Super generous and fun program June 24, 2025
By A student (Medieval/Renaissance Studies, Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/11/2025 to 05/09/2025 with
DIS Stockholm Semester
I learned a lot about myself and it was worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
There are SO many resources for students. A lot of student support, weekly class day trips, multiple overnight day trips, and multiple forms of guaranteed housing. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
|
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I was able to live with a host family. Not everybody gets to live with a host family because the demand is much higher than the supply, but the other forms of housing are also good and I heard many good things about them from students who lived in the dorms. As a student who lived with a host family, I had a very good time and was included by the family, |
| * Food: |
Students who live in the dorms are provided gift cards to offset the cost of buying their own groceries. Students who live with host families are provided breakfast and dinner (by the hosts) and paid for their own lunch. I guess it depends on the hosts, but I and most of the host students I talked with were allowed to prepare their lunch with their host family's groceries rather than buying their own (though of course I cannot guarantee this). |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt very well integrated with the culture. Students are provided public transportation passes (with SL) for the entire semester, and they are encouraged to use them. Stockholm is also a very safe city to walk in - as a woman, I never had any problems. The student support team makes a lot of effort to explain cultural events and recommend places to visit. All the class trips also involve cultural immersion. I had extra cultural immersion being a host student. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
They do have medical services but I never needed to use them. |
| * Safety: |
Very safe, never had any problems. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I had a great time. |
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) |
Very easy because I had most of my meals provided for by the school. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Less than $40 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Try to minimize eating out. |
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 |
Most people in Stockholm speak English so I didn't need to speak Swedish to get around. The classes are in English. My institution did not require me to take a Swedish class, so I didn't. Some people I knew who took the Swedish course said it was mixture of language and cultural instruction. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| 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 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Their classes are easier than the classes at my home institution so I wish I had taken some harder STEM classes XD |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
