Study Abroad in Denmark
Copenhagen, founded more than 800 years ago, combines the old-world charm of its Medieval origins with the vibrant life of a modern European capital. Enroll in a wide variety of courses taught in English and enjoy exciting study tours to other sites in Europe.
Scholarship
I-UROP Scholarship
University of Minnesota students participating in a research project on this program may be eligible for the International Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (I-UROP) Scholarship
Program Details
Location
Copenhagen,
Denmark
Term
Academic Year
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
Housing
Apartment
Homestay
Other
Languages Taught In
English
Program Eligibility
Student Type
UofM Students
Student Year
Sophomores
Juniors
Seniors
GPA
3.0
Photos
About
Take courses in a wide variety of disciplines, from neuroscience to gender studies to design, with beautiful Copenhagen as your classroom. Choose from several housing options, including a homestay, and join the locals in biking to class in this bike-friendly city.
Program Model
Housing & Meals
The Study Abroad in Denmark program offers several housing choices so you can tailor your experience to perfectly fit your lifestyle. Students have the choice between a homestay, Kollegium, a Living & Learning Community, and the Residential Community.
All housing options include a furnished room with towels, a blanket, a pillow, and bed linens. You will also have access to laundry facilities and Internet, and you will receive a transit pass that will allow you to get from your housing to classes. All housing options also include either most meals or a food stipend to help offset the cost of buying groceries.
An overview of each housing option is described below. For more detailed information on these housing options, visit DIS's website.
Homestay
Live with local hosts and immerse yourself in Danish life. This housing option is the most popular option at DIS and provides you with an excellent perspective of Danish culture, as well as a built-in support network.
Kollegium
Danish universities do not have campuses with university housing, so independent kollegiums house students from several educational institutions in Copenhagen, making it a great way to meet a variety of students from many backgrounds. Choose from a kollegium with a shared kitchen for the floor or apartment-style housing with a kitchenette in each unit.
Living & Learning Community
A DIS Living & Learning Community (LLC) is a co-curricular housing experience that integrates a shared interest through the lens of exploring Copenhagen or Danish culture within your housing experience.
Residential Community
Live with other DIS students in Copenhagen and enjoy a network of friends when you’re at home. Previous students living in DIS Residential Communities (DRCs) have commented that they experienced a good social life connected to their academic environment and enjoyed having a "little bit of home" but with Denmark right outside the door.
Excursions
Study tours are one of the features of DIS that students find most attractive. Each core course includes both a short study tour to another part of Denmark and a week-long study tour to another country. These study tours are an integrated part of your core course, and as such they are academic in nature and included in your program fee. Exploration Electives are also an opportunity to travel and learn with a course; each one includes a travel component at no extra cost.
DIS also provides you with ways to get out, meet Danes, and experience Danish culture on a daily basis. Involve yourself in the many cultural opportunities offered to you while studying at DIS, and find out who the Danes really are across a variety of contexts. Pursue a passion and join a club or sports team with friendly Copenhageners, exchange cultural perspectives with a Visiting Host, stop by Studenterhuset for a game of foosball, give back to the community by volunteering, learn to speak some Danish, and end the semester calling Denmark a second home.
Learning Outcomes
During your semester at DIS, plan the meet the following objectives:
- Challenge yourself to raise questions, examine issues from different perspectives, explore new mindsets, and reflect on your own values and identity through new experiences and discussions
- Expand your knowledge in your field through a unique European lens in the DIS classroom, field studies, and on study tours
- Build your cross-cultural competencies, gain real-world knowledge, and become more flexible in order to live, work, and succeed in an increasingly globalized world
- Gain the ability to connect theory and knowledge through observation and practice, and to reflect on all that you learn through these methods
- Engage with the Danes and depart your time there knowing Copenhagen is your second home
Faculty & Staff
DIS services begin in the US and continue when you arrive in Denmark. The DIS North American Office, which has close ties to the Learning Abroad Center, is there to assist you in registering for courses, selecting the most suitable housing option, advising on flights to/from Denmark, and other pre-departure activities. On arrival in Copenhagen, the numerous DIS on-site staff members are on hand to help students, providing a broad array of services ranging from personal and academic counseling to sending mail, Internet access, and much more.
DIS faculty bring real-life expertise from their field into the classroom. Most work as professionals in the areas they teach, giving you direct access to resources and networks both in Copenhagen and on study tours. They will introduce you to a network of leading researchers and health professionals, European politicians, innovative business leaders, cutting-edge architects and designers, forward thinking entrepreneurs, ground-breaking activists, fascinating historians…and the list goes on and on.
Program Structure
Program Level
3000-level and above
Courseload
15-16 per semester
Coursework
Semester & Academic-Year Coursework
The Study Abroad in Denmark program offers academically rigorous courses in a wide variety of subjects. Each track has one required core course with two accompanying study tours. For your other courses, you can choose from electives related to your program or select courses from a variety of other disciplines. Instruction is in English by Danish faculty. Receive 30 credits per year, 15 credits per semester.
Choose from a variety of tracks such as:
- Architecture
- Art & Visual Culture
- Biomedicine
- Business
- Child Development & Diversity
- Communication
- Computer Science
- Economics
- Environmental Science of the Arctic
- European Politics
- Finance
- Furniture Design
- Graphic Design
- Holocaust & Genocide
- Innovation & Entrepreneurship
- Interior Architecture (Interior Design)
- Justice & Human Rights
- Literature
- Medical Practice & Policy
- Neuroscience
- Pre-Architecture (for Architecture BA and BDA students; or BS students who have not yet taken a studio course)
- Prostitution & the Sex Trade
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Sociology
- Sustainability
- Terrorism & Security
- Urban Design
- Urban Studies
Visit the DIS website for a full list of offerings and note any pre-requisites that may be required for admission.
Students register for 30 credits per year or 15 credits per semester. U of M students are not allowed to take a course pass/fail (S/N). In rare and extenuating circumstances, students may work with the LAC to petition for an exception.
Global Identity
Global Identity: Connecting Your International Experience with Your Future is an optional 1-credit online course that helps you process your international experience and apply what you've learned upon your return. Global Identity gives you the opportunity to work individually with a trained cultural mentor, helping you articulate your newly acquired skills and differentiating you from your peers.
To access more information about the course, visit the Global Identity Course Information page.
Program Dates
Submit the online application and complete the assigned application checklist according to the appropriate deadline:
If you are interested in summer program options, please visit Summer in Denmark & Sweden for details.
Orientation Dates & Locations
Orientation will be conducted in 2 parts: an online orientation, which is mandatory for all students, and an in-person, program-specific session. You will receive more information about the online orientation via email. Failure to complete the online orientation will impact your ability to go abroad.
See below for tentative dates and times for your in-person session. You will be notified of the official date and time via email. Participants will receive applicable orientation materials via email approximately 1 week prior to the in-person session.
| Term Abroad | Orientation Date/Time |
|---|---|
| Fall 2023 & Academic Year 23-24 | TBD |
DIS will provide access to a mandatory online pre-departure course called Compass. Additionally, they will hold 1-2 online pre-departure orientations.
Spring 2024
Application Open Date: May 1, 2023
Application Deadline: October 1, 2023
| Schedule | Date |
|---|---|
| Program dates | Jan 13–May 10 |
Academic Year 2023-24
Application Open Date: December 1, 2022
Application Deadline: March 15, 2023
| Schedule | Date |
|---|---|
| Program dates | Aug 19–May 10 |
Fall 2023
Application Open Date: December 1, 2022
Application Deadline: March 15, 2023
| Schedule | Date |
|---|---|
| Program dates | Aug 19–Dec 15 |
Fees
University of Minnesota participants pay the program fee instead of on-campus tuition and fees for the term they are abroad.
If you do not see a budget estimate for the term you intend to go abroad, the fee has not yet been finalized. We strive to post fees for this program at least 30 days prior to the application deadline. The Learning Abroad Center will delay the posting of some fees until enrollments, inflation, and exchange rates are determined. Note the average increase in fees will be 3–10%. Program fees are based on estimates and may change depending on international economic factors.
Billing & Payments
Visit Billing for information about the billing process for application fees, deposits, and program fees.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Visit Financial Information for information on using financial aid and scholarships for study abroad.
Review scholarships offered by DIS.
Bridging Loan
Bridging Loan, a no-interest/no-fees loan that funds the upfront deposit and flights costs, is available for this program for eligible students.
Cancellation Policy
Before you apply to or confirm your participation on this program, review the Learning Abroad Center's Cancellation Policy to inform yourself of the timeline and financial obligations for canceling.
Spring 2024
Study Abroad in Denmark (DIS)Spring Semester 2024 |
|
|---|---|
Program Fee
|
|
| Non-refundable deposit | $400 |
| Tuition and educational costsPlease refer to Comprehensive Tuition Fee on the DIS website for inclusions. | $23,643 |
| International health insuranceStudents are enrolled in both DIS and UofM insurance coverage. | $252 |
| Housing and/or mealsRefer to the Comprehensive Housing & Student Affairs Fee on the DIS website for inclusions | $6,850 |
| Transportation (if required and included in program fee)Local transportation costs are included, between DIS and your housing. | $0 |
| Total Program Fee | $31,145 |
| Program discount for University of Minnesota and Big Ten students, if applicable | $-5,000 |
| Total Program Fee with discount, if applicable | $26,145 |
Estimated Additional Expenses
|
|
| Costs Typically Incurred Prior to Departure These costs may need to be paid before your financial aid is disbursed for your term abroad. | |
| Transportation to and from program siteRound-trip airfare MSP-Copenhagen | $1,750 |
| Passport/photos | $150 |
| Visa/required documentsDanish Resident Permit fee is included in Educational Costs. | $0 |
| Travel clinic/immunizations* | $0 |
| Housing deposit | $0 |
| Total Estimated Cost Incurred Prior to Departure | $1,900 |
| Costs Typically Incurred After Arrival in Host Country | |
| Texts/materialsCourse reading materials and textbook rental are included in Educational Costs. | $0 |
| Housing and/or meals not included in program feeFood/grocery budget: $400-$550/month, less for students placed in homestays | $2,200 |
| Essential daily living expenses | $3,000 |
| Total Estimated Cost Incurred After Arrival in Host Country | $5,200 |
Total Estimated Cost of Participation
|
|
| Total Estimated Cost of Participation | $33,245 |
| Spending money and personal travel Not included in financial aid calculation | $1,750 |
| Additional Notes & Information | |
| * Immunizations Note: This estimate is based on approximate cost of travel-related vaccinations and medications required for entry or recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your costs may be higher or lower depending on your travel clinic, the specific immunizations and medication prescribed, and your insurance coverage. | |
Academic Year 2023–24
Study Abroad in Denmark (DIS)Academic Yr Fall 2023/Spring 2024 |
|
|---|---|
Program Fee
|
|
| Non-refundable deposit | $400 |
| Tuition and educational costsPlease refer to Comprehensive Tuition Fee on the DIS website for inclusions. | $43,190 |
| International health insuranceStudents are enrolled in both DIS and UofM insurance coverage. | $540 |
| Housing and/or mealsRefer to the Comprehensive Housing & Student Affairs Fee on the DIS website for inclusions | $13,700 |
| Transportation (if required and included in program fee)Local transportation costs are included, between DIS and your housing. | $0 |
| Total Program Fee | $57,830 |
| Program discount for University of Minnesota and Big Ten students, if applicable | $-9,000 |
| Total Program Fee with discount, if applicable | $48,830 |
Estimated Additional Expenses
|
|
| Costs Typically Incurred Prior to Departure These costs may need to be paid before your financial aid is disbursed for your term abroad. | |
| Transportation to and from program siteRound-trip airfare MSP-Copenhagen | $1,750 |
| Passport/photos | $150 |
| Visa/required documentsDanish Resident Permit fee is included in Educational Costs | $0 |
| Travel clinic/immunizations* | $0 |
| Housing deposit | $0 |
| Total Estimated Cost Incurred Prior to Departure | $1,900 |
| Costs Typically Incurred After Arrival in Host Country | |
| Texts/materialsCourse reading materials and textbook rental are included in Educational Costs. | $0 |
| Housing and/or meals not included in program feeFood/grocery budget: $400-$550/month, less for students placed in homestays | $5,500 |
| Essential daily living expenses | $6,000 |
| Total Estimated Cost Incurred After Arrival in Host Country | $11,500 |
Total Estimated Cost of Participation
|
|
| Total Estimated Cost of Participation | $62,230 |
| Spending money and personal travel Not included in financial aid calculation | $3,500 |
| Additional Notes & Information | |
| * Immunizations Note: This estimate is based on approximate cost of travel-related vaccinations and medications required for entry or recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your costs may be higher or lower depending on your travel clinic, the specific immunizations and medication prescribed, and your insurance coverage. | |
Fall 2023
Study Abroad in Denmark (DIS)Fall Semester 2023 |
|
|---|---|
Program Fee
|
|
| Non-refundable deposit | $400 |
| Tuition and educational costsPlease refer to Comprehensive Tuition Fee on the DIS website for inclusions. | $23,640 |
| International health insuranceStudents are enrolled in both DIS and UofM insurance coverage. | $240 |
| Housing and/or mealsRefer to the Comprehensive Housing & Student Affairs Fee on the DIS website for inclusions | $6,850 |
| Transportation (if required and included in program fee)Local transportation costs are included, between DIS and your housing. | $0 |
| Total Program Fee | $31,130 |
| Program discount for University of Minnesota and Big Ten students, if applicable | $-5,000 |
| Total Program Fee with discount, if applicable | $26,130 |
Estimated Additional Expenses
|
|
| Costs Typically Incurred Prior to Departure These costs may need to be paid before your financial aid is disbursed for your term abroad. | |
| Transportation to and from program siteRound-trip airfare MSP-Copenhagen | $1,750 |
| Passport/photos | $150 |
| Visa/required documentsDanish Resident Permit fee is included in Educational Costs. | $0 |
| Travel clinic/immunizations* | $0 |
| Housing deposit | $0 |
| Total Estimated Cost Incurred Prior to Departure | $1,900 |
| Costs Typically Incurred After Arrival in Host Country | |
| Texts/materialsCourse reading materials and textbook rental are included in Educational Costs. | $0 |
| Housing and/or meals not included in program feeFood/grocery budget: $400-$550/month, less for students placed in homestays | $2,200 |
| Essential daily living expenses | $3,000 |
| Total Estimated Cost Incurred After Arrival in Host Country | $5,200 |
Total Estimated Cost of Participation
|
|
| Total Estimated Cost of Participation | $33,230 |
| Spending money and personal travel Not included in financial aid calculation | $1,750 |
| Additional Notes & Information | |
| * Immunizations Note: This estimate is based on approximate cost of travel-related vaccinations and medications required for entry or recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your costs may be higher or lower depending on your travel clinic, the specific immunizations and medication prescribed, and your insurance coverage. | |
Summer 2022
Prepare
Complete pre-application advising.
US Passport holders require a visa to study on this program. In order to obtain a visa, you must have a valid passport. Current US passport processing times are longer than normal. If you do not have a passport, or your passport expires less than 6 months after your return date from your time abroad, apply for a new passport now.
Apply
The COVID-19 vaccine series is strongly recommended, pursuant to CDC guidelines, but not required for participation in this program.
You will be charged a $50 application fee for each application you submit.
Complete
Your application checklist will include:
- Application Essay
- Academic Recommendation
- A $50 application fee will be charged to your UofM student account
Detailed descriptions and instructions for submitting each checklist item are included on the application checklist assigned to you.
Next Steps
- Upon submitting the online application, you will receive an automated email message indicating your application was received.
- Follow the instructions on your application checklist to submit all of the items. Your application is not considered complete until all items on your application checklist are either received or waived.
- Your completed application is reviewed by our program team.
- You will be notified of an acceptance decision by email. If accepted, you will be assigned a confirmation checklist. log into the online application to review the confirmation checklist and submit the required items.
- Confirmed participants will also receive login instructions for the DIS online registration system by email.
- If you decide not to continue with the application process, log in to the online application and submit a Cancel Request. You must also notify DIS of your cancellation.
After You Apply
Before your program begins, review these resources.
Health & Safety
Learn more about staying healthy and safe abroad, including mental health and wellness, international travel insurance, and safety precautions.
Power of Attorney
Consider designating someone as your power of attorney to act as your legal representative while you’re abroad.
Student Identity
Consult our resources on student identities as you prepare for your abroad experience.
Travel Resources
Ready to go abroad? Our travel resources will help you pack and learn what to expect.
Program Contact
For further information or questions about this program, send an email to
Dunia Tesfaye
or call at
612.626.1117