A Spændende Semester: 4 Months of Incredible New Experiences December 30, 2025
By A student (Computer Science, Brandeis University) - abroad from 08/15/2025 to 12/12/2025 with
DIS Copenhagen: Semester
I gained perspectives on how Americans are viewed abroad, as well as on life itself which differed from how it would be approached back home. These lessons have stuck with me and will absolutely continue to, so this program was undoubtedly worthwhile.
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. |
The courses were interesting and offered some unique in-the-field experiences to gain new perspectives on the material. The professors were generally enthusiastic and had industry experience in the subjects they taught. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration did a great job of receiving us and getting us legally situated, although they were at times slow to respond to various needs and requests. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My housing was excellently situated in Copenhagen and generally quite comfortable, although frequent repairs were needed in both my room as well as common spaces and for facilities in the building. |
| * Food: |
The kitchen we were given was well-stocked with supplies, although some were left dirty from the previous tenants, and our stove broke halfway through the semester, leaving us waiting four weeks without the ability to cook for ourselves until it was replaced. |
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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
I had an amazing experience: I made some friends with whom I'll definitely stay in touch, enjoyed aspects of Danish culture that would otherwise be unknown to tourists, learned interesting and useful lessons, and had the chance to travel to other dream destinations in Europe. |
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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 150-200 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Avoid eating out, and make sure you consider which specific grocery store you shop at to make sure you aren't paying more than you need to. |
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 |
Our professor encouraged us to use Danish outside the classroom although it wasn't enforced, and the program as a whole did not really at all, as many of my friends left having learned very little Danish. |
| 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? | N/A for Danish |
| 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? | Speaking with locals (in conversation, not just with baristas or cashiers who generally want to get the interaction over with) was by far the most constructive and useful way that I improved my Danish, and they were often very happy to see an American learning their language. |
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? | I think the experience as a whole ended up being more expensive than I expected. Also, my friends and I agree that our program was a relatively insular group and that we mainly all went to the same bars and did the same things, so we had to actively think outside the box and look for new experiences just to better experience life in Copenhagen as a local our age would. |
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 UrbaniteA 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. |
