This page compares the education systems of Denmark and Australia.
Denmark
Australia
| Education System Overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| System Type | Public system with a public–private mix; governance is decentralised through municipal responsibility within national legislation [Source-1✅] | Public/private mix; mixed federal governance with national policy and funding support, while states and territories operate most school services and registered non-government providers operate alongside public schools [Source-1✅] |
| Governing Body | Ministry of Children and Education (K–12) and Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science (tertiary) [Source-2✅] | Australian Government Department of Education, state and territory education departments, ACARA for national curriculum, TEQSA for higher education quality assurance, and ASQA for vocational education regulation [Source-2✅] |
| Government Expenditure on Education (% of GDP) | Around 5–6% of GDP (latest OECD country-note reporting; value varies by year) [Source-3✅] | About 5.1% of GDP for government education expenditure, with OECD reporting total primary-to-tertiary education investment at 5.4% of GDP [Source-3✅] |
| Education Structure & Compulsory Schooling | ||
| Compulsory Age Range | From age 6 to age 16 (typical) compulsory education spans 10 years (including the pre-school class “Year 0”) [Source-4✅] | Generally from age 5 or 6 to age 15–17, depending on the state or territory [Source-4✅] |
| Total Compulsory Duration (Years) | 10 years (Year 0 + Grades 1–9) [Source-4✅] | Usually around 10–12 years, with school education structured across a 13-year pathway from Foundation/Preparatory to Year 12 [Source-5✅] |
| Pre-primary Education (ECE) Access | Optional; access is widely available and participation is typically high across ages 3–5 (OECD reporting) [Source-4✅] | Optional before compulsory school in most settings; OECD reports 64.6% enrollment for ages 3–5 in ISCED 0, while ABS reports 91% preschool participation for 4-year-olds in 2025 [Source-6✅] |
| Primary + Secondary Education Structure (Years) | 1 + 9 (compulsory: Year 0 + Grades 1–9) + 3 (general upper secondary, typical); VET pathways commonly run 2–5 years depending on programme [Source-4✅] | Foundation + Years 1–6 primary, Years 7–10 junior/lower secondary, and Years 11–12 senior secondary; commonly expressed as F+6+4+2 [Source-7✅] |
| Vocational vs. General Upper Secondary Split (%) | Indicative: about 19% vocational / 81% general (based on OECD enrolment-rate distribution reporting for the 15–19 age group) [Source-5✅] | Approx. 17% vocational / 83% general among 15–19 upper-secondary enrollment, based on OECD upper-secondary enrollment shares [Source-8✅] |
| Academic Calendar & Instruction Time | ||
| Academic Year Start (Typical Month) | August (typical) [Source-6✅] | Late January or early February, depending on jurisdiction and school calendar [Source-9✅] |
| Academic Year End (Typical Month) | June (typical; last-day setting is centrally determined in practice) [Source-6✅] | Typically December, with final term dates varying by state and territory [Source-10✅] |
| Instruction Weeks per Year | ~40 weeks (based on a norm of 200 school days) [Source-1✅] | About 40 weeks, with OECD noting Australia as an at-least-40-week school-year system [Source-11✅] |
| Instruction Days per Year | 200 days (norm; local authorities may schedule more days) [Source-1✅] | Approximately 195–200 days, varying by jurisdiction; Australia also provides around 1,000 compulsory instruction hours per year in primary and lower secondary education [Source-12✅] |
| Grading System | ||
| Primary/Secondary Grading Scale | 7-point scale: -3, 00, 02, 4, 7, 10, 12 [Source-7✅] | Commonly A–E or equivalent standards-based reporting in Years 1–10; senior secondary credentials use state/territory certificate systems and ATAR for tertiary selection [Source-13✅] |
| Higher Education Grading Scale | 7-point scale aligned with ECTS letter mapping (A–F) [Source-7✅] | Usually HD/D/CR/P with percentage marks; a common university example is HD 80–100, D 70–79, CR 60–69, and P 50–59, though each provider sets its own rules [Source-14✅] |
| Language of Instruction | ||
| Primary Instruction Languages (K–12) | Danish (standard language of instruction) | English is the main language of instruction across K–12 schooling, with Australian Curriculum delivery adapted by states, territories and sectors [Source-15✅] |
| Other Official / Minority Instruction Languages (K–12) | German in minority school settings (where applicable); otherwise limited | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, Auslan, and community/world languages may be offered through curriculum programs, bilingual initiatives, and local school arrangements [Source-16✅] |
| School Provision & Access (K–12) | ||
| Public School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students) | Majority share (a precise single K–12 % is not stated as one consolidated figure in the cited open sources) | 62.8% of school students were enrolled in government schools in 2025 [Source-17✅] |
| Public School Tuition Fee (Annual, Local Currency) | $0 (free public schooling) [Source-8✅] | $0 tuition for public schooling in general resident access; families may pay for uniforms, books, excursions, and supplies [Source-18✅] |
| Public Schools Nationwide Availability | Yes (nationwide municipal provision) [Source-1✅] | Yes; state and territory governments provide public schools in most towns and suburbs nationwide [Source-19✅] |
| Private School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students) | Meaningful but minority share (Denmark has government-supported private school options) [Source-9✅] | 37.2% total non-government enrollment in 2025, including 20.0% Catholic schools and 17.2% independent schools [Source-20✅] |
| Private Schools (Geographic Concentration) | Nationwide (both urban and regional availability) [Source-9✅] | Mostly urban and suburban, with Catholic, independent, faith-based, specialist, and alternative schools also present in many regional education markets [Source-21✅] |
| International Schools (K–12) | ||
| Number of International Schools (Total) | 26 recognised international basic schools [Source-10✅] | About 46–68 directory-listed international schools, depending on the definition used; Australia does not publish one single national official count for this category [Source-22✅] |
| Number of IB World Schools | 20 IB World Schools [Source-11✅] | 215 IB World Schools are listed for Australia in specialist international-school references [Source-23✅] |
| Main International Programmes Offered | IB (PYP/MYP/DP/CP); plus international curricula such as Cambridge or US-style programmes (school-dependent) [Source-11✅] | IB, Cambridge International, Australian senior certificates, and selected American, British, French, German, Japanese, and other community-linked programmes in specialist schools [Source-24✅] |
| Resources & Learning Environment (K–12) | ||
| Minimum Teacher Qualification (Public Schools) | Professional Bachelor’s in teacher education (typical pathway for public-school teachers) | Generally at least four years of higher education, including an accredited initial teacher education programme or recognised equivalent [Source-25✅] |
| Average Class Size (Primary) | 19 students (latest OECD table year shown) [Source-12✅] | About 23.1 students per primary class in 2023, according to OECD reporting [Source-26✅] |
| Average Class Size (Lower Secondary) | 20 students (latest OECD table year shown) [Source-12✅] | National lower-secondary class size is not published as one simple universal school-rule figure; practical class groupings are commonly around the low-to-mid 20s, while ABS reports a secondary student-to-teaching-staff ratio of 11.7:1 in 2025 [Source-27✅] |
| Average Class Size (Upper Secondary) | Not reported as one single national “class size” average in the cited OECD class-size table; grouping varies by programme and subject [Source-12✅] | Not nationally standardised as one comparable class-size figure; upper-secondary classes vary by subject, provider, and pathway, with secondary staffing ratios reported nationally at 11.7 students per teacher [Source-28✅] |
| System Performance & Learning Outcomes (OECD/PISA) | ||
| PISA Participation (First Year) | 2000 (OECD PISA cycle participation) [Source-13✅] | 2000 [Source-29✅] |
| PISA 2018 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 509 / 501 / 493 [Source-14✅] | 491 / 503 / 503 [Source-30✅] |
| PISA 2022 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 489 / 489 / 494 [Source-13✅] | 487 / 498 / 507 [Source-31✅] |
| Average PISA Rank 2000–2022 (Math / Reading / Science) | Not published by OECD as a single long-run “average rank”; the standard reference is cycle-specific scores and trends [Source-13✅] | No official OECD average-rank series is published as a single national indicator; Australia is best presented by cycle scores and cycle ranks. In PISA 2022, Australia was reported around equal 10th in mathematics and equal 9th in reading and science among participating systems [Source-32✅] |
| Strongest Subject Area (PISA 2022) | Science (highest domain score) [Source-13✅] | Science, with Australia scoring 507, higher than reading and mathematics in the 2022 cycle [Source-33✅] |
| Higher Education System | ||
| Number of Higher Education Institutions (Total) | 25 core institutions across main public types (8 universities + 7 business academies + 7 university colleges + 3 architecture/art institutions) [Source-15✅] | 206 TEQSA-registered higher education providers at 30 June 2024 [Source-34✅] |
| Number of Universities (Research Universities) | 8 universities [Source-16✅] | 43 Australian Universities in TEQSA’s registered provider categories [Source-35✅] |
| Number of Universities of Applied Sciences / Colleges | 7 university colleges (Professional Bachelor providers) [Source-17✅] | No separate universities of applied sciences category; TEQSA lists 7 University Colleges and 156 Institutes of Higher Education [Source-36✅] |
| Main Institution Types | Universities; University Colleges; Business Academies; Architecture/Art institutions; plus specialised providers [Source-15✅] | Australian Universities, University Colleges, Institutes of Higher Education, TAFE institutes, and VET providers under the national qualifications framework [Source-37✅] |
| Tertiary Enrollment Share by Ownership | Public/non-profit: dominant | Private/for-profit: limited (no single consolidated national % stated in the cited open sources) | Public/non-profit: dominant share | Private/for-profit: smaller provider segment; for domestic undergraduate university equity data, around 98% attended Table A public universities and about 2% attended Table B institutions [Source-38✅] |
| English-Taught Degree Programmes (Bachelor + Master, Total) | 500+ English-taught programmes (system-wide) [Source-18✅] | No official national count is published as one consolidated bachelor-plus-master total; Australia is a primarily English-medium higher education system with thousands of searchable programmes across registered providers [Source-39✅] |
| Share of Tertiary Programmes Taught in National Languages (%) | Not centrally stated as a single national percentage in the cited sources; Danish remains the main language across many programmes | English-medium programmes make up the mainstream share; non-English delivery is mainly limited to language, bilingual, exchange, and specialist pathway components rather than a large separate national-language degree sector [Source-40✅] |
| Share of Tertiary Programmes Taught in English (%) | Not centrally stated as a single national percentage in the cited sources; institutions offer 500+ English-taught programmes [Source-18✅] | Effectively near-universal for mainstream domestic and international higher education delivery; international applicants commonly meet English-language entry requirements [Source-41✅] |
| Main Global Ranking Used | QS World University Rankings (commonly referenced globally) | QS World University Rankings, alongside Times Higher Education and ARWU as widely used global references [Source-42✅] |
| Universities in Top 100 (Selected Ranking) | Varies by edition; the cited QS country view is interactive and does not provide a fixed top-100 count in the accessible static view | 9 Australian universities in the QS World University Rankings 2026 top 100 [Source-43✅] |
| Universities in Top 500 (Selected Ranking) | Varies by edition; use the ranking’s official table view for year-specific counts | About 28 Australian universities in the QS World University Rankings 2026 top 500, based on the QS country-filtered ranking list and published ranking positions [Source-44✅] |
| Universities in Top 1000 (Selected Ranking) | Varies by edition; Denmark has multiple ranked universities in global tables | About 36 Australian universities were ranked overall in QS World University Rankings 2026 listings, with top-1000 status depending on the live QS banding and correction updates [Source-45✅] |
| National Accreditation / QA Agency (Higher Education) | Danish Accreditation Institution (Danmarks Akkrediteringsinstitution) | TEQSA is the national higher education quality assurance and regulatory agency; ASQA regulates the national VET sector [Source-46✅] |
| International Students (Total) | Not stated as one single total figure in the cited open sources on this page; official student series are available via Statistics Denmark [Source-19✅] | 481,851 onshore overseas higher education students in 2024 [Source-47✅] |
| International Students Share of Total Tertiary Enrollment (%) | 14.1% (OECD reporting for tertiary) [Source-5✅] | 31% of onshore higher education enrollment in 2024 [Source-48✅] |
| Education Costs (Indicative) | ||
| Public University Tuition Fees – Domestic / Regional (Annual, Local Currency) | $0 for EU/EEA and Swiss students (public higher education) [Source-20✅] | For Commonwealth Supported Places, 2026 maximum student contribution amounts are about $4,738–$17,399 per EFTSL, depending on field of study [Source-49✅] |
| Public University Tuition Fees – International / Non-EU (Annual, Local Currency) | Tuition fees apply for non-EU/EEA students; amounts are set by institutions (programme-dependent) [Source-20✅] | Typically around $20,000–$50,000+ per year for many international bachelor and master programmes, with higher-cost specialist degrees possible [Source-50✅] |
| Typical Tuition Fees for English-Taught Programmes (Annual, Local Currency) | $0 for eligible EU/EEA students; otherwise institution-set tuition applies for fee-paying students [Source-20✅] | Most mainstream degree programmes are English-taught; indicative annual tuition commonly falls around $20,000–$53,000 for bachelor and master study, depending on course and provider [Source-51✅] |
| Language School Costs (Monthly, Local Currency) | Provider-set; prices vary by intensity, location, and provider | English language study is often priced weekly; a common indicative cost is about $300 per week, or roughly $1,200 per month before accommodation and living costs [Source-52✅] |
| Major Education Updates & Policy Changes | ||
| 2000–2010: Key Updates & Reforms | — | |
| 2010–2020: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2020–2024: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2020–2024: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2025–2026: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| General Overview (Narrative) | ||
| Overview | Denmark’s education system combines a strong public foundation with a supported private school sector. In compulsory schooling, municipalities have substantial local responsibility for organising school days and timetables within national minimum rules, including a norm of 200 school days per year [Source-1✅]. Learning outcomes are internationally benchmarked through OECD PISA, where Denmark’s 2022 results show balanced performance across domains, with science as the highest-scoring area [Source-13✅]. Higher education is delivered through universities, university colleges, business academies, and specialised institutions, supported by ongoing system development and modernisation efforts [Source-15✅]. For eligible EU/EEA students, public higher education is tuition-free, while non-EU/EEA students typically pay institution-set fees [Source-20✅]. The country also offers extensive international options, including 500+ English-taught higher education programmes [Source-18✅]. | Australia has a mixed public and private education system with shared national, state, and territory responsibilities. The Australian Government supports national policy, funding, and higher education regulation, while states and territories operate public schools and manage local school requirements. Schooling usually begins with Foundation/Preparatory education and continues through Years 1–12, with compulsory attendance rules varying by jurisdiction. Public schools educate the majority of K–12 students, while Catholic and independent schools form a substantial non-government sector. The Australian Curriculum provides a common national reference for Foundation to Year 10, and senior secondary students complete state or territory certificates that can support vocational, university, and employment pathways. Higher education is internationally visible, with 43 Australian Universities and a large international student population. Recent reforms focus on curriculum renewal, preschool access, school funding agreements, teacher quality, higher education reform through the Universities Accord, and support for First Nations languages. Overall, Australia combines national standards, local delivery, broad public access, and globally connected tertiary education. |
| Australia | Canada | China | Denmark | Estonia | Finland | France | Germany | Japan | Netherlands | Singapore | South Korea | Sweden | Turkey | United Kingdom | US | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | — | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ○ | ⇌ | ○ |
| Canada | ⇌ | — | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ |
| China | ⇌ | ⇌ | — | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ |
| Denmark | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | — | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ |
| Estonia | ○ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | — | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ |
| Finland | ○ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | — | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ |
| France | ○ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | — | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ |
| Germany | ○ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | — | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ |
| Japan | ○ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | — | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ |
| Netherlands | ○ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | — | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ |
| Singapore | ○ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | — | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ |
| South Korea | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | — | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ |
| Sweden | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | — | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ |
| Turkey | ○ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | — | ⇌ | ⇌ |
| United Kingdom | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | — | ⇌ |
| US | ○ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | ⇌ | — |
⇌ = comparison available ○ = coming soon