When I applied to university almost 15 years ago, I distinctly remember it as being a stressful experience. I was in the Danish section at one of the European Schools in Brussels, I was 17 years old, with absolutely no clue what to do with my life, and wrapping my head around what degrees I qualified for was a pain.
At the time, I could only apply with my average, which was incredibly… average. The conversion of European Baccalaureate grades to the Danish grading system back then was relatively unfair, making my grade below-average on the Danish system, and thereby limiting my choice of university degrees.
I settled on applying for languages, which was definitely my forté, applying for French and English, at both Copenhagen University and Aarhus University. I didn’t quite make the cut for the English degrees (which I would have done, had my grades been more fairly converted), but made it into both French degrees. I went with Copenhagen University, and ended up doing an English elective.
But the application system was confusing and I have helped guide many internationals through the system. Here are three things that might help you, if you’re considering applying for a degree in a Danish university.
1. The Danish Grading System
The Danish grading system is weird, and can take some getting used to. The Danish system is known as the 7-trins-skala, or the “7-point grading system” in English. The grades range from -3 and go up to 12.
When applying to a Danish university, you will be asked to provide your high school diploma. Each degree will have its own requirement with regards to the average needed to obtain access to the courses. Finding these averages can be tricky, so here’s a list of international diplomas translated to the Danish grading system, and examples of which degrees you can get into:
If you're looking for an up-to-date conversion of your grade, check the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science's database.
2. Kvote 1 and Kvote 2
When applying to university in Denmark, there are two ways of doing so.
The first is known as Kvote 1, which could be considered the “grades pathway”. Here you are solely assessed on the average you graduated high school with.
You can also be required to have a certain minimum grade within specific subjects. For example, a science program might require "Mathematics A" and "Physics B". You must prove your high school coursework maps to these Danish levels.
When I applied to study French at Copenhagen University almost 15 years ago, I had to provide documentation that my level of French was up to scratch. I had chosen not to take any French classes in high school (mainly because I loathed them), but thankfully Copenhagen University accepted “I’ve lived in Belgium for 18 years” as proof that I spoke French. French isn’t a very popular degree in Denmark, and therefore I don’t think they needed much convincing. Unfortunately, I don’t think proving your level of biology to get access to study medicine would be quite as simple.
Every university program sets a minimum average requirement every year. The deadline for kvote 1 applications is usually 5th July at 12.00.
The second is Kvote 2, the more holistic pathway. Kvote 2 is for applicants who don’t meet the requirements to apply on kvote 1, or for international students whose qualifications can’t easily be converted to a Danish average. IB and EB students don't fall into the category.
For kvote 2 applications, universities evaluate you on alternative criteria. This can include a motivated application, work experience, volunteer experience, a formal entrance exam, or an interview. The alternative criteria will depend on the specific program.
Some degrees, such as Architecture, Journalism and Design, only accept kvote 2 applications.
The application deadline for kvote 2 is typically on March 15th at 12.00.
3. The average age of university students
One thing that shocked me when I moved to Copenhagen at the age of 17, was just how young I was compared to my university mates. Today, the average age of a new university student is 23 years.
Other than it being a real pain to get an adult life started when you are not, by law, an adult (I couldn’t get a phone number, get a library card, be added to wait lists for student accommodation), it was actually quite a lonely experience starting university. I moved to Copenhagen in August 2012, and turned 18 a month later. At 17, most Danish people are just starting high school. I felt judged for how young I was, and had an incredibly hard time making friends.
If I could go back and take a gap year or two, as is the custom in Denmark, I absolutely would.
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