Have completed bachelor - what about A-kasse?
I will NOT continue with master or Top Up
In this scenario it is very important that you get registered with graduate status in your A-kasse, AT LATEST 2 weeks after graduation.
If you have been a free study member you still need to contact your A-kasse and have your status changed to "graduate".
I will continue with master or Top Up
Can I get Unemployment benefits in the summer holiday?
In order to receive unemployment benefits, you must be available for the labor market. A member may be available during an unemployment period between two periods in an education if the period is over 4 weeks.
However, unemployment benefits can not be paid if the unemployment is due to the educational institution's holiday period. The "Unemployment period" (holiday) is merely considered as a period between two stages of a "full education".
The completion of one independent education (bachelor) is a prerequisite for being able to be admitted to the other independent (Top Up) education (master's). Therefore, it is considered as one full education (not two).
You may get Unemployment benefits in other scenarios
If two educations cannot be regarded as "one full education", or the period between the two "stages" is longer than the educational institution's holiday period, then the situation must be assessed in accordance with the general rules on availability.
In this case you may be eligible for unemployment benefits in the period between the two educations/stages, if you have been registered with graduate status in your A-kasse at latest 2 weeks after the graduation date of your "first education".
In addition you must meet requirements for receiving unemployment benefits ("dagpenge"), i.e. being available for the labor market, searching full-time job, attend to the meetings in Jobcenter and A-kasse, make job-logs at Jobnet.dk etc.
Secure your rights - you may need them later
Even if you do not meet these requirements for having benefits in the period between bachelor and master, then it is always strongly recommended to join an A-kasse at latest 2 week after finishing bachelor.
If you later decide to interrupt or take leave from the master education, you can receive unemployment benefits based on your graduate status obtained with the bachelor. Just remember that your unemployment benefits must be used before 2 years have passed, otherwise it becomes obsolete.
Still possible to have free study membership
You can also get free study membership while studying at the master education and during study leave. However you only have up to 5 years in total of free study membership. Read more about free membership for students.
Will my Master or Top Up in it self qualify for Unemployment benefits?
Your Master or Top Up will give you right to Unemployment benefits if the education is standardized to the minimum of 18 months (3 semester).
So in relation to Unemployment benefits it is important to know if your master/Top UP will have a duration accoring to the Study plan for at least 18 months.
When/if you become a master candidate later
When you become a master candidate, you can choose to be admitted (again) as a new graduate. Then you start all over again in the unemployment benefit system and are entitled to a new, full unemployment benefit period of 1 year that must be spend within 2 years.
- A-kasse overview (frontpage) →
A-kasse and bachelor in Denmark
You might also be interested in:
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⇒Find an interdisciplinary A-kasse
Optional supplement to A-kasse membership
You can often get a discount if, in addition to unemployment insurance (A-kasse), you also buy wage insurance, trade union, or both as a package deal.
Here are some of the best deals right now (checked 04/09/2026):
Det Faglige Hus
In "Det Faglige Hus" you get free union membership for 12 months if you become a member of A-kasse and choose wage insurance with coverage of at least DKK 2,000 per month in addition to unemployment benefits for up to 3 months. It costs DKK 590/month for the first 12 months. Then DKK 659/month.
You can get up to DKK 6,000 in wage insurance coverage and still get 12 months of free union membership. The price increases by approx. DKK 30 per DKK 1,000 extra in wage insurance. So the price for A-kasse + union membership + DKK 3,000 in wage insurance is DKK 620/month for the first 12 months. Then DKK 689/month.
Krifa A-kasse
In Krifa you can choose "Krifa Complete" consisting of unemployment insurance, trade union and free wage insurance for a total price of DKK 706 per month.
You get a larger payout from wage insurance the longer you are a member. After 6 months you can get DKK 4,500 per month in addition to unemployment benefits. After 12 months the amount is DKK 6,000 per month, and after 18 months the amount is DKK 7,500 in addition to unemployment benefits. You can get a payout from wage insurance for up to 6 months at a time.
If you have wage insurance elsewhere, you can transfer your right to wage insurance to Krifa if you can document your seniority (via policy and payment). This allows you to skip the qualification period with Krifa and get DKK 3,000/month in coverage for the first six months. After that, you will follow the steps above.
ASE A-kasse
In ASE you can get a package consisting of A-kasse, trade union and wage insurance with payment for up to 6 months. If you have been a member for 6 months, you can get up to DKK 3,000 in addition to unemployment benefits for 6 months. When you have been a member for 12 months, you can get up to DKK 6,000 in addition to unemployment benefits for 6 months. The 6,000 from wage insurance assumes that you earn at least DKK 33,865 per month. The entire package costs DKK 699/month.