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Denmark

Denmark's International Study Program

Founded in 1959, the Denmark International Study Program offers classes taught in English by Danish professors. It is affiliated with the University of Copenhagen. Each semester, the program enrolls about 300 students, who come from the United States, Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, China and Denmark.

Location
Copenhagen, the capital city of Denmark, is home to 1.5 million people. Its old world charm and small-town feel provide the perfect backdrop for a modern democracy that is home to the world’s oldest existing monarchy. Denmark’s free-market economy boasts a strong social welfare system.
Areas of Study
Subject areas include the humanities and social sciences; politics of the European Union; international business and economics; marine biology and ecology; or molecular biology and genetics. Most courses include course-integrated field studies in Copenhagen. Courses in art history, biology, business, environmental studies, economics, history, literature, politics and psychology also are available.
Activities
In addition to organized study tours to various countries, the DIS center offers rich opportunities for immersion in the Danish culture, including participation in the DIS-sponsored soccer club or film club. Thanks to Copenhagen’s comprehensive public transportation system, it’s easy to take advantage of the city’s many museums, galleries and historical cathedrals.
Accommodations
Accommodations include homestays and residence halls. Meals are supplied for students in homestays, while those living in residence halls have access to kitchens in which they do their own cooking. No meal plan is available with the residence halls.
Academic Calendar
Fall semester: August–December
Spring Session: January – May
Eligibility
3.0 GPA
Language of Instruction
English
Web site
http://www.dis.dk
Additional information
Flyer

At a Glance

Student Profiles


Cherrington Scholars Eligible

  • Hans Christian Andersen spent several unhappy years attending school in Elsinore, the setting of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Because he was older than the other students, Andersen was often ridiculed for being different—a theme that colors many of his fairy tales.
  • Hans Christian Andersen’s stories have been translated into more languages than any other book except the Bible.
  • Theologian and philosopher Søren Kierkegaard wrote many of his early works under a wide variety of pen names. Often, one Kierkegaard alter-ego would comment assertively on the works of another Kierkegaard alter-ego.
  • In 1985, astronomers P. Jensen and K. Augustesen named an asteroid after Denmark’s Karen Blixen (a.k.a. Isak Dinesen), author of Out of Africa. The asteroid is called the 3318 Blixen.
  • Denmark boasts an abundance of Nobel laureates, including physicist Niels Bohr, who figures prominently in the play Copenhagen, which explores his relationship with the German atomic scientist Werner Heisenberg.
  • According to Danish legend, the Dannebrog—the Danish flag—fell from the sky during the Battle of Lyndanisse in 1219 in a divine portent of Denmark’s victory over Estonia.
  • The seafaring Vikings, who inhabited Denmark for several centuries, were often associated with barbaric traits—including drinking from human skulls. In fact, the Vikings had a sophisticated culture, of which poetry, art and technological innovation were important parts.

Photos by Study Abroad participants.