Great classes in an amazing city January 06, 2024

By A student (Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/19/2023 to 12/16/2023 with

DIS Copenhagen: Semester

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I was able to developed a better perspective of how other countries percieve the US. It also allowed me to better understand the differences between one country and another. I also developed a higher level of independence.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	The courses were interesting and were very well tailored to Denmark. I had the opportunity to study things that are not available or as accesible at Middlebury.the US. Learning about Europe in Europe was very Unique. I had a lot of work for my classes, but compared to Middlebury they were not challenging.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	The onsite administration was incredible. They had the visa process so well laid out so that we had to do the minimal amount to make it work. They had great support for any issues that we faced as students, from bike thefts, lost phones, or simple personal issues needing support. They had phone lines set up for us when we arrived so we did not have to deal with going and buying sim cards ourselves.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	My housing space was great, but I did not love my roommate. We had totally different sleep schedules and I don't understand how we were paired together. I also was far away from campus and also from the other people that I knew in the program. (including all the other Middlebury students.
* Food:	They did not provide us with food, but we had a food stipend to buy groceries. I had a great kitchen to cook with
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	While I believe there is a limit on how integrated it is possible to be as a 4 month visitor, I believe we were well integrated. I had a danish roommate with whom I was very close. They provided lots of opportunities to both study and experience danish culture.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	I did not have any healthcare issues.
* Safety:	This is the safest city I have ever been in. I had no instances of feeling unsafe, including alone late at night.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes It was incredibly organized, had smooth processes, and allowed me to explore a great city while taking classes.

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 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)	Copenhagen is an expensive city. Cooking helps, but groceries are still expensive.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	220$
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Cook for yourself, and don't buy drinks at clubs/bars.

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	We were forced to go and talk to people in Danish.
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?	none
How many hours per day did you use the language?	0
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants?	Don't be afraid to try using it, the worst that can happen is the people respond in English.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Apartment
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Local Students Americans
* 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?	The study tours The city itself
* What could be improved?	The housing process. The other students are all from the same schools
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	It is a massive program with tons of kids from schools like Duke, Tulane, and Wake Forrest. A high percentage of students come with groups and are therefore less open to making new friends.

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 Avid Adventurer The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Cyberwarfare
Course Department:	Political Science
Instructor:	Mikkel Storm Jensen
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This was a challenging course but incredibly interesting learning about a topic from a Major in the Danish military was the best way to understand the real application of the concepts. We were also taken to government buildings we would otherwise have been unable to access. I participated often, and had a similar workload to Middlebury.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Computer Graphics: Programming 3D applications
Course Department:	Computer Science
Instructor:	Benno Lüders
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This was a challenging course that was very interesting. I developed a solid basis for understanding what computer graphics programmers do in their lives. We had lots assignments that culminated in an open ended final project that I was quite proud of.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Artificial Intelligence
Course Department:	Computer Science
Instructor:	Magnus Sletfjerding and Lorenzo Belgrano
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Terrorism and Counter Terrorism from a European Perspective
Course Department:	Political Science
Instructor:	Martin Rasmussen
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This was a hard course but incredibly rewarding. The professors contacts who we were able to meet and interview in Belfast made the experience so memorable. The ability to learn about The Troubles in Ireland and then talk to people who fought on all sides of the conflict was incredible.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Danish Language and Culture
Course Department:	Danish
Instructor:	Mikka
Instruction Language:	Danish and English
Comments:	This was a great course for learning the fundamentals of Danish culture and comparing them to the US. It was helpful for understanding what we were experiencing outside of class. The language component was fine, but did not feel that important. It felt like a waste to study a language for 4 months that I will never use again. It is also an impossible language to become conversant in that quickly and everyone in Copenhagen speaks English. But I really enjoyed the course and instructor.
Credit Transfer Issues: