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France vs Denmark (Comparing Education Systems 2026)

Published: February 24, 2026| Updated: February 25, 2026

This page compares the education systems of France and Denmark.

France
Denmark
Education System Overview
System TypePublic/private mix; Centralised governance with local authorities supporting facilities and operations.Source✅Public system with a public–private mix; governance is decentralised through municipal responsibility within national legislation [Source-1✅]
Governing BodyMinistry of National Education (school education) and Ministry of Higher Education and Research (tertiary education).Source✅Ministry of Children and Education (K–12) and Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science (tertiary) [Source-2✅]
Government Expenditure on Education (% of GDP)5.4% of GDP (2022, primary to tertiary).Source✅Around 5–6% of GDP (latest OECD country-note reporting; value varies by year) [Source-3✅]
Education Structure & Compulsory Schooling
Compulsory Age RangeFrom age 3 to age 16.Source✅From age 6 to age 16 (typical) compulsory education spans 10 years (including the pre-school class “Year 0”) [Source-4✅]
Total Compulsory Duration (Years)13 years (ages 3–16).10 years (Year 0 + Grades 1–9) [Source-4✅]
Pre-primary Education (ECE) AccessCompulsory from age 3; participation for ages 3–5: 100% (indicator for age 3+, 2023).Source✅Optional; access is widely available and participation is typically high across ages 3–5 (OECD reporting) [Source-4✅]
Primary + Secondary Education Structure (Years)3 (ECE) + 5 (Primary) + 4 (Lower secondary) + 3 (Upper secondary).Source✅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✅]
Vocational vs. General Upper Secondary Split (%)27.7% Vocational / 72.3% General & Technological (upper secondary enrolment, 2022).Source✅Indicative: about 19% vocational / 81% general (based on OECD enrolment-rate distribution reporting for the 15–19 age group) [Source-5✅]
Academic Calendar & Instruction Time
Academic Year Start (Typical Month)September (typical school start).Source✅August (typical) [Source-6✅]
Academic Year End (Typical Month)July (typical school end).Source✅June (typical; last-day setting is centrally determined in practice) [Source-6✅]
Instruction Weeks per Year36 weeks.Source✅~40 weeks (based on a norm of 200 school days) [Source-1✅]
Instruction Days per Year~180 days (derived from 36 weeks × 5 days).200 days (norm; local authorities may schedule more days) [Source-1✅]
Grading System
Primary/Secondary Grading Scale0–20 scale is widely used (alongside competency-based reporting in many settings).Source✅7-point scale: -3, 00, 02, 4, 7, 10, 12 [Source-7✅]
Higher Education Grading Scale0–20 (common) with ECTS credits for degree recognition and mobility.Source✅7-point scale aligned with ECTS letter mapping (A–F) [Source-7✅]
Language of Instruction
Primary Instruction Languages (K–12)French.Danish (standard language of instruction)
Other Official / Minority Instruction Languages (K–12)Regional languages are available in some bilingual or specialised programmes (e.g., Breton, Basque, Catalan, Corsican, Occitan, Alsatian).German in minority school settings (where applicable); otherwise limited
School Provision & Access (K–12)
Public School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students)83.1% (derived from public-sector enrolment totals across primary + secondary, 2022).Source✅Majority share (a precise single K–12 % is not stated as one consolidated figure in the cited open sources)
Public School Tuition Fee (Annual, Local Currency)$0 tuition (public schools are tuition-free).$0 (free public schooling) [Source-8✅]
Public Schools Nationwide AvailabilityYes, with broad nationwide coverage.Yes (nationwide municipal provision) [Source-1✅]
Private School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students)16.9% (derived from K–12 totals, 2022).Meaningful but minority share (Denmark has government-supported private school options) [Source-9✅]
Private Schools (Geographic Concentration)Available nationwide, with stronger presence in urban and suburban areas.Nationwide (both urban and regional availability) [Source-9✅]
International Schools (K–12)
Number of International Schools (Total)No single official national total for “international schools”; an official directory lists schools offering International Sections and related programmes.Source✅26 recognised international basic schools [Source-10✅]
Number of IB World Schools25 IB World Schools.Source✅20 IB World Schools [Source-11✅]
Main International Programmes OfferedIB, International Sections, Cambridge pathways, and American-style curricula (provider-dependent).IB (PYP/MYP/DP/CP); plus international curricula such as Cambridge or US-style programmes (school-dependent) [Source-11✅]
Resources & Learning Environment (K–12)
Minimum Teacher Qualification (Public Schools)Master’s-level preparation (e.g., Master MEEF) plus a competitive exam for recruitment.Source✅Professional Bachelor’s in teacher education (typical pathway for public-school teachers)
Average Class Size (Primary)21.6 students (primary, 2022).Source✅19 students (latest OECD table year shown) [Source-12✅]
Average Class Size (Lower Secondary)25.9 students (lower secondary, 2022).Source✅20 students (latest OECD table year shown) [Source-12✅]
Average Class Size (Upper Secondary)30.3 students (general & technological) / 17.9 students (vocational) (2022).Source✅Not reported as one single national “class size” average in the cited OECD class-size table; grouping varies by programme and subject [Source-12✅]
System Performance & Learning Outcomes (OECD/PISA)
PISA Participation (First Year)2000 (first PISA cycle).2000 (OECD PISA cycle participation) [Source-13✅]
PISA 2018 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science)495 / 493 / 493.Source✅509 / 501 / 493 [Source-14✅]
PISA 2022 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science)474 / 474 / 487.Source✅489 / 489 / 494 [Source-13✅]
Average PISA Rank 2000–2022 (Math / Reading / Science)Not published as a single official OECD aggregate rank; rankings vary by cycle and participant set.Not published by OECD as a single long-run “average rank”; the standard reference is cycle-specific scores and trends [Source-13✅]
Strongest Subject Area (PISA 2022)Science (highest score among the three domains in 2022).Science (highest domain score) [Source-13✅]
Higher Education System
Number of Higher Education Institutions (Total)3,500+ higher education institutions.Source✅25 core institutions across main public types (8 universities + 7 business academies + 7 university colleges + 3 architecture/art institutions) [Source-15✅]
Number of Universities (Research Universities)78 universities and communities of institutions.Source✅8 universities [Source-16✅]
Number of Universities of Applied Sciences / CollegesNo single national count under a unified “universities of applied sciences” label; applied/professional education is delivered through IUT (within universities), STS (often in upper secondary schools), and specialised schools.7 university colleges (Professional Bachelor providers) [Source-17✅]
Main Institution TypesUniversities; Grandes Écoles; specialised schools (engineering, business, arts, health, etc.).Universities; University Colleges; Business Academies; Architecture/Art institutions; plus specialised providers [Source-15✅]
Tertiary Enrollment Share by OwnershipPublic/non-profit: Not consolidated as a single headline % in the sources used | Private/for-profit: Not consolidated as a single headline % in the sources usedPublic/non-profit: dominant | Private/for-profit: limited (no single consolidated national % stated in the cited open sources)
English-Taught Degree Programmes (Bachelor + Master, Total)1,600+ English-taught degree programmes (national catalogue figures).Source✅500+ English-taught programmes (system-wide) [Source-18✅]
Share of Tertiary Programmes Taught in National Languages (%)Not published as a single national %; French remains the main language of instruction across the system.Not centrally stated as a single national percentage in the cited sources; Danish remains the main language across many programmes
Share of Tertiary Programmes Taught in English (%)Not published as a single national %; a national catalogue lists 1,600+ English-taught programmes.Not centrally stated as a single national percentage in the cited sources; institutions offer 500+ English-taught programmes [Source-18✅]
Main Global Ranking UsedARWU (Shanghai Ranking).QS World University Rankings (commonly referenced globally)
Universities in Top 100 (Selected Ranking)4 (ARWU).Source✅Varies by edition; the cited QS country view is interactive and does not provide a fixed top-100 count in the accessible static view
Universities in Top 500 (Selected Ranking)18 (ARWU).Source✅Varies by edition; use the ranking’s official table view for year-specific counts
Universities in Top 1000 (Selected Ranking)27 (ARWU).Source✅Varies by edition; Denmark has multiple ranked universities in global tables
National Accreditation / QA Agency (Higher Education)HCERES (High Council for the Evaluation of Research and Higher Education).Danish Accreditation Institution (Danmarks Akkrediteringsinstitution)
International Students (Total)~406,000 (derived from 2.9 million total students and 14% international share).Source✅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✅]
International Students Share of Total Tertiary Enrollment (%)14%.Source✅14.1% (OECD reporting for tertiary) [Source-5✅]
Education Costs (Indicative)
Public University Tuition Fees – Domestic / Regional (Annual, Local Currency)~$185–$660 per year (approx. USD equivalents; government-set reference fees listed in euros on the official source).Source✅$0 for EU/EEA and Swiss students (public higher education) [Source-20✅]
Public University Tuition Fees – International / Non-EU (Annual, Local Currency)~$3,050–$4,150 per year (approx. USD equivalents for government “differentiated fees”; exact applicability depends on institution and student situation).Source✅Tuition fees apply for non-EU/EEA students; amounts are set by institutions (programme-dependent) [Source-20✅]
Typical Tuition Fees for English-Taught Programmes (Annual, Local Currency)Varies widely by institution type (public universities vs. specialised/private schools); there is no single national tariff for English-taught degrees.$0 for eligible EU/EEA students; otherwise institution-set tuition applies for fee-paying students [Source-20✅]
Language School Costs (Monthly, Local Currency)~$825 per month for a monthly general course (approx. USD equivalent of the listed price).Source✅Provider-set; prices vary by intensity, location, and provider
Major Education Updates & Policy Changes
2000–2010: Key Updates & Reforms
  • Higher education structured into the LMD cycle (Licence–Master–Doctorate) with ECTS credits to support international recognition.Source✅
  • Broader alignment of programmes and diplomas with European frameworks for comparability.
  • Continued development of vocational pathways linked to recognised national diplomas.
  • Expansion of international cooperation and mobility opportunities for learners.
  • University governance model features institutional boards and leadership structures that support clear strategic direction [Source-16✅]
  • 7-point grading framework established as the standard national scale (-3 to 12) [Source-7✅]
  • Local flexibility reinforced for organising the school day within national minimum requirements [Source-1✅]
    • 2010–2020: Key Updates & Reforms
  • Compulsory schooling extended to age 3, strengthening early learning participation.Source✅
  • Curriculum updates emphasising foundational skills and coherent learning cycles.
  • Growth of digital learning environments and classroom support tools.
  • Ongoing modernisation of upper-secondary pathways and guidance processes.
  • Architecture and design education placed under the Ministry of Higher Education and Science (2011) [Source-21✅]
  • Professional Bachelor pathways consolidated through university colleges as key applied providers [Source-17✅]
  • Academy Profession routes strengthened through business academies and applied programmes [Source-22✅]
    • 2020–2024: Key Updates & Reforms
  • Further modernisation of upper-secondary assessment combining final exams and continuous assessment.
  • Expansion of English-taught higher education options via a national catalogue.Source✅
  • Ongoing investment in teacher training and professional preparation pathways.
  • Broader use of data-informed indicators to support system monitoring and improvement.
  • Student performance monitoring continues via OECD PISA with transparent reporting and benchmarking [Source-13✅]
  • Learning environment indicators (like class size) are tracked in OECD comparative tables [Source-12✅]
  • Internationalisation remains a key theme through English-taught programme availability [Source-18✅]
    • 2025–2026: Key Updates & Reforms
  • Planned adjustments to teacher recruitment timelines and pathways beginning with the 2026 session (Master-level training and recruitment exams).Source✅
  • Continued strengthening of international programmes and multilingual learning opportunities.
  • Ongoing focus on digital education infrastructure and governance for effective learning support.
  • Folkeskole quality programme initiatives planned to take effect in school year 2025/26, supporting local use of teaching-time resources [Source-23✅]
  • School-day organisation remains adaptable within national minimum-hour rules, enabling context-fit scheduling [Source-24✅]
  • International education provision continues through recognised international basic schools and IB options [Source-10✅]
    • General Overview (Narrative)
    OverviewFrance operates a largely centralised education system with a strong public sector and an established private network. Schooling is compulsory from age 3 to 16, covering pre-primary through lower secondary, and most learners continue into upper secondary pathways. The structure is typically 3+5+4+3, with upper secondary offered through general & technological programmes and vocational programmes leading to nationally recognised qualifications. Assessment commonly uses a 0–20 scale, and key milestones include nationally recognised lower-secondary and upper-secondary examinations. In higher education, France offers 3,500+ institutions, including universities, Grandes Écoles, and specialised schools. Degrees follow the LMD structure (Licence–Master–Doctorate) with ECTS credits supporting international recognition. International openness is reflected in 1,600+ English-taught programmes and a strong international student presence. Overall, the system combines national standards with diverse pathways and growing international options.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✅].