The Official Danish Language Course (Danskuddannelsen) is designed for newcomers to Denmark who want to learn the language properly. There are three courses in total, and which one you start on depends on your educational background and your current level of Danish. All three are structured in modules, and the levels align with the Council of Europe's international language framework, the CEFR, so you can compare your progress against a European standard.
Here's an overview of all three courses and what sets them apart.
Overview of the Three Official Danish Language Courses
| Danish Language Course 1 (DU1) |
Danish Language Course 2 (DU2) |
Danish Language Course 3 (DU3) |
|
| Target group | No or limited schooling | Short educational background | Medium or long educational background |
| Modules | 5 modules | 6 modules | 5 modules (+ Studieprøven) |
| Final exam | Prøve i Dansk 1 | Prøve i Dansk 2 | Prøve i Dansk 3 |
The Official Danish Language Course is free for internationals in Denmark who meet the requirements for a municipal referral. You pay a deposit of DKK 2,000, which is fully refunded when you pass within the set timeframe. The course is designed to be completed within three years. You are entitled to attend for up to five years from the date of your municipal referral.
How you're placed on the right course
You don't choose which course or module to start on yourself. That's determined by your language center through a placement interview before you begin.
During the placement interview, a staff member at the language center will talk with you about your schooling and educational background, your language skills, your goals for the course, and other factors that may affect your placement. Your language abilities are also assessed directly. Based on the interview, the language center decides which of the three courses and which module is the right starting point for you.
send an email to a2b's coordinatorDanish Language Course 1 (DU1)
Who is DU1 for?
Danish Language Course 1 is for people who have had little or no formal schooling in their home country, cannot read or write in their first language, or are unfamiliar with the Latin alphabet. The course starts from the very beginning, building foundational spoken, reading, and writing skills so you can get by in everyday life and in the Danish job market.
Structure
DU1 is divided into five modules. You complete a module test at the end of each one, which you must pass before moving on. Your language consultant and the language school decide when you're ready to sit the test. Module 5 concludes with Prøve i Dansk 1.
At A2B, you'll be taught by qualified language consultants who meet the official requirements for teachers on the Danish language courses. They have strong expertise in Danish as a second language and experience working with learners from a wide range of linguistic, educational, and cultural backgrounds.
Teaching is tailored to your level and your starting point, giving you the best possible foundation for developing your Danish and using it actively in everyday life, at work, and in education.
Levels (CEFR)
DU1 covers primarily the foundational levels of the CEFR scale:
- Written: up to A1 throughout the course
- Spoken: up to A1 in modules 1-2, up to A2 in modules 3-4, and up to A2+ at Prøve i Dansk 1
Prøve i Dansk 1
Once you've completed all five modules and your teacher has confirmed you're ready, you sit Prøve i Dansk 1. The exam documents your skills and corresponds to approximately A2+ on the CEFR scale for spoken Danish.
Danish Language Course 2 (DU2)
Who is DU2 for?
Danish Language Course 2 is for people who have completed a short or medium-length education in their home country. The goal is for you to understand, speak, and read Danish well enough to participate in the job market, pursue further vocational training, and play an active role in Danish society.
Structure
DU2 is divided into six modules. You complete five module tests along the way and finish with Prøve i Dansk 2 in module 6. As with the other courses, your teacher decides when you're ready to sit each test and the final exam.
At A2B, you'll be taught by qualified language consultants who meet the official requirements for teachers on the Danish language courses. They have strong expertise in Danish as a second language and experience working with learners from a wide range of linguistic, educational, and cultural backgrounds.
Teaching is tailored to your level and your starting point, giving you the best possible foundation for developing your Danish and using it actively in everyday life, at work, and in education.
Levels (CEFR)
DU2 progresses steadily up the CEFR scale:
- Modules 1-2: up to A1
- Module 3: up to A2
- Module 4: up to A2+
- Module 5: up to B1
- Module 6: around B1 (Prøve i Dansk 2)
Prøve i Dansk 2
Prøve i Dansk 2 brings the course to a close and corresponds to approximately B1 on the CEFR scale. At this level, you can follow and take part in conversations on familiar topics and handle most everyday situations in Danish.
Danish Language Course 3 (DU3)
Who is DU3 for?
Danish Language Course 3 is for people who have completed a medium or long education in their home country, speak one or more European languages, and have a solid grounding in grammar. The goal is to reach a level of Danish that enables you to work, continue your education, and participate actively as a citizen in Denmark.
Structure
DU3 is divided into five modules with four module tests along the way. Module 5 concludes with Prøve i Dansk 3. Your teacher decides when you're ready to sit each test and the final exam.
After Prøve i Dansk 3, you need permission from your municipality to continue to module 6 and work toward Studieprøven. Studieprøven is a requirement for admission to a Danish university.
At A2B, you'll be taught by qualified language consultants who meet the official requirements for teachers on the Danish language courses. They have strong expertise in Danish as a second language and experience working with learners from a wide range of linguistic, educational, and cultural backgrounds.
Teaching is tailored to your level and your starting point, giving you the best possible foundation for developing your Danish and using it actively in everyday life, at work, and in education.
Levels (CEFR)
DU3 covers a broad span of CEFR levels:
- Module 1: A1
- Module 2: A2
- Module 3: A2+
- Module 4: B1
- Module 5: B2 (Prøve i Dansk 3)
- Module 6: C1 (Studieprøven)
Prøve i Dansk 3 and Studieprøven
Prøve i Dansk 3 corresponds to B2 on the CEFR scale, a solid level at which you can express yourself clearly and with nuance across a wide range of topics. If you agree with your municipality to continue to Studieprøven, that corresponds to C1, the highest level within the official Danish language course system.
DU and CEFR: what do the levels actually mean?
CEFR, the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, is the Council of Europe's shared framework for language learning. It uses six levels, from A1 (complete beginner) to C2 (highly advanced).
It's an international standard used in language education across Europe, so you can benchmark your Danish against your skills in other European languages.
Together, the three Danish language courses cover A1 through to C1:
- Prøve i Dansk 1 corresponds to approximately A2+ for spoken Danish
- Prøve i Dansk 2 corresponds to approximately B1
- Prøve i Dansk 3 corresponds to B2
- Studieprøven corresponds to C1
How to get started on the Official Danish Language Course
You need a municipal referral to begin your Danish language course at A2B. You may have already received one in your e-Boks when you registered with your municipality, or you may need to contact your municipality to request one. We're happy to help you get in touch with them about this.
Once you have a referral, we'll arrange a placement interview together. During the interview, we'll go through all the practical details and agree on when you'll start.
Get in touch if you'd like advice on the best way to get started with learning Danish.
send an email to A2b's coordinator
Frequently asked questions
Can I choose which Danish language course I start on?
No. The language center places you based on the placement interview.
What is a module test?
A module test is a test you sit at the end of each module on the Official Danish Language Course. You must pass it before moving on to the next module. Your language consultant decides when you're ready to take it.
Does Prøve i Dansk 3 correspond to B2 on the CEFR scale?
Yes. Prøve i Dansk 3 corresponds to B2, and Studieprøven corresponds to C1, the highest level within the official Danish language course system. The CEFR scale goes up to C2, but C1 is the highest level you can reach through the official Danish language courses.
Is the Official Danish Language Course free?
Many newcomers are entitled to free Danish language tuition during their first five years in Denmark, with costs covered by their municipality. International workers and students pay a deposit of DKK 2,000 before starting. The deposit is refunded if you pass the module tests within the set deadlines. Contact us if you're unsure what applies to your situation.
What's the difference between Prøve i Dansk and Studieprøven?
Prøve i Dansk 1, 2, and 3 are the final exams for DU1, DU2, and DU3 respectively. Studieprøven is an additional step beyond DU3 and is required for admission to a Danish university. You can only continue toward Studieprøven with your municipality's approval.
What if I disagree with my course placement?
The placement interview assesses your language level and overall starting point, and this forms the basis for your placement. The rules on how learners with specific backgrounds and skills should be placed are clearly set out in Danish legislation.
send an email to a2b's CoordinatorReady to get started? We're here to help
At A2B, we're ready to guide you from your very first question to your first lessons on the Official Danish Language Course. We work with municipalities across Denmark and offer Danish language courses both online and at our language centers, which you can find here.
Contact us and we'll help you figure out what applies to you, and when you can begin.
Register here
Fill in the form, and we will contact you to arrange the details