Your Danish High School Journey Starts Now
Welcome to Denmark!
Congratulations!
Choosing to begin your Pre-IB or IB Programme in Denmark is both a significant and courageous decision. You are probably feeling excited and ambitious, and perhaps just a bit nervous about moving to a new country. All of that is completely natural.
What is Global KnowleX?
My name is Britta Brandt, and I am the founder of Global KnowleX (GKX).
I established GKX with a clear mission: to ensure that European teenagers moving to Denmark without their immediate family feel safe, supported, and well cared for throughout their stay. Especially in the first hard months.
Since 2007, I have hosted international teenagers in my home, volunteered to support both students and their parents, organized events, and built strong local support networks for them.
In 2022, I founded GKX because I identified a missing piece in the exchange landscape. I observed that students coming to Denmark for academic studies were not always supported in the same close and personal way as those living with host families.
With GKX, my aim is to combine the best elements of traditional exchange programs with an intercultural learning purpose with multi-year academic programs such as the IB Diploma Program, which culminates in final examinations, graduation, and an internationally recognized diploma.
Over the coming days, we will introduce you to student life in Denmark and give you a short overview of the support we provide to our students. Our services can broadly be divided into the following areas:
Personal Guidance and Support
Administrative Guidance, including help with EU residence registration and obtaining a Danish ID number (CPR)
Events and Information Sessions before and after arrival
Access to our KnowleX Platform “Living in Denmark”
More Than Just School: The Reality of Moving Abroad
As a teenager moving abroad on your own, you suddenly have much more to manage than just your school subjects to handle on a daily basis.
The Danish education system is built on values that emphasize a high degree of independence and personal responsibility. Students are expected to demonstrate maturity from the moment they begin upper secondary school at 16-17 years old. All communication with the school works through Lectio, a personal app, and parents receive only limited information from the school regarding grades, attendance, and overall well-being.
There are generally no special adjustments made specifically for international students, and many experience the transition as quite overwhelming. At the same time, you are coping with missing your family and friends, adapting to a new language and climate, and, not least, building an entirely new social circle.
It is not impossible, but for most students (and parents), it can certainly feel overwhelming at times.
Your Guide to the Danish School Experience
Denmark and Scandinavia are working differently than the rest of Europe. Expectations for independence at a young age are high, but workable when you know how to handle the situation.
To help you get the best possible start, I want to share one of our guidance articles with you:
It gives you a feel for what awaits you in the Danish classroom and how your day will unfold, and it introduces you to the Danish concepts of Responsibility for one’s own learning and Freedom with Responsibility.
Enjoy reading.
Keep in touch, and “see" you soon.
Warm regards
Britta Brandt
Founder, Global KnowleX
A Moment for Reflection
Before we “meet” again, I would like you and your parents to consider a few topics:
#1
How familiar are you with Denmark and with how Danish society works?
#2
Have you thought about what it means that the IB programme is part of the public school system rather than a private school? How might that affect your future, everyday student life?
#3
How much do you know about the expectations Danish schools have regarding students’ ability to organize and structure their school day?
How Can We in GKX Prepare You for a Better Start in the New School Setting?
At GKX, we see ourselves as your "local lifeline".
While we are not part of the school itself, we are the ones who make sure everything works behind the scenes. We help with everything from registering you for your EU residence to installing your MitID (your digital key to Denmark), booking health care appointments with your GP, and organizing monthly group meetings at your school to ensure your well-being. If you have any personal points to share, you can always book an individual appointment with your GKX contact person.
Our goal is simple: We handle daily parental support & guidance, so you can focus 100% on your studies and social life (and your parents can sleep well at night).