Tailored Academics & Research
Foreign Languages
For an additional fee, students who have started a foreign language at their home institution and are required to continue studying that language while abroad may be able to do so at DIS, provided the level of language is a documented requirement of the student’s declared major or minor. One foreign language class per semester (other than Danish) is permitted.
Students who can provide the requisite documentation will also be required to a) pay an additional fee - $500; b) send the home university syllabus for the required course to DIS at least 2 months before the start of the semester; and c) bring the required text book and other study material from their home institution to DIS.
DIS can only allow students to take these language classes on a pass/fail basis since there are not major exams or assignments that are graded. DIS offers this option to allow students to continue their foreign language instruction while studying abroad so that they do not lose their language skills, but these courses can in no way be counted as direct equivalencies for a language course on the home campuses.
Performing Arts: Music
For students who are studying music and want to continue while in Copenhagen, DIS can arrange instruction for credit through a joint collaboration with the Royal Danish Academy of Music. The academy offers both individual and group instruction. Students interested in studying music while in Copenhagen are asked to contact an advisor at the DIS North American Office early to coordinate the audition process, as required by the Academy. The North American Office can be reached at 800 247-3477 or by clicking here to send an email.
The deadline to submit a DVD recording of the student to DIS is February 1 for fall semester and September 1 for spring semester. Each course is subject to an additional fee of $500.
Other Performing Arts
DIS may be able to arrange instruction for students interested in continuing their studies in other performing. Please contact the NAO for assistance: 800 247-3477 or please click here to send an email. Each specially arranged course is subject to a $500 fee.
Extra/Honors Credit
Students may elect to take one DIS course for an extra credit, or to write an honors paper related to one of their DIS courses.
Student Research
If you have a student who will be attending DIS for a semester or longer, you may be asked to sign off on a research project proposal. The option to conduct research is open to all students accepted to DIS for a fall or spring semester, however is primarily geared for students interested in completing desk and field research in the humanities and social sciences.
In order to best facilitate students’ research interests, DIS requires students to work with a faculty member at their home institution prior to their semester at DIS to define their research question/thesis, draft the methodology that will be used, and generate an initial reading list prior to going abroad. It is also important for DIS to know if your campus requires specific formats, page limitations, etc. This is particularly important if the student is intending to submit the paper for an Honors or Senior thesis, for example. If a student’s proposal is subject to Internal Review Board (or similar) approval; this needs to come from the home institution.
By signing off on a student’s proposal, we hope that the faculty member will remain in contact with the student while in Denmark. However, the student will be assigned to a DIS faculty supervisor, who will monitor the student’s progress and grade the paper relative to the goals outlined in the original proposal. The student will receive 3 credits for the research work.
Submitting a Proposal
Students are asked to submit a brief summary of their proposal and to complete the Research Proposal Form and submit it along with all supporting materials to DIS by the deadline (early June for fall semester and early November for spring semester). The Director of Teaching and Learning and the relevant Program Director in Copenhagen will review the application. If the research project proposal is accepted, students will receive confirmation at least one month before the start of the semester. If DIS feels the proposal is not achievable during the semester in Copenhagen, we will work with the student to revise the proposal.
In Copenhagen, students will carry out the project, maximizing their use of the Danish / European environment. They will have weekly meetings with a supervisor, but the bulk of the work will be self-directed. DIS faculty will be available to guide students on methodology, and help to find resources to conduct research in Europe.
Students interested in conducting research abroad should be self-motivated, inspired, and tenacious – this takes advance planning, on-the-ground hard work, and the ability to work independently.
