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A career programme designed for internationals

For over ten years, Copenhagen Capacity facilitated Young Professionals in Denmark (YPD), a six-month career programme for full-degree international students at Danish universities. In close collaboration with eight universities in Denmark, the programme helped over 4,000 international students seeking to build their careers in Denmark.

Many internationals struggle to present themselves in a Danish context, face a language barrier, compete with local candidates, and lack a local network and work experience. The programme was designed to retain talent by helping participants navigate Danish culture, workplaces and the job market.

“The programme’s focus on networking and tailored insights about the Danish job market truly helped in my career development. I’ve gained invaluable insights and built a strong network that will undoubtedly support my professional journey in Denmark and beyond,” says Maks Stern, a YPD participant in 2023–24.

From CV reviews to cultural workshops. YPD prepared international students for the Danish job market.

The programme helped thousands of participants land jobs

Between 2023 and 2025, 62% of YPD participants found work in Denmark during or shortly after the programme, and 51% retained in Denmark after two years. For context, the national employment rate for international graduates is 49% in their second year after graduation.

Behind those results was a programme packed with practical support. Each year’s programme always began with a kick-off event full of useful information and a job search workshop, such as LinkedIn training.

Throughout the six months, participants received CV support through one-on-one reviews or workshops, and a cultural workshop helped them understand how Danish norms differ from those they knew from home.

Each year's programme concluded with a large event: The International Talent Conference, a career fair, co-hosted with Danish companies such as Stibo Systems, Novo Nordisk and Demant, followed by a final event that equipped participants with resources for their future job search.

With YPDs support, participants found work at a higher rate than the national average for international graduates.

Investing in Denmark’s future

Every year, Danish universities welcome thousands of international students who come for world-class education and leave with valuable skills. The question is whether those skills stay in Denmark or leave with them.

For Copenhagen Capacity, the answer matters. Denmark’s leading industries, from life sciences and green energy to technology and maritime, depend on specialised talent, and the local workforce alone cannot meet that demand.

“We wanted to empower participants with as much knowledge as we could, so they could find jobs that matched their backgrounds. We hope our support made Denmark a relevant, fruitful and attractive place to stay,” says Katarina Magic, project manager of YPD.

After ten years and more than 4,000 participants, YPD’s impact reaches far beyond individual careers. Each graduate who stayed brought skills that Danish companies needed, strengthened workplaces with international perspectives, and helped ensure that Denmark’s investment in education paid off at home. In helping international talent find their place, YPD helped Denmark secure the people it needs to keep growing.

By helping international talent stay, YPD helped Denmark secure the skills its growing industries need.

Facts about the YPD programme

Facilitated by: Copenhagen Capacity

Time frame: 2015 - 2025

Format: A six-month career programme for full-degree international students at Danish universities

Participants: More than 4,000 international students

University partners:

Aalborg University (Aalborg, Esbjerg and Copenhagen campuses)

Aarhus University (Herning Campus)

Copenhagen Business School

IT University of Copenhagen

Roskilde University

Technical University of Denmark

University of Copenhagen

University of Southern Denmark

Funding partners:

EU Social Fund

The Danish Board of Business Development