This page compares the education systems of Denmark and Australia.
Education System Overview
| Category | Denmark | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| System Type | Public/private mix with decentralized municipal delivery. National legislation sets the main rules for compulsory education, while municipalities operate the public Folkeskole system and publicly supported private schools provide an alternative. [Ministry of Education] | Public/private mix; governance is shared between federal, state and territory governments. The Australian Government supports national policy and funding, while states and territories operate most public schools and regulate school education within their jurisdictions. [Australian Government] |
| Governing Body | Ministry of Children and Education for school and upper-secondary education; municipalities for public primary and lower-secondary schools; and the Ministry of Science, Higher Education and Digital Affairs with the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science for most tertiary education. [Danish Ministry] | Australian Government Department of Education; state and territory education departments; ACARA for the Australian Curriculum and national assessment; TEQSA for higher education regulation; and ASQA for most nationally regulated vocational education providers. [TEQSA] |
| Government Expenditure on Education (% of GDP) | 6.4% of GDP in 2022, the latest value in the World Bank/UNESCO UIS government-expenditure series. [World Bank] | 5.1% of GDP in 2022, the latest value in the World Bank/UNESCO UIS government-expenditure series. [World Bank] |
Education Structure & Compulsory Schooling
| Category | Denmark | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Age Range | Compulsory education normally begins in August of the calendar year in which a child turns 6 and ends after completion of Grade 9, normally around age 16. Denmark requires education rather than attendance at a particular type of school. [Ministry of Education] | Rules vary by jurisdiction. Full-time school attendance generally begins at age 5 or 6; compulsory school attendance commonly continues to age 15 or 16, with education, training or employment participation requirements extending to about 17 in several jurisdictions. [Australian Government] |
| Total Compulsory Duration (Years) | 10 years: one compulsory preschool class, known as Grade 0, followed by Grades 1–9. Grade 10 is optional. [Ministry of Education] | Usually about 10–12 years, depending on the state or territory and whether post-school-age participation requirements are included. |
| Pre-primary Education (ECE) Access | Optional before compulsory preschool class. Participation is high: 94.7% of 3-year-olds were enrolled in early childhood education in 2023. [OECD] | Optional before compulsory school in most settings. In 2025, 91% of Australia's 4-year-olds were enrolled in a preschool program; 97% of enrolled children attended for at least 15 hours per week. [ABS] |
| Primary + Secondary Education Structure (Years) | 1 + 9 + 3 is the common general route: one compulsory preschool-class year, Grades 1–9 of compulsory school and usually three years of general upper-secondary education. An optional Grade 10 is also available. Vocational routes have different durations. [Ministry of Education] | Commonly Foundation + Years 1–6 + Years 7–10 + Years 11–12, equivalent to a 13-year school pathway from Foundation to Year 12. School-stage naming and year-group arrangements vary slightly by jurisdiction. [ACARA] |
| Vocational vs. General Upper Secondary Split (%) | Approximately 19% vocational / 81% general among 15–19-year-old upper-secondary students in the latest directly comparable OECD distribution. Danish VET students are often older than students in general upper-secondary education, so this age-based measure does not represent all VET participation. [OECD] | Approximately 17% vocational / 83% general among 15–19-year-olds enrolled at upper-secondary level in 2023, derived from OECD enrollment rates of 6.9% in vocational and 40.2% in all upper-secondary programs. [OECD] |
Academic Calendar & Instruction Time
| Category | Denmark | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Year Start (Typical Month) | August | Late January or early February, depending on the state, territory and school. |
| Academic Year End (Typical Month) | June | December |
| Instruction Weeks per Year | Approximately 40 weeks in the most common Folkeskole calendar. [Ministry of Education] | Approximately 40 weeks, with school calendars set by individual jurisdictions. |
| Instruction Days per Year | Approximately 200 days in the most common school-year arrangement. [Ministry of Education] | — |
Grading System
| Category | Denmark | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Primary/Secondary Grading Scale | 7-point scale: -3, 00, 02, 4, 7, 10, 12. Grades 02, 4, 7, 10 and 12 are passing grades when a pass requirement applies. [Ministry of Education] | Commonly A–E or equivalent standards-based reporting during primary and lower-secondary education. Senior-secondary assessment and certificates are administered separately by states and territories, with ATAR widely used for university selection. |
| Higher Education Grading Scale | The same 7-point scale is used across state-regulated higher education, with pass/fail assessment also permitted in specified courses. [Danish Agency] | Institution-specific; common classifications include High Distinction (HD), Distinction (D), Credit (CR), Pass (P) and Fail, usually accompanied by percentage marks. [ANU] |
Language of Instruction
| Category | Denmark | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Instruction Languages (K–12) | Danish is the main language of instruction in ordinary public schooling. | English is the main language of instruction across Australian schools. |
| Other Official / Minority Instruction Languages (K–12) | German is used in recognized German-minority schools in Southern Jutland. International and bilingual schools may teach partly or fully in English or another language. | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, Auslan and community languages may be used or taught through bilingual, language-revival and school-specific programs. |
School Provision & Access (K–12)
| Category | Denmark | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Public School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students) | At compulsory-school level, approximately 82% of pupils attend the municipal/public sector, based on the Ministry's reported 18% share attending free private primary and lower-secondary schools. [Ministry of Education] | 62.8% of Australian school students attended government schools in 2025. [ABS] |
| Public School Tuition Fee (Annual, Local Currency) | $0. Municipal Folkeskole education is free of charge. [Ministry of Education] | $0 standard tuition for eligible resident students in government schools. Families may still incur costs for uniforms, materials, excursions and optional activities; separate fee rules can apply to some temporary or international students. |
| Public Schools Nationwide Availability | Yes. Municipalities are responsible for providing public compulsory education throughout Denmark. [Ministry of Education] | Yes. State and territory governments provide government-school systems throughout Australia, including metropolitan, regional and remote communities. |
| Private School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students) | Approximately 18% of compulsory-school pupils attend a free private primary and lower-secondary school. These schools receive public subsidies and may charge parental fees. [Ministry of Education] | 37.2% in 2025: 20.0% in Catholic schools and 17.2% in independent schools. [ABS] |
| Private Schools (Geographic Concentration) | Nationwide, with free private schools operating in both urban and regional areas. | — |
International Schools (K–12)
| Category | Denmark | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Number of International Schools (Total) | 26 recognized international basic schools in the Ministry's official category. [Ministry of Education] | — |
| Number of IB World Schools | 20 IB World Schools currently offer at least one IB programme in Denmark; 17 offer the Diploma Programme. [IB] | 197 IB World Schools currently offer at least one IB programme in Australia. [IB] |
| Main International Programmes Offered | International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge International and school-specific British, American or bilingual programs. | International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge International programs and Australian state or territory senior-secondary qualifications, depending on the school. |
Resources & Learning Environment (K–12)
| Category | Denmark | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Teacher Qualification (Public Schools) | For the standard Folkeskole teacher pathway, a four-year Professional Bachelor's degree in teacher education totaling 240 ECTS, including teaching practice. Upper-secondary teacher qualification requirements differ. [Danish Agency] | Generally at least four years of higher education, including an accredited initial teacher education program or recognized equivalent, followed by registration with the relevant state or territory teacher-registration authority. |
| Average Class Size (Primary) | Approximately 19 students in 2023. [OECD] | Approximately 23.1 students in 2023 using the OECD comparable primary class-size measure. [OECD] |
| Average Class Size (Lower Secondary) | Approximately 20 students in 2023. [OECD] | — |
| Average Class Size (Upper Secondary) | — | — |
System Performance & Learning Outcomes (OECD/PISA)
| Category | Denmark | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| PISA Participation Years | 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2025. [OECD] | 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2025. [OECD] |
| PISA 2018 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 509 / 501 / 493 | 491 / 503 / 503 |
| PISA 2022 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 489 / 489 / 494. [OECD] | 487 / 498 / 507 |
| PISA 2025 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 471 / 460 / 478. [OECD] | 478 / 491 / 509 [OECD] |
| PISA Performance Trend 2000–2025 | Performance was lower in 2025 than in 2022 in mathematics, reading and science. Mathematics declined by 19 points, reading by 29 points and science by 16 points. OECD reports that 2025 performance in all three subjects was lower than in any Danish PISA assessment conducted before 2022. [OECD] | Between 2022 and 2025, Australia's mathematics and reading scores were lower, while science was about the same. Science performance has remained broadly stable for more than a decade, while the decline in mathematics and reading extends a longer downward trend; the 2025 mathematics and reading scores were the lowest recorded for Australia in PISA. [OECD] |
| Strongest Subject Area (PISA 2025) | Science — 478 points. [OECD] | Science — 509 points. [ACER] |
Higher Education System
| Category | Denmark | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Higher Education Institutions (Total) | 25 core institutions across the main state-regulated categories: 8 universities, 7 university colleges, 7 business academies and 3 architecture/art institutions. Additional specialized institutions fall under other administrative arrangements. [Danish Agency] | 206 registered higher education providers at 30 June 2025. [TEQSA] |
| Number of Universities (Research Universities) | 8 universities: University of Copenhagen, Aarhus University, University of Southern Denmark, Roskilde University, Aalborg University, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen Business School and IT University of Copenhagen. [Danish Agency] | 42 universities in 2026. The current total reflects the Australian university sector after the establishment of Adelaide University. [Study Australia] |
| Number of Universities of Applied Sciences / Colleges | 7 university colleges and 7 business academies. Denmark does not use a single formal “University of Applied Sciences” category equivalent to some other European systems. [Danish Agency] | Australia has no separate university-of-applied-sciences category. At 30 June 2025, TEQSA listed 7 University Colleges and 156 Institutes of Higher Education. [TEQSA] |
| Main Institution Types | Universities, university colleges, business academies and architecture/art institutions, alongside additional specialized tertiary providers. | Australian Universities, University Colleges and Institutes of Higher Education, alongside TAFE institutes and other vocational education providers operating in the broader tertiary sector. |
| Tertiary Enrollment Share by Ownership | Public institutions: 99.6% / government-dependent private institutions: approximately 0.3% / independent private institutions: approximately 0% in 2023. [OECD] | — |
| English-Taught Degree Programmes (Bachelor + Master, Total) | 500+ English-taught higher education programs across Danish institutions. [Study in Denmark] | — |
| Share of Tertiary Programmes Taught in National Languages (%) | — | — |
| Share of Tertiary Programmes Taught in English (%) | — | — |
| Main Global Ranking Used | QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] | QS World University Rankings 2027. [Study Australia] |
| Universities in Top 100 (Selected Ranking) | 1 in QS 2027: University of Copenhagen (=90). [QS] | 9 Australian universities in the QS World University Rankings 2027 top 100. [Study Australia] |
| Universities in Top 500 (Selected Ranking) | 5 in QS 2027: University of Copenhagen (=90), Technical University of Denmark (105), Aarhus University (=128), University of Southern Denmark (=283) and Aalborg University (=329). [QS] | 27 Australian universities in the QS World University Rankings 2027 top 500. [Study Australia] |
| Universities in Top 1000 (Selected Ranking) | 5 in QS 2027. Roskilde University is ranked in the 1001–1200 band, while Copenhagen Business School and IT University of Copenhagen do not have an overall QS World University Ranking position in this edition. [QS] | 35 Australian universities in the QS World University Rankings 2027 top 1000. [Study Australia] |
| National Accreditation / QA Agency (Higher Education) | Danish Accreditation Institution (Danmarks Akkrediteringsinstitution), which conducts accreditation work within Denmark's higher education quality-assurance system. | Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), the national regulator for higher education providers. [TEQSA] |
| International Students (Total) | Approximately 30,000 international tertiary students in 2023, the latest OECD internationally comparable total. [OECD] | 481,851 onshore overseas higher education students in 2024, the latest completed official higher-education student dataset. Total overseas enrollment including offshore study was 589,288. [Australian Government] |
| International Students Share of Total Tertiary Enrollment (%) | 9.9% in 2023, down from 10.7% in 2018. [OECD] | 31% of onshore higher education enrollment in 2024. [Australian Government] |
Education Costs (Indicative)
| Category | Denmark | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Public University Tuition Fees – Domestic / Regional (Annual, Local Currency) | $0 for Danish students and generally for eligible students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland in public higher education. [Study in Denmark] | For Commonwealth Supported Places in 2026, maximum student contributions range from approximately $3,398 to $12,479 USD per EFTSL, depending on field of study. These values are converted from AUD 4,738–17,399 using the Reserve Bank of Australia's 11 September 2026 AUD/USD rate of 0.7172. [Study Assist] [RBA] |
| Public University Tuition Fees – International / Non-EU (Annual, Local Currency) | Typically $8,000–$21,000 per year for fee-paying full-degree students, equivalent to the official published range of DKK 45,000–120,000. Exact fees are set by institutions. [Study in Denmark] | Average annual tuition for foreign students in public master's programs was $20,880 USD in the latest OECD comparable data. Actual fees vary substantially by institution and field of study. [OECD] |
| Typical Tuition Fees for English-Taught Programmes (Annual, Local Currency) | $0 for eligible EU/EEA/Swiss students; generally $8,000–$21,000 per year for other full-degree students. [Study in Denmark] | — |
| Language School Costs (Monthly, Local Currency) | — | — |
Major Education Updates & Policy Changes
| Category | Denmark | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| 2000–2010: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2010–2020: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2020–2024: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2025–2026: Key Updates & Reforms |
General Overview (Narrative)
| Category | Denmark | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | Denmark has a decentralized public/private education system in which municipalities operate the public Folkeskole within national legislation. Compulsory education lasts 10 years, beginning with preschool class in the year a child turns six and continuing through Grade 9. Municipal schools provide free education, while about 18% of compulsory-school pupils attend publicly supported free private schools. General upper-secondary programs and vocational education provide the main routes after compulsory school. Danish is the principal instructional language, with German-minority and international-school provision also available. In PISA 2025, Denmark scored 471 in mathematics, 460 in reading and 478 in science; all three results were lower than in 2022. Higher education includes eight research universities, seven university colleges and seven business academies, with 99.6% of tertiary students enrolled in public institutions in 2023. Current school changes include greater local flexibility, fewer compulsory leaving examinations and revised subject plans, while a new epx upper-secondary route is being prepared for introduction in 2030. | Australia operates a mixed public and private education system in which the Australian Government shares responsibilities with state and territory governments. Schooling normally follows a 13-year pathway from Foundation through Year 12, while compulsory attendance and participation ages differ by jurisdiction. Government schools enrolled 62.8% of students in 2025, with Catholic and independent schools accounting for the remaining 37.2%. English is the main language of instruction, alongside Indigenous-language, Auslan and community-language programs. Australia has participated in every PISA cycle since 2000. In PISA 2025, students scored 478 in mathematics, 491 in reading and 509 in science; mathematics and reading were lower than in 2022, while science was about the same. Higher education includes universities, University Colleges and Institutes of Higher Education, with 42 universities operating in 2026. The latest completed higher-education dataset recorded 481,851 onshore overseas students in 2024. Current changes include the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, preschool reforms, the transition to new higher-education funding arrangements and revised higher-education standards. |