After primary and lower secondary schoolSCHOOL AND EDUCATIONYouth educationOnce you have completed your basic school education <strong>in</strong>the 9th or 10th class, you can apply for enrolment <strong>in</strong> a youtheducation programme. Youth education programmes arecourses of preparatory study or professional qualificationprogrammes usually last<strong>in</strong>g three or four years. Theseprogrammes are free and students can apply for SU, thestate education grant and loan scheme, once they havereached 18.The state education grant and loan schemeThe state education grant and loan scheme, SU, is a form off<strong>in</strong>ancial assistance given to students while they are study<strong>in</strong>g.SU consists of a free grant which is, however, taxable. Inaddition to the grant, students can take out a loan whichmust be repaid when they have f<strong>in</strong>ished their education.In order to qualify for SU, the education you have enrolledfor must be approved for a state education grant, and youare not allowed to receive any other forms of state supportto cover liv<strong>in</strong>g expenses.If you are a non-Danish citizenIf you are a non-Danish citizen, you can apply to the DanishEducational Support Agency and ask to be put on an equalfoot<strong>in</strong>g with Danish citizens before you apply.This is possible if, for example, you have moved to <strong>Denmark</strong>with your parents before your 20th birthday and still residehere, if you are married to a Danish citizen and have lived <strong>in</strong> thecountry for at least two years, or if you have had paid employment<strong>in</strong> <strong>Denmark</strong> prior to beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g your education.If you are an EU or EEA citizen, you can apply to be placedon an equal foot<strong>in</strong>g with Danish citizens <strong>in</strong> accordance withEU regulations. F<strong>in</strong>d out more by logg<strong>in</strong>g onto www.su.dk.Most SU rules are the same regardless of education. Butthere are, however, certa<strong>in</strong> differences for youth educationprogrammes and those of further education. We refer towww.su.dk for further details.Everyone can <strong>in</strong>fluence educational contentAt all educational <strong>in</strong>stitutions, pupils and students can organisethemselves <strong>in</strong>to various bodies - student academic councils,student councils or pupil councils. These bodies look afterthe students’ <strong>in</strong>terests and make demands with regard toeducation content and quality. Everyone has the possibilityof <strong>in</strong>fluenc<strong>in</strong>g their education by stand<strong>in</strong>g for election to apupil or student council.Upper secondary school educationTwo to three yearsUpper secondary school educations last two to three yearsand provide access to programmes of higher education.Upper secondary school educations comprise:• Danish general upper secondary school (stx),which is a three-year course and ends with the universityentry exam<strong>in</strong>ation. At some schools (studentcourses), the programme can be completed with twoyears of full-time study. The aim of the programmeis to prepare students for higher education. Theprogramme also seeks to provide a general education.This means that pupils must learn to relate to theoutside world, their fellow man, nature, society andto their own development. To be accepted, as a m<strong>in</strong>imumrequirement you must have passed the munici-84
SCHOOL AND EDUCATIONpal primary and lower secondary school 9th-class f<strong>in</strong>alexam. You may be asked to sit an entrance exam, orthe upper secondary school can accept you on thebasis of an academic assessment.• The Higher Preparatory Exam, HF, which is a twoyearcourse. The aim of the programme is to preparestudents for higher education. The programme alsoseeks to provide a general education. This means thatas a result of their education, pupils must learn to relateto the outside world, their fellow man, nature, societyand to their own development. To be accepted, youmust have completed the 10th class of the municipalprimary and lower secondary school or similar. Or youmust pass a special entrance exam.• Bus<strong>in</strong>ess college education: The Higher commercialexam<strong>in</strong>ation (hhx) and Higher technical exam<strong>in</strong>ation(htx), are both three-year courses. The aimof the programme is to prepare students for highereducation. The programme also seeks to provide ageneral education. This means that as a result of theireducation, pupils must learn to relate to the outsideworld, their fellow man, nature, society and to theirown development. To be accepted, as a m<strong>in</strong>imumrequirement you must have passed the municipalprimary and lower secondary school 9th-class f<strong>in</strong>alexam. You may be asked to sit an entrance exam, orthe school can accept you on the basis of an academicassessment.85