Denmark’s first defence studies students graduate

Fifteen students from Baltorp Business Gymnasium in Ballerup will this week become Denmark’s first graduates of a dedicated defence studies programme, DR reports.

The new defence track, part of the school’s HHX business curriculum, combines standard subjects like history, English, and social studies with a military focus. Laura Karen Nielsen, 19, one of the graduates, said English classes covered the US Navy, while history lessons emphasised warfare. The programme also includes high-level physical training aligned with military standards.

Nielsen, who aims to become a naval officer, has secured a conscription placement aboard the royal ship next year. “It’s the first step toward further education in the Defence Forces,” she said.

School principal Martin Kramer-Jørgensen said the programme, launched as a pilot in 2023, was designed to bridge theory and practice—not in response to global instability. “We wanted to connect theory to real-world application,” he said. Though smaller than typical classes, the defence track will continue as long as 15–20 students enrol annually. Its success has already inspired similar programmes, including one at Nørresundby Gymnasium in Aalborg, which began in 2024.