An overall positive experience Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The workload was definitely not as heavy as my workload at Brandeis University, but it was more than I expected for a study abroad program. I think it ultimately depends on how serious you are about grades and excelling in classes. I thought the workload was fair, but the hard part was balancing academic studies, traveling and exploring Copenhagen.

On-site administration of your program

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I started in a homestay and after a month and a half moved out and into a residential community (dorm). I was so excited to live in a homestay, but I was not happy there. It's impossible to predict whether you will like your host family or not. I know a lot of people who adored their homestay families. On the other hand, residential communities are definitely inhabited by people who like to socialize and party. I personally did not like how crazy and rowdy my floor was, but that's up to your interests and preferences.

Eating out and food in general is very expensive in Copenhagen. I had been warned about Copenhagen's expensive food, but once I got to Copenhagen, I was pretty shocked. I did not eat out much for that reason (and for living in a homestay and RC), but also because I am a vegetarian. There's a lot of pork in Copenhagen and other meats, so I did not get the complete Danish culinary experience. However, I fell in love with Copenhagen's pastries and cafes. I had the best pastries in Copenhagen.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I found it quite challenging to meet Danes. This came up in a couple of my classes as well. I think DIS could've done a better job with helping us meet locals, but it's mostly on the students to make that effort.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I felt very safe in Copenhagen. I could roam the streets at 5a.m. by myself and feel secure. I never had things stolen from me. I heard of other incidents of students getting some belongings stolen, but it's just about being fully aware of your surroundings all of the time. One thing to keep in mind is that Denmark is not known for being the most racially tolerant. The Danish population is very homogenous, so it's easy to feel out of place and experiencing some sort of discrimination is possible.

DIS Copenhagen has over 1,000 students each semester, so the program definitely knows what they are doing. They give you a lot of information and structure everything well. From the interesting classes, to the awesome teachers, to the study tours, to the city in general, everything was great!

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

If you live in an RC, you get a grocery shopping card with a certain amount of money on it for the whole semester. It's up to students to budget and keep track. I used up my card at the very end and had to start paying for groceries myself, but for the most part, I lived off of the money on that card. Other than occasional overpriced coffees and pastries, going out and sight seeing, it was fine.

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

I took Danish Language and Culture because it was mandatory for me, but I was not really encouraged to speak Danish outside of the classroom.

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• Americans

• The classes and teachers
• The city
• The study tours

• Housing
• Meeting locals
• Communal events