Our story
Study abroad since 1959
DIS began in post-World War II Europe, when students at the University of Copenhagen formed a committee with the goal of creating opportunities for Danish students to connect across borders.
Years later, the University of Copenhagen committee was contacted to establish a study abroad opportunity in English. The result: in 1959, DIS was established as its own educational organization, accepting the first 20 students and beginning our history of over 60 years as a study abroad organization.
Throughout the decades, DIS has grown and adapted to meet the needs of our students while building our unique academic model of place-based learning and course-integrated Study Tours.
We have grown in enrollment and – in Fall 2016, opened a new program in Stockholm – while maintaining our non-profit status and spirit, as well as our dedication to high-quality and engaging study abroad experiences.
Today, we remain deeply tied to the same mission that brought our first 20 students abroad to connect across borders and learn together from each other and sit as a leader in the study abroad field.
1946
DIS, Danish International Student Committee, is formed to create links across borders for Danish students in post-war Europe
1950’s
DIS had four operating divisions: DIS Travel, Buildings & Properties, Congress Service, and hotel
1959
The founding of DIS. The first group of 20 students from Whittier College is hosted
1960’s
Enrollment average of 66 students per semester
1963
DIS Education division is created
1964
Knud Helm Erichsen is appointed as Director of DIS (1964-68)
1970’s
Enrollment average of 255 students per semester
1980’s
Enrollment average of 268 students per semester.
Severe financial difficulties lead to dissolution of all divisions except DIS Education
1980
DIS Education becomes Denmark’s International Study Program under the auspices of the Ministry of Higher Education
1984
Field Studies and Study Tours become an integral part of academic programming
1987
Anders Uhrskov is appointed as Director of DIS (1987-2013)
1990’s
Enrollment average of 225 students per semester.
Starts hosting students from Eastern Europe (and later from China) through the Danish Fund for Democratization (550 students until 2009)
1994
North American Office opens (hosted by University of Minnesota)
1996
DIS on the brink of bankruptcy. Starts receiving financial support and exchange rate guarantee from Ministry of Higher Education (until 2010)
1999
DIS celebrates 40th anniversary with a partner university conference and an all-class alumni reunion
2000’s
Enrollment average of 400 students per semester.
2008
DIS changes its name to DIS – Danish Institute for Study Abroad
2010’s
Enrollment average of 1100 students per semester.
2014
Malene Torp is appointed as Executive Director (2014 -)
2016
DIS changes its name to DIS – Study Abroad in Scandinavia ahead of opening its Stockholm location
2018
DIS opens its first DIS-owned and operated Kollegium, Nimbus, in Frederiksberg
2019
DIS celebrates its 60th anniversary
2020’s
2020
COVID-19 pandemic requires student evacuation and remote teaching in Spring 2020. Regular enrollment is suspended for the rest of the year
2021
In-person teaching starts again in late spring. DIS Student Hub opens
2022
Enrollment of 1300 students per semester.
Alumni Community is established.
Be a part of our story
DIS Alumni Community
Reconnect with the people, cities, and memories from your time abroad.
Careers at DIS
Join an international workforce with a love of learning.