Academic Guidance
Academic guidance at universities
According to the University Act, Danish universities must offer students at bachelor and master level guidance about their current programme, access requirements for master and PhD programmes and subsequent employment opportunities. Each university is free to decide how and by whom this guidance is offered. In general, completion guidance and career guidance is divided between different bodies.
The universities publish and maintain instructions about bachelor and master programmes with examples of professions and jobs that these programmes may lead to. They also provide information about options and recommended configurations of the programme of interest to the student, including choice of master programme after completion of a bachelor's degree.
Furthermore, the universities have an obligation to give students who have been delayed in their studies special guidance in order for them to continue their education.
The area of academic guidance in higher education is regulated by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science.
Academic guidance at business academies and university colleges
The Act on Business Academies and the University Colleges states that in order to retain the students, the schools must offer support to the students who need it. Thus, the business academies and university colleges are obliged to support students in a way that enables them to complete their education. Students enrolled in an academy profession programme or professional bachelor programmes will therefore be able to receive support from the school staff such as teachers, guidance counsellors or other professional staff supporting students in various ways. This support is offered in cooperation with the regional guidance centres (studievalg).
Psychological guidance
The Ministry of Higher Education and Science offers a free public service, the Student Counselling Service, that offers social, psychological and psychiatric counselling and treatment to students at higher educational institutions. The counsellors are psychologists, social workers with psychotherapeutic training and psychiatric specialist physicians.
Career guidance
Higher educational institutions in Denmark are responsible for offering academic counselling to the students according to the University Act.
The universities are obliged to offer counselling specifically to belated students to help them continue their education. The institutions are free to choose their methods and choose the appropriate staff to support students in completing their education.
Most of the higher educational institutions have their own career centres which offer career counselling. Copenhagen Business School’s career centre, for example, offers seminars, events, career fairs, networking, help with CV, cover letter, job interview and career clarification. However, it varies how much the different institutions offer with regards to events, seminars, networking meetings etc. but as a minimum, counselling will be available.
Students are often employed as career counsellors to undertake guidance in relation to students cf. the Circular on Collective Agreement for Student Teachers at Universities etc.