Denmark: Pricey but Well Worth It! Past Review

By (Interpersonal Communication, Central Michigan University) for

Copenhagen Business School: Copenhagen - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned so much about myself as an individual from my study abroad experience. Not only am I more confident in myself and my abilities but I'm more open-minded to new things. Studying abroad really opened my eyes as to how much is really out there and how much more there is to see.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I personally did not care for the schooling in Denmark. As much as I loved the people I met and the experience as a total it was very different than schooling in the US. I did not feel prepared for the schooling but I don't think my university had any idea as to how different it really is. There was no homework just lectures and then a four-hour open note/open book final that consisted of about five problems with multiple steps. Another class I had to write an eight-page paper and that was my entire grade. Overall, it is just a very different system of learning than what I am used to. The school system over there is very individual focus. I was told you do as well as the time you put into the class. However, I put in more hours than what I ever have before in a course at Central and did not do as well as expected.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in downtown Copenhagen and absolutely LOVED it! I lived with other international students who were either from a different state or country than myself. We only had one bathroom and shower for eight people on our floor but we made it work miraculously. By the end of the study abroad experience you become so close to the others they are like your family. I would not trade my living situation for the world! We also were right by a few bars so we got to experience the nightlife as well as by a canal where we were just relax outside a few days/nights.

* Food:

Denmark is known for being a bit pricey so I wasn't on the best diet when I was overseas. There is a chain of stores called Netto where a lot of students shop because they are known for being relatively cheap. I went to eat at a restaurant about three times only because it was so expensive to do so.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

While I was studying abroad I got the opportunity to travel to Russia, Finland, Sweden, Estonia, and Barcelona. I traveled with my housemates/schoolmates. The school also puts on a few events throughout the semester to get everyone acquainted such as a ball dance. While in Sweden I actually got to stay with one of my housemates who lives there. It was really cool to have an actual dinner with a Swedish family and see how they live.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Thankfully, I never had to go to the doctors while I was overseas. However, we were all given a card in the beginning with a doctor's name that was around where we lived. That way if we did ever get sick we would have an address on where to exactly go.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

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)

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I would say that Denmark is a fantastic place to visit, especially if it's your first time overseas. The people are extremely friendly, it's small, their metro system has only two tracks at the moment so you can literally NEVER get lost (believe me, I have never taken a metro before Denmark and I was fine), and the Danes are taught English as a second language when they are young so they speak it very, very well. However, I would look into other programs that are in Denmark other than Copenhagen Business School. It is very hard academically to excel in some of the classes. If I could go back I would definitely do credit/no credit option on my harder classes because my 3.7 GPA that I had before I left has been tremendously effected because of my study abroad experience.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Corporate Finance

Course Department: HAI-2CF
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Danish, English
Comments: Very challenging. If I could I would do credit/no credit option. The teacher was knowledgeable however the schooling system is extremely different than what I was used to. No homework, entire grade based on a final of four questions.
Credit Transfer Issues: I am an A student at my home university and ended up failing this course.
Course Name/Rating:

Organizational Behavior

Course Department: HA-E42
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Danish, English
Comments: I really enjoyed this class as well. It wasn't very challenging but the teacher was extremely nice and he always seemed well-prepared for class. We had to do an oral-exam at the end of the course where we went into a room with him and another teacher and he would throw any questions out to us about the book to test our knowledge. It was a very different yet rewarding experience. There was no study guide so you literally had to know the book front to back!
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Intercultural Business Communication

Course Department: BLM-BA15
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Danish, Swedish, English
Comments: I thoroughly enjoyed this class! Very easy, all I had to do was write an eight page paper at the end. Great teacher and it was great having a class with so many people from different backgrounds. You really got a taste of the different lifestyles of others and it was really easy to relate the course concepts to my classmates.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Corporate Finance

Course Department: HAI-2CF
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Danish, English
Comments: Extremely hard if you don't have any prior knowledge of finance (which I did not)
Credit Transfer Issues: I ended up failing in this course. I would recommend doing credit/no credit option if possible. I am an A student at my home university so this was a real eye-opener.
Course Name/Rating:

Financial Accounting

Course Department: HAI-1FA
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Danish, English
Comments: This course transfered back as a D so I did not receive credit for this one as well. Again, it was all lecture and no homework. Entire grade is based on four questions at the end of the semester. Took the class over again in the States and got an A. It's just a different way of learning.
Credit Transfer Issues: Again, I would recommend doing credit/no credit option if possible. That way you don't have to struggle and worry so much about your grades. You can actually enjoy the experience a little more.