If you have completed upper secondary education, you can undertake a programme of higher education. There are three types of higher education programmes.
Short-, medium-, and long-term higher education
The short programmes of higher education normally take two years. Here you can study to become a laboratory technician, market economist, certified electrician or mechanical engineer. Both vocational education and training and general upper secondary education provide access to short programmes of higher education. The medium-term, professional bachelor programmes take between three and four years. Here you can study to become a teacher, social educator, nurse, engineer or social worker. The long-term programmes of higher education which are studied at university or higher education institutions. Here you can study to become a doctor, dentist, engineer or upper secondary school teacher. The university education programmes take between five and six years and can be supplemented by a PhD programme where students receive a salary and work on research and teach for about three years. Find out more about your education possibilities at www.uddannelsesguiden.dk
Entry requirements
Each programme has its own entry requirements that typically ask for specific exams and sometimes other qualifications. Some education programmes operate a policy of restricted admission because there are more qualified applicants than available places. Most education programmes have a quota system with two quotas. This means that they accept applicants in two quotas. In the first quota, applicants are accepted on the basis of their qualification examination grades. In the second quota, students are accepted on the basis of other selection criteria specific to the programme.
Coordinated enrolment system (KOT)
Nearly all higher education programmes require students to seek enrolment through the coordinated enrolment system (KOT). You can obtain application forms by logging onto www.optagelse.dk.
Entrance examinations
Some education programmes require entrance exams. This typically applies to creative or craft-oriented study programmes such as acting, fi lm directing, journalism and design.
Foreign qualifications
Special admission rules apply to applicants holding a foreign qualification. You can read more about these rules in the examination handbook at www.ciriusonline.dk
Familiarise yourself with the programme and meet fellow students
At most universities and higher education institutions, programmes begin with an orientation course for new students. Here, new students are introduced to each other and the programme by means of academic presentations, discussions and festive activities. Often, new students will go off on a short cottage trip together.
Credits: The Danish Immigration Service
