On this page

1. Youth parliament

2. Youth councils and/or youth advisory boards

3. Higher education student union(s)

4. School student union(s)

5. Other bodies

This section focuses on government policies, guidelines and rules that establish, regulate and support youth representation bodies. It provides a detailed overview of the structure, function and role of such youth representation assemblies, councils or unions.

Youth parliament

Denmark has no regular formal consultation body at state level like a national youth parliament.

However, every second year the Danish parliament hosts a one-day ‘youth parliament’ (Ungdomsparlamentet). The purpose of the initiative is purely educational. Pupils from 8th and 9th grade in Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands are invited to draft a bill to the parliament. The top 60 bills are selected and 178 pupils participate in the youth parliament. The pupils gain knowledge about the decision-making process in the Danish parliament, meet ministers and members of the parliament, as well as practice their argumentation, discussion and presentation skills.

The initiative is financed by the Danish parliament, the Ministry of Children and Education and The Danish Youth Council (Dansk Ungdoms Fællesråd, DUF).

Youth councils and/or youth advisory boards

In Denmark, several youth councils, panels, and advisory boards exist at state, regional and municipal levels.

Youth representation bodies at state level in Denmark

The Danish Youth Council (Dansk Ungdoms Fællesråd, DUF) is an umbrella organisation representing around 80 national youth organisations. DUF’s main objective is to strengthen young people’s participation in association life and in democracy at local, national and international levels.

Although DUF is a private organisation governed by its own statutes, it has an official role as administrator of approximately DKK 145.8 million of profits from the national lottery and football pools (udlodningsmidlerne). The framework for this task is established by the Act on Receipts from the National Lottery and Football Pools (Udlodningsloven, LOV nr 1532 af 19/12/2017) and several ministerial orders concerning financial management and transparency. The Lottery Youth Committee approves DUF’s distribution rules, supervises the use of funds and handles complaints.

Memberorganisations must be democratic, have local branches in at least four of Denmark’s five regions, and ensure that over half of their members are under 30. The assembly of delegates is DUF’s highest authority and elects the board of 19 members every two years. The board sets DUF’s political direction, oversees funding decisions, and meets monthly.

DUF’s long-term focus areas include:

• Youth political participation: campaigns to increase voter turnout, strengthen democratic confidence, and advocate for lowering the voting age to 16.
• Support for youth associations: three types of grants funded by udlodningsmidlerne, guidance on legal and financial issues, and capacity-building courses and workshops.
• Civic education and inclusion: research, projects and partnerships that promote participation and equality among young people nationally and internationally.

Every second year, the assembly of delegates adopts DUF’s strategic objectives. In addition to its funding role, DUF represents organised youth in national and international fora such as the EU Youth Dialogue, the Council for Children’s Learning, Nordbuk, the UN Youth Delegate programme, and the Parliament’s 2030 Network for the Sustainable Development Goals.

DUF is primarily financed through public funds but operates independently of the government. 

Youth panels in Denmark

Denmark has several youth panels that give young people a voice in decision-making and policy development.

Youth Climate Council under the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities advises the government on climate policies. See section 9.3

The Media Council’s SoMe Youth panel advises the Media Council for Children and Young People (Medierådet for børn og unge) on issues related to social media and digital technology. Each year, a school class is selected to provide input on young people’s online behaviour, while cooperation with the Centre for Digital Youth Care’s online chat group, Cyberhus, ensures that vulnerable youth are also represented.

The Children and Youth Panel (Børne- og Ungepanelet), coordinated by the National Council for Children (Børnerådet) under the Ministry of Social Affairs, collects young people’s perspectives through surveys in randomly selected school classes. The Council also organises expert groups (Ekspertgrupper) of 4–10 children and young people with lived experience of specific challenges, such as mental illness or poverty, to formulate recommendations for policymakers.

The national Youth Panel for Hospitals (Ungepanel.dk) represents young patients aged 14–25 with chronic or serious illnesses. Local youth panels in hospitals discuss health-related and social issues, while the national network advises healthcare decision-makers and regional authorities. The youth panels are funded by the Danish regions.

The Youth School Association’s network YoungDenmark (UngDanmark) gathers young people from local youth schools to promote democratic participation and community. Representatives take part in the National Council for Children’s Learning under the Ministry of Children and Education.

Finally, The Youth Ring’s Youth Council (Ungdomsringens Ungeråd) represents youth clubs and leisure-time education. The council of 11 members promotes active citizenship and youth influence in leisure-time settings and has representatives in the national board of the Youth Ring. 

Youth councils/advisory board at the municipal level in Denmark

At the municipal level, young people can participate through youth councils (ungdomsråd) and joint pupil councils (fælleselevråd). These bodies give young people an opportunity to influence local decision-making and strengthen civic participation.

The structure and influence of municipal youth councils vary across Denmark. In some municipalities, councils are open to all young residents, while others are based on elections. Many have an advisory role to the municipal council (byrådet), and some manage their own budgets or organise cultural and community activities. According to NAU – the Network of Youth Councils, around two-thirds of Danish municipalities have established a youth council.

The joint pupil councils bring together representatives from local school pupil councils. 45 municipalities are designated as pupil-friendly municipalities under the guidelines of the organisation Danish School Pupils (Danske Skoleelever – DSE). These municipalities commit to minimum standards for pupil influence, financial support for council activities, and administrative assistance.

In 2016, the Danish Youth Council (DUF) published guidelines on youth participation, providing recommendations for how municipalities can strengthen the role and impact of both youth and pupil councils.

Higher education student union(s)

In Denmark, student unions of higher education students are independent organisations. No student unions of higher education students are funded directly by the public. In order to receive public funding, primarily through DUF (see above), they must apply on equal terms with other youth organisations. DUF distributes part of the surplus from the profits from the national lottery and football pools to youth organisations.
 

The National Union of Students in Denmark

The National Union of Students in Denmark (Danske Studerendes Fællesråd, DSF) is an independent national organisation representing around 165,000 students through 20 member organisations from higher education institutions across the country. Established in 1932, DSF works to improve education quality and students’ social and economic conditions.

The legal framework of DSF is its statutes. The political conference is the highest decision-making body and meets twice a year to elect the president, vice presidents, and members of the executive committee and board. The board manages DSF between conferences, while the executive committee coordinates daily political work and oversees two permanent policy committees: academic affairs and welfare and social affairs. Additional committees focus on organisational and international matters.

DSF influences national education policy through advocacy, media work, consultations, surveys and campaigns. It regularly contributes to public debates and participates in national committees established by the government or other authorities. Like other civil organisations, DSF can submit citizens’ legislative proposals to Parliament, a right open to all Danish voters since 2018.

Funding comes from membership fees, fundraising, and operational grants from the Danish Youth Council (DUF). Although publicly supported, DSF operates independently in defining its political agenda. 

The National Student Union for University College Students
The Organisation for Professionshøjskolestuderende (Student Union for University College Students, OPS), formerly known as Studenterforum UC (SFUC) until August 2022, is the national student union representing university college students in Denmark. It brings together six member organisations on professionshøjskoler (university colleges) and works to improve educational quality, student welfare, and living conditions for approximately 65,000 students nationwide.

The union is governed by its statutes, with an annual meeting as its highest authority, where the presidency is elected and policy directions adopted. The board, which includes representatives from member organisations, oversees the union’s work between meetings, and the presidency handles day-to-day management. 

OPS focuses on key issues such as educational policy, student housing, social welfare, climate action and mobility. It is part of broader coalitions like the Education Alliance and engages in national debates, consultation processes and advocacy work to represent the interests of university-college students.

The organisation is funded through membership fees and operational grants, notably from the Dansk Ungdoms Fællesråd (DUF); while it remains independent, it must comply with funding rules set by its grant providers.

School student union(s)

In Denmark, students in primary, lower secondary and upper secondary education have the right to establish pupil councils. The legal framework is statutory instruments and acts by the Ministry of Education. If the students at a given education institution do not establish a council, the head of the institution is obliged to urge pupils to do so. The pupil council is the pupils’ representative vis-à-vis the education institution.

Legal Basis:

Act on primary and lower secondary education (folkeskole): (Lov om folkeskole, LBK nr 1396 af 05/10/2022).

The Ministerial order (bekendtgørelse) for the pupil council in primary and lower secondary education (folkeskole): (bekendtgørelse om elevråd i folkeskolen, BEK nr 695 af 23/06/2014)

The Ministerial order for all pupil councils in general and vocational upper secondary education: (Bekendtgørelse om elevråd ved institutioner for almengymnasial uddannelse, almen voksenuddannelse eller erhvervsrettet uddannelse samt private gymnasieskoler, studenterkurser og kurser til højere forberedelseseksamen, BEK nr 2367 af 10/12/2021)

The Association of Danish Pupils (Danske Skoleelever, DSE)

The Association of Danish Pupils (Danske Skoleelever, DSE) is the national organisation representing pupils in Danish primary and lower secondary education. DSE is an independent, democratic interest organisation that promotes pupils’ rights, participation, and influence in schools.

DSE’s members are local pupil councils from recognised primary and lower secondary schools, youth schools and other educational institutions. The organisation is structured into at least 17 local divisions across five regions, each led by a local board. Presidents and vice presidents from these divisions form DSE’s national board, alongside a presidency elected at the annual general assembly, which is the organisation’s highest authority. The national conference, held once a year, provides training for pupils and sets next year’s political priorities.

DSE’s main objectives are to represent pupils’ interests, strengthen participation, and encourage democratic engagement. The organisation conducts research, develops teaching materials and courses for pupils and teachers, operates a telephone advice service funded by the Ministry of Children and Education, and manages the certification of “pupil-friendly municipalities”.

DSE influences policy through advocacy, consultations, and collaboration with policymakers and public institutions. 

Funding comes from membership fees, revenues from educational activities, and public funding from the Danish Youth Council (DUF) and the Ministry of Children and Education. DSE is financially accountable under both institutions’ funding rules.

National unions for upper secondary school pupils in Denmark

Denmark has three national unions representing pupils at upper secondary level, all receiving public funding:

• The Union of Danish Upper Secondary School Students (Danske Gymnasieelevers sammenslutning, DGS)
• The National Federation of Business Students in Denmark (Landssammenslutningen af Handelsskoleelever, LH) 
• The Danish Vocational and Technical School Student Union (Erhvervsskolernes Elevorganisation, EEO)
   

These organisations unite local pupil councils from general, business, and vocational upper secondary schools. Together, these three national unions ensure that Danish upper secondary pupils are represented in public debate and policymaking and have a strong collective voice in shaping the education system. Their activities are regulated by the Ministerial Order on Pupil Councils in General and Vocational Upper Secondary Education (BEK nr 2367 af 10/12/2021), which ensures pupils’ rights to participate in school boards and decision-making processes.
 

The Union of Danish Upper Secondary School Students (DGS)

DGS is an independent organisation representing pupils in general upper secondary education. It is structured into nine regional divisions, coordinated by regional secretaries and governed by a national congress, a board, and an executive committee. The president and two vice-presidents manage day-to-day affairs. The legal framework of the union is its statutes.

DGS campaigns on education quality, student rights, and funding, organises demonstrations and workshops, and regularly issues policy statements. It represents pupils in national education debates and consultations.

Funding comes primarily from DUF, the Ministry of Children and Education, and membership fees.
 

The Danish Vocational and Technical School Student Union (EEO)

EEO organises pupils from vocational and technical colleges and is politically independent. It consists of regional networks, a congress, and a central board. The executive committee manages operations, while two standing committees represent students in the technical (HTX) and vocational (VET/EUX) programmes.

EEO strengthens student democracy at vocational schools through training, workshops, and representation on school boards. Nationally, it participates in consultations, monitors reforms, and conducts campaigns on vocational education.

EEO is mainly funded through public grants from DUF and the Ministry of Children and Education.

The National Federation of Business Students (LH)
LH represents pupils from business colleges and seeks to improve educational quality and learning conditions. It operates through six regional sections and a national structure comprising a general assembly, member conference and board.

LH provides advice to students, supports local pupil councils, and cooperates with other unions, especially within the Education Alliance (Uddannelsesalliancen), to advocate for better education policies.

Its main funding sources are DUF, the Ministry of Culture, the trade union HK, and membership fees.

Other bodies

There are no other top-level, publicly financed youth forums.