The most enriching and replenishing semester!! July 14, 2025

By Avigail D (DIS, Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/10/2025 to 05/10/2025 with

DIS Copenhagen: Semester

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

It was extremely worthwhile. I learned so much from Danish culture and way of life that I want to integrate in my own life. I also learned how much I love Copenhagen and hope to go back soon. It is such a special city with such special people, and I will definitely be back.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	Overall, classes were great. Perfect mix of rigor and fun. Every class was very interactive and participation heavy, which I enjoyed and I feel like it pushed me to get more comfortable speaking up. DIS as a program was also extremely supportive, with endless resources and tools to help you get settled in. I would not have done abroad in Copenhagen through any other program.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	Copenhagen
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	Very very happy with my living arrangements. Has a single in a great location, center of the city.
* Food:	Amazing food and restaurant scene, definitely a little on the pricier side but there are lots of affordable options, and cooking is fun!
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	I rented a bike for the semester and i feel like that had a huge impact on my understanding of Danish culture. I also went to lots of museums, walks, and the movie theater to watch local Danish movies.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	I had no health issues thankfully, but I'm sure it would have been a good experience since I learned so much about the Danish healthcare systems in my class.
* Safety:	I felt extremely safe in Copenhagen as a girl. Even at night, if I ever had to go back home alone in the dark, which wasn't often, I felt extremely safe. I don't think I ever once had to worry about my surroundings, although I always do anyway, not to the extent I have to in my home town (NYC).
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes The overall support from DIS was amazing, and knowing I had that kind of support behind me just allowed me to focus on having fun and enjoying my classes and overall time there.

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?	Probably around $50-150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	I would recommend taking advantage of the supermarket card DIS gives. It lasted me way longer than I expected because groceries are cheaper than eating out. A great way to cook and still be social is to invite friends to cook a meal with you. It's also a great way to bond with whoever you're living with. Another tip is to keep track of how many coffees you buy outside, because they are actually quiet expensive and really add up in the end. It's super easy to make coffee at home if you can't live without it. Make the most of student discounts from DIS or just Copenhagen, and try to find free activities to do! Also the SATS DIS membership is very worth it since it includes workout classes, which if individually booked are way more expensive.

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	Didn't encourage it so much
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?	Took AP French in high school
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants?	Watch Danish movies !! Either on Netflix or movie theater. Also just walking in the street and listening to people talk, or studying a menu at a cafe/restaurant and trying to learn what it says.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Dorm
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Americans
* 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?	0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?	Support People Classes
* What could be improved?	bonding/ways to meet new people more danish integration n/a
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	n/a

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 Outright Urbanite A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Healthcare Systems
Course Department:	Health Policy
Instructor:	Lone Bilde
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	It was challenging in a way that made you want to understand even more / be more curious. i really enjoyed this course and recommend to anyone who wants to learn more about different healthcare systems and the framework they use. I also took this in conjunction with Healthcare Economics, which complimented this class really well and provided even more context.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No issues