Danish exam culture and rules

Targeted information about the Danish exam culture and rules for oral examinations is now available for SDU's international students. The information appears on two pages that have been thoroughly reviewed and published via relevant study pages on MySDU.

In a collaboration across faculties, SDU Communication and SDU Education, insights from the internationalisation project have been used to better prepare international students for Danish exam situations. Oral examinations are a particular challenge in this context because the examination type is new to many, just as the expectations of examinees in general are also new.

Danish exam culture

The Danish exam culture page describes that critical thinking and freedom of expression are core values in the Danish education system. Students are encouraged to analyse, question and discuss the examination syllabus rather than simply reproduce knowledge. It is emphasised that there is often no single correct answer and that the argumentation is therefore just as important as the answer itself. It is also emphasised that sources must be clearly cited and that grades are final if you pass.

Oral examination

The oral examination page describes that the exam is typically a conversation between students and one or two assessors, often with a short presentation at the beginning. The examiner guides through the exam with relevant questions for students to demonstrate their own knowledge and understanding. Grades are usually given immediately after the exam. There are also rules for preparation, use of aids, and it is strictly forbidden to record the exam or communicate with others during preparation and the exam itself.

Want to know more?

MySDU (MitSDU):

You can see the two pages in this example - on the study page for Master of Science in Public Health:

Danish exam culture (opens MySDU in new tab)

Rules for oral examinations (opens MySDU in new tab)

The pages are available together with other information about exams at mitsdu.dk/exam. Here students can familiarise themselves with topics related to the exam situation - before, during and after the exam.

Internationalisation project:

If you want to know more about the internationalisation project, you can read more on the project page on SDUnet.