TEFL jobs in Denmark

Denmark is one of the hardest TEFL markets in Europe, and it is fairer to say so up front. You cannot teach in a Danish state school without a recognised teaching qualification, and English there is taught by qualified Danish staff. What is realistically open to you is business English, international schools, evening classes and online work.

What Irish teachers should know first

The single biggest advantage an Irish reader has over the American and British audiences most Denmark guides are written for is that you need no visa and no work permit. Ireland is in the EU, Denmark is in the EU, and freedom of movement applies. What you do need is paperwork of a different kind: the Danish Agency for Digital Government’s Life in Denmark service states that if you intend to stay longer than three months you must apply for an EU residence document, issued by the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI), within three months of arriving, or within six months if you are job seeking. You then register your address with your local municipality, and it is that registration that gives you a CPR number, the civil registration number without which very little in Danish daily life — a bank account, a doctor, a payslip — will function.

The second thing to know is that Denmark has no statutory minimum wage. WorkplaceDenmark, the Danish Ministry of Employment’s service for people working in Denmark, states plainly that there is no mandatory minimum pay in Denmark and that pay is typically governed by collective agreements for different types of work. That cuts both ways. It means a job covered by a collective agreement carries a genuinely good floor, and it means a private language school or a freelance business English contract that sits outside one carries no legal floor at all. Ask which agreement, if any, applies before you sign. Where this guide quotes a range of DKK296,000–DKK400,000, roughly €40,000–€55,000, that is an annual figure and not a monthly one.

The third is the one that decides most people’s plans. The Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science states that if you do not have a formal teaching qualification you cannot receive authorisation to teach in the Danish Folkeskole, the municipal primary and lower secondary school, and that you would instead have to complete a Danish teacher-training programme. If you already hold a teaching qualification from another country that lets you teach classes 1 to 10, you can apply to that agency for authorisation, and it may be granted at once or granted conditionally pending further requirements. Schools may hire a subject specialist without the full qualification under section 28(2) of the Folkeskole Act, but the agency notes they only do so in special circumstances. A TEFL certificate on its own is not a route into a Danish state school, and no honest guide should imply otherwise.

Behind all of this sits the demand problem. Eurostat’s 2022 figures put the share of Danish adults aged 25 to 64 who knew at least one foreign language at 90.3 per cent, one of the highest rates in the EU. A country where nine adults in ten already have a foreign language, taught to them by their own state school teachers, does not need a large private English sector, and Denmark does not have one.

Is teaching English in Denmark realistic?

Teaching English in Denmark presents unique challenges compared to other European destinations. Denmark consistently ranks as one of the happiest countries in the world, boasting a high standard of living, a strong sense of community, and a famously sleek Scandinavian lifestyle. From cosy evenings filled with hygge during the long winters to a love of cycling that keeps daily life affordable and healthy, Denmark offers much to admire.

However, finding a teaching job is notoriously difficult. The Danish population already has one of the highest levels of English proficiency in the world, so demand for foreign English teachers is very limited. Most schools prefer to hire Danish teachers who are already bilingual, which means opportunities for non-Danish speakers are rare. Jobs that do arise typically offer good salaries and stable working conditions, but turnover is very low as teachers tend to stay once they secure a position.

Where do the jobs that do exist come from?

Despite these challenges, there are still options for dedicated TEFL teachers, particularly in evening classes offered by non-profit organisations, international schools, and private language centres. Those with advanced qualifications, business English expertise, or prior teaching experience stand the best chance of finding rewarding roles.

If you are weighing Denmark against a country with an actual entry-level teaching market, start with our guide to TEFL jobs worldwide, then compare Spain and Portugal, both of which hire far more first-time teachers each year than Denmark does, and both of which are open to you on the same EU passport. If you do not yet hold a qualification, our TEFL courses in Ireland are the place to start.

Talk to a real person

No obligation and no sales pitch. Tell us what you want out of the year and we will tell you honestly whether Denmark fits.

Denmark is one of the most expensive locations to live in Western Europe, and it is in the top ten percent of the world’s most expensive cities. However, wages are high, as they are in most expensive nations, so these factors can balance out if you’re diligent with your money. Keep in mind that a high tax rate indicates that you are getting outstanding public services for your money, but the cost of living while teaching English in Denmark can be quite high.

Denmark’s population are among the world’s happiest people, so it’s no wonder that they have a high quality of life. The dark, cold winters can be depressing, but locals cope by practising hygge–a way of life rather than an activity in which you seek cosiness, wellbeing, and contentment through simple pleasures such as reading a good book by a fireside glow, sharing hot chocolate and sweet treats with friends, and reconnecting with nature. Many people who teach English in Denmark say that this is a lovely way to deal with the darker months and a practice they continue once they return to their home country. There is something to be said for trying to find the joy in enjoying things that may not entirely be what you hoped, like reading on a cold, wet day. It is considered better than wallowing or getting upset, and this is bad for mental health. This practice can extend to all areas of life, and you will even find evidence of hygge in classrooms when you teach English in Denmark.

Smrrebrd (buttered bread or sandwich) may sound bland at first, but you’ll grow to adore Danish open-topped sandwiches topped with delectable local favourites like pickled herring, raw beef and eggs, fried fish, or potatoes. You might expect to consume a lot of Danish pastries, but Vienna Bread – wienerbrd – is the Danish name for them. Dense rye bread is a favourite, and porridge is a favourite way to warm up on cold winter mornings in Denmark. Denmark isn’t just about savoury foods; they also enjoy sweets, particularly liquorice, which comes in a range of textures and flavours.

Bicycling, seeing castles, going to the beach in the summer, visiting local museums, and more castles will occupy your free time when you aren’t busy teaching English in Denmark. It is a beautiful place to live and well known for the flatter landscapes that make cycling easy for everyone, so do find time to get out and explore the local area when you aren’t teaching English in Denmark.

The full cost of living in Denmark compared to your home country can be found on Numbeo.com, the world’s largest cost of living calculator.