Independent Research Project | DIS Copenhagen Semester

Independent Research ProjectSemester Course

Independent Research Project at DIS Copenhagen

Major Discipline(s)

Type: Elective Course
Available: Fall/Spring semester
Credit(s): 3

Additional Application Required

The application can be found in the Online Registration portal. You must submit all application requirements by:

November 1 for the spring semester
May 1 for the fall semester

Note to Full Year Students

Full year students wishing to do research in either term should start the planning process before departing for DIS.

IRB Note

Some U.S. colleges and universities may require their students who are participating in research while in Copenhagen to acquire further Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval. In these cases, IBR applications must be completed before beginning research in Denmark. Examples for this are:

When human subjects are involved, no matter where the research is conducted
If the results of any research conducted in Denmark are to be made public or published in the U.S.

DIS students are responsible for checking whether home IRB-approval is required before their term abroad, and for seeking the approval of their home schools’ IRB. Read more about IRBs.

GDPR Guidelines

When participating in research at DIS, depending on the kind of research, there may be ethical guidelines for you to follow that are specific to the country of research (Denmark or Sweden), including compliance with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It is your responsibility to be aware of any relevant guidelines and to respect them throughout your participation in the research. Read more about Ethics and GDPR Guidelines.

Students

For participation in research at DIS, please refer to the Ethics/GDPR Checklist.

US Partner institutions

For more information, please see Ethics/GDPR Procedures for Student Involvement in DIS Research.

Syllabus - Fall 2023

Go to syllabus

This is the most recent syllabus for this course.

If you would like to conduct research while in Denmark – perhaps as part of a project for your home school – you may apply to conduct an Independent Research Project under the guidance of a faculty research mentor in Copenhagen. The project should use Denmark, specifically, as a resource. For this option, you must plan your research project the semester before DIS with a professor at your home school who must be willing to communicate with you and your DIS research mentor while you are in Denmark.

How to Apply for a Research Project

After you have been accepted to DIS, you will be sent information to register for classes. Login to our registration and:

Submit a brief summary of your proposal on the ‘Course Registration’ page
Complete the Research Proposal Form and upload it with all supporting materials to the ‘Upload Transcripts/Documents’ page by the deadline.
Prior to the proposal being accepted, you should register for an alternative 3-credit course, just in case your project is not approved!
Your application will be reviewed by the DIS Director of Research and a relevant Program Director/DIS faculty member, as appropriate. If your research project proposal is accepted, you will receive confirmation before the start of the semester, so you may drop your additional course.
If DIS believes your proposal is not achievable during your semester, we will work with you to revise the proposal and/or you will choose a replacement course if you have not already done so.

Research in Copenhagen

You’ll carry out the project in Copenhagen, maximizing your use of the Danish/European environment. You will have regular meetings with your research mentor, but the bulk of your work will be self-directed. Your DIS research mentor will be available to guide you on your methodology and help you find resources to conduct your research locally.

At the end of your semester in Denmark, you’ll have the option of taking your research home to present it or turn it into a thesis, honors project, or senior capstone. If you are planning to use the project when you return to your home campus, you should also speak with your home school professor/advisor about this option before you depart, as there may be specific requirements and approvals you’ll need before you begin your research.

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