This page compares the education systems of Denmark and Switzerland.
Education System Overview
| Category | Denmark | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| 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 with a federal, decentralized governance model. The 26 cantons hold primary responsibility for compulsory education, while the Confederation and cantons share responsibilities in vocational education, higher education and other post-compulsory sectors. [EDK] |
| 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] | 26 cantonal education authorities; the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK); and, at federal level, the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research and the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). [EDK] |
| 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] | 4.9% of GDP in 2022, the latest available value in the World Bank/UNESCO UIS government-expenditure series. [World Bank] |
Education Structure & Compulsory Schooling
| Category | Denmark | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| 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] | Compulsory education generally begins at about age 4 and continues to about age 15. Starting rules and transition dates can vary by canton. [EDK] |
| 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] | 11 years of compulsory education. [EDK] |
| 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] | In most cantons, the first two years of compulsory education are kindergarten or the first learning cycle. OECD data show that 50.3% of children aged 3–5 were enrolled in ISCED 0 early childhood education in 2023; age-specific participation rises sharply by age 5. [OECD] |
| 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] | 2 + 6 + 3 within compulsory education: two years of kindergarten or the first learning cycle, six additional primary years and three years of lower secondary education. Upper-secondary education follows as a post-compulsory route, generally lasting 3–4 years. [EDK] |
| 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 61% vocational / 39% general among upper-secondary students in 2023. Vocational education and training remains the larger upper-secondary route. [OECD] |
Academic Calendar & Instruction Time
| Category | Denmark | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Year Start (Typical Month) | August | Typically August, although the exact opening date varies by canton and local school calendar. |
| Academic Year End (Typical Month) | June | Typically June or July, depending on the canton. |
| Instruction Weeks per Year | Approximately 40 weeks in the most common Folkeskole calendar. [Ministry of Education] | Usually about 38–39 weeks, with cantons setting their own school calendars. |
| Instruction Days per Year | Approximately 200 days in the most common school-year arrangement. [Ministry of Education] | — |
Grading System
| Category | Denmark | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| 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] | A 1–6 scale is widely used, with 6 as the highest mark and 4 generally representing a passing result. Assessment and reporting rules vary by canton and school level. |
| 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] | Commonly 1.0–6.0, with 4.0 generally the minimum passing mark and 6.0 the highest grade. Individual institutions determine detailed assessment rules. [ETH Zurich] |
Language of Instruction
| Category | Denmark | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Instruction Languages (K–12) | Danish is the main language of instruction in ordinary public schooling. | German, French, Italian or Romansh, depending on the language region and canton. Students normally also study another national language and English during compulsory education. [EDK] |
| 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. | Romansh is used in parts of Graubünden, while bilingual German/French and other bilingual models operate in selected cantons and schools. |
School Provision & Access (K–12)
| Category | Denmark | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| 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] | There is no single public-school share that applies equally across all K–12 levels. At compulsory level, about 95% of pupils attend public schools. At upper-secondary level, public institutions educate roughly five-sixths of students. [EDK] |
| Public School Tuition Fee (Annual, Local Currency) | $0. Municipal Folkeskole education is free of charge. [Ministry of Education] | $0; public compulsory education is free of charge. [EDK] |
| Public Schools Nationwide Availability | Yes. Municipalities are responsible for providing public compulsory education throughout Denmark. [Ministry of Education] | Yes. Cantons and municipalities provide public compulsory education throughout Switzerland, with local organization reflecting the country's cantonal system. [EDK] |
| 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] | Approximately 5% at compulsory level. At upper-secondary level, private institutions educate about one-sixth of students. [FSO] |
| Private Schools (Geographic Concentration) | Nationwide, with free private schools operating in both urban and regional areas. | Private schools are more common in densely populated areas. International and boarding schools are particularly visible around Geneva, Zurich, Lausanne and Basel and in established boarding-school locations. [FSO] |
International Schools (K–12)
| Category | Denmark | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| 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] | 53 IB World Schools currently offer at least one IB programme in Switzerland. [IB] |
| Main International Programmes Offered | International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge International and school-specific British, American or bilingual programs. | International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge and British qualifications, American curricula, French programs and bilingual Swiss programs, depending on the school. |
Resources & Learning Environment (K–12)
| Category | Denmark | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| 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] | A recognized tertiary teacher-education qualification appropriate to the level taught. Teacher education is provided mainly through universities of teacher education and leads to a recognized teaching diploma, usually alongside a bachelor's or master's degree. [EDK] |
| Average Class Size (Primary) | Approximately 19 students in 2023. [OECD] | Approximately 19 students in the latest comparable Swiss reporting available for this measure; class sizes vary by canton and municipality. |
| Average Class Size (Lower Secondary) | Approximately 20 students in 2023. [OECD] | Approximately 19 students in the latest comparable reporting available for Switzerland. |
| Average Class Size (Upper Secondary) | — | — |
System Performance & Learning Outcomes (OECD/PISA)
| Category | Denmark | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 515 / 484 / 495 |
| PISA 2022 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 489 / 489 / 494. [OECD] | 508 / 483 / 503 [OECD] |
| PISA 2025 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 471 / 460 / 478. [OECD] | 499 / 470 / 501 [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, mathematics and reading performance was lower, while science was about the same. Science remained broadly stable between 2015 and 2025, while mathematics and reading declined over that period. The 2025 mathematics and reading scores were the lowest recorded for Switzerland in PISA. [OECD] |
| Strongest Subject Area (PISA 2025) | Science — 478 points. [OECD] | Science — 501 points, narrowly above mathematics at 499. [OECD] |
Higher Education System
| Category | Denmark | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| 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] | 55 institutions are currently listed by swissuniversities as accredited higher education institutions or other accredited institutions in the higher education sector. [swissuniversities] |
| 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] | 12 universities: 10 cantonal universities and the two federal institutes of technology, ETH Zurich and EPFL. [swissuniversities] |
| 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] | 10 universities of applied sciences. Swissuniversities also lists 18 universities of teacher education as a separate higher-education category. [swissuniversities] |
| Main Institution Types | Universities, university colleges, business academies and architecture/art institutions, alongside additional specialized tertiary providers. | Universities and federal institutes of technology, universities of applied sciences, universities of teacher education and other accredited higher-education institutions. Tertiary professional education operates alongside the higher-education 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] | Approximately 92.5% in public or government-dependent provision / 7.5% in independent private institutions 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. [QS] |
| Universities in Top 100 (Selected Ranking) | 1 in QS 2027: University of Copenhagen (=90). [QS] | 3 in QS 2027: ETH Zurich (=8), EPFL (=22) and University of Zurich (=98). [QS] |
| 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] | 8 Swiss institutions in QS 2027: ETH Zurich, EPFL, University of Zurich, University of Basel, University of Geneva, University of Bern, University of Lausanne and Università della Svizzera italiana. [ETH Zurich] |
| 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] | 10 Swiss institutions in QS 2027, including the eight top-500 institutions plus the University of Fribourg and Zurich University of Applied Sciences. [QS] |
| National Accreditation / QA Agency (Higher Education) | Danish Accreditation Institution (Danmarks Akkrediteringsinstitution), which conducts accreditation work within Denmark's higher education quality-assurance system. | Swiss Accreditation Council, with accreditation procedures carried out by recognized agencies including the Swiss Agency of Accreditation and Quality Assurance (AAQ). [Swiss Accreditation Council] |
| International Students (Total) | Approximately 30,000 international tertiary students in 2023, the latest OECD internationally comparable total. [OECD] | — |
| International Students Share of Total Tertiary Enrollment (%) | 9.9% in 2023, down from 10.7% in 2018. [OECD] | 19.7% in 2023, up from 17.7% in 2018. [OECD] |
Education Costs (Indicative)
| Category | Denmark | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| 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 2026/27, tuition at the universities listed by swissuniversities generally ranges from approximately $1,070 to $4,910 USD per year before additional compulsory fees, based on published annualized tuition of CHF 870–4,000 and the 12 September 2026 exchange rate. [swissuniversities] |
| 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] | For 2026/27, published university tuition for foreign students ranges from approximately $1,070 to $9,825 USD per year before additional compulsory fees, depending on institution and study level. Several universities charge higher fees to foreign students than to domestic students. [swissuniversities] |
| 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 | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Switzerland has a federal, decentralized education system in which the 26 cantons hold primary responsibility for compulsory schooling while the Confederation and cantons cooperate in post-compulsory education. Compulsory education lasts 11 years, normally beginning around age four, and approximately 95% of pupils at this level attend tuition-free public schools. Instruction is mainly in German, French, Italian or Romansh according to language region. After compulsory school, vocational education and training is the larger upper-secondary route, accounting for about 61% of enrollment in 2023. Switzerland has participated in every PISA cycle since 2000. In PISA 2025, students scored 499 in mathematics, 470 in reading and 501 in science; mathematics and reading were lower than in 2022, while science was about the same. Higher education includes 12 universities, 10 universities of applied sciences, universities of teacher education and other accredited institutions. Current developments include the 2025–2028 federal education funding period, the Swiss Education Report 2026 and new Professional Bachelor and Professional Master title additions taking effect in October 2026. |