Courses Study Abroad Courses at DIS

Your Freedom of Choice

When studying abroad at DIS, you can select virtually any combination of courses to fulfill requirements in your major, in your minor, for general distribution credits, or to quench your own academic interests. You pick a core course from among the 16 different programs offered and, following that, you freely select any electives from among the more than 150 courses offered, as long as you meet individual course prerequisites and there are no scheduling conflicts. This allows you to set up a curriculum of courses that meet your personal interests and academic needs.

Look through the elective course list, and be open to subjects outside your major. You may be surprised by what appeals to you! Be sure to check out the course syllabi that may be downloaded from the course pages. Also ensure you have a couple of backups in case scheduling conflicts arise, and be mindful of all course prerequisites.

Courses & Credits

Courses at DIS are taught primarily by local faculty who hold permanent positions in academia, civil governance, business administration and other professions.  They instruct in the area of their profession, thus imparting a real-life perspective alongside the theory of the classroom. Courses include a blend of lectures, group work, and field study visits in or near Copenhagen.

Most courses are worth three semester credits, while a few carry one or six semester credits. All courses are designed for upper-division undergraduate students, with the exception of Danish Language & Culture, and all courses are taught in English.

You must take at least 12 credits and may take up to 18, including no more than five three-credit classes (or three three-credit and one six-credit).  Most students take two to three courses in their major or a related field, and one or two courses from a completely different discipline. Read about credit transfer from DIS to your home university.

Academic Field Studies

Most DIS courses include course-integrated field studies that connect the classroom to organizations, institutions, sites, and/or persons that are relevant to the course topic. Most courses at DIS make use of the rich resources of Copenhagen for field visits to companies, galleries, parliament, TV stations, urban development projects, museums, and more. Field studies are typically a half-day excursion, tied to one or more class assignments.  Normally, each course has one or two a semester. 

The field studies are complemented by the frequent use of guest lecturers from academia and the world of politics, government and the professions, adding up to a rich, comprehensive and site-specific academic experience.

DIS Courses at Danish Universities

The vast majority of courses are offered by, and taught at, DIS. However, a small number of courses open to DIS students are taught in English for both Danish and international students at various universities in Copenhagen. Often these courses will differ from the regular DIS courses and from your home university courses on several counts: you will be independently responsible for keeping up with the readings and assignments and your course grade may be based on one final exam, which may be an oral exam. However, taking one of your courses at a Danish university is an introduction to the European education system and a good opportunity to potentially meet Danish and other diverse university students. Courses offered by a local Danish university will be distinguished on the individual course pages.