Denmark is a beautiful country that is a great study abroad experience. Past Review

By A student (Business, American Studies, Brandeis University) - abroad from 08/17/2014 to 12/13/2014 with

DIS Copenhagen: Semester

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I feel some parts of Yes and No to the question "Would you choose the same program". I had an amazing experience, but I had a feeling that the program was a little boring and left some abroad experience to be desired. I would not have wanted to spend an entire year there, but did have the best time there & would recommend it to anybody unsure of being abroad.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	For the most part good academic classes. Not Brandeis level but not a joke like other friends claim their experiences are.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?
* Food:	Cooked for myself. I lived in a Kollegium. I ran into trouble with my grocery stipend towards the end and that was very difficult to fix.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	Denmark is culturally not easy to get integrated into. I had to make a vested interest to do Danish activities and feel Danish.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	Danish Healthcare is some of best in world, and free while you are there.
* Safety:	Feel safer walking around Copenhagen than Waltham. No complaints.
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 VERY EXPENSIVE. 25% tax on everything makes all things higher than back in the states. I could not give you an exact $ of spending but everywhere I visited in Europe was much more affordable than Denmark.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	Couldn't tell you
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Finding deals through DIS front desk on places.

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?	Try to learn as much Danish earlier in the semester to make later in the semester & cultural immersion easier.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Dorm
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Local Students 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?	People Culture Travel
* What could be improved?	Classes
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	More about Danish Culture & the program has over 1000 Students. If I had known in the onset, I might not have chosen it.

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Cultural Diversity and Social Capital
Course Department:	Sociology
Instructor:	Stine Laursen
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	It had difficult and interesting readings but the professor did not present the information well and manage the class discussion in a proper manner. We were assigned 3 papers, not very long in length.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Corporate Social Responsibility- Business or Ethics
Course Department:	Business
Instructor:	Karim Jabbar & Anne Christensen
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	It was not very challenging. There were no field trips, both were canceled because they were too busy. The teachers knew their material, but were lazy. Assignments were not returned. We had a midterm, industry paper, and 2 presentations in groups. I contribute about the same in my classes abroad as back home.
Credit Transfer Issues:	I hope no issues will arise for this class.

Course Name/Rating:	Danish Language section 120
Course Department:	Danish
Instructor:	Charlotte Beuck
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	It was challenging. Danish is a difficult language to pick up at first. We had great field trips that taught us about Danish culture and helped me learn about Denmark beyond merely the language, which is one of the missions of the class. Charlotte taught the class about as well as it could be taught. Very impressed with her teaching. Contributed about same as back home. We were assigned 3 Danish recordings, cultural translations in Danish, a Final Exam, Danish presentation, and reflection paper on our cultural experience abroad.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	History of Jewish Life in Europe
Course Department:	European Humanities
Instructor:	Thorsten Wagner
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	It was a good course because was challenging enough without being impossible. He is a great professor and can manage a discussion back home. Better than some Brandeis Professors. Participated as much as I do back home. We had 3 pop quizzes on the readings (which were academically difficult) but gained great perspective on Jewish life. We also had a long 10 page research paper due at the end of the semester.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Ways of Seeing: Storytelling through Photography
Course Department:	Don't Know
Instructor:	Johanna Wolfe
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	It was easy, not most challenging. 1 Artist presentation, 3 photography critiques, and a ton of readings. The class felt like an experiment that will get better. It was the first time they ran the class, but I have no doubts they will make changes including smaller classes that will make it more challenging and academically rewarding.
Credit Transfer Issues: