The vast majority of government employees are covered by a pension scheme as part of their conditions of employment by law or collective agreement.
The pension contribution rate and which pension fund an employee is covered by varies depending on the type of employment and thus also the collective agreement that is linked to the employment.
The pension rates follow the collective agreements and organisational agreements in force at any given time.
For specific questions regarding your pension, you should contact your own pension company. SDU HR cannot advise on pension planning.
At borger.dk you can also find information about pension and early retirement, including how to plan your pension.
Here you can get an overview of compulsory contributions paid by the university in connection with salary payments and optional pensions. You can also see how you can contribute more to your pension if you wish.
Your freedom of choice for pension
You can choose between:
- having the amount paid out as a salary
- having it paid into a savings scheme in your pension fund
- combining the two options
If you do nothing, the amount will automatically be paid into your regular pension scheme - just like today.
Covered employee groups and their pension rates as of 1 April 2025:
|
Professional organisation |
Pension rate |
|
HK-office |
16,00 % |
|
Laboratory technicians |
16,00 % |
|
Prosa |
16,68 % |
|
AC |
18,07 % |
|
Craftsmen and Technicians (engineering assistants) |
16,60 % |
|
Betjente |
15,00 % |
|
Sanitører og ufaglærte |
15,00 % |
|
Bioanalysts and nurses |
18,40 % |
|
Journalists |
18,07 % eller 18,97 %* |
|
Maskinmestre |
17,99 % |
|
Værkstedsleder |
17,05 % |
|
Konstruktør (alm.) |
15,00 % |
|
Konstruktør (teknisk ass./tegner) |
16,87 % |
|
Konstruktør (bygningskonstruktør) |
17,58 % |
**Applies to journalists with a Bachelor of Journalism from SDU or cand.public. candidates with admission from SDU.
If you are already employed
- have the part that exceeds 15% paid out as salary
- have it paid into a savings scheme
- Split the amount between the two options
If you don't change anything, everything will continue as before with full contributions to your regular pension scheme.
The choices you submit are permanent until you choose to change them again.
Changing your choice
You can change your election once a year in March. Once the change is submitted, it will be valid for the future until you make a new change yourself.
You must make your selection here: https://forms.microsoft.com/e/aPscbBefab - please note that the link is only available from 1 March 2026 and will close again on 27 March 2026 at 23:59.
New hires
Form for choosing pension (in connection with employment)
Form for international academic staff (VIP)
Obligatory contributions
Labor market contributions
All workers and self-employed persons must pay 8% of their income in labour market contributions.The University subtracts the contribution each time it pays out a salary.
The labour market contribution is deducted from, among other things, salaries and other renumeration, holiday allowances, severance payments, the value of company car and free phone as well as contributions to pension schemes.
ATP - lifelong pension
The ATP Livslang Pension scheme is a supplementary pension that is, as a general rule, statutory. As a starting point, SDU must thus pay ATP contributions for all employees employed by the University in Denmark – regardless of whether the employee is a Danish or a foreign national.
SDU automatically deducts the contribution each time the University pays out a salary. The University pays two-thirds of the contribution. The remaining third is the employee’s own contribution. The law also allows for voluntary payment in a number of cases.
The ATP Livslang Pension will be paid out for as long as the person in question lives – that is, from when the person becomes a pensioner until he or she dies. However, pensions below a certain amount are paid out as a lump sum.
The amount of the person’s pension savings depends on how much money has been paid into their scheme over the years.
Types of contributions
Types of contributions
All workers and self-employed persons must pay 8% of their income in labour market contributions.
The University subtracts the contribution each time it pays out a salary.
The labour market contribution is deducted from, among other things, salaries and other renumeration, holiday allowances, severance payments, the value of company car and free phone as well as contributions to pension schemes.
SDU automatically deducts the contribution each time the University pays out a salary. The University pays two-thirds of the contribution. The remaining third is the employee’s own contribution. The law also allows for voluntary payment in a number of cases.
The ATP Livslang Pension will be paid out for as long as the person in question lives – that is, from when the person becomes a pensioner until he or she dies. However, pensions below a certain amount are paid out as a lump sum.
The amount of the person’s pension savings depends on how much money has been paid into their scheme over the years.
Choice between pension or salary: In a number of collective agreements, it has been agreed that part of the pension contribution can be paid as salary at the employee's request. These are the following groups of employees:
- AC - for employees under the collective agreement for academics in the state, the part of the pension contribution that exceeds 16.8% can be paid as salary.
- For AC clerks, 9% of the availability supplement can also be paid as salary instead of pension contribution payment.
- Journalists - for employees under the collective agreement for journalists in the state, 0.27% of the pension contribution can be paid as salary.
- Physicians - for employees in accordance with the collective agreement for physicians in the state, the part of the pension contribution that exceeds 16.8% can be paid as salary.
What should you do?
If you want to receive an optional pension, please contact SDU HR, Staff by e-mail.
If you want guidance on whether to choose a pension or salary, we recommend that you contact your union representative, your professional organization and / or your pension fund.
If you want to pay more into a pension scheme, you can make the payment to your pension company yourself, or your employer can pay the contribution for you.
Your pension scheme determines how much you can deposit.
If you would like SDU to manage an additional pension contribution as an employer deposit, please contact your pension company and make an agreement with them. After this, please contact SDU HR’s Payroll Office. The Payroll Office needs a date for when the additional pension contribution will take effect, the monthly amount you wish to deposit as well as an account number to which the money must be transferred. The Payroll Office will then record the additional pension contribution in the payroll system and pay it before taxes are calculated.