Top 10 Best International Schools in Copenhagen, Denmark

Top 10 Best International Schools in Copenhagen, Denmark

International Schools in Copenhagen

For those looking for the best international schools in Copenhagen, there are nearly 20 to choose from. There are 3 International Baccalaureate, 5 British as well as 1 French, 1 German and as well as a number of Danish schools with an international focus and English language at the core of learning.

About Copenhagen

Copenhagen, the capital city of Denmark, is situated on the coastal islands of Zealand and Amager and is linked to Malmo in southern Sweden by the Öresund Bridge. The historic central city area has a population of around 775,033, while the surrounding urban area has more than 1.3 million residents, rising to more than 2.5 million in the wider metropolitan area. Copenhagen is known as one of the safest, greenest and happiest cities in the world with a high level of equality and a strong sense of common responsibility for social welfare.  In keeping with this the Danish have introduced the concept of ‘hygge’ to the world.  Hygge (pronounced hue-guh) is a cosy feeling of wellness and contentment, like a warm hug, through enjoying the simple things in life.

The Danish have a passion for design which comes through not only in their architecture, interiors, fashion and practical, yet elegant, household gadgets, but also into their world of gastronomy.  Copenhagen is one of the latest culinary capitals with numerous Michelin starred restaurants specialising in presenting local produce in new and beautiful ways.

The Danish love children and Copenhagen is an exceptionally child friendly city.  There is plenty of space here, an abundance of beautiful, well designed playgrounds, wonderful parks, open spaces and numerous family attractions.  Copenhagen is well served by public transport, a combination of the Metro, bus and train services where one ticket works for all, which is in operation 24 hours a day.  It is, however, the most cycle friendly city in the world with over 62% of residents using their bikes in their daily commute and only 9% choosing to drive.  This is one of the factors that  has led to Copenhagen being named as Europe’s Coolest Green City by the Ecologist Magazine.  Other impressive features are the city’s extensive selection of enviro-hotels, eco-shopping, carbon neutral beers, organic restaurants, urban green spaces and a mandatory green roof policy. 

City Living

Many expats and Danish families with children choose to live in apartments in the central area of the city for easy access to all of the benefits that brings including an abundance of shopping opportunities, great cafés, parks and green areas.  A network of cycle routes and excellent public transport makes getting around the city easy.  Some of the most pleasant areas for family living include the canal side Christianshavn,  Østerbro with its large parks and sporting facilities and leafy Fredriksberg with its villas and larger family apartments.

Suburban Living

For quieter and more spacious living with larger apartments and houses with their own gardens, Amagar East, just south of the city centre with its beautiful Strandpark beach island and lagoon, is a popular choice.  Further south on Amagar Island, just beyond the airport, is the beautiful, historic, seaside village of Dragør, currently under consideration by UNESCO as a potential World Heritage Site.  A commute into the city from here takes around 25 minutes by car or just under 40 minutes by bus.  To the north of the city, awash with parks (some with sandy beaches), green space and more spacious family housing yet still only 15-20 minutes from central Copenhagen, are the leafy suburbs of Charlottenlund, Gentofte and Hellerup.  These areas are all very popular with expats.

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Where Copenhagen international schools are distributed (view our List of International Schools in Copenhagen to see a live map):

Best international schools in Copenhagen

Best International Schools in Copenhagen - Rankings

Note: our rankings are based on parent, pupil and teacher reviews. If you think your Copenhagen school should be in the top 10, get reviewing - we want to hear from real people with real experiences at schools so parents, teachers and pupils get the real story when they research their next school. You can find your school in the full List of International Schools in Copenhagen, or search by name here.


North Zealand International School logo North Zealand International School 

5.0 from 5 reviews

Curriculum

International, English

Primary Language

English

Ages

3 to 16

Description

North Zealand International School North Zealand International School (NIS) is a small school where every child is known and appreciated. Not only are the lessons interesting and inspiring but the community atmosphere allows parents and children to integrate into Denmark quickly and smoothly. This unique combination of good education and community atmosphere mean that 98% of our parents would recommend NIS to others.

The international curricula at NIS provide a solid foundation of education for the future lives of our students. At North Zealand International School we believe that anything can be learned and seeking the personal potential of each student is key.

Families living in North Zealand enjoy a high quality of life with access to sandy beaches, numerous green spaces, parks, castles and of course the delights of Copenhagen, which is only 20 minutes away.

 Read North Zealand International School reviews

Sankt Petri Schule 

5.0 from 4 reviews

Curriculum

German, Danish

Primary Language

German

Ages

6 to 18

Description

Sankt Petri Schule is a German-Danish school in the heart of Copenhagen, which lives and teaches both languages ​​and cultures on an equal footing. We have a 450-year history, are the oldest German school abroad and have historically close relationships with the Danish royal family and the neighboring St. Petri church.

At the same time, we live in the middle of a modern, democratic society that is part of a common Europe. We are an international school that sees the diversity of the world as an opportunity.

 Read Sankt Petri Schule reviews

Øresunds International Skole 

5.0 from 4 reviews

Curriculum

International, Danish

Primary Language

English

Ages

3 to 16

Description

Øresund International Skole is a parent-run free school with teaching from kindergarten to 9th grade. In collaboration with the parents, the students are encouraged to acquire knowledge, skills, working methods and expressions that contribute to the individual student's versatile personal development.

We are a small school that has a great deal of individual teaching where the student learns at their own pace, which means that we meet the student where the student is. We have a Danish curriculum and many teaching hours in English .

We have a life of tolerance and good discipline. Our academic level is high and we require a lot of our students, which means that our students finish with good graduation. Øresund International Skole offers good peace of mind and a safe everyday life for your child.

 Read Ã˜resunds International Skole reviews

Valby International Preschool 

5.0 from 4 reviews

Curriculum

International

Primary Language

English

Ages

0 to 6

Description

Valby International Preschool is part of the Tinytots International Daycare and Preschool Group. Our vision is to provide a secure, adoring, charming, exciting, respectful and fostering environment for each child in which they get the fullest opportunity to grow and develop.

We work all the time to develop the feeling like a home away from home for the children. We want to develop Valby International Preschool to a place where parents can feel confident that their children are receiving the very best care and education.

 Read Valby International Preschool reviews

Bernadotte School 

4.9 from 7 reviews

Curriculum

International, Danish

Primary Language

English

Ages

6 to 15

Description

The international section of the Bernadotte School, The Little House, is an international school in Denmark that offers education from pre-school to 9th grade (age group 6 - 15 years). It is important to note that we are Danish and not an American or British international school, and that our working methods, philosophy and the general ambience of the school will reflect this difference.

The Scandinavian tradition of openness, tolerance and freedom of mind also shows in its educational systems. Knowledge and learning are seen as tools that enhance the individual's understanding and appreciation of life, rather than being a checklist of academic goals that can be pursued in isolation. It is our experience that the skills and strengths that our system fosters stand the student in good stead for any academic study undertaken in later life.

Bernadotte School is run democratically, as it would not be in keeping with the school's aims to reserve decision-making for a chosen few. Parents, students and teachers all have influence in the running of the school, both on a day-to-day level, and in liaison with each other through their respective representative bodies.

 Read Bernadotte School reviews

Viking International School 

4.8 from 9 reviews

Curriculum

International

Primary Language

English

Ages

5 to 10

Description

Viking International School is a primary international school offering international education in English. We use an integrated STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) approach and have a strong focus on the Danish language. We are accepting applications for children aged 5-10 for Reception through Year 4 in Ballerup (Greater Copenhagen area) in August 2021-22.

Our experienced international teaching team at Viking International School provides inquiry-based education with English as the language of instruction. We focus on learning Danish language as a true second language from an early age. Our core program is based on the International Primary Curriculum (IPC).

Viking International School provides a positive environment to foster cooperative learning as well as an engaging educational model to develop strong foundational knowledge along with skills to thrive in an increasingly globalized and changing world.

 Read Viking International School reviews

Bjørn's International School 

4.8 from 8 reviews

Curriculum

Danish, English

Primary Language

English

Ages

6 to 16

Description

Bjørn's International School  in Copenhagen is an independent international school with about 160 students from over 50 nations and an internationally qualified teaching staff. BIS students can be taught through English or Danish from 6 to 16 years.

BIS is a member of ECIS (European Council of International Schools) and the centre for IGCSE (the International General Certificate of Secondary Education) in Copenhagen. Bjorn’s International School was established in 1967 and is open to all who share our vision and guidelines.

 Read Bjørn's International School reviews

Waldorf International School Copenhagen 

4.4 from 6 reviews

Curriculum

Steiner

Primary Language

English

Ages

6 to 11

Description

Waldorf International School Copenhagen (WISC) is a not-for-profit international school with a distinct educational vision. WISC is the international department of Byens Steinerskole, which is a Waldorf school established in 2019. It is recognised by and subject to Danish law and receives a subsidy from the Danish state.

At a Waldorf school, each child is daily challenged on an intellectual, creative, artistic and social level – head, heart and hands. We, therefore, offer a wide range of subjects, which each child can follow at their own individual level.

 Read Waldorf International School Copenhagen reviews

Jinnah International School 

4.2 from 5 reviews

Curriculum

Danish, Islamic

Primary Language

Danish

Ages

6 to 16

Description

Jinnah International School is a Danish Pakistani school with discipline, respect and high aspirations for the individual child. At Jinnah International School, the weight is high and the majority of the students in the school continue in high school after 9th grade. 

Respect and discipline are the key words, just as we take for granted that students are ready for teaching.

 Read Jinnah International School reviews

Institut Sankt Joseph Copenhagen 

4.1 from 6 reviews

Curriculum

International, Danish

Primary Language

English

Ages

5 to 16

Description

Institut Sankt Joseph Copenhagen is situated in the beautiful Østerbro district of Copenhagen, directly across from the United States Embassy and only minutes from the heart of the city and the coast. The school’s campus has a large main building with four floors, an annex building for kindergarten and after-school clubs, a theatre and a large gymnasium. Institut Sankt Joseph was established November 17, 1858 by the St. Joseph Sisters Society, which governed the school until March of 1976.

The school was started as an all girl’s academy, and stayed that way until 1968, when boys were also admitted. Institut Sankt Joseph Copenhagen’s main building was built in 1914-15, and in 1928 the building underwent a major expansion, wherein a physics and biology lab were added. The building was designed by architect Christian Mandrup-Poulsen, who also designed the sisters’ convent, and Jeanne d’Arc School.

 Read Institut Sankt Joseph Copenhagen reviews

Other International Schools in Copenhagen

There are 10 other international schools in Copenhagen that didn't make it into our Top 10, either because they didn't have enough reviews or its review rating was too low. If your school is one of those and you think it should make the Top 10, make sure you add your review and tell your story via the school links below.

School Curriculum Rating
International Montessori School Copenhagen Montessori 5.0 / 5
Rygaards International School English 3.6 / 5
European School Copenhagen International 3.5 / 5
Amager’s International School International, Danish 3.5 / 5
Birkerød Gymnasium IB 3.3 / 5
Skt. Josef’s International School English 3.1 / 5
Lycée Francais Prins Henrik Copenhague French 3.0 / 5
Branca International Schools English 3.0 / 5
International School of Hellerup IB 2.8 / 5
Copenhagen International School IB 2.7 / 5

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Juliet Ryder

My family and I are originally from the UK but have also lived in Australia and Spain. We have always wanted to make sure that our 3 boys have the best possible experience living abroad and that our travels have a positive impact on their education.


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