Study Abroad Europe - Why Copenhagen?

When choosing a Study Abroad Program in Europe, it is important to know the city you will make your home for the next few months or entire year. So let DIS introduce you to Copenhagen, the world’s most livable city in the country with the happiest population!

Copenhagen – Your Home from Home | Cultural Copenhagen |
The World’s Most Livable City | A Historical Capital |
Interacting with Copenhagen | A City at Your Feet (or Pedals) |
Study Abroad Europe: See Copenhagen with DIS

Copenhagen – Your Study Abroad Home from Home
Copenhagen is a bustling metropolis of 1.8 million people. It is the capital of Denmark and the center of the Danish-Swedish Øresund Region with a transnational population of 3.8 million. Yet Copenhagen still projects an inviting small-town atmosphere of friendliness, intimacy, and safety – but things never get dull. A dense network of car-free walking streets, town squares and picturesque waterfront areas cover the old downtown area where DIS is located. Denmark may be one of the most efficient and economically competitive nations on earth (voted the world’s Best Country for Business by Forbes Magazine, 2008 and 2009), but the Danes also know how to relax and have fun. You will truly enjoy the cozy atmosphere of this effervescent European capital.

Cultural Copenhagen
Copenhagen has a long-established reputation for being a fashionable and culturally cool capital; sleek design, varied shopping, cute cafés, dance and rock clubs, concerts, indigenous cinema, festivals and well-dressed people are an ever present. Denmark has historically produced iconic design, with Arne Jacobsen, Verner Panton, Poul Henningsen, Nanna Ditzel and Jørn Utzon, as well as companies like Royal Copenhagen, Georg Jensen, Bang & Olufsen at the forefront of design innovation. Meanwhile in cinema, enfant terrible Lars von Trier is joined by names such as Carl Theodor Dreyer, Jørgen Leth, Susanne Bier and Bille August in the canon of important Danish directors. On the social scene, Copenhagen is a young city, so the nightlife is varied and always fun. Street art, galleries, ethnic and local restaurants, the Royal Opera, and open-air jazz performances complete the picture of a modern European capital.

The World’s Most Livable City
Copenhagen and Denmark have both picked up a habit of topping international surveys determining quality of life, personal safety, architecture and design and even happiness of its citizens. For instance, Denmark is not only the second most peaceful country in the world (Economist Intelligence Unit: Global Peace Index, 2009), but it also has the happiest people, according to both an international University of Leicester survey and one from the United States National Science Foundation. Copenhagen as a city is in the same league; though relatively big, it has a low crime rate, life quality is excellent and personal safety is high. Elsewhere, Copenhagen topped Monocle magazine’s World’s Most Livable City survey.

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A Historical Capital
Founded in 1167, every era and epoch in European history has left its imprint on Copenhagen. Winding medieval streets, great Renaissance palaces, Baroque and Rococo complexes, early-modern ramparts, a historic harbor plus all the trappings and amenities of the modern age are central elements of the city fabric. As the capital of Denmark, Copenhagen is home to most national Danish institutions. Within walking distance from DIS you will find the main universities and research libraries of the country; parliament, government, and European Union agencies; superb art collections; the national research hospital; the Royal Ballet and Opera; the national media; and international company headquarters.

Interacting with Copenhagen
DIS uses all these resources as most DIS classes include field studies in and around Copenhagen. A few examples: History of European Ballet – viewing performances of the Royal Danish Ballet; Criminology and Criminal Justice in Scandinavia – on-site discussions with prison inmates; European Business Strategy – a Scandinavian Airlines presentation; Children with Special Needs – a visit to a crisis intervention center for at risk children; Architecture & Design – analyzing examples of ground-breaking modern Scandinavian architecture; Human Trafficking in Europe – talking with social workers at the street level; and much, much more.

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A City at Your Feet (or Pedals)
Getting around Copenhagen is easy. Cycling is the preferred mode of transport (36 percent of Danes bike to work every morning), while many people jog around the lakes or along the waterfront. An extensive system of public transportation combining buses, commuter trains and a subway takes you everywhere within greater Copenhagen, day and night. Students enjoy the freedom to go home by bus or train, even alone, nearly any time of the day or night. And commuting is included in the DIS tuition.
Copenhagen has Scandinavia’s largest airport, Kastrup, with hundreds of daily departures so getting to other parts of Europe during travel breaks is really easy – especially as there is always a large number of cheap travel offers available. Otherwise there are international trains, busses and ferries to whisk you away on a whim to a multitude of European destinations.

Study Abroad Europe: See Copenhagen with DIS
DIS is located in the very center of Copenhagen. Within walking distance you'll find the main universities and research libraries of the country; parliament, government offices, European Union agencies, and Denmark's Central Bank; superb art collections and national museums; the national research hospital; the Royal Theater; the national media; and Danish and international company headquarters. As a DIS student, you have privileged access to these resources for a strong hands-on complement to the classroom learning.

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