To be accepted on a VET course, prospective students must have an average of 02 from the Lower Secondary School, Folkeskole, Leaving Examination
TIP!
Choose your local municipality in order to see information and online services that apply to you
VET courses offer 4 main study programmes and under them a large number of other courses of training:
The VET key (EUD-nøglen) is a tool to help students who are applying for a vocational course.
To qualify for admission to a VET course, students must have an average of 02 at a level corresponding to Lower Secondary School (Folkeskolen) examinations in Danish and Mathematics or higher – or have a training or apprenticeship agreement with a business.
Other languages count the same as Danish, so if prospective students have a corresponding level in their native language, this fulfils the access criteria. The relevant school or college will then assess whether the student is proficient enough in Danish to be able to complete the course. Students in year 10 or 11 (class 9 or 10), or who left school less than a year ago will also need to be declared ready for a vocational course by Youth Guidance Denmark (Ungdommens Uddannelsesvejledning).
Places on some courses are limited due to their popularity and a limited number of companies that provide work experience places. This means that in order to be accepted on the second part of the introductory course, students must find their own work experience placements.
Technical schools and vocational colleges have a limited number of places they can offer without an education plan.
Courses with limited access from 1 August 2020 are:
Vocational courses are sandwich courses that involve both school and practical elements. Students can begin their courses either with a work experience agreement with a place of work or with an introductory course at the school or college.
The first part of the Introductory Course lasts 20 weeks and is aimed at students who left Folkeskole no more than 2 years previously. For most courses, the second part of the Introductory Course also lasts 20 weeks and is the introductory part of the course itself.
A number of vocational programmes have transitional requirements before beginning school-based teaching in their main course. Students should therefore also be aware of any transitional requirements for their chosen vocational course in order to be able to continue with their main subject choice.
The courses are of varying lengths. There are special shorter courses for students who prefer to enter paid employment as quickly as possible.
The attached pdf gives an illustration of the various routes through the vocational training system.
Work experience is a part of all vocational courses where students gain experience of their chosen trade at a workplace. Students largely find their own placements but can always ask for help from an advisor.
The Ministry of Children and Education (Undervisningsministeriet) also has a website – lærepladsen.dk – that creates contacts between businesses and students seeking work experience placements.
If it is not possible to find a work experience placement, some course allow for college-based work experience where students can learn their trade in school instead of in a workplace.
Students who cannot find a placement in a workplace or school will not be able to complete their course. In this case it is possible to choose another vocational course where the chances of finding a work experience placement or college-based work experience are better.
The new mentorships are aimed at students who are practically inclined and would prefer to begin their course of training in a workplace rather in college.
The duration of the course is the same as 'normal' courses.
The basic practical training takes one year and replaces the Introductory Course.
