Application and Extension

When you become an exchange student at LIFE, you will become part of an international study environment. 

You can become an exchange student at LIFE, if you study at one of LIFE’s nearly 200 partner universities in:

• the Nordic countries (NOVA University Network)
• Europe (Erasmus or the Euroleague for Life Sciences network)
• Overseas in e.g. China, South America, North America, Australia and New Zealand (Bilateral agreements)

You must be enrolled at your home university and the home university must have a bilateral agreement with LIFE or the University of Copenhagen in general. You may be enrolled at LIFE for between 3 and 12 months.

Note: If you are currently enrolled at a university with which LIFE does not have a bilateral agreement or if you study at another Danish university or another faculty at the University of Copenhagen, you can be enrolled as a guest or credit student at LIFE. Please note that tuition fees will apply.

1. I am an EU citizen. How do I apply?

2. I am a non-EU citizen. How do I apply?

3. I want to extend my exchange studies. How do I apply?

1. Application procedure for EU citizens

• Read all the online information on these pages and on the English website.
• Contact LIFE’s International Student Coordinator at if you have further questions about exchange studies at LIFE.
• When you have decided to apply for an exchange place at LIFE, contact your Study Abroad Coordinator at your home university who can nominate you online for an exchange place.
• When you have been nominated, you receive an invitation by email from the University of Copenhagen to apply on-line. Please note that the invitation email can get caught in your spam filter. The deadlines for application are 1 May and 1 October.
• When you have filled out your online application, you receive an online note confirming we have received it. You can expect an answer to your application approximately two weeks after you have send a complete application.
• If your application is successful, you will receive the following: An official letter of admission, a letter concerning your student ID card as well as an email regarding your email account at the University of Copenhagen.
• You apply for housing by contacting LIFE’s Housing Coordinator The Housing Coordinator can give you specific information about the application procedure.
• When you have been admitted as an exchange student at LIFE, you will receive an email concerning course registration at the Faculty of LIFE Sciences. LIFE offers around 175 courses in English at BSc and MSc level (see our Course Database). An individual study can be a part of your BSc or MSc degree at your home university. If you wish do to an individual study you need to find a supervisor at LIFE. If you have questions, contact LIFE’s International Student Coordinator at
• If you have signed up for a First Contact (a buddy) in your application, you will be contacted by our First Contact Coordinators approximately one month before your arrival. If you wish to be picked up in the airport and have not signed up for a First Contact, please contact the First Contact Coordinators at
• We recommend that you arrive a couple of days prior to the semster starting. 
• If you stay in Denmark for more than 3 months, you must apply for residence permit upon arrival in Denmark.
• When you get your residence permit you are required to register with the local civil registration office. They will provide you with a personal identity number (CPR-number) and a Health Insurance Card.

2. Application procedure for non-EU citizens

• Read all the online information on these pages and on the English website.
• Contact LIFE’s International Student Coordinator at if you have further questions about exchange studies at LIFE.
• When you have decided to apply for an exchange place at LIFE, contact your Study Abroad Coordinator at your home university who can nominate online you for an exchange place.
• When you have been nominated, you receive an invitation by email from the University of Copenhagen to apply on-line. Please note that the invitation email can get caught in your spam filter. The deadlines for application are 1 May and 1 October.
• When you have filled out your online application, you receive an online note confirming we have received it. You can expect an answer to your application approximately two weeks after you have send a complete application.
• If your application is successful, you will receive the following: An official letter of admission, a visa application form and a letter concerning your student ID card as well as an email regarding your email account at the University of Copenhagen.
• You apply for housing by contacting LIFE’s Housing Coordinator The Housing Coordinator can give you specific information about the application procedure.
• When you have been admitted as an exchange student at LIFE, you will receive an email about course registration at LIFE. LIFE offers around 175 courses in English at BSc and MSc level (see our Course Database). An individual study can be a part of your BSc or MSc degree at your home university. If you wish do to an individual study you need to find a supervisor at LIFE. If you have questions contact LIFE’s International Student Coordinator at
• If you have signed up for a First Contact (a buddy) in your application, you will be contacted by our First Contact Coordinators approximately one month before your arrival. If you wish to be picked up in the airport and have not signed up for a First Contact, please contact the First Contact Coordinators at
• We recommend that you arrive a couple of days prior to the semester starting.
• When you arrive you are required to register with the local civil registration office. They will provide you with a personal identity number (CPR number) and a Health Insurance Card.

3. Application for extension of exchange studies at LIFE

If you would like to extend your exchange studies at the Faculty of Life Sciences, you will have to apply for an extension. You can read more about your options at the University of Copenhagens webpage.