Institut Sankt Joseph Copenhagen vs Viking International School

	I Institut Sankt Joseph Copenhagen Copenhagen, Denmark	V Viking International School Copenhagen, Denmark
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year DKK 24,240 - 41,040	Fees / year DKK 38,797 - 174,405
Age range	Age range 6 - 16 years	Age range 5 - 14 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum, Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary)	Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 850	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size 24	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language Danish, English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1858	Opened 2020
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location The school is located in the Østerbro district of Copenhagen, Denmark, across from the United States Embassy and a few minutes' walk from Østerport Station.	Location Current location: Agernhaven 2K, 2750 Ballerup, Denmark. The school has been based at this site since its inception, with expansion plans underway. A new location will be one stop further on the C train line. A permanent campus is planned by 2030 adjacent to the Kildedal train station.
Stages	Stages Kindergarten to 10th grade.	Stages IC 1–IC 3 (KS1); IC 4–IC 6 (KS2); IC 7–IC 8 (KS3); IC 9–IC 11 (KS4). The primary language of instruction is English, with daily Danish and a Language of the Month programme.
School type	School type Private Catholic school.	School type independent self-governing educational institution
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support Special education courses are available; Danish and English as a foreign language support.	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Denmark	Country affiliation —
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation Catholic	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure School day runs 8:00 am–3:30 pm; After School Program runs 7:00–8:00 am and 12:45–5:00 pm.	School day structure Morning Club 07:15 am – 08:15 am; School Hours 08:15 am – 02:15 pm; After School Club 02:15 pm – 05.00 pm
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application and Waitlist Fees - International / Bilingual department waitlist / application fee: DKK 2,000 (non‑refundable). - Danish department waitlist fee: DKK 500 (non‑refundable). Deposit - Deposit for first child (0–9 / bilingual): equal to two months' tuition. For subsequent children, deposit equal to one month's tuition. - Deposit is refunded when the pupil leaves the school provided all books and materials are returned and all tuition payments are current. If a family cancels a place before 1 October in the start year, the deposit will not be refunded. Tuition — International / Bilingual department (per month and annual total, billed in 12 monthly instalments) - 0 – 9th grade: DKK 3,420 per month; annual total DKK 41,040. - Sibling reductions (applied to the same family): second child 25% reduction (DKK 2,565 per month), third child 50% reduction (DKK 1,710 per month), fourth child free. - Fee for families without a Danish CPR number (non‑CPR): higher rates apply for non‑CPR families — first child DKK 5,000 per month; second child DKK 4,500 per month; third child DKK 3,500 per month. Tuition — Danish department (per month and annual total, billed in 12 monthly instalments) - 0 – 9th grade: DKK 2,020 per month; annual total DKK 24,240. - 10th grade: DKK 3,155 per month; annual total DKK 37,860. In addition to the 10th‑grade tuition there is a DKK 3,000 advance payment to cover the study trip deposit. - Sibling reductions for the Danish department: second child reduced to DKK 1,515 per month (25% reduction), third child reduced to DKK 1,010 per month (50% reduction), fourth child free. Sibling moderation is applied to the youngest child(ren). After‑School Programme (SFO) fees and preschool SFO arrangement - SFO (07:00–17:00), children in 0–2 grade: DKK 1,690 per month; annual total DKK 20,280. - SFO for 3rd grade: DKK 1,690 per month charged over 9 months (August–April); total DKK 15,210. - Morning SFO (07:00–08:00): DKK 570 per month; annual total DKK 6,840. - Pre‑school SFO arrangement for incoming 0th grade: May and June charged at DKK 3,100 per month; no payment for July. - Payments for SFO are included in the monthly school‑fee instalments (collected at the same time as tuition instalments). Additional compulsory and regular charges - Parents' Fund contribution: DKK 35 charged with the monthly school‑fee invoice (families with multiple children pay only once); payment to the fund is voluntary and can be opted out by contacting the school office. - Study trips, retreats and residential trips: these are part of the curriculum for certain year groups and are charged separately. Parents receive information about the cost and payment schedule in advance. Payments for trips are billed via the normal school‑fee invoicing. - For 10th grade there is a DKK 3,000 advance payment to cover the study trip deposit (charged in addition to tuition). Billing schedule and payment terms - All tuition and SFO fees are annual amounts divided into 12 equal monthly instalments (August–July). July is charged as part of the full school year even if the pupil leaves earlier; finishing the school year always requires payment for July. - For some charges (for example 3rd‑grade SFO), fees may be set over a shorter billing span as specified above. - Families enrolling for the upcoming 0th grade are required to prepay school fees for August and September at enrolment; this prepayment is deducted from the August and September instalments for that school year. - Withdrawal/termination: withdrawal must be submitted in writing to the school office. The school charges for the current month plus one additional month when a pupil is withdrawn; if the school year is completed at ISJ the family remains liable for the July instalment. Late payment and arrears - Payments are collected monthly in advance by direct debit (PBS / Betalingsservice). When PBS/direct debit is not set up, an invoice is issued via the school's intra system and an administrative fee of DKK 50 per month is added. - If a monthly payment is not received, the school may issue reminders (rykkere); a reminder fee of DKK 75 is added for late payments. After three consecutive reminders without payment the school may forward the claim to debt collection authorities. Refunds and cancellations - The tuition deposit is refundable when the pupil departs provided all school property (books etc.) is returned and all outstanding payments are settled, except in the case of cancellation before 1 October in the start year when the deposit is forfeited. - Payments for school trips are generally non‑refundable if the trip has been paid to the travel organiser. Refunds for trips due to illness are not provided when the trip has already been paid to the travel agent. Boarding - Boarding is not applicable; Institut Sankt Joseph is a day school and does not charge boarding fees. Other one‑off or occasional charges - Waiting‑list or venteliste fees as noted above (DKK 500 Danish department / DKK 2,000 bilingual). - Charges for specific residential trips, retreats and class trips are billed separately as required. - A small, voluntary Parents' Fund contribution (DKK 35) is collected monthly with school fees; families may opt out by contacting the school office. Accepted payment method(s) and handling - Primary collection method: PBS (Denmark's Direct Debit service). Parents sign up to PBS via a Giro/direct‑debit form sent by the school when the first instalment is issued. - If PBS/direct debit is not used, the school issues invoices via the school intra system and adds an administrative fee of DKK 50 per month.	Fee details Application and Admission Fees - Application Fee (non‑refundable): DKK 200. - Admission / Registration Fee (non‑refundable): DKK 2,000. - Refundable Deposit: DKK 7,700. The deposit is refundable provided three months' written notice of leaving is given and there are no outstanding fees. Tuition fees (by programme / year group) - General tuition (all standard year groups): DKK 3,527 per month, payable over 11 months (August–June). Annual total (11 months): DKK 38,797. - Inclusion tuition (students requiring dedicated support services): DKK 15,855 per month, payable over 11 months. Annual total (11 months): DKK 174,405. - Homeschooling options: - Curriculum provided, no report: DKK 1,176 per month (11 months = DKK 12,936 per academic year). - Curriculum supervised with reports issued: DKK 1,760 per month (11 months = DKK 19,360 per academic year). - After‑ and before‑school care (SFO): - SFO Light: DKK 100 per month (11 months = DKK 1,100 per year). - Full SFO: DKK 1,750 per month (11 months = DKK 19,250 per year). - SFO Camp: free for full SFO members; DKK 1,200 per week for non‑members. - Extra‑curricular clubs: seasonal pricing per class (billed separately). Klub provision billed via Ballerup Kommune where applicable. Sibling discount - DKK 350 per month discount applied to the main school tuition for each subsequently enrolled sibling who is concurrently enrolled. Billing schedule and payment terms - Fees are structured and billed across 11 months of the academic year (August–June); no tuition is charged for July. Fees are payable in advance and must be received no later than the first day of each month. - The school issues a yearly payment overview (updated when additional services are added) rather than separate monthly invoices for every line item. - Late payment and non‑payment: - Reminder and late‑fee regime applies; initial reminder fees and subsequent reminder fees are applied (first reminder DKK 100; second and third reminders each incur an additional DKK 100 in the published fee schedule). Continued non‑payment may result in the student's place being at risk and referral of outstanding debts to collection. - Changes to programme enrollment (including SFO changes) require written notice; standard notice periods apply (e.g., 30 days for program changes; three months' notice for withdrawal affecting deposit refund). Payment methods and transaction fees - Direct Debit (PBS Betalingsservice) is the standard and required payment method for enrolled families; families will be provided the information needed to sign up. A charge applies if Direct Debit is not activated within the school's stated timeframe. - Alternative payment options and associated fees: - PayPal: per‑invoice fee listed in the tuition schedule (DKK 150 per invoice). - International bank transfer and credit‑card payments: accepted by arrangement; an additional transaction fee is applied (DKK 300 in the school's payment policy). - Business‑to‑business invoicing is available by contacting admissions/finance. Other administrative and incidental fees - Transfer certificate: DKK 150. - Lost or damaged book / school materials: DKK 125 or the replacement cost if higher. - Late pickup fees: DKK 250 per occurrence. - Pickup outside of school hours: DKK 400 per occurrence. - Optional class fund for parent‑organisation events: DKK 150 per year. Boarding provision - The school does not offer boarding; care options provided are before/after‑school SFO services. Refunds and deposit handling - The refundable deposit (DKK 7,700) is refunded subject to three months' notice of leaving and settlement of any outstanding fees. If outstanding fees exceed the deposit, the student's enrolment may be terminated.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement The school does not have a school uniform. Learners wear clothing appropriate to the weather and activities, and indoor shoes are worn inside.
Food options	Food options The school lunch program is provided by Bistrup & Nør, offering hot or cold meals. Students and staff can create a login, debit account, and personalize their menu options. You may order food until 7am for same-day delivery. The school also participates in a milk scheme with daily milk delivery; payments are made twice yearly in advance.	Food options Students bring their own lunches and snacks. SFO provides a healthy snack for enrolled students that may be warm or cool depending on the day. The school does not provide warm meals or cooling services.
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership The school is a private, independent educational institution governed by a five-member Board of Directors. The board is responsible for the overall management of the school and for informing the Ministry of Education about finances and operations. The bylaws specify the board includes representatives of the Saint Joseph Sisters, the Catholic Pastoral Council, the Catholic Bishop of Copenhagen, and elected parent representatives. The principal handles daily educational leadership.	Governance and ownership The school is governed by a School Charter approved by the Board on 11 June 2020 and published online on 1 July 2020; governance is overseen by a School Board (Søren Pap-Tolstrup, Board Chairman; Mushe Norestani, Board Vice Chairman; Ludmila Lafuente, Board Member; Priyanka Jhawar, Board Member; Farina Marriott, Board Member; Aleksandra Matuszek, Alternate Board Member). An Annual Report is published (2024).
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details The bilingual department uses two curriculums taught in two languages under one unified school. Approximately half of the lessons are taught in Danish following the dansk fællesmål; the other half (Maths, English and Science) are taught in English following the Cambridge International curriculum. The end goal is for students to excel in both the Danish and International school systems while in Denmark, and to provide families the flexibility to succeed in Denmark and abroad. The academic structure is organized into three departments: Lower Primary (Kindergarten to Year 3), Upper Primary (Year 4-6), and Secondary (Year 7-10), with a total of 29 classes. In the bilingual department Danish-language subjects follow the Ministry's common goals and reading plans, while English follows the Cambridge curriculum goals; year plans are developed by teachers and made available in intra.	Curriculum details The curriculum combines the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) with the Danish National Curriculum (Fælles Mål) and the British National Curriculum to provide a strong international foundation. The curriculum is organized into cross-curricular topics that help students make meaningful links between subjects. The primary language of instruction is English, with daily Danish instruction; music, art, and PE are taught in Danish as much as possible depending on language levels. STEM is embedded across the curriculum with Maker Space challenges, biology and chemistry labs, and coding for every year group, plus extracurricular STEM clubs. In IC9–IC11, students choose between two learning pathways: the International Track and the Danish Track; the International Track prepares students for international education opportunities.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio High teacher-to-student ratios.
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression After graduation, about 98% go on to some form of upper secondary education.	Higher education progression The International Track prepares students for international education opportunities.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning The school provides social support as part of student support. It is committed to providing academic, linguistic and social support to students. Various student support programs complement regular lessons. The Study Hall Café is open Monday–Friday as a vital support outlet. Special education courses are available in a variety of subjects to provide maximum support. Danish and English as a foreign language receive additional support.	Social & emotional learning The school provides a weekly wellbeing class for all students that teaches how to form relationships, understand their own emotions, and learn strategies for regulating emotions and communication. A school dog supports wellbeing and provides emotional comfort in the classroom. Mental health is prioritized as part of the learning environment.
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) Special education: Special education courses are available in a variety of subjects to maximize support. The programs are designed to complement regular school lessons and give students opportunities to improve themselves in various subjects.	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language English as an additional language: The school provides Danish and English as foreign language support. The support is part of the Student Support program.	English as an additional language The primary language of instruction is English. Danish is taught daily. The school celebrates home languages and uses a Language of the Month programme to share words, songs, and stories from students' home languages.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing Mental wellbeing: AKT-teachers organize sessions for certain year groups with a focus on wellbeing; sessions can be organized for specific students or groups as needed. The rest room is open from 8:10 to 13:40 as a space for students to take a break and talk to an adult. The breaks include the good break, where a pedagogue organizes structured activities to reduce conflict and increase comfort. Trips and retreats are part of ISJ's program and contribute to social and emotional development.	Mental wellbeing Mental health is prioritized through weekly wellbeing lessons and mentoring to support both academic and emotional development. The school dog provides ongoing emotional support and contributes to classroom calm.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding Safeguarding: The anti-bullying policy creates a bullying-free environment to ensure a safe, accepting learning atmosphere. Bullying is defined as degrading, offensive or exclusionary behavior, including digital forms, and is not tolerated. The policy provides teachers, students and parents with tools to identify, prevent, and address bullying and to stop bullying. New students receive extra attention to help them feel safe and integrate, including assigning tutors. The school conducts regular learning environment reviews to improve safety and well-being.	Safeguarding The Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy, effective January 1, 2025, outlines a child-centred approach and responsibilities for all staff to prevent, identify, and respond to concerns about abuse, neglect, radicalisation, negative social control, honour-related norms, or any harm. The Designated Safeguarding Lead is Kristin Barron with Deputy DSL Jenny Hudson Vismark; staff must read the policy, report concerns promptly, and complete safeguarding training annually. Mandatory reporting duties under Danish law are in place, and the school collaborates with external services such as Børn og Familie and the police. Safeguarding in the curriculum covers personal safety, digital safety, democratic values, respect and inclusion, how to seek help, and awareness of bullying and coercive control. Records are stored securely in line with GDPR, and the school undergoes external supervision for compliance.
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview The school is located at Dag Hammarskjölds Allé 17, 2100 København Ø. The facilities include a school sports center, a playground and a gymnasium. The kindergarten annex houses the morning program. The school is close to green spaces such as Østre anlæg, Kastellet and Fælledparken. The After School Program serves Kindergarten through 3rd grade and operates on weekdays with morning and afternoon hours (7:00–8:00 and 12:45–17:00).	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities The school has a school sports center, a playground and a gymnasium.	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities From an early age, students explore Maker Space challenges such as creating patterned and tessellated paper-doll fashions, investigating symmetry in architecture, and experimenting with boat design. As students grow, learners use the biology and chemistry lab for projects such as DNA extraction, robotics, and real-world problem-solving projects, including the ongoing Kildedal collaboration. AI is integrated through the Microsoft suite, including Copilot, from IC5 onward to support learning and responsible use of AI. Danish language instruction is strong; Music, Art, and PE are taught in Danish as much as possible, depending on students' language levels.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities The After School Program is available; all Kindergarten through 3rd grade students have a guaranteed spot; the program began in 1971 and operates on weekdays with morning and afternoon sessions (7:00–8:00; 12:45–17:00).	Extra curricular facilities Beyond the classroom, Extracurricular STEM clubs are offered, including STEM club, Mini-physics club, Scratch and Scratch Jr, Coding, Eco-inventors, Podcasting, and Movie making, among others.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History Institut Sankt Joseph Copenhagen was established on November 17, 1858 by the St. Joseph Sisters Society, which governed the school until March 1976. It began as an all‑girls academy and started admitting boys in 1968. The main building was constructed in 1914–1915, and a major expansion in 1928 added physics and biology labs; the building was designed by architect Christian Mandrup-Poulsen. In 1945 Jeanne d'Arc School was bombed, and Institut Sankt Joseph welcomed many of its students; an annex building and a new gymnasium were built in 1950. The school opened an International Bilingual Department in August 2014, combining English/Danish bilingual education with Cambridge International Examinations.	History Viking International School operates under a formal School Charter. The Charter was approved by the School Board on 11 June 2020 and published online on 1 July 2020. The Charter outlines the school's vision, mission, values and goals to guide decision-making and daily practice. The School Board includes Chair Søren Pap-Tolstrup, Vice Chair Mushe Norestani, and Board Members Ludmila Lafuente, Priyanka Jhawar, Farina Marriott, and Aleksandra Matuszek (Alternate).
Community	Community Institut Sankt Joseph Copenhagen has students from more than 55 countries who speak 33 mother tongues. The International Bilingual Program began in August 2014 to provide integrated English/Danish instruction in tandem with Cambridge International Examinations. The school emphasizes community service with opportunities for summer programs and for eighth grade students; the Be the Change event raised over DKK 100,000 for poverty-stricken families in Niger. The campus is in Østerbro, Copenhagen, across from the United States Embassy and near Østerport station, and the student body includes 23 classes and over 555 students, with about 20% Catholic and the rest from other religious backgrounds or none.	Community Friends of VIS strengthens cultures and builds community. Each class elects Friends of VIS representatives to serve as a liaison between teachers and families. Friends of VIS volunteers organize and support cultural and community events, and may initiate additional events such as class-wide play dates. Families are welcome to join Friends of VIS to help create a welcoming and connected community for both new and returning families. Family Zone provides resources for families, including the VIS Parent Guide and the Integrating and Assessing Denmark Guide, created in collaboration with the PTA; Moving to Denmark offers a Pre-Arrival guide and a Ukrainian-language welcome book.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association The Parent Council consists of one parent representative and one alternate from each class. They meet about four times a year to share information, exchange ideas with management, and brainstorm new ideas. Over the past year they have worked on topics such as the ISJ dream, summer school, mutual expectations of school/home, improving parent meetings, creation of a parent resource bank, creation of a PC group, and creation of a parent fund. Merrick Richards is the Chairman of the Parent Council.	Parent teacher association Friends of VIS is the school's Parent-Teacher Association. Class representatives are elected each year to serve as a liaison between teachers and families. Friends of VIS volunteers organize and support cultural and community events, and may initiate additional events such as class-wide play dates. All families are welcome to join Friends of VIS to help create a welcoming and connected community for new and returning families. The PTA collaborates with the school to develop family resources, including the VIS Parent Guide and the Integrating and Assess Denmark Guide.
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual The school uses the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) together with the Danish National Curriculum to create a child-centered, internationally grounded learning environment. Curriculum units are meaningful, engaging, and designed to develop knowledge, skills, and confidence at every year level. STEM is a core focus, with hands-on projects in biology, chemistry, robotics, and coding, plus Maker Space activities throughout the curriculum. English is the primary language of instruction, with daily Danish and a Language of the Month program to celebrate home languages.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative ISJ Music School has its own music program. It offers group music classes including choirs and bands, as well as music production and private lessons. The program provides opportunities to perform and develop musical skills across ages.	Arts & creative Art and Music are taught, with Visual Arts Teaching Plan and Music Teaching Plan indicating formal study of the arts. In KS2, students engage in drama, voice projection, and creative arts as part of their learning. The curriculum integrates arts with other subjects through cross-curricular topics, fostering creativity across disciplines. The school song celebrates the diverse community and reflects student involvement in the arts.
Cultural & language	Cultural & language The bilingual department consists of two curriculums taught in two languages. Approximately half of the lessons are in Danish following the dansk fællesmål, while the other half are taught in English following the Cambridge International curriculum. Lower Primary teaches English, Mathematics and Science in English, with other subjects taught in Danish; Upper Primary includes English, Mathematics and Science in English, with French/German from Year 5; the Secondary department follows both Danish and Cambridge models.	Cultural & language Danish language is taught through a Danish program that blends strong Danish pedagogical traditions with an international environment, offering Danish language and cultural experiences within the school. In daily Danish tuition, the curriculum mirrors Danish approaches to language acquisition, ensuring students meet or exceed Danish educational expectations. All learners have Danish daily, English is the primary language of instruction, and a Language of the Month program celebrates home languages; French and Danish teaching plans are also part of the curriculum. The school provides two language tracks: an International Track and a Danish Track, with the Danish Track including 10 hours of Danish weekly to prepare for Gymnasium entry.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies The school provides an After School Program (SFO Liljen) with varied activities chosen by students. It also offers Field Trips, a Summer Program and Service Opportunities for student development. The After School Program is an extension of the elementary school and maintains close ties with the elementary staff.	Social & hobbies Morning Club and After School Club provide before- and after-school care, with structured activities extending the day. Seasonal Extra-Curricular Clubs are offered after school, with brochures detailing current offerings. The School Song, created by learners, reinforces community identity and celebrates diversity. Forest School is available for KS1, with three hours of outdoor learning each week to build teamwork and a love of nature.
Community & service	Community & service Service Learning is central to ISJ, guided by formation ideals about helping others and being positive societal members. The school provides service-based activities, including a service program for all eighth-grade students and summer service opportunities. These activities emphasize community engagement and giving back.	Community & service Friends of VIS volunteers strengthen cultures and build community, with class representatives serving as liaisons between teachers and families and coordinating events. The Family Zone provides practical guidance for families, including guides on integrating into Denmark. VIS participates in associations such as the Danish International Schools Network (DISN) and the Nordic Network of International Schools, reflecting a commitment to collaboration and external partnerships.
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional Each student is paired with a personal mentor who supports wellbeing, learning strategies, and future goals, helping students navigate their personal development. Teaching includes electives in arts, technology, and entrepreneurship, especially in IC9–IC11, enabling leadership-style inquiry and career exploration. Weekly wellbeing lessons and an ongoing mentoring program support students' academic and emotional growth, with the school dog contributing to classroom calm and connection.
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing Idræt (PE) is part of the curriculum, and Swimming is included from Year 5. Field Trips and a broad After School Program promote active and safe engagement beyond the classroom. Notable trips include Rome for 8th grade and London or Bornholm for 6th grade, with additional trips to Sjælland and monastery experiences for Catholic students.	Lifestyle & wellbeing Wellbeing is prioritised with a weekly wellbeing PSHE program and mentoring to develop relationships, emotional understanding, and communication strategies; two therapy dogs support student welfare. Forest School sessions for younger students foster physical activity, outdoor learning, and a connection with nature. The approach emphasizes mental health, safe learning environments, and values-based education within a supportive, child-centered framework.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision Languages taught: English and Danish. Instruction in Mathematics, English and the Sciences is in English; Danish, Art, PE, Religion and Music are taught in Danish, following Cambridge International Examinations for English-language subjects and the Dansk fællesmål Danish National Curriculum for Danish-language subjects. The program aims to produce fully bilingual students who can attend a Danish gymnasium or an International high school. Language support is provided for Danish and English as a foreign language when needed.	Language provision English is the primary language for core subjects, with Danish taught daily. The Danish program blends Danish and English instruction to meet Danish educational requirements and to promote gradual language fluency, with Music, Art, and PE taught in Danish as much as possible. English as an Additional Language and Danish as an Additional Language programs are available at no extra cost, with ongoing assessment.
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching The program is the first fully integrated English/Danish international programme in Denmark. Mathematics, English and the Sciences are taught in English by native English speakers following the Cambridge International Examinations system, while Danish, Art, PE, Religion and Music are taught in Danish by native Danish speakers following the Danish National Curriculum. The programme is open to primary students (Kindergarten–5th grade) and secondary students (7th grade), beginning August 2014. The goal is for students to become fully bilingual and to be equally prepared to attend either a Danish gymnasium or an International high school.	Bilingual teaching The primary language of the school is English with a strong emphasis on Danish. Core subjects (Unit of Work), Literacy, and Math occur in English, and some specialist classes (Wellbeing, Drama, and Physical Education) are taught in English. Danish is taught daily, and Art and Music are taught in a mix of Danish and English depending on students' language acquisition level. The Danish program offers students the opportunity to experience Danish language and values within an international environment with gradual fluency.
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs Danish language instruction is integrated daily, and Music, Art, and Physical Education are taught in Danish as much as possible. The Danish program focuses on gradual fluency. English as an Additional Language and Danish as an Additional Language programs support students who arrive with little English or little Danish.
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations Inspection Report 2020-21: Danish inspectorate; notes dynamic energy and diversity among students and staff; international environment with students from more than 70 nations. Inspection Report 2018: bilingual department part of a historic Catholic school; strong reputation and inclusive with robust support for students with special needs. Inspection Report 2017: teaching meets or exceeds Danish folkeskole standards; positive learning environment and academically skilled teachers.	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Complete the official bilingual admission application using the International Bilingual Department form. A non-refundable 2,000 DKK application fee must accompany the application. The application form is accessible via the admissions link on the page. 2. Your application will be processed, and a decision will be made to call your child for an admission interview; if called, the most recent school report from the current institution may be requested. 3. A final decision will be made following the admission interview; your child will be accepted or placed on the waiting list. 4. If accepted and enrollment is finalised, pay a 2-month tuition deposit to secure your child's spot for the upcoming school year.	Admissions 1. Fill in the admissions request form and schedule an optional school tour. The Admissions Portal handles inquiries or applications. The VIS Admissions Team supports families through all aspects of the application process. 2. Submit recent school reports and authorize a staff member at your child's current educational institution to fill in the VIS questionnaire. This helps VIS gather information about your child's prior schooling and placement. You may be asked to provide additional documents as part of the application process. 3. Child-Centered Assessment via Trial Days, Assessment Morning (prospective IC 1), and/or online interview. These assessments provide opportunities for your child to experience VIS's classroom environment. The results help determine readiness and fit for the program. The admissions decision will consider these assessments alongside other materials. 4. Once admission has been offered, sign the contract and pay the admission fee and refundable deposit (9700 DKK total). The contract confirms placement and terms. The deposit is refundable with three months' notice and subject to no outstanding fees. 5. The school will send all pre-arrival welcome documents so that you and your child feel ready for their first day of school. The documents cover logistics and next steps.
Scholarships	Scholarships Gerda Mottzens Memorial Scholarship: three scholarships are awarded annually to Institut Sankt Joseph students, consisting of two half-scholarships and one full scholarship; the full scholarship is earmarked for the daughter of a single mother. Applications must be submitted before August 15.	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist The bilingual admission process considers space availability and gender balance. If there is no space, the child is placed on the waiting list and will be contacted if a space becomes available.	Waitlist Waitlist: If a grade level is at capacity, eligible students may be placed on a waitlist and offered admission if space becomes available.
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