A Semester Full of Hygge, Coffee, and Travel May 06, 2024

By A student (Economics, Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/12/2024 to 05/11/2024 with

DIS Copenhagen: Semester

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

I moved across the country when I went to college, but living in Europe was challenging in a new way. I became more independent. I have never lived in a city before or planned my own trips, but I did both while abroad. I also gained new friends, and was able to travel with them to different countries. I learned the basics of a new language and immersed myself in Danish culture. Overall, I would definitely say that it was a worthwhile experience.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?
* Food:
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes DIS gives its students many opportunities that help ease integration into Denmark. I was given a stipend which covered my groceries for at least 3 months of my stay, and I also received a metro card for the entirety of the semester. The courses were immersive: I attended a Danish ballet and visited Christiania with my Danish class, and even went on a trip with my core course to Vienna and Bratislava. I think that overall, DIS makes studying abroad a bit less daunting.

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)
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	I spent on average $150 per week, but this varies depending on whether I traveled or not over the weekend.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	I recommend that you set up a spread sheet to track your expenses, or at the very least set a limit to spending before you leave.

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	I was required to take Danish Language and Culture, but I was not required to speak the language outside of class.
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?	I had not taken any Danish courses before coming to Denmark.
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?	I recommend downloading Duolingo.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Dorm
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Local Students Americans International 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?	Their use of Copenhagen as a classroom They provide students with a student stipend and metro pass Friendly staff/teachers who are available and willing to help
* What could be improved?	Lack of transparency with housing Non-equitable amenities among students Most of my classes were not challenging and very mediocre
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	I wish that I had known more about the visiting host family program. I only heard about it when I arrived in Copenhagen, and at that point it was almost too late to apply. I would have loved to be more involved in the community.

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!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Democracies at Risk in Europe
Course Department:	History, International Relations, Political Science
Instructor:	Miłosz Jeromin Cordes
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	The course work was not very challenging, but the topics that we covered were pertinent to the course. Throughout the semester, we visited the Danish Youth House and the Danish Institute for Parties and Democracy. Both visits were relevant to the course content and were engaging. The professor was both knowledgeable and well-prepared, as he previously worked in the Polish diplomatic service. I attended every class and participated just as much as I would have at my home institution. I was assessed only twice, however, in the form of a paper and presentation.
Credit Transfer Issues:	I did not.

Course Name/Rating:	Behavioral Economics: European Case Studies
Course Department:	Business, Economics
Instructor:	Toke Fosgaard & Jimmy Martínez-Correa
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This course was not very challenging, but the reading and assignments were dry and the three hour class period was difficult. The teachers were both knowledgeable and well-prepared, but because there were two of them and the class only met once a week, I was not taught by either of them for an extended period of time. I attended every class and participated just as often as I would have at my home institution. I was assessed by papers, exams, experiments, and presentations.
Credit Transfer Issues:	I did not.

Course Name/Rating:	Equality in Scandinavia: Developments and Challenges of the Welfare State
Course Department:	Political Science, Public Policy, Sociology
Instructor:	Michael Perlt
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This course was not challenging, but the content itself was interesting. Just as in my other classes, it made use of Copenhagen and offered field trips to Oxfam and the Workers Museum. Both were relevant to the course. The teacher was knowledgeable and well-prepared, and I attended every class and participated about the same amount that I would have at my home institution. I was assessed by discussion posts, a paper, and presentation.
Credit Transfer Issues:	I did not.

Course Name/Rating:	Globalization and European Economies
Course Department:	Economics
Instructor:	Holger Sandte & Lavanyan Thedchanamoorthy
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This course was relatively challenging. We visited Aarhus, Denmark, Vienna, Austria and Bratislava, Slovakia. All trips were pertinent to the content of the course. Both teachers were knowledgeable and well-prepared, as they both also currently work at EIFO. I attended every class and participated the same amount that I would at my home university. I was assessed by papers, class presentations, homework, and quizzes.
Credit Transfer Issues:	I did not.