Graduate, Ph. D. student, employed and self-employed
- guidance, services and pieces of advice from IAK
IAK is an unemployment insurance fund for 65,000 engineers, employed and self-employed. Our services are tailored to your requirements and provide you with access to relevant services and products. Furthermore you get it all at a very competitive price. IAK is one of the cheapest unemployment insurance funds in Denmark.
Advantages of IAK membership
Joining IAK: Who can join and what is required?
Residence and work permit
IAK membership fees
If you are unemployed
IAK policy on use of English
Advantages of IAK membership
You could compare IAK to an insurance company; by paying an annual premium, you become insured against economical loss if you become unemployed.
We also offer a wide range of services that would help you keep a foothold in the job market. You can, e.g.,
- get help and personal coaching on preparing for job search
- attend courses which focus on your personal competences relevant to the current needs of the job market
- use the qualified placement services for unemployed IAK members only at Jobgenvejen on mitIAK
- get support if you wanted to start a network group
take advantage of one of our many net-workshops around the country. The net-workshops set all necessary office equipment at your disposal, e.g. PC’s, internet access, printers, scanners, faxes, phones and copimachines - take out additional insurance coverage up to 32,000 DKK per month.
Joining IAK: Who can join and what is required?
IAK accepts, first and foremost, engineers regardless of line of specialization. If you have an engineering or other technical-scientific education you can join us. The Danish Society of Engineers (IDA) has put out a list of various degrees and educations, which is a guideline for admission. You can browse the list (in Danish) at IDA’s homepage.
Join IAK as Graduate
Join IAK as Ph.D. student
Join IAK as Employed
Join IAK as Self-employed
If you are already a member of another unemployment insurance fund, you can transfer your membership to IAK.
Residence and work permit
If you are not a Danish citizen, you must have a valid Danish residence and work permit in order to get unemployment benefits from IAK. The permit must be valid through the whole period for which you seek benefits, and also give you the right to work full-time.
For more information on residence and work permits:
Udlændingeservice - The Danish Immigration Service, Ryesgade 53, 2100 København Ø
Tlf.: 35 36 66 00, www.nyidanmark.dk
IAK membership fees Membership fee per quarter in 2010 (DKK)
| Fee to state |
903 |
| ATP-contribution |
15 |
| Administration fee |
219 |
| Total membership fee |
1137 |
If you are unemployed
It is very important that you report to your local jobcentre (Jobcenteret) (government employment agency) at once if you become unemployed. Registration with Jobcenteret can also be done by showing up in person at the IAK office or electronically via www.jobnet.dk You can at the earliest receive unemployment benefits from the date you have registered with Jobcenteret. You also have to enter your CV into Jobcenterets CV bank, www.jobnet.dk, at the latest 1 month after registering as unemployed with Jobcenteret.
During your first month of unemployment we will invite you to a CV and guidance meeting at IAK. We will tell you about rules, which you have to pay particular attention to. Furthermore we will give you some inspiration in your active job search and some good advice regarding your CV. After that you will be given a short individual meeting with a consultant who will approve your CV on jobnet.dk and look at jobs you shall apply for. See the slides from the meeting.
Contact IAK
The quickest way to get in contact with us is by phone or e-mail. Our phone number is +45 7033 5000. You can also e-mail your query by clicking "Kontakt os" located at the header of this page.
IAK’s policy on use of English
We write to you in English in response to matters regarding your application procedure. After that, all correspondence from IAK will be in Danish. Thus please note that it is your own responsibility to translate any letters or decisions you may receive from IAK.
We would be happy to provide you with oral guidance in English. This can be arranged both for telephone calls and for face-to-face meetings at IAK. If we do not have an IAK employee available who can guide you in English, we will be happy to arrange for a future appointment.
Joining as a new graduate
If you have just graduated you can join IAK if we receive your admission form at the latest 2 weeks after your graduation. If so you will receive the unique new graduate privileges, which entitle you to unemployment benefits already a month after completing your education.
It is a condition for admission to IAK that you have had residency in Denmark before starting your education, and that you have maintained residency in Denmark at the time of application.
You are welcome to send in your application form before finishing your education. Admission to IAK will then have effect at the earliest on the day you complete your education. You can apply online.
Ending your education
Your education is considered ended:
- When student activities have stopped, you have received your final grad and passed your exams
- If your certificate is issued when the student activities have ended then the date of sending the degree certificate will be considered the date of ending education
- If your education ends with a thesis or speciality paper, the education can be considered ended already at the time when an advance approval is received from your examiner or counsellor. It is required that all grades have been awarded and all student activities have stopped. Student activities, include participating in tutorials, exams or defending a thesis etc.
Important: 2-week-grace period
If we have not received your application at the latest 2-weeks after ending education, you will only be eligible for membership of IAK if you are employed within IAK’s vocational sector, or if you are educated within IAK’s vocational sector and run your own business.
In such instances, you will first be entitled to receive unemployment compensation after 12 months of membership and after having worked for a period equivalent to 52 weeks of unsubsidized full-time employment within a 3-year period of membership.
Unemployment benefits
For 2010, the benefit rate for a full time employed graduate is DKK 617 per day for 5 days per week, equivalent to ca. DKK 11,500 per month.
As a new graduate, you can get a new calculation of your benefits after a period of 6 months, if you have been working for at least 3 month. The highest benefit rate for 2010 is DKK 752 per day, equivalent to DKK ca. 14,000 per month.
As a new graduate you are not entitled to unemployment benefits until 1 month after the end of your education.
Holiday unemployment benefits
As a new graduate you are entitled to up to 15 days with holiday unemployment compensation benefits for both the first and second holiday-year after you have completed your education. You can apply online.
If you have a student job
If you resign your position, you will be subject to 3 weeks suspension, in which time you do not have the right to claim unemployment benefits. This rule also applies if you have a student job. In order to avoid a suspension period, you should not only have resigned but also left the place of employment before seeking admission to IAK.
If you choose to continue student job after ending your education, it is possible that you could claim partial benefits.
Joining as a Ph.D. student
You have different options as Ph.D. student:
- Membership as a new graduate
You can become af member of IAK as a new graduate when you have completed your Ph.D. studies, if your Ph.D studies can be directly related to the engineering area. Read more here. - Change of status to new graduate
If you are already a member of IAK with the status of an employee, you can choose to change your membership status to that of a new graduate upon completion of your Ph.D. studies. In such cases, we must have received your application no later than 2 weeks from the date that you complete your Ph.D. studies. - Membership as an employee
At least one year before the date of completion of your Ph.D. studies, it is possible to enroll as an employee. For this type of membership, it is also a condition that your studies are engineer related. You can gain membership from the date you start your Ph.D. studies and as of the date we receive your application. Read more here. - Keep your membership
If you are already a member of IAK prior to beginning your Ph.D. studies, you are of course entitled to keep your membership during the study period. In this case, you will be entitled to receive benefits if you become unemployed, should you for some reason not complete your Ph.D. studies.
Should you choose to keep your membership of IAK during your Ph.D. study period, and you complete your studies, you will be able to choose whether you will keep your status as an employee or change it to that of a new graduate.
Joining as an employee
In order to join IAK as an employee, you must be employed or commence employment as an employee within IAK’s vocational sector. You are considered employed within IAK’s vocational sector if you are an engineer or have other technical-scientific educations.
If you meet the conditions of membership, your membership start date will normally be set to the date upon which you apply online for a membership. However, your membership can at the earliest start on the first day of your employment.
Unemployment benefits
If you become unemployed, you will be entitled to receive benefits after one year of membership, provided you have worked full-time as an employee for a period of 52 weeks.
You are entitled to receive benefits for a period of up to 4 years. In 2010 the benefits rate for a full-time insured member, with the highest rate bracket, is DKK 752 per day before tax payable for a 5-day working week, equivalent to ca. DKK 14,000 per month
Joining as a self-employed
In order to join IAK as a self-employed, you must work full time within IAK’s vocational sector. You work within IAK’s vocational sector if you are an engineer or have other technical-scientific educations.
If you meet the conditions of membership, your membership start date will normally be set to the date on which you apply online for a membership. However, your membership can at the earliest start on the first day of your self-employment.
Unemployment benefits
If you decide to end your self-employment all together, you will be entitled to receive benefits after one year of membership, provided you have worked on a full-time basis for a period of 52 weeks. It is also a condition that you can demonstrate a certain turn-over threshold.
You are entitled to receive benefits for a period of up to 4 years. In 2010 the benefits rate for a full-time insured member, with the highest rate bracket, is DKK 752 per day before tax payable for a 5-day working week, equivalent to ca. DKK 14,000 per month.