Gaining Independence and a New Perspective on Education Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

DIS is significantly less work than my home university, however it is also more work than other study abroad programs. I enjoyed the academic focus on learning "outside the classroom" with the field studies and study tours. I always did the class readings because I found them very interesting and applicable but you could get by without doing them. Most of the courses had a few papers or assignments and a big final. The finals were not stressful or terribly time consuming though. The BEST part of the academic experience were the professors as they are all very interesting, dedicated to their subject and kind. The library was a great resource as well.

On-site administration of your program

The administration was helpful in regards to payments, figuring out how to navigate adding and dropping classes as well as keeping me up to date with the goings on in Denmark.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My personal living arrangements were FANTASTIC!! I am not sure I can speak for everyone since DIS offers a wide variety of diverse housing options. I lived in the city center of Copenhagen in a refurbished apartment that used to be university offices and a convent. The building itself was stunning and the location was perfect for really exploring all Copenhagen had to offer. I only had to walk 5 minutes to my classes. I lived in a special living and learning program called the "Culinary House" where I lived with students that shared my passion for cooking and food. I really bonded with my room and housemates and enjoyed the weekly cultural experiences gained from being a part of the culinary house. From learning to make traditional Danish layer cakes to feasting at a new up-and-coming restaurant focusing on New Nordic Cuisine.

I thought the food in Copenhagen was delicious! I enjoyed the open faced sandwiches, the pickled herring and all of the Danish pastries! I enjoyed all of the different restaurants in the city as well as the emphasis on New Nordic Cuisine. The only problem with the food is that it is EXPENSIVE!! However, the food is really The professors often brought in pastries, hot chocolate and coffee which was really appreciated. The food on the study tours was exquisite however, DIS made sure we were well fed when traveling.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

It is difficult to be fully integrated into the local culture of Denmark because it is such a close knit group of people. Living in the culinary house allowed me to really integrate into the food culture of Denmark. Biking, spending time with my visiting family (a program that allows you to connect with a Danish family) and my practicum at a local school allowed me to take some first steps into the local culture. That being said I often felt surrounded by Americans although I made some great friendships and learned a lot from them. If one's main priority in studying abroad is to fully integrate into the local culture I would not go to Denmark. thankfully that was not my first priority and it did not take away from my experience.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I have a very sensitive stomach so I knew sooner or later I would have to go to a doctor. Thankfully I was fine until the last month. Figuring out who to call to make a appointment was rather confusing but since most everyone speaks english it was not too difficult to make an appointment. I was able to get in to see the doctor the next day. He was very efficient and very direct even if he was not very helpful. DIS does an excellent job helping students gain access to the free health care, just make sure you meet their deadlines for turning in paperwork.

I felt so safe. At night we would go out and I would occasionally walk home alone and as a small young women I never felt scared nor was I ever harassed. I often would be biking late at night and never felt scared then either. The only time I felt unsafe was when some laptops were stolen out of our building but I did live in the city center and locking the doors is simply common sense anywhere.

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

It was not very easy since Copenhagen is very expensive!! The cost was the only downside to studying abroad in Copenhagen, especially with the costs of traveling to other places in Europe. Shopping smarter and having more foresight about what to buy would have made the experience less expensive. I saved a lot before studying in Copenhagen but I wish someone would have told me clearly that it will be VERY EXPENSIVE to study abroad in Denmark

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

Honestly, most people spoke English so there was not very much need to speak Danish. My Danish teacher encouraged us to speak Danish in class but was very understanding if we made mistakes since the Danish language is very difficult for an outsider to learn.

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• Apartment

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• Americans

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• Americans

• Copenhagen
• The Professors
• Study Tours

• Costs of Living
• Scholarship Opportunities
• Integration Opportunities

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