- Level of operation
- National
- Part of the country where the instrument applies
nap
- Region(s) in which the instrument applies
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- Sector(s) in which the instrument applies
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- Legal basis
SU-Loven
- Objective(s) and target(s)
To provide a flexible system in which students may organise their studies according to their personal preferences and earning possibilities.
- Year of introduction
- 1970
- Year of termination
- No foreseen end to the instrument (on-going)
- Governance (management, operation, monitoring and evaluation)
The Danish Agency for Institutions and Educational Grants is responsible for the overall management, monitoring and evaluation of the instrument as well as day-to-day operation. The Ministry of Higher Education and Science is also involved in the management of the instrument.Schools and universities receive applications for support from students in "minSU" (webpage for students to administrate their grants and loans, e.g. apply for a grant or a loan). The schools and universities check the applications and pass them on to the agency. They offer general and personal information and guidance to students. They also check if students meet the study requirements.
- Eligible group(s)
Students aged 18 or above enrolled in the 'basic course' who do not have an apprenticeship agreement with a company yet (those having an apprenticeship agreement with the company receive remuneration and are not eligible for the grant anymore).
- Education and training eligible
The instrument funds apprenticeship and other types of education and training. It applies to ISCED 3-7 levels.
In relation to 'Apprenticeship in VET' scheme, it applies to 3-5 levels
- Source of financing and collection mechanism
State
- Financing formula and allocation mechanisms
The student at higher education living on his/her own may receive the maximum of EUR 808,84 per month.
If the student is 18 when he/she starts the course, he/she will be able to get 12 months grant as the foundation part takes 2x6 months (or 2x20 weeks as it is calculated in the Danish system). Thus, the maximum amount the person may receive is EUR 9,706.08 EUR (12 x EUR 808,84).
If the student lives with parents, the amount of the grant will depend also on parents yearly income.
The funds are disbursed to all eligible applicants on the basis of legal entitlement. The grant is transferred to the learner's account.
- Eligible costs
Various costs. The students may use the grant for any purpose.
- Volumes of funding
In 2016, the public funding on VET amounted to EUR 159,616,925.83 EUR (EUR 3,282,568,472 in total) (exchange rate: 03.07 2017, 1 EUR = 7.44 DKK). No EU funds involved.
- Beneficiaries/take up
In 2016, 52,400 students were enrolled in VET (493,200 in total).
In 2015, 58,200 students were enrolled in VET, out of which 37,464 were enrolled in the 'basic course'. No data on the number of students who do not have an agreement with a company, thus receive the SU, is available.
- Monitoring/evaluation results
No studies investigating the labour market outcomes of the students benefiting from this instrument have been identified. However, the scheme is often justified in the way that the financial aid for education and training granted to the student removes some of the barriers to free access to education and training. With fewer barriers it is more likely that the student will graduate. Thus, the instrument may help the students to access better jobs and raise their future earnings and thus contribute to the improvement of their lives. It is important to note that the barriers for graduation may be non-financial.
- Recent or planned changes
In 2014, the scheme was reformed with the overall purpose to reduce the graduation time. Furthermore, the government has announced a change in the scheme to be implemented in the coming years which would result in the cut of the amount of the grant by 20 %. However, there is no support in the parliament for the proposal which means that the change will come into force, the earliest, after the next election in 2019.
- Sources
SU-Loven,
https://www.retsinformation.dk/Forms/R0710.aspx?id=158626
Ministry of Higher Education and Science, Information on allocation of "SU" (student's grants and loans scheme)
http://ufm.dk/uddannelse-og-institutioner/statistik-og-analyser/su
