Education and Unemployment Benefits
You can take part in education while you are unemployed (ledig). However, there are rules on how much education you may undertake. In some cases, the job centre may grant you courses if the courses can bring you closer to employment.
You may undertake certain types of courses while receiving unemployment benefits. This requires that you pay for the course yourself and that we can approve it under the rules for undertaking courses while receiving unemployment benefits.
You apply for permission by filling out Erklæring om deltagelse i uddannelse (declaration of enrolment in education) on Mit AKA. Our final decision is based on assessing the specific education you wish to participate in. You must still be available for the labour market to continue receiving unemployment benefits while enrolled in education.
Erklæring om deltagelse i uddannelse
General rule: Max. 19 lessons per week
Generally, you can take courses that consist of up to 19 lessons per week. The course cannot be part of a full-time education that qualifies for student grants (SU). Single subjects at universities and other higher education institutions typically qualify for student grants.
For example, you can study for a business diploma (merkonom), or to be a teacher or a social educator with accreditation of prior learning (meritlærer or meritpædagog), or enroll in an MBA, an MPA, or an HD program.
You may participate in guidance programs and courses exceeding 19 hours per week if offered by professional organisations, such as unemployment insurance funds (a-kasse) or trade unions and their affiliated job service units. However, these courses cannot last more than two weeks when studied full-time.
You can also undertake:
- Single subjects at upper secondary level, with a maximum of 20 hours per week
- Evening classes that are supported under the Danish Act on Popular Education (Folkeoplysningsloven).
You can combine two-week courses, evening school courses, and open education programs. Read more about the different education options below.
The rules apply only to Danish courses and education programs.
Courses and education via the job centre
When you attend sessions with your job centre or your other service provider, you can learn about their options for granting courses and education that can bring you closer to a job.
You won’t have to pay for the course, and you don’t need our permission as it will be entered into Min Plan.
You may participate in open-education courses for up to six hours per week
You can take courses within an open education program, even if it is part of an SU-eligible education. In that case, the study time must not exceed six weekly lessons or account for more than one-third of a student’s full-time workload. Additionally:
- You must be in the initial part of your unemployment period
- If you are under 30 years old, you can participate within the first three months of unemployment
- If you are over 30 years old, you can join within the first six months of unemployment
- If you are 50 years or older, you can participate within the first three months of unemployment
- You must ensure that the education does not count towards starting a completely new degree program for you. For example, a law graduate (cand.jur.) cannot take a course in economics that could be part of the education leading to a Master’s in Business Economics (cand.merc.).
Two-week courses that strengthen your connection to the labour market
You can participate in courses lasting up to two weeks if they are organised by Akademikernes A-kasse, another unemployment insurance fund, your trade union or another professional organisation.
Courses with your professional organisation
If you are a member of a professional organisation, it’s a good idea to check out their course offerings. Many organisations, like Akademikernes A-kasse, offer workshops on job interviews and writing applications and CVs.
Several organisations also have special offers for their unemployed members.
Folk high school stays for people under 25
If you’re under 25, you can attend a folk high school (højskoleophold) in Denmark. You will receive 50 per cent of the highest unemployment benefit rate during your stay. You must pay for the stay yourself.
The stay at the folk high school must take place within the first six months of your total unemployment period. You must actively search for jobs during your stay. You must inform your job centre about the folk high school stay.
Regional positive lists for job-relevant training
The Regional Labour Market Councils compile so-called positivlister (positive lists). They list courses expected to lead to job opportunities within the next six months.
Your job centre must approve of your participation in a course. If they approve a course, they will pay the course fee, and you can continue receiving unemployment benefits. Your chances of getting a course approved by the job centre vary, so contact them to learn more about your options.
On the Regional Labour Market Councils’ website, you can find the positive lists for your region and adjacent regions.
Find the regional positive lists (in Danish)
Six-week job-oriented education
If you are unemployed and receiving unemployment benefits (dagpenge), you may be eligible for job-oriented education of up to six weeks. The education must be on the positive list, and you must meet specific requirements.
You may qualify for a six-week job-oriented education if you:
- Are unskilled
- Have completed vocational education or equivalent training
- Have completed short, higher education (kort videregående uddannelse) at the business academy level and vocational education (erhvervsuddannelse) or education equivalent to vocational education.
Suppose you have a bachelor’s degree, higher education, or self-employment as a secondary occupation or steady part-time work. In that case, you are, unfortunately, not eligible for a six-week job-oriented education.
The education can start no earlier than after five consecutive weeks of unemployment (equivalent to 185 hours of paid unemployment benefits).
The education must be completed within the first:
- Nine months of unemployment if you are over 25 years old
- Six months of unemployment if you are under 25 years old
If you want to know more about six-week job-oriented education, feel free to contact us.