Most popular international schools in Copenhagen

Copenhagen International School (CIS) is a private, day international school in Copenhagen that serves ages 3 to 18. It delivers all three IB programmes—PYP, MYP and DP—alongside an American high school diploma, with English as the language of instruction and Danish taught within the curriculum. English as an Additional Language support helps learners access the programmes, and Danish language studies prepare students for national tests and continued Danish study in the Diploma Programme. The school is an IB World School accredited by NEASC for the full IB continuum and the U.S. diploma. The Nordhavn campus spans about 25,000 square metres, housing four towers and capacity for around 1,200 students. Facilities include a theatre, two rooftop greenhouses, multiple music rooms, three gyms and dedicated spaces for design, ceramics and visual arts. CIS also provides extensive after‑school activities, a Mother Tongue Program and Service Learning tied to global goals for students worldwide.

Rygaards International School is a co-educational school in Denmark offering an English-language curriculum for students aged 4 to 16. In the Primary School, pupils follow the English National Curriculum with a Cambridge framework for English, Maths and Science, alongside Danish language outcomes and Danish as a Second Language. In the Secondary School, students study a broad subject-by-subject programme, moving to IGCSE/GCSE courses such as English Language and Literature, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History, German and Spanish, with additional options including Global Perspective and GCSE Astronomy. Danish language strands run throughout the curriculum. The school traces its roots to 1909 and now welcomes over 1,000 students from around 80 nationalities, offering a Learning Resource Center, two science laboratories, two art rooms, two music rooms, and dual gymnasiums on a campus. Extracurriculars include Scenekunst, Robotics and Debate clubs, Duke of Edinburgh programme, and well-being framework recognized with the WAS award in 2024.

Skt. Josef's International School Roskilde is a Denmark-based international school delivering the Cambridge International Curriculum alongside the Dutch Curriculum for learners aged 5 to 16. The International Department, opened in 2012, teaches all classroom instruction in English and follows Cambridge Primary (Years 1–6), Lower Secondary (7–9) and Upper Secondary/IGCSE (Year 10–11). Students benefit from a range of subject choices, including English, Mathematics, Science, Spanish and Danish as a Second Language, with locally designed Art, Music and Religion subjects. Cambridge Upper Secondary offers English Literature and First Language, Mathematics, Science, plus Global Perspectives and Spanish, with options such as Critical Thinking and Life Skills. The school is housed at Frederiksborgvej 10, Roskilde, and features a brand-new playground and on-site SFO. Notable programs include the Science Talent initiative and a Year 10 language-immersion trip, with a Year 11 Rome trip and numerous field experiences. Strengths include STEM, Languages and Visual Arts, clearly.

Byens Steinerskole, known in English as Waldorf International School Copenhagen, is an independent Waldorf (Steiner) school with an English-language international department for ages 1–14. The Danish Waldorf program is aligned with the Danish Ministry of Children and Education and follows the head, heart, and hands approach, integrating physical education, handicrafts, the arts, mathematics, and literacy. The international department delivers instruction in English to foster a global community. The school is an IB Primary Years Programme Candidate School, with plans for full authorization in 2027 and MYP candidacy for 2026/27. Founded as a parent-led initiative, it opened in 2019 and now serves around 276 students, including a 31-student kindergarten, with expansion plans and a move to a purpose-built building by 2030. Learning emphasises a rhythm of festivals and daily activities that connect study to nature, community, and life, supported by long-term teacher-student relationships and ongoing evaluation. A music programme with a class orchestra and an After-School Program enriches life; UNICEF Rights Respecting School work promotes safety and inclusion.

St. Petri Schule is a Deutsch‑Dänische Schule in Copenhagen for ages 3–18, offering a German Curriculum with a Danish–German programme. The school comprises a kindergarten (0), a nine‑year primary, and a Gymnasium (10–12). Language is central through a Sprogkoncept, with Danish and German treated as equal languages taught by native speakers; DaF and DSU support Danish as a second language and German as a foreign language. In the 0th class, two teachers (Danish‑speaking and German‑speaking) work together to reach A1+ after two years. Indskoling (0–5) mirrors German Grundschule; Udskoling (6–9) raises academic and language demands and culminates in FP9 and the German SEK I. The Gymnasium offers a double diploma (DIA and STX), recognised by the Danish Ministry as equivalent to Abitur, enabling university access in Denmark, Germany and beyond. With a 450‑year history, it is the oldest German international school, connected to the Danish royal family and Sankt Petri Church. Its four pillars—Curiosity, Well‑being, Cultural Encounter, Tradition—shape a broad education with Umweltrat, Musikschule and Jugend musiziert, plus SFO and Klubben.