Dishing on DIS

When I got accepted to study abroad in Copenhagen, I was so excited but filled with many anxious thoughts about the unknown. I expected to be attending classes and be gracefully rewarded with homework for my presence, but I didn't expect this. 

DIS has exceeded my expectations for a study abroad program!

DIS is a non-profit study abroad foundation established in 1959; it is located in the heart of Copenhagen's old inner city. The program has mastered the Scandinavian concept of hygge, which means coziness and comfort, and illustrates its care for connection in every aspect. 

A Community Full of Curious Minds 

Most students at DIS are from North American institutions all over the country and have a variety of different majors. Seeing how students' academic and personal backgrounds bleed into their in-class discussion perspectives is interesting. Whether bonding over the mayhem of Copenhagen's biking lines or sharing their favorite coffee shop of the week, everyone is open and starting fresh in a new city. 

The DIS Student Hub 

There is no traditional campus at DIS, but there is a student hub that serves as the central gathering spot for students. Whether you need help with housing, a quiet place to study, or any recommendations for a quick coffee pick-up, this is the place to go. The hub hosts cultural activities, hygge nights, and workshops. 

This place makes DIS feel like home. 

Experts as Educators 

Most DIS professors are experts in their fields and work part-time at DIS. Some professors teach at DIS and at other Danish universities as experienced professionals, while others work and teach at DIS on the side. It is cool our professors have firsthand experience and bestow their knowledge onto us. Their incredible stories and extraordinary accomplishments around the globe have inspired me and given me ideas about what I want to do with my career. 

Academics with a Twist 

One of my favorite parts about the DIS curriculum is our field studies. Every Wednesday is a dedicated field study day; we have no classes, and classes take us anywhere related to our course content. I have visited the Storm Peterson Museum and a virtual reality hub called KHORA. They're engaging and hands-on, giving you a break from lectures and makes you feel like what you're learning is real. 

My core course is called Strategic Communication. My short core course study tour was three days long, and my course went to Aarhus and Odense, Denmark's second and third-largest cities. My long core course study tour, in March, is to London. These multiple out-of-the-classroom activities and tours get us face-to-face with experts in our interest fields and give us opportunities to connect with our peers, travel, enjoy, and learn. 

Benjamin, my core course professor, treated my course to a beer tasting, shared meals on my tour, and gave us a lot more freedom in our choices. Professors and students have such a different dynamic here, and I love it. We respect each other as students, professors, and adults. 

I love being able to sign up for weekend walks, cooking gatherings, Mama Mia movie nights, and running club on the DIS app. The study abroad environment here is amazing, and I can't wait for the rest of my semester abroad!