Searching for hygge! Past Review
By A student (Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/14/2017 to 05/14/2017 with
DIS Copenhagen: Semester
Danish pastries and chai lattes make everything better. I also learned how to become more independent and flexible.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Classes were a little different than Brandeis classes, which I enjoyed while abroad. The professors were very open to feedback on what we were learning and very approachable. It was nice to take classes with people from other universities to get different perspectives. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in a homestay program and had a great experience. I lived 45 minutes outside of the city and had to commute in everyday. It took a while to get used to the long commute, but it was really nice going home to my Danish family. I would definitely recommend doing a homestay family! |
| * Food: |
My homestay mom cooked amazing food! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
There were definitely subtle differences in the Danish culture that I did not realize at first, but I grew to love Denmark and the people. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
We get free health care through the student visa. |
| * Safety: |
I definitely felt safe in Copenhagen. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I would definitely choose this program if I could do it over again. They were really organized and had a lot of resources available for the students. Also, it is great that you have time to travel and even travel with your classes. |
Finances
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* 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 an expensive city but living in a homestay family helped a lot because they provided me with meals. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Plan your travels in advance so you can get the best deals. Also, there are a lot of website that provide student discounts so I recommend utilizing those. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
Most people in Copenhagen speak English but the Danish class was helpful to learn more about the culture. |
| 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 |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Take advantage of the time you have while abroad and don't second guess things. Take that trip if you want to because you are in Europe and are in a great program. |
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.' |
