Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Amazing once in a lifetime experience in Copenhagen! Past Review

By (Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/13/2018 to 05/12/2018 with

DIS Copenhagen: Semester

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I definitely learned to be more independent and stand up for myself. It can be difficult, especially while meeting so many new people to continue to remember who you are, but I definitely did! Going abroad was definitely worthwhile, because it forced me to break out of my shell.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I thought the classes were great! I studied for my classes without being too stressed.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I couldn't ask for a better program to deal with! DIS always gave us all of the information that we needed.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I loved my kollegium and my Danish flatmates! I especially loved having a single so that I had my own space.

* Food:

The food was amazing, but unfortunately it is pretty expensive, so I couldn't enjoy it as much as I wish I could have.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I definitely could have been more integrated, but I think my Danish class helped a lot! I learned a lot about Danish culture and what to expect with Danes.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I went to the doctor once and it was so easy! I asked the DIS student life office for some direction, but since I had already received my Danish health card, it was so easy -- I just needed to call my assigned doctor and set up and appointment. She was so nice and spoke perfect English.

* Safety:

I always felt very safe, however everyone should always be aware of their surroundings.

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

Copenhagen is such an amazing city that I instantly fell in love with! Scandinavia as a whole is such a unique place, but Copenhagen is a vibrant city with it's own feel. Also, the program had a good balance of rigor and ease, so I was never overwhelmed with stress even though I was learning so much! I also loved how hands-on the program was -- I got to go to different art museums weekly with my art history class, and I visited start ups with my core class! Such a unique experience that I will never forget.

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 an expensive city! Also, factoring in travel, the semester will get expensive.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $200 -- however, with travel, it could go as high as $500 because of airfare.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? While it will be enticing to go out to dinner a lot and go to bars, cook your own dinner! It is an easy way to save a lot of money. Also, if possible, make your own coffee or find an inexpensive place to get it, since it is expensive.

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

It wasn't overly pushed to use it outside of the classroom, however we had to speak Danish in the classroom each time we met.

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
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Beginner!
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? I really liked watching Netflix shows with Danish subtitles (or Danish shows with English subtitles). If you can find any online, it can be fun to try to hear the pronunciations and match words!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • 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?
  • Hands-on experience
  • Variety of classes
  • The city!
* What could be improved?
  • Socializing with different people during orientation
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The amount of group work included in classes. Even though it can be a benefit to a class, it was quite shocking to learn!

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!