Education in Denmark: school stages, the STX and university entry
A guide to the Danish school system, the STX upper secondary exam, the Kvote system and how to apply to higher education.
In short
Education in Denmark is mostly public and free of charge for residents, and the Ministry of Children and Education sets the framework for schools while the Ministry of Higher Education and Science is responsible for universities. Children attend the folkeskole, a comprehensive school, for ten years, starting at about the age of six. After that, most young people choose a three-year upper secondary programme, and the most common general route is the Studentereksamen, known as the STX. The STX is a school-leaving exam that qualifies students to apply to universities and other higher education. Danish is the language of teaching, and a growing number of university programmes are taught in English.
School stages
- Folkeskole: A comprehensive school from the preschool class through the ninth grade, with an optional tenth year. Pupils study Danish, mathematics, English, a second foreign language such as German or French, science, history, social studies, arts and physical education.
- Upper secondary education: Several three-year programmes lead to an exam that qualifies for higher education:
- STX (Studentereksamen): The general programme in languages, humanities, science and social science.
- HHX: A programme with a focus on business and economics.
- HTX: A programme with a focus on technology and science.
- HF: A two-year programme, often taken by students who want a shorter route into higher education.
- Vocational education: Programmes for young people who prefer to learn a trade, combining school periods with training at a company.
The STX and grading
The STX is a three-year programme. In the first year students follow a common foundation, and then choose a study line with a main subject, for example a language, a science or social science combination. The programme ends with written and oral exams in several subjects, and many courses are graded during the year as well. Mathematics, Danish and history are central subjects that many STX students study at different levels, labelled A, B or C according to how many hours they cover.
Grades follow the Danish seven-step scale, which runs from negative values for the weakest performance up to the top grade. The scale has fixed steps for passing and failing, and every exam result is converted to it. Teachers and external examiners mark exams together, and the final certificate lists the results by subject together with a grade average.
Higher education and the quota system
Applications to Danish higher education are made through a national portal, with deadlines that differ between programmes. Places are given in two main groups, known as Kvote 1 and Kvote 2. Kvote 1 ranks applicants by the grade average on their upper secondary certificate, and applicants who meet the entry requirements and have the highest averages receive the places. Kvote 2 is for applicants who are judged on other criteria, such as work experience, entrance tests, motivation, or a mix of these, and each programme decides which criteria to use. The required subjects and levels depend on the programme, so a student who wants to study medicine, for example, needs science subjects at a higher level.
Tuition at public universities is free for Danish, EU and EEA students, and most Danish students receive a state grant (SU) for their studies. Study programmes follow the Bologna model with a bachelor's degree, a master's degree and a doctorate.
Studying in Denmark as an international student
Applicants from abroad should check whether their certificate gives access to the programme, whether the programme is taught in English or in Danish, and whether proof of language skills is needed. Fees differ for students from outside the EU and EEA. Each institution publishes the entry requirements, and the national agencies publish guidance for international applicants.
How to prepare for the STX
Revise subject by subject and use past-style questions with a timer. For mathematics, practise algebra, functions, geometry with vectors, calculus and statistics. For Danish, read the main authors, practise analysing texts and know the grammar. For history, learn the main periods from the Viking Age to the present and be able to explain causes and consequences.
Practising on GetMyMockTest
These are practice questions we wrote for study. They are not the official exams, and we do not claim they match an exam's current format. Free practice for Denmark:
- Studentereksamen STX: mathematics, Danish language and literature, and history of Denmark, with timed tests and a deck of key formulas and facts.
- Danish general knowledge: history and politics, geography and nature, and science, arts and culture.
- Teoriprøve (teoriprove Danish driving theory test): practice covering traffic rules and road priority, road signs, signals and markings, and vehicle safety and emergency procedures with timed mock tests and flashcard decks.