I loved my experience studying in a very liveable (but expensive) city Past Review

By (Muhlenberg College) - abroad from 01/16/2016 to 05/17/2016 with

DIS Copenhagen: Semester

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Yes! I learned how to adapt to living in a city I was thrown into. I learned how to travel (how to plan and how to explore cities.) I learned so many random things about myself from putting myself in the "real world" and not a college campus setting. I learned about another culture and another form of running society. DIS provided field study experiences to comment the theories and ideas discussed in the classroom.

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.

DIS demanded students to still focus on their academics, which allowed for a productive learning experience but also sometimes became frustrating. I wanted to take full advantage of the opportunity to live in Europe for 4 months, and I did not want to spend my whole semester just studying. My grades accurately reflected the amount of effort I put in, but as a study abroad program the expected level of academic commitment became a little much compared to the other programs my friends attended. Don't expect a semester off academically!

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I did not personally interact with the administration more than three times over the course of the semester, but when I did they were very helpful!

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I loved living in the Social Justice LLC! We lived directly in the middle of the city, a block away from all of my classes. Our apartment appeared brand new and had all the amenities we needed. My roommates were lovely, and we all meshed well.

* Food:

I made my own food almost every night. The $600 we received to buy groceries at select super markets lasted me almost the whole semester.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I chose a housing situation that comes with less integrational experience. My flatmates and I met some Danes and other local on our own and had them over for dinner multiple times. I didn't attempt to join any local sports clubs or anything like that, so my lack of integration could have possibly been improved to a certain extent if I had chosen to look into it.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had an assigned Doctor through their social welfare system, but I never had to go to him/her.

* Safety:

I brought an alarm to carry with me, and I never felt the need to use it. Their biggest criminal issue is bicycle theft (which did happen to me.) But overall, I felt comfortable walking by myself, even if every once in awhile I was walking a few blocks alone at night.

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

I loved my study abroad experience! My classes were interesting, and the professors were helpful. The city is beautiful and not nearly as touristy as other European capitals. People there are very trusting, even though they are more reserved in public. Learning about the Danish culture was an exciting experience that I would most definitely do over again. DIS provided me with the opportunity to live in this lovely city while taking care of all of the nitty and gritty details that normally comes with moving to a new city. The transition was easy!

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)

Copenhagen is expensive!! If you want to eat a meal out, expect it to cost $15 at least. Items are marked up comparatively. It's possible to save money by making all of your own food and not wasting products you buy.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I used my stipend until the last two weeks.

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

Almost all Danes speak English, and if you try to order in Danish, they will most likely switch over to English. I took Danish 1, but it was more for the cultural component and to pick up random words. I never had a conversation in Danish with anyone. They want to get to use their English skills and make the interaction smoother.

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
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? If you make Danish friends (or if you have a host family), you could specifically talk to them, but otherwise you will be using English in everyday interactions.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* 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?
  • My housing
  • The 2 travel weeks
  • The subjects of my classes
* What could be improved?
  • The transportation pass
  • More organized opportunities to explore the city
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That CityMaps2Go is necessary for non-stress traveling! Visit museums in the cold months because when it's warm you just want to spend all day outside.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!