Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Convenience in Copenhagen Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/19/2019 to 12/13/2019 with

DIS Copenhagen: Semester

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned more about being independent and gained a lot of experience with sustainability in other countries.

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 classes were significantly easier than my home institution. There were times when the grading felt a bit arbitrary. The classes themselves were interesting and provided many hands-on opportunities for learning.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The administration was easy to reach but not always very helpful.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived with American and Danish students in a Kollegium. I would highly recommend choosing this option. It created a great community space and helped with the transition into Danish life and culture.

* Food:

Eating out can be very expensive, so I opted for mostly to cook. The program does give you a stipend, but it really isn't enough for the entire semester.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I chose to do the Visiting Host Program and it was my favorite part of my study abroad experience. They, along with my Danish roommates, really helped me integrate into Danish culture.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

While DIS does provide the students with healthcare professionals, both my roommate and I struggled to get in contact with them and when we did they were not very helpful.

* Safety:

I always felt safe in Copenhagen. Even when we went into the city at night, there were always many people around and the streets are well lit.

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

I had a wonderful time learning about the city and spending time with my host family. The program was extremely interesting and very convenient.

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)

Copenhagen is very expensive

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? Get a budgeting app. GoodBudget is very 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

They tested us in Danish but nearly every Dane I interacted with spoke English.

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? N/A
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • Visiting Host Family
  • convenience
* What could be improved?
  • Grading rubrics
  • academic expectations
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Copenhagen is REALLY rainy.

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:

Danish Language and Culture

Course Department: Danish
Instructor: Camilla Kirchoff
Instruction Language: Danish/English
Comments: The Language subject was challenging but Camilla made it very fun and exciting. The Culture aspect was eye-opening and one of my favorite parts of the program's academics.
Credit Transfer Issues: