Language requirements

Language policy for SDMK

The Danish National Academy of Music is a Danish-language higher educational institution. As most SDMK graduates find work in Denmark, the primary language of teaching and administration at SDMK is Danish. To maintain a high quality level, though, the Academy maintains a global orientation, which presupposes that students have a good command of the English language both orally and in writing.

The following language guidelines shall apply at SDMK:

• The primary language of teaching and administration at SDMK is Danish.
• Activities in the Academy’s councils and committees are conducted in Danish.
• The secondary language of teaching and administration is English.* If the teacher’s command of the Danish language is so poor that it affects the quality of the teaching, the teaching shall be conducted in English.
• It must be clear from the Academy’s job advertisements that the primary language of teaching and administration at SDMK is Danish, and that the secondary language of teaching and administration is English.
• In connection with one-to-one instruction or instruction of smaller groups of international students, the teacher can decide to teach in English.
• By agreement with the management, English-language programmes can be established in selected courses and targeted at exchange students visiting SDMK for one or two semesters.
• International students enrolled through the regular enrolment system are expected to acquire sufficient Danish-language skills (e.g. through municipal language courses) to follow the teaching and participate in study-related activities.
• Administrative staff at SDMK shall provide English-language services to international students who have not yet acquired sufficient Danish-language skills.
• Joint events and plena are conducted in Danish, alternatively in English. E.g., participants who do not speak Danish may be offered an oral or written summary in English.
• The management can introduce English-language skills development for teachers and/or administrative staff across the Academy.
• In connection with the PDR, staff can by agreement with the management arrange for additional Danish- or English-language skills development.
• Relevant parts of the SDMK’s website and intranet are available in English.

*Teachers whose native language is Norwegian or Swedish can by agreement with the students choose to teach in Norwegian or Swedish. Alternatively, the teaching shall be conducted in Danish or English.