Denmark DDEA PhD Scholarships 2026 (DKK 1.1 Million Funding for International Students)
The Danish Diabetes and Endocrine Academy (DDEA) PhD Scholarships 2026 are now accepting applications from qualified candidates interested in doctoral research in diabetes, metabolism and endocrinology. The 2026 round offers 13 PhD scholarships, with each scholarship providing DKK 1.1 million in funding.
The scholarships are open to both Danish and eligible international applicants. Importantly, applicants do not need to hold a Danish Master's degree. An equivalent Master's qualification from a recognized foreign university can also meet the academic requirement.
The 2026 competition consists of three separate scholarship calls covering general diabetes and metabolic research, classical endocrinology, and industry-linked PhD research.
DDEA PhD Scholarships 2026 Overview
- Host Country: Denmark
- Organization: Danish Diabetes and Endocrine Academy (DDEA)
- Degree Level: PhD
- Number of Scholarships: 13
- Funding: DKK 1,100,000 per scholarship
- PhD Duration: 3 years
- Funding Coverage: Two-thirds financing toward salary and tuition for two years
- Eligible Applicants: Danish and international applicants
- Research Areas: Diabetes, metabolism and endocrinology
- Application Deadline: August 18, 2026, at 23:59 CET
- Grant Notification: November 26, 2026
Degree Level
The DDEA scholarships are available for PhD-level study in Denmark.
Applicants should hold a Master's degree from a Danish university or an equivalent qualification from a foreign university.
International students who completed their Master's degree outside Denmark can therefore be considered if their qualification meets the applicable Danish recognition requirements.
Available Subjects
The DDEA PhD Scholarships are focused on biomedical and health-related research, particularly:
- Diabetes
- Metabolism
- Endocrinology
- Classical endocrinology
- Hormonal regulation
- Endocrine physiology
- Endocrine pathophysiology
- Thyroid research
- Adrenal research
- Pituitary research
- Bone and calcium metabolism
- Reproductive endocrinology
- Related clinical research
- Related basic science research
- Life-science industry research
Applicants should select a scholarship track that closely matches their proposed research topic.
Benefits
Successful applicants receive substantial financial support toward their doctoral education and research.
Key benefits include:
- DKK 1.1 million funding per scholarship
- Funding toward PhD salary
- Funding toward tuition fees
- Two-thirds financing of the PhD project
- Support covering two years of a three-year PhD program
- Opportunity to conduct doctoral research in Denmark
- Access to Danish academic research environments
- Opportunity to work with experienced researchers
- For Industrial PhD candidates, collaboration with the life-science industry
- Opportunity to develop specialized research experience in diabetes, metabolism or endocrinology
The DKK 1.1 million should not be viewed as a personal lump-sum scholarship. It is funding allocated toward the financing of the PhD project.
Supervisor Requirement
Finding an eligible Danish supervisor is an important part of the application.
The principal supervisor must:
- Work at the relevant Danish university faculty.
- Be an associate professor or professor.
- Conduct research relevant to the proposed PhD project.
- Meet DDEA's applicable funding and supervision requirements.
Applicants should contact potential supervisors early and confirm their eligibility before completing the application.
This is particularly important because DDEA has rules concerning the number of DDEA-funded PhD students and postdoctoral researchers that a Principal Investigator can host simultaneously.
Can You Apply to More Than One DDEA Scholarship?
No.
An applicant can submit only one application across the three DDEA PhD scholarship calls in the 2026 application round.
Therefore, candidates should carefully decide which option best matches their research:
- General DDEA PhD Scholarship
- Classical Endocrinology PhD Scholarship
- Industrial PhD Scholarship
Submitting applications to multiple calls is not an appropriate strategy for increasing the chances of selection.
DDEA PhD Scholarships 2026 Funding
Each DDEA scholarship is worth DKK 1.1 million. However, applicants should understand that this amount is not a DKK 1.1 million cash payment directly to the PhD student.
The award represents two-thirds financing of a three-year PhD project and contributes toward:
- PhD salary
- Tuition fees
- Funding for two years of the three-year PhD program
The remaining financing must come from another source. For Industrial PhD projects, part of the remaining funding must be provided by the participating life-science industry partner.
This funding structure is important for international students when planning the overall cost and financing of a PhD in Denmark.
Three DDEA PhD Scholarship Calls
DDEA is offering scholarships through three different calls in 2026. Applicants can apply to only one of these calls.
1. DDEA PhD Scholarships – 8 Awards
The main DDEA PhD Scholarship competition offers eight scholarships for research projects related to:
- Diabetes
- Metabolism
- Endocrinology
This is the broadest research category and is suitable for candidates whose proposed doctoral research falls within these areas.
2. Classical Endocrinology PhD Scholarships – 3 Awards
DDEA is offering three scholarships specifically for research in classical endocrinology.
Research can focus on areas such as:
- Thyroid disorders
- Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism
- Adrenal diseases
- Addison's disease
- Cushing's syndrome
- Pituitary disorders
- Prolactinoma
- Acromegaly
- Calcium and bone metabolism
- Osteoporosis
- Reproductive endocrinology
- PCOS
- Hypogonadism
Both basic and clinical research projects may be considered, but classical endocrinology must be central to the research question.
3. Industrial PhD Scholarships – 2 Awards
The Industrial PhD competition offers two scholarships for research within:
- Diabetes
- Metabolism
- Endocrinology
These projects must involve cooperation between a Danish academic research environment and the life-science industry.
The proposal should clearly explain the roles of the academic and industrial partners and how they will collaborate throughout the PhD project.
Eligible Nationalities
The DDEA PhD Scholarships can be available to international applicants as well as Danish applicants, provided they meet the academic, supervisory and other requirements.
International candidates do not necessarily need to have studied in Denmark. A foreign Master's degree can be accepted if it is considered equivalent to the required Danish qualification.
Applicants with international degrees should therefore verify that their educational qualifications satisfy the relevant Danish recognition requirements before submitting an application.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must satisfy several requirements to be considered for the DDEA PhD Scholarships 2026.
The main eligibility requirements include:
- Applicants must apply as the PhD candidate themselves.
- Applicants must hold a Master's degree from a Danish university or an equivalent foreign qualification.
- International degrees must satisfy the applicable Danish recognition requirements.
- Applicants must not already be enrolled as a PhD student when the grant notification is issued on November 26, 2026.
- The applicant must have an eligible principal supervisor at a Danish university.
- The principal supervisor must work at the faculty where the applicant intends to enroll.
- The principal supervisor must be an associate professor or professor conducting relevant research.
- The proposed research must fit the scope of the selected DDEA scholarship call.
- Industrial PhD applicants must have the required academic and industry collaboration.
- Applicants can submit only one application across the three DDEA PhD scholarship calls in this round.
Can Students Who Have Not Finished Their Master's Apply?
Applicants who have not yet completed their Master's examination may still have an opportunity to apply.
In such cases, the applicant should provide confirmation from the Master's thesis supervisor stating when the thesis will be submitted and when the examination is expected to take place.
The final Master's degree certificate must subsequently be provided to DDEA within six months of the grant notification. Failure to obtain or submit the required degree may result in withdrawal of the scholarship.
Application Procedure
Applicants should first determine which scholarship category best fits their proposed research.
The general application process involves the following steps:
- Check your academic eligibility.
- Confirm that your Master's qualification is acceptable.
- Identify a suitable Danish university and research environment.
- Find an eligible principal supervisor.
- Select the appropriate DDEA scholarship call.
- Develop a research proposal that matches the selected call.
- Prepare the required supporting documents.
- Complete the online application.
- Submit the application before the deadline.
Industrial PhD applicants should additionally establish the required relationship between the Danish academic institution and the life-science industry partner.
Application Deadline
The application deadline for the DDEA PhD Scholarships 2026 is:
August 18, 2026, at 23:59 CET.
The same deadline applies to the 2026 Classical Endocrinology PhD Scholarships and Industrial PhD Scholarships.
DDEA is expected to announce the funding decisions on November 26, 2026.
Final Thoughts
The DDEA PhD Scholarships 2026 provide an important opportunity for researchers who want to pursue doctoral research in Denmark in the fields of diabetes, metabolism and endocrinology.
The 2026 round includes 13 scholarships worth DKK 1.1 million each, divided between general DDEA research, classical endocrinology and Industrial PhD projects. International applicants can also be considered with an equivalent foreign Master's degree, making the opportunity relevant to qualified researchers from outside Denmark.
However, applicants should remember that the DKK 1.1 million represents two-thirds financing toward salary and tuition for two years of a three-year PhD, rather than a lump-sum payment.
With the deadline of August 18, 2026, candidates should prioritize finding an eligible Danish supervisor, selecting the correct scholarship track and preparing a research proposal that closely matches the DDEA requirements.
