Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

When can I go back? Past Review

By (Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/18/2016 to 05/16/2016 with

DIS Copenhagen: Semester

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was definitely worthwhile. In the classroom, I learned a lot about economics of crime, economics of the environment and sustainable design. I really felt educated on and connected to Danish Culture. I was very lucky to have my particular housing set up (Socialt Kollegium), because I have made lifelong friends with the Danes on my floor. I also found myself becoming more and more independent. As positive as my experience was overall, any person in a foreign country without a solid support system, will feel some sadness or go through difficulties. Having to handle these situations/problems myself really kickstarted my independence.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The only reason by experience was so wonderful was because i chose to diversify my course load. Some teachers at DIS treat each class as an intro which is difficult because usually you take higher level courses to delve deeply into a topic not to review old lessons. But i had some INCREDIBLE teachers. They cared about the students education over memorization of concepts. Economics is especially wonderful in DIS Copenhagen because its taught in the European style of practicality over theory.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The front desk closed fairly early and it was hard sometimes to communicate with housing.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My kollegium was INCREDIBLE. not the cleanest, not the most beautiful, not the closest to the inner city, but unbelievably kind people with a wonderful SRA.

* Food:

No shortage of delicious food in copenhagen!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I lived on a hall with 16 danes and no other americans which really helped me integrate into Danish culture. I also had a visiting host family who were very kind and helpful in explaining traditions and cultural differences.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Denmark feels very safe. There are of course occasional pick pockets but definitely less common in copenhagen than in other european cities.

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

Any program is bound to have its weaknesses but DIS definitely makes up for it with its positive aspects. Its location is wonderful. When matching a student with their visiting host family they really take any and every aspect of your application into the pairing. I really, truly fell in love with denmark. I also loved being able to have travel time, and three of my classes were FANTASTIC!

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 but DIS gives food cards which can last a good amount of time so its a very individual concept to rank, It was easier sometimes and other times it became more difficult.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 200/300
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Really understand the conversions for the country of your choosing. This makes all the difference. Also making a budget is always helpful.

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

It was not mandatory to take Danish. My home institution required us to take Danish so i felt some impetus to use it but its VERY easy to get around knowing absolutely no Danish.

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? Of danish: nothing at all. I took a lot of spanish classes (9 years) and got to be nearly fluent now i am fluid i can speak well and understand fluency
How many hours per day did you use the language? 0
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Practice with locals. They usually are even better study buddies than a classmate.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local 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?
  • The Study Tours
  • time to travel built into semester schedule
  • Some of the teachers were THE BEST I HAVE EVER HAD
* What could be improved?
  • making some classes for intro to topics and some for specialty
  • Making danish classes more than twice a week
  • keeping the front desk open longer.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? that there is no stratification of learning levels for classes AND, that Danish is super hard.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!