Copenhagen has my heart August 01, 2022

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Great classes and knowledgeable professors. I learned so much from the field studies and study tours. Definitely not as academically rigorous as my home university, with a focus on readings rather than assignments, but this was perfect because it allowed for more flexibility in my schedule. Most classes centered around experiential learning and discussions, which was refreshing, and my professors were extremely kind and passionate about helping their students.

On-site administration of your program

DIS was very helpful and had a lot of resources for students in all aspects of study abroad.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Even though I was in the kollegium, I was placed in a lofted studio with one other American. The only way I got to interact with non-Americans was by going to my friends' kollegium apartments who had Danish or European roommates. DIS didn't seem to have a consistent way of matching roommates either-- it either worked or it didn't-- but it was especially hard to live in a studio apartment when there were any conflicts in lifestyle/living arrangements. The lofted apartments also don't have ovens, so I could only cook using the stovetop or the common kitchen's oven. One good thing was that my kollegium was fairly new and located very close to metro and bus stops, as well as grocery stores and cafes.

I cooked for myself almost every day of the week using the stipend from DIS. However, this ran out about a month before the end of the program, and I had to buy my remaining groceries with my own money. Food in Copenhagen is expensive, so cooking for yourself or cooking with a group of people can be a fun way to socialize and cut the costs of eating out.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

My Danish class was helpful for gaining more insight into Danish language and culture, but I wish I could have lived with Danish roommates as well. I recommend doing the visiting host family program, as it seemed like the perfect amount of cultural integration for someone who isn't living with a host family.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I never had an issue but friends had problems getting their medical concerns addressed.

I never felt unsafe in Copenhagen, even walking around late at night. The public transportation is extremely fast and efficient, and the streets are clean and easy to navigate.

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

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

Even my Danish teacher said we would focus on culture more than language because it would be more useful/relevant after leaving the program. Still fun to learn and recognize words/names around the city!

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• Americans

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• Housing

The Academic or Linguist