Higher Education Systems - Denmark

Danish higher education institutions (HEIs) use the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) for measuring study activities. 60 ECTS correspond to one year of full time study. Public HEIs are regulated by national legislation concerning degree structures, teacher qualifications and examinations. All programs are accredited by national, independent accreditation agencies and the Accreditation Council.

There are four types of institutions offering higher education programs, each with well-defined profiles:

• Academies of Professional Higher Education (Erhvervsakademi) offering professionally oriented first cycle degree programs
• University Colleges (Professionshøjskole) offering professionally oriented first cycle degree programs
• Research Universities (Universitet) offering first, second and third cycle degree programs in all academic disciplines
• University level institutions offering first, second and third cycle degree programs in subject fields such as architecture, design, music and fine and performing arts.

Most of the HEIs are regulated by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Higher Education. The Ministry of Culture regulates a small number of HEIs offering first, second and third cycle degree programs in fine and performing arts.

Degrees

The Academy Profession degree is awarded after 90-150 ECTS and includes a period of work placement of at least 15 ECTS. The programs are development-based and combine theoretical studies with a practical approach. The Danish title is "field of study" followed by the abbreviation AK and the English title is AP Graduate in "field of study".

The Professional Bachelor’s degree is awarded after 180-240 ECTS and includes a period of work placement of at least 30 ECTS. The programs are applied programs. They are development-based and combine theoretical studies with a practical approach. The Danish title is Professionsbachelor i [field of study] and the English title is Bachelor of [field of study].

The Bachelor’s degree from a University is awarded after 180 ECTS. The programs are research-based and are offered in all scientific fields. The Danish title is Bachelor (BSc) i [field of study] and the English title is Bachelor (BSc) of Science in [field of study].

The Master’s degree is awarded after 120 ECTS. The programs are research-based and are offered in all scientific fields. The Danish title is abbreviated to Cand. [latin abbreviation of academic area] i [field of study]. The English title is Master of Science (MSc) in [field of study].

The PhD degree is awarded after 180 ECTS. PhD programs are offered by the Universities and some university level institutions offering degrees in the artistic and cultural field.

Admission and progression

General access to higher education in Denmark requires an Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate or comparable qualifications. Admission to some particular programs requires entrance examination or submission of a portfolio of artistic work.

Completion of a short-cycle degree qualifies students for admission to a first cycle program. Holders of an Academy Profession degree can obtain a Professional Bachelor’s degree within the same field of study through a top-up program. Completion of a first cycle degree qualifies students for admission to the second cycle.

The 7-point grading scale is used in all state-regulated education programs as of September 2007 is the 7-point grading scale. Apart from the 7-point grading scale, pass/fail assessment may also be used. 2 is the minimum grade for passing an exam.