Criteria and Process

The criteria for admission to the European School Copenhagen have been set by the Municipality of Copenhagen.

The European Schools were founded to meet the educational needs of the children of EU institution staff members. At the European School Copenhagen, this means that approximately 20% of the places are assigned to this group of applicants, mostly from the European Environment Agency (EEA). This group is referred to as Category a. applicants. The remaining places are allocated according to the admission criteria below. For children of employees of other European Union Agencies/Institutions, Admissions will need to verify whether your application qualifies as Category a. by contacting the European Commission.

The European School Copenhagen has three language sections: Danish, English and French.

The European School Copenhagen primarily admits pupils for school start in nursery class (børnehaveklasse). According to the Danish Primary Education Act, compulsory school attendance begins 1 August of the calendar year in which the child turns six. Children are admitted the calendar year they turn six, unless they are deemed ready for school the calendar year they turn five (latest October first). In Denmark, most students start P0 the calendar year they turn six.

Note: The European School Copenhagen only enrols pupils in the grade levels presently established at the school, and it is NOT possible for the child to be placed on a waiting list. Applications are kept on file for 24 months after notification of the outcome of the application, after which the applicant’s personal data is deleted. In accordance with GDPR, applicants can withdraw their application and have their data deleted at any time by contacting the school.

The European School Copenhagen is funded by the Municipality of Copenhagen and is therefore free.

The deadline for applications for the new nursery classes is 15th January in the calendar year of school start.

In order to be admitted to the school, the pupil must speak the language of the language section on a mother tongue level, and the language must be anchored in everyday life.

The child must be placed in the language section that best corresponds to their dominant language, and where the child has the highest level of proficiency for the purpose of education.

Below, you can read more about the admission criteria and process:

Admission criteria

Admission of pupils to the European School Copenhagen takes place according to the following criteria, in order of priority:

a. Children of EU institution staff members (whose education is funded by the EU Commission) are entitled to admission. Please contact the school for verification before you apply.

b.1. Children of whom one or both parents are international employees who have come to Denmark with the purpose of working in Danish or international companies, organisations and educational institutions.

b.2. Children of whom one or both parents are returned Danish employees working in Danish or international companies and organisations, and who have had a permanent workplace outside Denmark for a total of one year within the last five years.

b.3. Children moving here from another European school.

b.4. In case of extra places, these may be offered to local applicants who meet the necessary language requirements for admission.

Click here to apply

Sibiling priority within a category (only applicable for new Nursery classes)

Siblings of pupils already enrolled in the European School Copenhagen, who meet the above criteria, are always invited to a screening and will be assessed in each category (b.1.-b.4.) on an equal footing with the other applicants. Siblings cannot skip a category.

Step 1: Application

If your child is in the target group and you wish to apply for the school, you must submit an application and provide the following supporting documentation:

A passport photo/copy of the passport photo page of the child (all applicants)
Copy of the passport or birth certificate of the parents/legal guardians
Proof of employment (copy of contract, letter from employer and/or pay slip)
Copy of school report/evaluation from the last school/kindergarten attended by the child.

Please note that if your child has a permanent disability, be it long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairment that has required special assistance during kindergarten or will require reasonable accommodation at the screening, this must be noted in the application

The application and supporting documentation must be submitted to the European School no later than 15th January using the application link on the school’s website. For questions, please call the school’s admissions hotline. Please do not send sensitive personal information to the school via email but use the secure online application process.

Step 2: Selection

Based on the criteria outlined above, the number of places available at the school, the applicants who are considered most ready for school and best qualified linguistically, students are recommended for screening.

The assessment hereof is based on the indicated language level and the school report from the last kindergarten/school attended. The assessment is made by an admission committee in January and February.

If your child has a permanent disability, it will be taken into consideration in the selection process to prevent any distinction, exclusion, or restriction on the basis of the disability.

Step 3: Screening

Applicants selected in step 2 are invited to a screening to test their language skills, academic level and school readiness/maturity.

The screening takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes in total and includes a combination of social and academic activities.

The academic part of the screening takes about 10-15 minutes. The applicant is asked to solve various tasks in collaboration with the screening teacher. Before and after the academic screening, the applicant will participate in various activities with the other applicants, which are arranged and observed by our school pedagogues.

If an applicant doesn’t show up for the agreed screening time without prior agreement with the school, the offer of screening lapses and the applicant’s application is rejected.

Step 4: Admission

Based on the screening, the European School’s admission committee decides which children are best qualified linguistically and academically. The final evaluation and selection also takes into consideration the child’s age and maturity, desirable pupil composition and class formation.

Last updated October 13, 2022