Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Immerse Yourself Past Review

By (Biology, General., Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/13/2013 to 05/17/2013 with

DIS Copenhagen: Semester

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Definitely worthwhile. I learned to be much more independent and confident.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Housing options vary greatly, but you pay the same price regardless of which option you end up with. Some places are beautiful, others are not.

* Food:

Food is great but expensive. If not living in a housing option where food is provided for you, you need to make it yourself or you will be broke by the end of the semester. This combined with somewhat inadequate kitchens/kitchenettes can leave you with limited options.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Many living situations were not very integrated, but it wasn't difficult to immerse yourself if you made an effort.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Danish welfare state provides healthcare for you while you're living in Denmark. Although I didn't personally deal with the healthcare system, it seemed fine. You cannot always get a same day appointment with a doctor, but if there's a real problem, you can always go to the emergency room.

* Safety:

Copenhagen is a very safe city--I never felt unsafe walking around, even alone when it was dark out. My kollegium (housing) was broken into twice, but that was more of a result of ease of access due to insufficient security on the windows, a problem which was fixed by DIS.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Denmark is a very expensive country to live in, and not all housing options cover the cost of all food. Traveling during breaks makes it even more expensive.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $120
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Choosing housing options that provide you with meals can save you a lot of money. Plan and book flights/trips as far ahead as possible!

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? None
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Practice speaking as much as possible, even though Danes will automatically revert to English when they hear you attempt to speak Danish, keep trying anyways. Listen to the pronunciation over and over, eventually you'll get semi-close to how it's supposed to sound.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Copenhagen itself--wonderful city with lots of history/nightlife, but small enough that you can get to know it
  • Study tours--went to London with class, got to see,do,eat many things would not have on own due to cost
* What could be improved?
  • Housing options
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The folk high schools are an amazing option for cultural immersion and meeting Danes--you won't go out into Copenhagen itself as much as other students but you'll probably interact with more Danes on a personal level. The Buddy Network is a great program to get into--so apply early!

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Hans Christian Andersen and the Danish Golden Age
Course Department: English
Instructor: Janis Granger
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Teacher was enthusiastic and knowledgeable as well as willing to be flexible to make sure the class appealed to everyone and not just English majors. The class also provided background on Denmark and Danish history. Highlights included a trip to Tivoli and a walking tour of Copenhagen visiting sites relevant to Hans Christian Andersen.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Scandinavian Crime Fiction
Course Department: English
Instructor: Janis Granger
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Class was based on short analysis papers of the four different crime fiction novels read for the class. Teacher was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Class was interesting and provided information on current Danish issues.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Danish Language and Culture
Course Department: Danish
Instructor: Bianca Liberski
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Language itself is challenging to learn, but the class was helpful and interesting.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Criminology and Criminal Justice in Scandinavia
Course Department: Criminology
Instructor: Anne Okkels Birk
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Interesting class. Gave a very different perspective of penal systems and explored Scandinavian penal systems. Field study to see an open prison was interesting as were speakers who came to class. Sometimes class material was a little repetitive.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Medical Biotechnology and Drug Development
Course Department: Biology
Instructor: Susana Dietrich
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Class was relatively challenging and covered a lot of material. Unfortunately, there was a lot of general overview of topics since everyone was coming from a different university and had a different background. The best and most interesting parts of this class and one of the reasons I would consider taking it were the various visits to biotechnology labs and companies.
Credit Transfer Issues: