This page compares the education systems of Turkey and Denmark.
Education System Overview
| Category | Turkey | Denmark |
|---|---|---|
| System Type | Public-private mix; Governance model: Centralized, with national education policy, curricula and major regulations administered primarily through the Ministry of National Education. | 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] |
| Governing Body | Ministry of National Education (MEB) for school education and the Council of Higher Education (CoHE / YÖK) for higher education. | 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] |
| Government Expenditure on Education (% of GDP) | 3.1% of GDP (2022, latest value in the World Bank indicator sourced from UNESCO UIS). [World Bank] | 6.4% of GDP in 2022, the latest value in the World Bank/UNESCO UIS government-expenditure series. [World Bank] |
Education Structure & Compulsory Schooling
| Category | Turkey | Denmark |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Age Range | Approximately age 6 to age 18, covering 12 years of compulsory schooling. | 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] |
| Total Compulsory Duration (Years) | 12 years | 10 years: one compulsory preschool class, known as Grade 0, followed by Grades 1–9. Grade 10 is optional. [Ministry of Education] |
| Pre-primary Education (ECE) Access | Optional; the adjusted net enrollment rate for ages 3–5 was 49.63% in 2024/25. [MEB] | Optional before compulsory preschool class. Participation is high: 94.7% of 3-year-olds were enrolled in early childhood education in 2023. [OECD] |
| Primary + Secondary Education Structure (Years) | 4 + 4 + 4 (Primary + Lower Secondary + Upper Secondary). | 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] |
| 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] |
Academic Calendar & Instruction Time
| Category | Turkey | Denmark |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Year Start (Typical Month) | September | August |
| Academic Year End (Typical Month) | June | June |
| Instruction Weeks per Year | 36 weeks | Approximately 40 weeks in the most common Folkeskole calendar. [Ministry of Education] |
| Instruction Days per Year | 180 days in the 2025/26 school year. | Approximately 200 days in the most common school-year arrangement. [Ministry of Education] |
Grading System
| Category | Turkey | Denmark |
|---|---|---|
| Primary/Secondary Grading Scale | A 0–100 scale is commonly used in secondary education; primary-level assessment also incorporates competency and developmental evaluation. | 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] |
| Higher Education Grading Scale | Commonly 0–100 and/or 4.0 GPA systems depending on the institution, with ECTS used for credit recognition and transfer. | The same 7-point scale is used across state-regulated higher education, with pass/fail assessment also permitted in specified courses. [Danish Agency] |
Language of Instruction
| Category | Turkey | Denmark |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Instruction Languages (K–12) | Turkish | Danish is the main language of instruction in ordinary public schooling. |
| Other Official / Minority Instruction Languages (K–12) | Greek and Armenian may be used in relevant minority schools alongside Turkish; other living languages and dialects can be offered through approved elective courses. [MEB Eurydice] | 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. |
School Provision & Access (K–12)
| Category | Turkey | Denmark |
|---|---|---|
| Public School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students) | 90.9% among students enrolled in public or private formal schools in 2024/25. [MEB] | 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] |
| Public School Tuition Fee (Annual, Local Currency) | $0 tuition for public primary and secondary schooling. | $0. Municipal Folkeskole education is free of charge. [Ministry of Education] |
| Public Schools Nationwide Availability | Yes, with public schools operating nationwide. | Yes. Municipalities are responsible for providing public compulsory education throughout Denmark. [Ministry of Education] |
| Private School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students) | 9.1% among students enrolled in public or private formal schools in 2024/25. [MEB] | 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] |
| Private Schools (Geographic Concentration) | — | Nationwide, with free private schools operating in both urban and regional areas. |
International Schools (K–12)
| Category | Turkey | Denmark |
|---|---|---|
| Number of International Schools (Total) | 261 international schools under the official classification for 2023/24. [MEB Eurydice] | 26 recognized international basic schools in the Ministry's official category. [Ministry of Education] |
| Number of IB World Schools | 127 schools in the current IB directory for Türkiye. [IB] | 20 IB World Schools currently offer at least one IB programme in Denmark; 17 offer the Diploma Programme. [IB] |
| Main International Programmes Offered | IB, Cambridge International, American and other international curricula, depending on school authorization and program. | International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge International and school-specific British, American or bilingual programs. |
Resources & Learning Environment (K–12)
| Category | Turkey | Denmark |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Teacher Qualification (Public Schools) | An eligible Bachelor’s-level degree for the teaching field, followed by the applicable public recruitment process. The current system includes MEB-AGS selection and preparatory training through the National Education Academy. [MEB] | 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] |
| Average Class Size (Primary) | 20.6 students (2023). [OECD] | Approximately 19 students in 2023. [OECD] |
| Average Class Size (Lower Secondary) | 28 students in public schools / 13 students in private schools (2023). [OECD] | Approximately 20 students in 2023. [OECD] |
| Average Class Size (Upper Secondary) | — | — |
System Performance & Learning Outcomes (OECD/PISA)
| Category | Turkey | Denmark |
|---|---|---|
| PISA Participation Years | 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) | 454 / 466 / 468. [OECD] | 509 / 501 / 493 |
| PISA 2022 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 453 / 456 / 476. [OECD] | 489 / 489 / 494. [OECD] |
| PISA 2025 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 462 / 472 / 494. Türkiye scored close to the OECD average in mathematics and above the OECD averages in reading and science. [OECD] | 471 / 460 / 478. [OECD] |
| PISA Performance Trend 2000–2025 | Türkiye’s 2025 results were higher than in 2022 in mathematics, reading and science. OECD reports that Türkiye was among the few participating systems to improve in all three domains between 2022 and 2025, extending the positive trend recorded in previous cycles. [OECD] | 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] |
| Strongest Subject Area (PISA 2025) | Science (Score: 494), followed by reading at 472 and mathematics at 462. [OECD] | Science — 478 points. [OECD] |
Higher Education System
| Category | Turkey | Denmark |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Higher Education Institutions (Total) | 208 higher education institutions in 2025, comprising 129 state universities, 75 foundation universities and 4 foundation vocational schools. [CoHE] | 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] |
| Number of Universities (Research Universities) | 23 designated research universities. [CoHE] | 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] |
| 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] |
| Main Institution Types | State universities; foundation universities; foundation vocational schools; vocational schools operating within universities. | Universities, university colleges, business academies and architecture/art institutions, alongside additional specialized tertiary providers. |
| 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. [QS] |
| Universities in Top 100 (Selected Ranking) | 0 in the QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] | 1 in QS 2027: University of Copenhagen (=90). [QS] |
| Universities in Top 500 (Selected Ranking) | 6 in the QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] | 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] |
| Universities in Top 1000 (Selected Ranking) | 11 in the QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] | 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] |
| National Accreditation / QA Agency (Higher Education) | Turkish Higher Education Quality Council (YÖKAK). [YÖKAK] | Danish Accreditation Institution (Danmarks Akkrediteringsinstitution), which conducts accreditation work within Denmark's higher education quality-assurance system. |
| International Students (Total) | 352,271 international students (January 2025). [CoHE] | Approximately 30,000 international tertiary students in 2023, the latest OECD internationally comparable total. [OECD] |
| International Students Share of Total Tertiary Enrollment (%) | 4.3% in 2023 under the OECD international/foreign student measure. [OECD] | 9.9% in 2023, down from 10.7% in 2018. [OECD] |
Education Costs (Indicative)
| Category | Turkey | Denmark |
|---|---|---|
| Public University Tuition Fees – Domestic / Regional (Annual, Local Currency) | Typically $0 for eligible students enrolled in a first standard public higher-education program within state-covered conditions; contribution fees can apply in specified cases. | $0 for Danish students and generally for eligible students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland in public higher education. [Study in Denmark] |
| 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] |
| 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 | Turkey | Denmark |
|---|---|---|
| 2000–2010: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2010–2020: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2020–2024: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2025–2026: Key Updates & Reforms |
General Overview (Narrative)
| Category | Turkey | Denmark |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | Türkiye operates a centralized education system, with school education overseen by the Ministry of National Education and higher education coordinated by the Council of Higher Education. Compulsory schooling covers approximately ages 6–18 and follows the 4+4+4 structure of primary, lower secondary and upper secondary education. In 2024/25, private schools enrolled 9.1% of students attending public or private formal schools, while public schools accounted for the remaining 90.9%. Pre-primary education is optional, with a 49.63% adjusted net enrollment rate for ages 3–5. Türkiye participated in PISA from 2003 onward and scored 462 in mathematics, 472 in reading and 494 in science in PISA 2025. OECD reported higher results than in 2022 across all three domains. Higher education included 208 institutions in 2025 and 352,271 international students as of January 2025. Recent changes include the phased rollout of the Türkiye Yüzyılı Maarif Modeli and the start of teacher-candidate preparatory training through the National Education Academy in 2026. | 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. |