Overview of the General Education System

The education system in the Faroe Islands has changed a lot over time. It has moved away from being run by the church to becoming a state system that is more organized and reflects both local control and some influence from Denmark. In the 12th century, education was provided by the Catholic Church, with the Church of Denmark taking over following the Protestant Reformation. The modern school system began to emerge in the late 19th century and gradually evolved throughout the 20th century.

A significant language milestone occurred in 1938, when Faroese was officially recognized as a language of instruction, after decades of debate. While Denmark originally controlled Faroese education, the process of devolving authority began in 1979 and was completed in 2002, which enabled local governance through the Ministry of Education, Research and Culture (Mentamálaráðið).

Today, the education system is structured into three main levels. The primary, secondary, and higher education, are deeply rooted in the principle of equitable access. All residents are entitled to free public education from the start of compulsory schooling through tertiary studies.

The primary and lower secondary stages are collectively known as Fólkaskúli, which is administered by municipalities and offers both mandatory and optional education, including preschool and a tenth-year transition class. The system includes specialized institutions like maritime schools, technical colleges, and business schools that support key sectors of the Faroese economy, particularly the fishing and marine industries. Education up to the lower secondary level is delivered primarily in Faroese, which reinforce national identity and cultural continuity. However, Danish becomes the principal medium of instruction at the upper secondary level and in many tertiary programs.

Although the majority of educational institutions are publicly funded, there are a few private schools, specifically, 51 Fólkaskúli and three Free Schools at the primary level, and eight upper secondary institutions that offer five different study tracks. The Faroese education model is closely aligned with that of Denmark, due to their shared administrative history and existing cooperation agreements. Yet, it retains distinct curricula, legal components, and pedagogical priorities relevant to Faroese society.

Compulsory education in the Faroe Islands spans nine years. It begins in the calendar year that a child turns seven and ends by age 16. This period comprises seven years of primary education followed by two years of lower secondary education, both delivered under the umbrella of Fólkaskúli, the Faroese public school system. Although not compulsory, some Fólkaskúli institutions offer an optional preschool program to better prepare children for formal education.

The progression from primary to lower secondary is seamless, and both are free of charge, administered at the municipal level with consistent oversight from the Ministry of Education. The tenth year, while also optional, is widely pursued by students of approximately two-thirds of ninth-grade pupils choose to enroll in this final preparatory year. This additional year serves as an important bridge for students aiming to enter upper secondary or vocational education, especially those targeting academic programs like the Studentaskúli or specialized tracks such as the Fiskivinnuskúlin (Fisheries College).

The grade structure is straightforward for students spend seven years in primary school, then proceed to Grades 8 and 9 in lower secondary school. The optional tenth grade is not part of the legal mandate but is practically necessary for progression to upper-level academic or vocational training. Final examinations at the end of lower secondary provide access to a variety of upper secondary institutions and technical programs.

According to the data from 2014, 5,205 students were enrolled in primary education, and 1,932 in lower secondary education, underscoring a strong commitment to early and middle schooling. Instruction is primarily in Faroese, although Danish is introduced progressively and becomes essential for later studies.

The higher education landscape in the Faroe Islands is anchored by the University of the Faroe Islands (Fróðskaparsetur Føroya), located in Tórshavn. Established in 1965 by members of the Faroese Academy of Sciences, the university is the country’s primary public research and degree-granting institution. It comprises two major faculties, the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education, and the Faculty of Natural and Health Sciences. These faculties offer a range of academic programs, including Bachelor’s degrees (B.Sc.), Master’s degrees (M.Sc.), and PhDs. The university is publicly funded and, in 2010, received approximately 68 million DKK from the state.

Admission requires completion of the upper secondary school leaving examination, although certain departments impose additional criteria. For instance, the Software Engineering Department once required a minimum grade of 6/13 in mathematics for entry. Despite the presence of this national institution, a significant portion of Faroese students pursue degrees abroad, especially in Denmark. Specialized education such as medicine is not offered locally, necessitating overseas study. For example, in 2013, out of 96 Faroese medical students, 76 were enrolled in Danish universities, with others studying in Poland and Hungary.

As of 2015, there were 1,345 Faroese students in Denmark, compared to 904 in the Faroe Islands and 182 in other countries, mainly within Europe and the Nordic region.

Beyond the university, the Business College (Føroya Handilsskúli) in Tórshavn and Kambsdalur offers individual commerce courses that allow students to accumulate 60 ECTS credits over three years, equivalent to the first part of the HD education. These programs can be combined with distance courses from Aarhus University in Denmark, enabling continued study toward an MBA or similar postgraduate qualification.

The Faroese higher education system, while small, is increasingly integrated into broader Nordic and European academic networks and is supported financially by the Studni Grant Fund, which provides scholarships and student loans for local and international studies.