Today’s news / Government to shorten vocational studies by 3 months
Education and Research Minister Christina Egelund (M) presents the government's reform of the professional and vocational higher education programs in Roskilde. Photo: Emil Helms/Ritzau Scanpix

Government to shorten vocational studies by 3 months

The Danish government has proposed a significant reform aimed at reducing the duration of professional and vocational higher education programs, like nursing and teaching, by three months. Education and Research Minister Christina Egelund announced the plan, which includes cutting 15 ECTS credits from these programs. Furthermore, the current bachelor’s thesis would be replaced with a more practical, final professional exam. In compensation, students would receive more weekly instructional hours in smaller class sizes with increased guidance and feedback. This initiative is a response to the decline in admissions since 2020 to the four main welfare education programs. The government plans to allocate 2.1 billion kroner annually towards the reform until 2032, with nearly half going towards ‘educational quality.’ Moreover, vocational education will also be revised, including the introduction of new three-year professional bachelor’s programs. The reforms are to be implemented gradually from 2026 to 2030.