Host Family Most Popular Option

The host family stay is the most popular housing option at DIS. Students choosing this option live with a Danish family in or around the greater Copenhagen area. Based on past students’ experience and ratings, we strongly recommend the family stay. This option best accomplishes the overall cross-cultural objectives and benefits of studying abroad giving you a support network, cultural exchange and personal freedom.

What to Expect

DIS host families live in either apartments or single-family houses. You are guaranteed a room of your own but will share other facilities such as the kitchen, bathroom and laundry room with the rest of the family. The standard of living is comfortable. If you live with a family, meals are provided; however, you are expected to make your own lunch and to prepare your own breakfast. In-house laundry facilities are usually available, and many homes – though not all – have internet access. Please expect to tidy and clean up after yourself and help with household tasks!

Quality Family Time!

You will be a real member of the family, not just a boarder. Danish families are liberal and down-to-earth and will treat you as an adult guest in their home. You are free to go out with your friends during the week or to travel over weekends. However, you should also be prepared to spend some evenings and weekends with them. Host families are genuinely interested in meeting you and introducing you to Danish culture – they want to incorporate you as much as you want to be incorporated.

Diversity of Families

DIS offers a great diversity of host families, including nuclear families, single-parent families and various other combinations, including non-ethnic Danish families. They may have young children, grown-up children or none at all. They may be young, middle-aged or retired, and some hosts may be single. You may write your preferences in the registration form and we will do our best to find you a compatible family.

A host family is the right option if you:

• want to immerse yourself into Danish culture and traditions
• are willing to spend time getting to know the family and balance this with hanging out with your DIS friends
• are prepared to commute, as location obviously varies
• feel you will benefit from a readymade Danish network and support system
• are happy to tidy after yourself and occasionally help with household tasks.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who are the DIS host families?
• Can I choose my host family myself?
• Will staying with a family limit my freedom?
• How does the food issue work?
• Will I have Internet access in my housing?
• How much time will I spend on commuting?
• Do the Danes speak English well? 
• I heard that the Danes smoke a lot – is this true?

Who are the DIS host families?

As mentioned above, DIS has much diversity within host families, some with young or teenaged children and others with none at all, with ethnic backgrounds varying - though they are Danish citizens. This usually only enriches the cultural exchange between family and student. DIS do its best to find you a compatible family.

All host families receive a small subsidy from DIS, but they choose to join the DIS program because they value the intercultural exchange that occurs between them and the student, and because they enjoy spending time with their new family member. All DIS families have also been visited by DIS staff.

Can I choose my host family myself?

Yes and no. The DIS housing department will match you with a compatible family based on the personal letters we receive from you as well as from your registration form, so please be as honest and clear in your descriptions and requests as possible. We receive the same kind of information from our host families and match you accordingly.

Our families are as different as the students who join them in terms of lifestyle, interests, routines, age and composition. Therefore please understand that we´re not able to accommodate all requests.

Will staying with a family limit my freedom?

The family will treat you as a grown-up and as they are liberal and down-to-earth, they will be your friends and allies. You are of course free to go out with your friends during the week or to travel on weekends. However, the intercultural exchange is the whole point of the family stay, so you should be prepared to spend some weekends and evenings at home with the family as well.

How does the food issue work?

All food is provided like in any regular family; however, you are expected to make your own lunch and to prepare your own breakfast. Most Danish families eat dinner together and consider this a prime time for discussions, laughs and bonding. Dinner is, therefore, a good time for you to spend time with the family.

Will I have Internet access in my housing?

The vast majority of Danish households have access to the internet. This goes for our host families, too. However, we do not guarantee access to the internet. If this is crucial to you, then you are welcome to write a note about it on your housing form and we’ll take this into consideration when matching you with a host family. When living in a family without Internet, please remember that students will have access to internet facilities at DIS.

How much time will I spend on commuting?

Expect at least a 30-60 minute commute to DIS. This may be a big change from life on your home campus, but commuting is a natural and defining part of European life, and strong public transportation is one of the most significant differences between typical European and American cities. Studying at DIS means living as the Danes live…  and getting around the city as they do. Once you get adjusted to it, you will start enjoying the ride and be able to use the peace and quiet on the train for either a nap or for catching up with some homework.

Note that the cost of commuting from your host family to school and within central Copenhagen is included in the Comprehensive Housing Fee.

Do the Danes speak English well?

The Danes generally speak English very well, though fluency varies. At least one person in your DIS host family speaks English, but you will most likely be able to communicate with the whole family in English, with the exception of small children.

I heard that the Danes smoke a lot – is this true?

We are happy to be able to place more than 80% of our students in entirely non-smoking families. Still in Denmark quite a lot of people do smoke, so unless you are allergic to smoke we cannot guarantee you a non-smoking family. The majority of the smokers are flexible, though, and only smoke in one room in the house, or outside.