Students in Denmark organized large-scale demonstrations opposing a government proposal to reduce or eliminate the country’s student allowance program. The rally on Monday drew an estimated 13,000 participants who marched from Copenhagen’s city hall to parliament under the slogan “Enough is Enough,” while student associations reported roughly 40,000 students engaged in strike action across 57 schools nationwide.
Denmark’s student allowance, established in 1970, has provided automatic monthly stipends to all enrolled students over 18 regardless of parental income. Current recipients receive between 1,154 Danish kroner ($173) monthly for those living with parents and 7,426 kroner ($1,116) for independent students. The government’s proposed changes would means-test the allowance based on parental income, with benefits eliminated for families earning over 700,000 Danish kroner ($105,248) annually and reduced for those in a middle income bracket. Government estimates indicate approximately 14,000 students would lose eligibility entirely, while about 8,000 others would experience reduced payments.
The Danish protests represent part of a broader wave of student-led activism spreading across Europe in recent weeks, initially centered on education funding concerns but expanding to encompass wider grievances about housing affordability and cost-of-living challenges facing young people. Demonstrators carried signs with messages such as “Save SU” (using the Danish acronym for the allowance) and “Less Support, Less Educated,” while chanting “Broken Promises.”
Danish High School Students Association president Oscar Tonsberg Hoffmann characterized the allowance as integral to maintaining one of the world’s strongest educational systems. Protest participants expressed frustration over the timing and rationale for the cuts, noting that the government simultaneously approved corporate tax reductions and increased defense spending. The Higher Education Ministry indicated the changes would also modify unemployment benefits for recent graduates, limiting payments to those with 18 months of work experience during their final two years of study.
Industry Minister Martin Lidegaard acknowledged the difficult nature of the budgetary decisions, while police maintained a visible presence throughout the demonstration.
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