Questions and Answers about recognition
This page gives answers to questions we are often asked:
Assessment and recognition of foreign qualifications in Denmark
Can I set up a personal meeting about my
qualifications?
The Danish Agency for Universities and Internationalisation does not provide advice and counselling by personal appointment, but if you have any questions about assessment and/or recognition of qualifications to which you have not found the answer at this home page, please feel free to phone or write:
Can you approve my foreign qualifications?
You can ask us for an assessment, which you can use when applying for a job, applying to enter a Danish study programme or clarify your possibilities.
Please note, however, that you must apply to the public authority responsible for authorisation if you intend to work in a regulated profession (for example as a school teacher, physiotherapist, nurse, etc.). If you wish to be admitted to a Danish study programme, the educational institution must approve your entry qualification.
Read here about what to do: Use your foreign qualifications in Denmark.
What does an assessment cost?
We provide the assessment itself free of charge. This excludes any other expenses such as for translation of documents.
How long does it take for an assessment to be made?
An assessment normally takes between 1 and 2 months. If you need the assessment in connection with a specific deadline, for example an application for admission to a study programme, you should mention this when you apply for an assessment.
Which documents should I enclose?
- You can see the documents required here: Documentation.
Am I required to document my schooling in primary and lower
secondary school?
Only if the primary and lower secondary school leaving certificate was the basis for admission to the study programme that you wish to have assessed. However, a primary and lower secondary school leaving certificate is not a condition for an assessment by the Danish Agency for Universities and Internationalisation.
- See also: Documentation.
Do I need to enclose my original documents?
You should only send in copies of your original documents. Each of these copies must, however, be certified with an official stamp and signature.
However, we may demand that you present the original documents.
- See also: Documentation.
I haven't got my examination certificates/diplomas with me. Can I have an assessment made anyway?
If you can substantiate that it is impossible or excessively onerous for you to obtain the documentation required, we can make a background report describing your qualification.
- See: Background report.
How do I have my foreign qualifications translated?
It depends on what is meant by "translate". If you mean a translation of your certificates and diplomas or other documents into Danish, you must yourself find a translator.
- For more information, see: Translations.
If you mean a translation of the degree title itself, the title should normally be left in the original language if there is no official translation. You should also be aware that titles may be protected by national legislation. For most Danish study programmes, the English/foreign language titles will, in the future, be stated in a supplement to the diploma for study programmes of higher education (Diploma Supplement) or to the certificate for vocational training programmes (Certificate Supplement).
We do not provide a translation of degree titles.
If you mean an explanation of your foreign qualification with terms and concepts from the Danish educational system, this will normally be part of an assessment from the Danish Agency for Universities and Internationalisation.
Read more about how to obtain an assessment at: Use your foreign qualifications in Denmark.
Can you translate my certificate or diploma into Danish?
No, we do not provide translations.
For further information, see: Translations.
Can you approve a translator?
The requirements for translations are stated on this page: Translations.
If there is no state-authorised official translator in the language in Denmark, and the embassy/consulate of the country in which the study or training programme was taken does not wish to carry out or certify translations, we may choose to accept translations done by others. This will typically be possible if the translator has previously been used by the legal system or other public authorities in Denmark. The translation will require approval by us in the case in question.
Can you translate my grades/marks?
We do not provide grade conversion, but in some cases you can compare Danish and foreign grades by means of the so-called ECTS scale (European Credit Transfer System). Find out about the grading systems.
For upper secondary school-leaving certificates grade conversion may take place at the higher education institution when you apply for admission.
Can you assess my foreign upper secondary school leaving examination?
You can look up a number of countries and see which examinations satisfy the general requirements for admission to higher education in Denmark: Foreign qualifications for entry to higher education.
If the country of origin of your qualification is not listed on that page, we may be able to provide an assessment of your certificate. The assessment will indicate the level of your qualification in relation to the level required for access to Danish higher education.
Specific admission requirements often apply to the individual study programme. You should therefore inquire at the educational institution where you may intend to apply for admission.
See also: Admission to Danish higher education.
I would like to study in Denmark and gain credit for my previous studies. Can you make an assessment for credit transfer?
No, it is up to the individual educational institution to decide how much credit, if any, you can have transferred from your foreign qualifications.
- For more information, see: Continuing your education.
Can you convert my foreign qualification converted into a Danish degree/title?
No, only a Danish educational institution (or, for vocational qualifications, a trade committee (fagligt udvalg)) may issue Danish qualification titles. This may normally only be done after (part of) the study programme has been taken in Denmark.
- For more information, see: Continuing your education.
We can make an assessment stating the Danish educational level and, where possible, the concrete Danish study programme to which your foreign qualification corresponds.
How to apply for recognition of your foreign qualification: Use your foreign qualifications in Denmark.
Will my work experience be taken into consideration in connection with an assessment?
Work experience does not form part of the assessment of educational qualifications, but information about relevant work experience should be provided, as it makes it possible to see if and when the applicant has used the qualifications in question and has consequently maintained the competences obtained.
How are PhD degrees assessed?
We examine the documentation and confirm, if this is the case, that the PhD degree is at a level that is comparable with a Danish PhD degree.
We cannot enter into a detailed assessment of a PhD degree. This is due to the high degree of specialisation of PhD programmes and the important differences that exist within the main academic fields in terms of research traditions and academic requirements, nationally as well as internationally. If you apply for a job there may be a specific academic assessment, and it will then be up to the employer to assess whether you meet the requirements for teachers and academic staff at universities, etc.
Can my qualifications be too old for use?
If you have not used your qualifications or taken any supplementary training and education in recent years, it will be expedient to supplement the qualifications with knowledge of working methods that are aimed at Danish conditions and that correspond to the current requirements that are made for the field in question.
Educational institutions may have rules on obsolescence in connection with an application for admission and credit transfer.
I am about to start a study programme abroad – can you tell me what it corresponds to in Denmark? Can I receive advance approval?
Unfortunately, we cannot assess your coming foreign qualifications in advance. But we are happy to assist with advisory information where this is possible on the basis of the knowledge acquired through our assessment work.
You can get an idea of our assessments by visiting our assessment database.
For standard assessments of foreign upper secondary school leaving certificates, go to: Foreign qualifications for entry to higher education
- See also: Using Danish qualifications abroad.
I want to become a member of a Danish unemployment fund, but I have not yet received my foreign examination certificate. Can I receive an assessment?
If you want an assessment in connection with acceptance as a member of an unemployment fund, you can send us your application before you have received your final examination certificate provided that you enclose documentation that you have completed the study programme in question.
When applying for membership of an unemployment fund (within the deadline set by the unemployment fund), you may refer to your qualifications currently being assessed by the Danish Agency for Universities and Internationalisation.
What do you base your assessments on?
- See this section: Assessment procedures and criteria.
What can an assessment be used for?
If you are a holder of foreign qualifications, you may use an assessment to clarify your opportunities and explain your qualifications in different contexts. In some cases, however, you are not to request an assessment from the Danish Agency for Universities and Internationalisation.
Read more about the procedure, based on whether you intend to:
Where can I file a complaint?
If, on the basis of your foreign qualifications, you have applied for credit transfer for a Danish study programme and you have received a decision with which you are unhappy, you may bring the decision before the Qualifications Board (Kvalifikationsnævnet).
If you have received an assessment from the Danish Agency for Universities and Internationalisation, you cannot appeal to any other public authority about the content and the matter of the assessment. However, we consider any communication that we receive and may choose to make a new assessment, for example if you provide new information that changes the basis for the assessment.
- For more information, see: Complaints procedures.
Is it possible to have a new assessment made after the amendments to the Act in 2002?
An Amending Act entered into force on 1 July 2002, which made our assessments binding in certain contexts (see Danish legislation on assessment and recognition). An assessment made by the former CVUU before the amendments to the Act should, however, be applicable in the same way as those that are made after 1 July 2002. But if it can be substantiated that a new assessment is necessary, you can be request us to make a new assessment.
Studying in Denmark
What should I do if I wish to continue my studies?
- See the section Continuing your education or visit the Study in Denmark website.
Can you advise me about my educational opportunities?
We do not provide general educational guidance, but an assessment of foreign qualifications may sometimes contribute to such guidance. Read more about…
Who can provide me with information about financial support for studying in Denmark?
Information about study stays in Denmark, including the possibilities of financial support, can be found here: Study in Denmark.
Questions about student grants and loans under the State Education Grant and Loan Scheme (SU - Statens Uddannelsesstøtte) can be addressed to the State Education Grant and Loan Scheme Agency (SUstyrelsen).
- You can read about the rules at the State Education Grant and Loan Scheme Agency's website.
Working in Denmark
Can I get an assessment in order to apply for a Green Card?
No, if you want to apply for a Danish Greencard you are to contact the Immigration Service, and not the Danish Agency for Universities and Internationalisation.
- Read more about the Greencard Scheme.
You may be able to find our general assessments for your country in this database:
- General assessments for specific countries (as guidance only).
Can you advise me about my job opportunities?
We do not provide general vocational guidance, but we can contribute by making an advisory assessment of foreign qualifications.
Read more about…
- Job hunting in Denmark: Seeking employment.
- Job hunting abroad: Working abroad.
Assessment and recognition of Danish qualifications abroad
I need to use my Danish qualifications abroad. Can you compare my Danish qualifications with equivalent foreign qualifications?
You must contact the relevant foreign authorities in order to find out what your qualifications correspond to in the education system of the country in question and to which extent your Danish qualifications give you access to occupational and academic activities in that country.
- See also: Assessment procedures abroad.
Who can help me with documentation in English about my Danish qualifications?
- See this section: Documenting Danish qualifications.
Can you translate my marks?
No, we do not convert (translate) grades/marks, but documentation in English about the Danish grading scale system can be found here:
If you wish to explain your Danish examination marks abroad, you may be able to receive examination statistics for the year in question from your educational institution.
I disagree with a foreign assessment of my Danish qualifications. Can you help me?
The Danish Agency for Universities and Internationalisation or other Danish public authorities cannot decide how Danish qualifications are to be assessed in other countries. We only make decisions about foreign qualifications in relation to the Danish education system.
We therefore refer to the office in the country in question that provides information about recognition of foreign qualifications. For many countries, the relevant website can be found via the ENIC/NARIC networks website.
The European Commission has a website that provides information and guidance on how fully to exercise the rights that are connected with the EU and its Single Market: The Citizens Signpost Service.
