfik, the University of Greenland, in Nuuk. A Bachelor degree provides a broad introduction to an academic subject, after which many people choose to take a Master’s degree in order to specialise in a particular field.
In Greenland, Bachelor and Master’s degrees can be taken only at Ilisimatusarfik, the University of Greenland, in Nuuk.
At the University, Bachelor programmes are available in:
- Business Economics
- Journalism
- Law
- Cultural and Social History
- Teacher
- Translation and interpreting
- Social Science
- Social worker
- Language, Literature & Media
- Nursing
- Theology
Master’s programmes are available in:
- Cultural and Social History
- Social Science
- Language, Literature & Media
In addition, the Greenland Climate Research Centre offers study programmes in science subjects at Master's level.
Ilisimatusarfik, the University of Greenland, offers a three-year PhD programme in the following areas:
- Arctic Studies – pedagogy and educational science
- Arctic Studies – health and social conditions
- Arctic Studies – culture, language and society
Every year, Pinngortitaleriffik, the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, invites young researchers from all main scientific fields to apply for PhD and postdoc scholarships. The scholarships are offered on condition of anticipated funding by the Government of Greenland and the Danish state. The scholarships are intended to strengthen Danish-Greenlandic scientific research collaboration, research development and the recruitment of young scientists to Greenlandic research.
Ilisimatusarfik – the University of Greenland also offers a number of postgraduate programmes that can supplement a Bachelor or Master's degree. The University of Greenland offers the following opportunities for continuing education:
- Single-subject
- MA in journalism
- MA in Didactics, Cultural Encounters & Processes of Change
- Diploma programme in Arctic Nursing
- Diploma programme in Special Pedagogy
- Specialist training: Intensive Care Nursing
- Specialist training: Anaesthesiological Nursing
- University Pedagogy Programme
- Clinical supervisor
- Courses at the Institute of Learning
- Pastoral Seminary
If you are a Nordic citizen and wish to study in Greenland
If you are a citizen of a Nordic country, you can study in Greenland on an equal footing with Greenlandic students. You can therefore apply for admission to a Greenlandic educational institution, where you can study free of charge.
However, please note that some programmes require a knowledge of Greenlandic. This often depends on the teacher. You can obtain more information about the language requirements by contacting the educational institution directly.
It is also a good idea to check the requirements towards getting your existing educational qualifications recognised in Greenland, and towards your Greenlandic qualifications abroad.
State educational grants in Greenland
Special conditions apply to receiving a student grant in Greenland. You must be:
- A Danish citizen
- Resident in Greenland
- Enrolled in an educational programme and actively studying.
Danish and Faroese students satisfy the conditions if they are resident in Greenland and actively studying. If you do not meet the conditions, but can document a special connection with Greenland, you can apply for an exemption.
In most cases, you can take a student grant from your home country instead.
Student accommodation in Greenland
All study towns in Greenland have student accommodation available. Rooms in student accommodation are administered by the individual educational institution.
In Nuuk, most student accommodation is administered by the Joint Office of Student Accommodation (KAF).
When you are admitted to a study programme in Greenland, you can obtain guidance on applying for student accommodation from the student administration at your educational institution.
Admission to Bachelor programmes
The minimum requirement for admission to the Bachelor programme is a completed and passed preparatory study programme (the GUX examination). However, most study programmes also have other requirements towards grade point average, field of study, grades in certain subjects, etc. Most programmes also require a good knowledge of Greenlandic, Danish and English.
The University may allow applicants to apply for admission on a basis other than the admission requirements, provided that the applicant has equivalent professional qualifications and the University considers that the applicant will be able to complete the programme.
The Nursing programme has a specific admissions strategy in which applicants are admitted in two different groups. The first group of applicants, which comprises 70%, are admitted following a motivated application and their average grade in the qualifying GUX examination. The second group, which comprises 30%, are admitted under other criteria.
If there are more qualified applicants than study places, applicants are admitted on the basis of the University's overall assessment of the applicants' qualifications, in particular average examination grade in secondary education, secondarily the applicants' Greenlandic and Danish skills, and finally the applicants' prior learning.
Application is made online via Sullissivik. In addition to the application, entrance examinations may also be held for certain study programmes. You can find more information about the various entry requirements in the programmes’ study regulations.
Applicants may be admitted on the basis of a foreign examination if this can be equated with a Greenlandic/Danish qualifying examination. You can use the Examination Handbook of the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science to convert your grades and examinations.
Some study programmes require a minimum grade in specific subjects. You can find more information about this in the study regulations for the programme in question.
The application deadline for all study programmes is 1 March. Studies commence in September.
Admission to Master’s programmes
In order to be eligible to enrol in a Master's programme at the University of Greenland, a student must previously have obtained a BA degree from the same institution, or from another institution of higher education approved by the department head.
Admission to programmes of continuing education
Admission to Master’s and diploma programmes at the University of Greenland usually requires an appropriate Master's degree or another basic education and professional experience.
A Bachelor's degree in Theology from the University of Greenland or a Master's degree in Theology is a prerequisite for admission to the Pastoral Seminary.
Student exchange in Greenland
If you would like to study for a single semester in Nuuk, the University of Greenland offers study places for guest students. Courses are offered in Danish, Greenlandic and English. Guest students are admitted from all over the world, but if you are a Nordic citizen, it can be an advantage to apply through Erasmus + or Nordplus, as you will then be given preference for a study place. Contact the student counsellor in your programme for guidance on the various exchange programmes and credits.
Further information
Please fill in our contact form if you have any questions or if you have encountered an obstacle in another Nordic country.
NB! If you have questions regarding the processing of a specific case or application, or other personal matters, please contact the relevant authority directly.
