8. Maintaining Danish as an academic language

This principle refers to the value of retaining international graduates in the country, for example through offering language training. Studies have revealed that language proficiency in Danish helps to increase international students’ chances of finding employment in Denmark after their studies. In addition, language proficiency in Danish can increase their chances of getting an internship during their studies, and knowledge of the Danish language also provides better opportunities for creating both social and professional networks in Denmark.

It is important that international students who are going to study in Denmark receive information about the relevance and value of learning Danish and about the different courses offered in Danish. This information should be available to students through all appropriate communication channels in good time before the start of their studies.

An intensive Danish course before the start of a programme provides students with a strong foundation for their stay in Denmark, as they learn some basic language skills in Danish and get an opportunity to create a social network with other international students. Since August 2022, CIP has, in collaboration with the SAXO Institute, offered half-yearly pre-semester Danish courses worth 7.5 ECTS credits. The courses consist partly of a series of lectures on the history of Copenhagen and partly of a basic course in Danish. Read more on CIP's website.

If you are interested in knowing more about what CIP offers, please feel free to contact us at cip@hum.ku.dk or + 45 35 32 86 39.