Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Denmark is an awesome country if you work hard to immerse yourself Past Review

By (Neurobiology and Neurosciences., Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/19/2014 to 05/18/2014 with

DIS Copenhagen: Semester

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how to be very independent, and how to work hard to immerse myself into a culture.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

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?

I wish that I had chosen a kollegium over a DRC. The DRC's are with only American students and make exposure to other Danes much more difficult. Great location though.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Super safe city, walked around by myself alone at night all the time and never felt unsafe.

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)

Everything in Denmark is incredibly expensive, so you need to be very conscious to pack your lunch, pregame, not spend tons extra, etc. It can add up really quickly, and you'll want to have some money saved for special occasions like concerts, Tivoli, etc.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Keep track of everything you spend, and don't get all the extra snacks, coffee, clothes, etc.- it can REALLY add up. Wait to spend money on things you really want to do and places you really want to visit.

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

Everyone in Copenhagen speaks perfect, fluent English, so it's not absolutely necessary to speak in Danish. Danish is a really hard language and while it's fun to learn in class, the accent is so specific that Danes will generally speak to you in English even if you attempt Danish. Learning how to read Danish definitely helps though, as it makes it easier to get around and read menus, etc.

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? Beginner
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? When you get to Copenhagen and begin to learn the language, try to use it as much as you can at restaurants, getting around, etc. It's a fun language, it's just incredibly difficult and takes a lot of practice to be able to produce some of the sounds.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* 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?
  • the city of Copenhagen
  • biking
  • food
* What could be improved?
  • immersion
  • weather (it was cold and dark for a while)
  • classes with Danes
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That immersion is hard, and you won't get to know Danes unless you really put in the effort. Classes are only with other Americans, and the area around DIS can become a little American bubble. Work hard to get out and experience all that Copenhagen has to offer. Explore other neighborhoods like Norrebro and Osterbro, and other surrounding areas. Try not to go to the same American bars (Kulorbar, Butchers, etc.) and really get out and explore. Don't say no to any new activity, and don't let school interfere with your education (aka don't spend all your time doing work- get out and explore Danish culture). If you're not in a homestay, a visiting family is a MUST.

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:

Al-Qaida and Intellifence Analysis
Course Department: Criminology/Criminal Justice
Instructor: Nis Mathiesen and Søren Hove
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This class was my favorite at DIS. Such cool information and the professors are awesome. Really interesting material, and the workshops were really fun. I wish there were more field trips though.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Danish Language and Culture: Level I
Course Department: Language
Instructor: Jens Christian Linde
Instruction Language: English/Danish
Comments: Really interesting class. Fun field trips, and it really helped my understanding of Danish culture and the proper ways to interact with Danes. The language aspect also helped me get around and understand the things I was seeing and doing. Overall really fun class.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Health Beyond Borders
Course Department: Public Health
Instructor: Siri Tellier
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Really interesting class with a super knowledgeable, experiences professor. The field studies were always really interesting, and class itself was great. I learned a lot.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Neuroplasticity: From Neurons to Behavior
Course Department: Neuroscience
Instructor: Claudia Carrara-Augustenborg
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Not a great class. Syllabus was very misleading, and the teaching style was not very effective. Claudia had trouble getting her points across and helping us understand what we were supposed to be doing. Lectures were boring and confusing, and it was not at all what I expected.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Psychopharmacology: Substances and the Brain
Course Department: Neuroscience
Instructor: Jesper T. Andreasen
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Overall was an okay class. Learned a lot of information, but all from the test book. Jesper was a very fast and difficult lecturer, and the exams were really hard. However, as a core course this class was great. The trips to Malmo and Munich were really fun, and we visited some awesome labs and lectures. The study tours were incredible but the class itself was only okay. I learned the most from the text book and wish the class itself was a little more interactive.
Credit Transfer Issues: No