Living, Biking and Learning in a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Overall, most of my classes were challenging, and I am so glad that I took the opportunity to attend classes at KU (Copenhagen University). DIS offers so many great courses with amazing professors of all subjects and experiences, but they don't require that you take a class at a Danish University. It was a totally different learning experience and I had a wonderful time sitting in class with both Danish students and other international students.

On-site administration of your program

DIS is wonderful at making sure you are aware of your resources but not babying you too much. Help is always there, if you ask for it!

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in a DIS residential community, so the majority of the residents were other DIS students. While this disappointed me at first (I would maybe have preferred a Kollegium or Danish roommate), the location was perfect, I was close to parks, trains and the bus if I didn't feel like biking and our RAs were all Danish students. The rooms had their own bathrooms, there was a great common room and large communal kitchen, and DIS provided all our bedsheets, towels and other necessities.

We cooked for ourselves, so that was an interesting experience! We also received a small food stipend that helped offset some of the cost (food is expensive in Denmark and we don't receive the stipend that Danish students typically do).

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

It was a little difficult at first, because DIS is almost entirely US students and the dorm I lived in was all Americans, but as long as I pushed myself, I found that it was easy to meet Danes, get around the city (on my bike!!) and adapt to life in Copenhagen.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Denmark has national healthcare, which we, as semester students, had access to! I never needed to go to the doctor, but it would have been covered by the national insurance if I had.

Copenhagen is probably one of the safest cities in the world, and the Danes take that very seriously. I honestly felt more comfortable out at night there than I do in Boston. The police, should you ever need assistance, are friendly and helpful and if you are ever lost, anyone around you is happy to help guide you on your way.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Copenhagen is one of the more expensive cities in the world, so it was a little difficult to make my student budget stretch all the way to the end of the semester, but I always had enough to get food and to participate in different activities.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

I had a wonderful time learning Danish, and it really helped me connect with the Danes that I met because, since Denmark is so small, the language is a point of national pride. They might laugh at you when you say things, but they are always willing to help you with pronunciation, vocabulary and give you encouragement. DIS also has wonderful Danish teachers who cover the language, but also instruct on cultural and historical traditions and ideals. This is super helpful in understanding why Danes are the way they are and why they deserve the "happiest country in the world" award!

Select all that apply

• Dorm

Select all that apply

• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

Select all that apply

• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• The opportunities within the curriculum to travel.
• The experience of living in Copenhagen and biking every day.
• The Danes!

• More access to KU classes or CBS classes.
• More opportunities to explore the Denmark outside of Copenhagen.
• More time!