Study Abroad in Scandinavia (DIS Copenhagen)

Academic Program

DIS offer hundreds of courses across many disciplines, giving you the opportunity to study abroad while earning credits, deepening knowledge in your field, and discovering new areas of interest.

DIS FORMAT

Your program at DIS is determined by your choice of a Core Course (you only take one per semester). A Core Course is your ‘focus’ course which will include two faculty-led ‘Study Tours’ throughout the semester.

• FOR YOUR APPLICATION, PLEASE PLAN TO HAVE AT LEAST TWO CORE COURSES AS OPTIONS.

After you are accepted into the program according to your Core Course, you will then select your Elective Courses. Elective Courses are the classes that you will be taking in Copenhagen that do not include a study tour, but they make up the remainder of your semester.

**Since DIS is a national study abroad provider, it is recommended to complete your application early in the application process in order to increase your chances of getting into your preferred core course. DIS runs on a “first-come, first-serve” basis, so if you apply late, you may not get into your preferred class.**
 

COURSE SEARCH

Please search through the DIS Copenhagen Course Finder to see which classes could work for you!
You can also review the 30 different academic programs that DIS has to offer.
 

Course equivalency information for UAlbany Students

Credits earned on this program may be approved to satisfy the World History/International Perspectives or other UAlbany General Education requirements, if you earn appropriate credit in these areas and receive approval using the General Education Substitution Request form found here: General Education Waivers, Substitutions & Appeals | University at Albany. 

Courses may also satisfy major and minor requirements, with approval by the associated academic department(s). You may file a request to have additional courses approved for equivalency as necessary. 

All courses successfully completed through this program abroad that are not assigned a specific UAlbany course equivalency will at least count as UAlbany General Elective credits. Credits and grades will appear on your UAlbany transcript.

Your Instructors

You will have professors and instructors from a variety of backgrounds.  Learn about each of them online here.

Housing

When you study at DIS Copenhagen for a full semester, you can choose from a number of different housing options with DIS, including:

• Homestay
• Residential Community
• Kollegium (student residence hall)*
• Living & Learning Community

More information and details about housing can be found online.

Meals

Depending on your housing selection, a food stipend may be included. Otherwise, there are many restaurants and grocery stores in the area. If you are staying in a Homestay, you will be provided with two meals per day (generally Breakfast and Dinner). 

ESTIMATE OF COSTS

DIS Semester Programs in Copenhagen or Stockholm

More Information

Click for more information on Program Costs and Financial Aid.
Remember to speak with the Office of Financial Aid at your home campus to determine how your aid package could apply towards your program abroad.

Eligibility Requirements

This study abroad option is open to SUNY students only. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors with at least a 3.0 GPA are eligible to participate. You must have completed 2 semesters at a college/university to apply (AP credits do not count). Applications are welcome from students in all majors.

Experiential Learning

Program Study Tours form a central part of your DIS academic experience, as you enroll in one core course for the semester, which includes two course-integrated study tours.

DIS offers plenty of opportunities to explore Scandinavia and beyond!
 

Student Clubs and Organizations

Pursue a passion and join a club or sports team with 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 by the end of the semester, you will be calling Denmark a second home. By going the extra mile and building your network, you may even open up possibilities for an international career after graduation. Check out more information HERE.

Funding Opportunities

DIS offers automatic scholarships for SUNY students! This is reflected in the estimate of costs.
Additional DIS scholarships can be found at this link.

Most financial aid and academic awards will apply to semester programs.
External scholarships, listed on our website, are a good way to partially fund your study abroad experience. In addition, the Center for International Education and Global Strategy offers two scholarship programs for UAlbany students studying abroad on UAlbany or 4-year SUNY programs.
More information on applying to these scholarships is located on the Scholarships web page.

In Their Own Words

“I had the most unbelievably amazing study abroad experience, and I don’t think I could have picked a better study abroad program than DIS or a better city to study in than Copenhagen.  It was an experience I will treasure for the rest of my life.  I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in studying abroad in Scandinavia.  I lived right in the heart of the city only a 5 minute walk away from classes, the professors were wonderful and the program even takes you to other countries so that you don’t have to organize all the travel on your own.  I did a lot of traveling both within Europe and within Denmark.  I also had a visiting host family, where instead of living with them I see them once a week and have dinner with them or take a trip with them.  It’s a wonderful alternative to regular host families in that you get to live in the city with other students your own age but can still have the culturally immersive experience of spending time with a Danish family.  This is the only study abroad program I have ever seen that does this.  I had the most unforgettable time and thank you for all that you have done to make me going to Denmark a reality.” -Jeremy Frank, International Studies major
“Studying Abroad changed my life and set me on a new career path. I met so many great people and made so many dear friends. I can not wait to see what the future holds for me and thanks to going abroad I now have a better idea of what that might be.” – Joshua Anthony, Globalization Studies
“Studying abroad in Denmark was a once in a lifetime experience I would never want to take back. It taught me the importance of seeing the world and how different cultures live. It was truly eye opening and life changing. It was so easy to get around by plane in Europe, so it was amazing to be able to travel to different countries on the weekend. Be prepared to be exhausted! But so worth it.” – Jaclyn Lischak, Psychology major 
 

You can also see other student bloggers on the DIS Student Bloggers page.

About the City

Why Copenhagen?
Denmark, the smallest and most southern Scandinavian country, is a mix of rural and urban with ancient castles and modern designs found throughout. The official language spoken in Denmark is Danish, though many Danes are fluent in English and German as well, providing students with opportunities to gain language proficiency and explore cultural differences. Situated in close proximity to Germany, Sweden, Norway, and several other European countries, Denmark offers a great location for students interested in exploring Northern Europe.
Founded in the twelfth century, Copenhagen combines the old world charm of its medieval beginnings with the vitality of a modern European metropolis. Located at the entrance to the Baltic Sea and at the crossroads between Europe and Scandinavia, this city is truly international. It serves as home to the country’s governmental seat, main universities and libraries, museums of history and art, business headquarters, and cultural center.

Travel Documents

A valid passport is required to participate in this program. You will need a residence permit for this program, and DIS will assist you with the process. More information regarding the visa application process is available upon acceptance to the program.

Program Dates

Academic Year 2026/27

8/15/2026 to 5/13/2027

Fall 2026

8/15/2026 to 12/10/2026

Spring 2027

1/15/2027 to 5/14/2027
Review the full DIS calendar online.

Application Availability

Applications become available online one semester before the program start date, based on the following timeline:

• Spring programs: July/August
• Fall/Year programs: December/January

About the Program

DIS is a non-profit study abroad foundation established in Denmark in 1959, with locations in Copenhagen and Stockholm. DIS provides semester, academic year, and summer programs taught in English, and offers high-impact learning experiences for upper-division undergraduate students from distinguished North American colleges and universities. The intellectually challenging curriculum is broad, cutting edge, and enriched by experiential learning components, including faculty-led study tours across Europe. It provides students with opportunities for meaningful cultural engagement and personal growth, which is further enriched through housing and extracurricular offerings.
Check out the admitted student info page for more info.

Program Orientations

Upon acceptance to the program, you will be required to attend a mandatory pre-departure orientation. During this time, you will have the opportunity to meet other program participants, discuss in-depth the details of your program, and prepare for the overall education abroad experience. The fall semester pre-departure orientation will be conducted towards the end of April/early May and in late November/early December for the spring term abroad.
Upon arrival at DIS, you will attend a mandatory program orientation. This is an important and informative set of sessions organized by the International Office of your host university.

Support Services

UAlbany’s Office of Education Abroad staff assists you during the application process, in your preparation to travel abroad, and on-site if necessary. DIS’s staff serve as an experienced resource for resolving issues that you may encounter while abroad.