Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

I would live there forever if I could! February 13, 2024

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/19/2023 to 12/14/2023 with

DIS Copenhagen: Semester

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned that I'm a lot more independent than I thought and became more confident in my ability to start a new life anywhere. It sounded so crazy to move abroad without knowing anyone at all and I was almost dreading it before leaving the US but after having done the experience it feels like less of a big deal and I could see myself doing it again.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The professors were great and very involved and passionate about their classes. Since the program was very focused on a "core course," the other classes sometimes felt a little less developed and less rigorous than what I'm used to at Wellesley.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The resources that the program offered were amazing and there was always someone ready to help you with any questions that you had.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The living arrangements varied a lot. I was placed in an apartment that was pretty run down and not the nicest but on the other hand I was in downtown and was a block away from campus which was very convenient. Other students lived in extremely modern and almost hotel like accommodations but they were 30+ mins away from the city center so it was a trade-off.

* Food:

We had to cook our own food but the grocery stores were relatively cheap and easy to find all types of ingredients. Eating out was harder since everything in Denmark was extremely expensive.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Since Copenhagen is an international city and everyone spoke English, it was harder to feel like a part of the culture since there wasn't as much of a motivation to learn Danish and truly fit in with the locals. There were many opportunities within the program to learn more about Danish culture and you were definitely exposed to that but I personally didn't have that many relationships with other Danish students.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't have any issues myself but heard from others that the Danish healthcare system was pretty difficult to navigate. There were very specific times that you could call to make an appointment and places were always booked far in advance.

* Safety:

I've never felt safer in a big city and could walk around at night by myself which I always feel nervous about when I'm in an American city.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

The program allowed for so many travel experiences and really made a point for us to go on many field trips and have more hands-on learning. I also really enjoyed having a main course that I could really focus on. I chose graphic design and had work to show for it at the end that I could use in a portfolio.

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)

General living expenses weren't too difficult, but doing anything social required a good amount of money. Just getting coffee would be $8!? and most bars and events would be comparable or even more expensive than San Francisco or New York.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? I wish I had spent less money but at the same time I wanted to fully enjoy the city and maximize my study abroad experience so I wouldn't have done anything too differently.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* 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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • I loved the built in travel opportunities and the fact that academics were still important but experiences were prioritized.
  • I really enjoyed having a "core course" that was very hands on since art classes at Wellesley tend to be less about actual production or working on a portfolio.
  • I loved getting to live in a city that was so alive and effortlessly beautiful all the time.
* What could be improved?
  • Certain classes felt like a joke compared to classes at Wellesley.
  • There should be less differences in the quality of dorms.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had made more effort to meet Danish people as I didn't realize that there would be less built-in opportunities to do so because I lived in an apartment with only Americans.

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.