Coping in Copenhagen July 22, 2025
By Zoe O (Health, Science, Society, and Policy, Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/11/2025 to 05/10/2025 with
DIS Copenhagen: Semester
I made new friends with other people in my program, and got a comparative view of my relevant fields between America and Denmark.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Classes are good an engaging, but many courses had a tendency to backload the work, so there's a lot going on in every class right at the end of the semester. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
The city was cool, I got to complete a lot of major requirements and make new friends. |
Finances
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* 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) |
Be careful about your "necessities" budget vs your "fun" budget. The food stipend can stretch pretty far if you're smart about it, but the cheapest options get pretty repetitive and it can be hard to keep a balanced diet if you aren't actively thinking about it. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Not sure. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Look for bulk goods if you know you use a lot of it, look for deals. There's a few stores on Amager that aren't covered by the stipend card but are decently cheap, so if you want variety or your card runs out those are good options. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
My university required us to take a language course while abroad. Mileage on the actual courses tended to vary - if you're someone who really likes going out and being social anyways, you will have more opportunities to practice, and the program did a good job of making opportunities for those interactions known to students. |
| 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? | Level 300 latin class. I am historically bad at languages. |
| 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? | Don't stress about it, practice with friends. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Work will be loaded to the back of the semester |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
