Guide: studying in Greenland
If you are Danish or 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.
You can find information about education in Greenland on Sullissivik.
Application and admission
In order to be admitted to an educational institution in Greenland, you must of course meet the academic requirements. You should be aware that there may be a requirement for Greenlandic language skills, and much of the teaching is in Greenlandic, particularly in vocational education. Irrespective of whether you are applying for admission to secondary school, vocational training or a university course, it is a good idea to contact the institution first, to obtain proper guidance.
What opportunities does Greenland provide for exchange students?
Ilisimatusarfik, University of Greenland, offers enrollment for guest students wishing to study a single semester in Nuuk. Courses in Danish, Greenlandic and English are available. Guest students are admitted from all over the world, but if you are a Nordic citizen, it may be advantageous to apply through Erasmus+ or Nordplus, as this gives you priority for a study place. Contact the student councelor at your university for more information.
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 meet 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.
If you are a student in higher education in Greenland, you can apply for a student loan from the Self-Government as a supplement to your educational support. The are two types of loans:
- Semester loan, which can be taken out every six months at the start of your semester.
- One-time loan, which can be taken out once during your studies.
What practical things should you consider?
There are various things to be aware of when moving to Greenland from one of the other Nordic countries. Below you can find a list of things that are good to keep in mind. Please note that the list is not exhausted and the relevance of each thing may vary from person to person.
All Greenlandic university towns have student housing available. Student housing is administered by the individual educational institution.
In Nuuk, most student housings are managed by the Joint Dormitory Administration Office (KAF).
When you are admitted to a study program in Greenland, you can receive guidance on applying for student housing from the student administration at your educational institution.
Once you have moved to Greenland and registered your residence, you are covered by social security in Greenland. This means that you have access to the Greenlandic healthcare system without having to pay.
Students from Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Iceland or Norway, who stay in Greenland for study purposes are not taxed in Greenland on amounts they receive for their living expenses from these countries. If you come from Finland, Sweden or another country it is a good idea to check withthe tax authorities whether your study grant will be taxed.
Recognition of study programmes
Before applying for a study programme in Greenland, you should note that some subject-specific programmes in Greenland are not recognised in the other Nordic countries. These are usually in the area of health and the professions. You should therefore find out whether you can get a job in your home country after completing your education in Greenland, or whether you will need further qualification/training.
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.