Housing Policy & Quality Assurance A Commitment to Housing Provision

DIS strives to find the best possible housing match for each student and we work hard to ensure that you have a wonderful and hospitable stay in your housing. We realize that your home in Denmark is where you prepare, and recharge your batteries for classes. Where you live is also a very important part of your study abroad experience in its own right: It should, to the extent possible, immerse you into Danish culture.

We expect the Danish hosts and contact persons to be open and welcoming to you, and to establish a positive intercultural relationship with you to mutual benefit. We put a great deal of effort into preparing our hosts and Social & Residential Advisors for the intercultural encounter by paying them visits in their own homes and inviting them to workshops. They are committed to DIS because they want to open up their home to you and to enter into a relationship where you learn from one another.

Social & Residential Advisors

At most kollegiums and DIS Residential Community locations, a DIS Social & Residential Advisor is present. They are somewhat similar to RAs in an American dorm. He or she is a Danish or international student, who is employed by DIS. Social & Residential Advisors are specially trained to work with American students. Your Social & Residential Advisor will help you get adjusted to life in Denmark – for instance helping you find your way around the local area, and helping with any practical problems that can arise throughout the semester.

Social & Residential Advisors have office hours, during which you can stop by their room if you need help with anything, or if you just feel like talking to somebody. For more urgent matters, Social & Residential Advisors can be contacted by phone or e-mail. At least twice a semester, your Social & Residential Advisor will plan a social event for DIS students. This can be a homemade dinner, a party, a movie night, or perhaps something the students suggest themselves. Two mandatory monthly meetings take place between Social & Residential Advisors and students in DIS Residential Communities.

Your Role as a DIS Student

Please remember that you also have a role in of ensuring the success of your housing experience. You should be open and frank and also respect your hosts and facilities. You should treat your DIS-arranged housing as if it were your own property, whether you live in a house, apartment or in a kollegium room. The Danes you live with will see you both as an individual, a DIS student, and as an ambassador for your home university and country. It’s only logical, but when you show interest and respect for your hosts and physical surroundings then you will also be met with interest, openness and respect. 

Students who choose to consume alcohol do so with the knowledge that they remain responsible for their actions at all times. Alcohol misuse is prohibited and does not constitute an excuse for irresponsible behavior or misconduct. Disorderly conduct, property destruction, intimidation or other infringements on the rights of others as a result of alcohol are prohibited.

Communication in your DIS-arranged housing

As you probably experienced as a freshman at university, learning to live in a new environment requires some adaptation; every person has different habits and quirks. It is therefore important to keep open lines of communication between you, your family, your roommate or your hall mates.

We recommend that you do your best to establish an open and respectful culture of dialogue where you live. Whenever something bothers you or surprises you, please do not keep it to yourself and risk that it develops into a problem. Instead, make it a habit to ask and express your expectations and possible concerns in a nice, constructive and non-offensive way. Please remember that learning how to function well in a European housing environment means that you acquire inter-cultural skills that will benefit you later in life.

Procedure for possible housing disagreements

If a disagreement arises then please remember that Housing and student Services staff is here for you! We are here to listen to you, discuss and work with you concerning any matter you may experience in your particular housing situation. We are also more than happy to step in as the third party in a discussion.

The DIS policy is that we do not move students during the first two weeks of the semester due to the adjustment period unless there are very special circumstances. We are here to help you ensure that you reach the best descision and that any disagreement is resolved the best way possible. We will normally try to reach a solution through dialogue, but the bottom line is that if you think that the best decision is to move then that will happen: The Housing Coordinator will bring up possible housing alternatives, based on availability at the given time, and you will work together on making a list of priorities ( e.g. 1. another host family, 2. a kollegium room, etc.) and visit your new housing site before the actual move.