Community Engagement

Involve yourself in the many cultural opportunities offered to you while studying at DIS Copenhagen.

Expand the Boundaries of Your Comfort Zone

Copenhageners are open to sharing their culture with you and also want to learn about yours. During your time abroad, we encourage you to challenge yourself to expand the boundaries of your comfort zone and be curious. We offer opportunities to introduce you to the locals – and the rest is up to you!

Build Community

Stepping into the unknown with an open heart and mind is crucial to building community when you’re studying abroad.

-Priya, Cornell University

Read Priya's letter to future DIS students

Become a DIS Class Representative

Become a DIS ‘Class Rep’ in your courses and represent your classmates in ongoing dialogue with your faculty. Your responsibilities can range from addressing concerns that may arise within the class, to working with your faculty on implementing new ideas and solutions. Each of your courses will have a nomination period at the start of the semester and select two reps per class.

Break the Ice with the Locals

Join the 70% of students that take a Danish Language and Culture class! Knowledge of the language adds an entirely new layer to your understanding of the local culture and lifestyles of Copenhageners.

Reflecting on Identity Through Dance and Poetry

While living in a Homestay, DIS alumna, Natachi, pushed her local circles further by exploring her passions of dance and poetry. Read how she extended her network to meet Danes and international students.

Hear from Natachi on the DIS Blog

Read About Mike's Rugby Experience Abroad

Past student Mike joined a local rugby team, which he later found to be an influential part of his study abroad experience.

Read his interview on the DIS Blog

By getting involved through both DIS and local activities, you have the chance to make new friends, broaden your horizons, and develop your leadership and interpersonal skills.

Engage with Fellow Students and Locals

Being a part of a community abroad allows you to meet classmates and locals with various backgrounds, passions, and interests, creating a semester unique to you. Past students have even said these extracurricular activities became memorable talking points for resumés and interviews. Some of the opportunities include:

Clubs and Activities: Connect with Copenhageners by joining a local organization or activity. Visit the Activity Fair Days at the start of your semester to discover how to involve yourself; opportunities include sports clubs, choirs, LGBTQIA+ groups, religious communities, and more
LGBTQIA+ Affinity Group: A space for LGBTQIA+ students and allies to connect with one another and create community, share helpful information, and discuss experiences while studying abroad
New in Town Meetups: From board game nights to bonfires and community dinners, New in Town meetups take place during the first weeks of the semester, and provide an opportunity to experience the city with other DIS students while socializing as the locals do
Students of Color Affinity Group: This group aims to support students of color to celebrate, explore, and develop their identities while abroad
Student-driven Events: DIS offers support for student-driven events, such as open mic nights. Reach out to DIS if you have ideas for events that you would like to facilitate!
Student-driven Film Club: Share your enthusiasm and passion for cinema with fellow students
Seminar Nights: Hear from local professionals about current affairs and their local perspectives; students often use this as a networking opportunity to connect with professionals in their fields of interest

Find more information about events, clubs, and communities in the DIS Navigate App, which you will gain access to before the start of your semester.

I learned to be aware of differences in lifestyle and open-minded to such differences. I learned to let go of what I thought I knew and allow my experiences to shape my cultural understanding… I learned that to truly understand culture, I have to be willing to step back from my own attitude and adapt to a new way of life. And this is exactly what I did.

– Victoria, Bucknell University

Volunteer Opportunities

During your semester, there are plenty of ways to get involved. During the Activity Fair Days, you will have the chance to learn about volunteer opportunities in Copenhagen. There are options to suit all schedules, from one-time volunteer experiences to longer-term positions. Get inspired by former students:

Adarsh, Claremont McKenna College, volunteered with Cycling Without Age. The initiative gives nursing home residents the chance to explore the city via e-bicycle rickshaws, which are operated by volunteers. Read about Adarsh’s experience here.
Sophia, Smith College, volunteered at a local farmers market in Copenhagen. Read about Sophia’s experience here.
Francesca, George Washington University, interned and volunteered with various sustainable organizations in Copenhagen, one of them being the rooftop farm, ØsterGRO. Read about Francesca’s experience here.

Sign Up for the Visiting Host Program

If you are not living in a Homestay, sign up for the Visiting Host program to meet locals and engage in local culture! You will be matched with a local host, who you can visit or go on excursions with. DIS Visiting Hosts sign up to participate mainly because they have an interest in learning about another culture and want to share their own.

Visiting Hosts may or may not have children, and can be a single parent, a retired couple, families of various ethnicities, a LGBTQIA+ couple, or an individual with a tight-knit extended family.

If you are genuinely interested in a building a relationship with you host(s), and can commit to getting together with them at least once a month, then this is a program for you!

Exactly how many times you meet up is up to you and your host(s). DIS will subsidize your transportation costs, covering up to four return trips to your Visiting Hosts using public transport (with a cap at 400 DKK).

Apply for the Visiting Host Program before you depart for Copenhagen in DIS Student Registration.

Find Your Courses at DIS Copenhagen: