Surveys have shown that learning Danish benefits you both professionally and socially in Denmark. Learning Danish will give you an insight into Danish cultural and social norms. This is important for successful communication and networking, whether on a personal or a business level. Speaking Danish is thus a key competence valued by many Danish companies.

You can read more about how learning Danish will benefit you on the Danish Immigration Service’s website.

Adequate Danish language skills - including a certified exam - are also essential if you wish to get a permanent residence permit or eventually Danish citizenship. Read more about the importance of learning Danish on the Danish Immigration Service’s website, under the headline “You must make an effort”. On the website you can also read about how to become a Danish citizen and the language requirements here.

As a foreigner the Danish Education Act gives you the right to a high standard Danish language teaching for up to 3 years after the first enrolment in a course. Apart from a nominal fee, the official Danish language programme is free of charge.

The free Danish language courses are structured in modules. Each module is concluded with a state-approved test in compliance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Every municipality is required to offer free language courses to foreigners, although it is up to the individual Municipalities to decide how they wish to organise this. Some municipalities provide courses themselves, some work together with other municipalities, and some municipalities have signed an agreement with a private language course provider in the area. However, in all major cities in Denmark, you can find a provider who can offer you Danish courses based on your learning preferences, your schedule, and your Danish level.

According to the Danish Educational Act, foreigners are entitled to free Danish language courses during the first three years of their stay in Denmark.

You must also:

• Be over 18.
• Have a valid residence permit or certificate of registration in Denmark.
• Have a Danish CPR number.

If you live in another EU country but work in Denmark you also have the right to free Danish tuition.

If you do not meet these requirements, you may still enrol by paying a fee of approximately DKK 70 per lesson.

Read more about how to get a Danish CPR number under CPR number.

According to the Danish Educational act, all municipalities are required to offer free Danish courses to foreigners, for up to three years after the first enrolment in a course. For contact information to the free Danish language provider close to where you live, contact your local Citizens’ Services office.

You can attend language courses in your home municipality or in the municipality where you are employed. If you wish to attend free language course in another municipality than the one you work or live in, you have to apply for permission from the municipality in which you have your registered address.

You can also learn Danish for free online.

You can find a complete list of all the free language course providers in Denmark and their contact here. At www.dedanskesprogcentre.dk you can also find a map, where the locations of the various language course providers are highlighted in red. By clicking on the school location you are interested in, you will be directed to that school’s website.
 

In Aarhus, free language courses are offered by Lærdansk Aarhus. Lærdansk offers day, evening, weekend, and online classes. Read more about Lærdansk´s online Danish courses.

In addition to the free course, Lærdansk also has flexible and targeted training courses, based upon individual employees’ and their employer’s needs for upgrading language skills. For further information on specific planned courses and prices, contact Marianne Jensen at Lærdansk Aarhus; Phone: 5052 8374 or mail: marianne.jensen@laerdansk.dk.

• For a detailed presentation of Lærdansk and their different course options, visit www.laerdansk.dk.

If you want to enrol in free Danish classes in Aarhus, contact:

Lærdansk Aarhus, Vestergade 72, third floor, 8000 Aarhus C.
Phone: +45 8732 5400.
Mail: aarhus@laerdansk.dk.

You can also enrol by following this link.

The number of language class offers and the variety of schedules, vary from provider to provider, and is often related to the number of foreigners that are living and studying Danish in the different Municipalities. Foreigners in employment frequently need specially planned courses. Ask your free Danish language course provider about classes during the daytime, in the evenings, at weekends and online.

You can also learn Danish free online, read more about online Danish courses on the Danish Immigration Service’s website.

The local Citizens’ Services will provide you with contact information for the local provider of free Danish language courses. After sign-up, the language school will want to see you and give an assessment of which class will give you best value and most effective learning possibilities.

If you want to enrol in free Danish classes in Aarhus, you can contact:

Lærdansk Aarhus, Vestergade 72, third floor, 8000 Aarhus C.
Phone: +45 8732 5400.
Mail: aarhus@laerdansk.dk.

You can also enrol by following this link.

You can find the address and phone number of your Municipal Citizens’ Services here. If you do not understand Danish, please follow this guide:

In the window that opens you will see that Borgerservice (Citizens’ Services) has already been entered in the Hvad (What) search box near the top of the screen. Enter  “The name of the Municipality you live in” in the Hvor (Where) search box. Then click on Søg (Search). You will then see a list of the address and the phone number of the Citizens’ Services office(s) in your Municipality.

It pays to give Danish language acquisition a high priority during your first few months in Denmark. All experience shows that the sooner you start attending Danish lessons – the faster and the better you will learn the language.

Examples of good ways to learn Danish:

• Watch television – preferably with Danish subtitles.
• Say hello to your neighbours when you meet them.
• Take a free newspaper when it is offered to you.
• Watch your favourite films with Danish subtitles.

Read more about media and news under Media and News.