Question

I am due to graduate my masters degree soon (professional masters; masteruddannelser, 60 credit). The 60 credits can be organised as part time or fulltime and this masters degree is ‘corresponding to that of a Master’s programme (candidatus) (kandidatuddannelse)’ under the Professional Master, Ministerial Order 1206 of 15.12.2000. I have taken on a huge workload and will complete the degree within 7 months from study start although the programme usually take substantially longer to finish. I have lived in Denmark for a year before study start and plan to say in Denmark. Am I eligible for new graduate a-kasse?

Answer 1

1

Hi,

an education completed as a part-time study can also qualify for unemployment benefits, However only if all of the following requirements are met:

1. the education must as a full-time study be rated for at least 18 months or three half-yearly (90 ECTS). Usually a master is rated to 1 year duration as full-time study, and therefore does not qualify for unemployment benefits as a graduate.
2. the education must give you the right to receive SU. This requirement is due to the fact that only publicly recognized educations gives right to unemployment benefits as a graduate. Educations where the student must pay fee is considered a privately education. The fact that your education is regulated in "Bekendtgørelse om masteruddannelser ved universiteterne (masterbekendtgørelsen)" and "Bekendtgørelse af lov om videregående uddannelse (videreuddannelsessystemet) for voksne" does not change the fact that a professional master is a privately education.
3. No matter how fast you finish the education, you can only starts to receive Unemployment benefits at earliest after 18 months from study-start.

So it seems that you do not meet the requirements for being eligible for unemployment benefits based on your master education (after the graduate rule).

Let me know if you have further questions.

Best regards,

Anders Weber, www.a-kasser.dk