The best abroad program! June 03, 2024

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I loved the variety of courses offered on this program and the flexibility to take courses across different disciplines. Some of my classes were not particularly intellectually stimulating and I did not feel like I got a lot out of them, but others were great, so it really depends on what you choose. The same goes for workload, it definitely varies based on the class, some had 1-2 assignments for the whole semester while others required a lot of time dedicated each week to homework and other assignments. I also felt that with these classes that had more work, a lot of the work felt unnecessary and we did not receive much helpful feedback on the assignments. I did find that most of my professors would not give 100s and often were a bit strict with grading, and simultaneously did not provide feedback on why they took off points or what could be done better in the future. DIS in general is quite strict about attendance, so don't plan on being able to skip class to travel. I didn't mind this because I liked most of my classes and also planned my schedule meticulously so that I did not have Friday classes. With all of this being said, all of the professors I had were really interesting and very nice people. Weekly field studies were a huge highlight and really enhanced the whole experience. The travel weeks with my core class were definitely also a highlight of the semester.

On-site administration of your program

Amazing administration. We did not have to get visas beforehand; instead just filled out an online form for the program and they did all of the heavy lifting and then just bussed us to immigration services about a week into the program to complete the process of getting citizen cards. You really did not have to think about those types of logistics, the program took care of everything which was great.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

A few months before you arrive, you have to fill out some forms and also write a bit about yourself to get paired with roommates. It feels like a lot of work, but they take housing placements seriously and put a lot into them. I loved my roommates and I haven't heard of anyone having a negative experience with theirs because DIS is so good at matching people. I lived in a Kollegium, but from what I've heard all of the different housing facilities are pretty nice. They also provide everything you need so you don't need to worry about scrambling to buy the essentials when you get there (bedding, hangers, towels, etc). I loved living in a Kollegium because I got to have some interaction with local Danish college students (although not as much as other Kollegiums because we did not share apartments with the Danes, just the building).

You get about a $600 stipend (if I remember correctly) for groceries if you don't live in a homestay. It works at 2 of the main grocery stores, and you can buy anything in those stores using the card. Mine lasted about the whole semester, but I also know people who ran out in the first month or two, so you definitely need to be conscious about how to make it last.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt pretty integrated because of the routine I established for myself — I had a gym membership, had the few libraries and cafes I frequented, my local grocery store, walking route, etc. I lived in a Kollegium, which is American students mixed with local students, but in my specific Kollegium, we did not share our apartments with the locals, just the building/common spaces. Therefore, you had to go out of your way a little bit to interact with and get to know the local students (attend events, initiate gatherings, etc). I took Danish which definitely also played a role in how integrated I felt because I could slightly better understand the local language but also learned a lot about the culture and the norms in the country.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Copenhagen is so safe! I felt comfortable taking public transit alone late at night which is definitely not the case in most cities.

Beyond organized and well run. Never had to worry about the logistics (visas, housing, etc). Great selection of classes. The best city to study abroad in, in my opinion. So safe, perfect size, just all around amazing.

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

Copenhagen is definitely an expensive city. I mostly cooked during the week and that was using the grocery stipend so did not cost me anything. I did go out to bars/clubs, which is expensive, and then there were always random expenses (not packing lunch one day, getting coffee or a snack, etc). My main expense for the semester was travel.

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

Select all that apply

• Apartment

Select all that apply

• Americans

Select all that apply

• Americans

• Organization/how it was run
• Travel component in courses
• City

• Weather (obviously program does not control this)