Need to Know
Residence Permit
Because a long stay at a Folk High School in Denmark must have a duration of more than 12 weeks you need a residence permit.
Check with the Danish embassy in your home country for information on costs, application forms etc.
Please note that the process of obtaining a residence permit can take a while - in some cases up to 4 months. Start applying well before the beginning of your course.
You apply for the residence permit at the Danish Immigration Service.
Read more at the Ministry of Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs about getting a residence permit when you wish to attend a course at a folk high school and how to apply for it .
EU-Residents
Students from all EU-countries have to apply for a residence permit if they plan to stay at the school for more than 12 weeks.
Citizens from Non-EU Countries
You must have a proof of admittance from the Folk High School, before you can apply for a residence permit.
Grants
The Danish Government has set down a grant for students from new EU member states. The students accepted can get partial or whole cover of their fees.
The fund is administered by the international education agency in Denmark, Danish Agency for International Education.
Some of the schools have funds you can apply for as well. Contact the schools to hear more about this possibility.
Read more at Prices and Economy.
Insurance
Your residence permit will give you hospital and medical cover and access to community facilities such as the local library. This will be effectuated 6 weeks after your arrival.
Make sure to have a travel insurance covering at least the first 6 weeks in Denmark.
Denmark's health insurance scheme does NOT cover Dental care or transport home due to serious illness.
How to Apply
You apply directly to the schools.
Some have the registration forms at their homepages, while others send them by post.
Language
The main language at most of the folk high schools in Denmark is Danish – but many of the schools have arranged themselves accordingly to receive foreign students.
At some of the schools they use translation equipment, some have courses especially for international students, some do courses in Danish language for foreigners while others try to implement both English and Danish in both teaching and everyday life.
Before you choose a school it is important to clarify your own needs and talents and what you wish from your stay.
Contact the schools you are considering to hear more about their specific language politics.
Age
To attend courses at a folk high school you have to be 17 ½ years old or older. Most of the students are in the beginning of their twenties.
There exist a few Youth High Schools - their age limits are 16 to 19.
Who Qualifies?
Everybody within the agelimit - no matter educational background.
Some schools outlines criteria for admittance to some of their courses.
Most of the schools taking international students either expect you to know some danish or to speak english.
Don't Expect
- a certificate or diploma - but most schools hand out a proof of course participation.
- it to be a formal education - it is not!
- the courses to be a qualification to the university or any other higher education
- all the students to be at university level - many of them are taking a year off after finishing high school
- the classes to be strict and very theoretical
The level of the classes and the students varies a lot from school to school depending on the focus of the school. Contact the school of your interest to know more about this.