Q\ What is the general purpose of the DIS internship program in Copenhagen?
An internship at DIS is a great way to gain hands-on experience in the field of international education and become an integrated part of a multicultural workplace. The overall goal for DIS is to create an outstanding experience for every single DIS student. This requires dedication behind the scenes, an aptitude for teamwork, and a resilient positive attitude. You must be prepared to work hard and diligently to meet the high expectations of fellow DIS staff and students. This means that you will work long hours sometimes. The peak busy times fluctuate from one department to another and you will help with tasks outside your key work area.
DIS is a collaborative, dynamic, and social work environment. You are entrusted with a high level of responsibility and therefore expected to be a self-starter, have confidence, and carry out your tasks with professionalism and commitment.
At DIS you will:
- Assist DIS staff, students and faculty with daily operations and program development
- Contribute to an active learning environment with curiosity and enthusiasm
- Bring fresh ideas and energy to each task you undertake
- Collaborate with colleagues who are committed to your development and well-being
General Responsibilities:
- Assist DIS faculty and fellow staff with daily operational tasks and program development
- Act as cultural translators by bridging the gaps between DIS students, faculty, and staff by applying your own experiences as former DIS students
- Enrich the DIS work environment with your academic background and enthusiasm
Q\ How is a DIS internship different?
Since everyone may have a different concept of what an “internship” entails, it is important to be clear about what DIS would expect from you as a DIS intern:
While an American intern position is often short-term, unpaid, and part-time, a DIS internship lasts 13 to 15 months (depending on the department), offers a livable wage, and is full-time (37 hours a week). Most are administrative internships: As a DIS intern, you will have some of the usual “intern” tasks of making copies, filing, and arranging food and drinks for class events; however, you will also be responsible for much of the day-to-day operations of your office. This means you will have a much higher degree of responsibility than an American intern (and hopefully gain more experience and skills as a result of the internship). Like any job, the workload can be exhausting and exhilarating at different times. An internship with DIS is exciting, but you must expect to have to adjust to living in a different country while working a full-time job.
Q\ How long does an internship last?
Most internships are 13 months long, beginning in August and ending the following August. Several of the internships are 15-month positions, offering more overlap with outgoing and incoming interns. These positions begin in June and end the following August. Please refer to the applications for the position durations.
Q\ What are the working hours?
Interns are hired to work 37 hours a week, excluding lunch breaks. Normal business hours at DIS are approximately from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm. You can expect to spend the bulk of your working time between the aforementioned times, however, some tasks, such as organizing and facilitating events, happen during the evenings.
There is no overtime pay at DIS. Instead, you can have “approved absence time” to recuperate after a particularly strenuous period (dependent on arrangement with your supervisor). During certain times of the semester, it is expected to work overtime, this applies to all staff. Examples are orientation week, concluding weeks and during the International Educators Workshop. It is part of an internship to work on arrival days in every semester and during the summer. In the spring and fall semesters when arrival days take place on a weekend, interns must expect to work a full day. In compensation, they will receive one approved absence-day for working on a weekend day.
Q\ What do I wear to work?
DIS is a fairly casual workplace. Most staff wear jeans and a nice shirt every day. Of course, you are welcome to dress up as you like.
Finances
Q\ Do interns receive a stipend?
Yes, interns receive a monthly stipend of 19,570 DKK before taxes, which averages to approximately 12,000 DKK after taxes.
Q\ What does the stipend mean in terms of living expenses in Copenhagen?
It is possible to live on the 12,000 DKK stipend from the internship with intentional budgeting. Renting a room in the city should cost between 5,000-6,000 kr per month, typically including utilities. That will leave you around half of your salary for other expenses, which is enough to live on if you are sensible about food and entertainment expenditures. DIS offers a discounted lunch that many of the employees partake in, called DISh. Each lunch costs around 14 kr and adds up to 275 kr per month. The meals are all buffet style and catered by a company. During the first month of stay, the intern must expect extra expenses to get settled in before receiving the first paycheck including rent, renting or purchasing a bike, and buying furniture.
Q\ What about housing?
You are responsible for finding your own housing in Copenhagen. DIS will send you links to useful housing search websites and will offer to reimburse a specific amount of subscription fees for these sites.
Most interns rent a room with other Danes. Average rent for a furnished room is about 5,000-6000 DKK per month. Deposits are usually 1-3 months’ rent, to be paid before you move in. In addition to your deposit and your monthly rent, you may need to pay for gas/electricity and heat, though in many cases this is included in the monthly rent.
Be aware of scams, and do not transfer funds to anyone before receiving the keys. You may contact current interns and ask them to go and meet the landlord on your behalf. Also, departing interns may have good apartments or housing that they can pass on to you. Don’t be afraid to ask!
Q\ Do I pay Danish taxes? What about taxes from my home country?
Yes, you pay Danish taxes. For interns living in the Copenhagen municipality, approximately 38% of each month’s pay will be automatically deducted.
Q\ What about taxes from my home country?
If you are an American citizen, you are still required by U.S. law to file taxes in the U.S. You won’t owe any money on your income in Denmark, but you still have to file. You can get the necessary tax forms at the U.S. Embassy or download them online. More information can be found here.
If you are not American, please consult your national government’s tax authority.
Q\ Will I have a Danish bank account?
All DIS Staff members must have a Danish Bank Account in order to be paid, as all paychecks are given by direct deposit. The bank that many interns use is Nordea. The process of opening a bank account will require that you have a CPR number and you will be walked through it upon arrival in Copenhagen.
Benefits
Q\ What about health insurance?
The Danish national health insurance card, sundhedskort, also commonly known as the ‘yellow card’, will cover your basic health insurance in Denmark.
Information about the Danish national health insurance can be found here. Choose “Citizen in Denmark” and then choose “Health and Sickness.”
In addition to the Danish national health insurance, DIS provides interns an additional benefit of comprehensive health, accident, and liability insurance during your internship. You are covered from your first day of work to the last day. Personal travels outside of Denmark are also included with the DIS insurance. If you are required to travel for work purposes such as Study Tours, DIS provides additional work travel insurance. Find information about the conditions of the insurance here.
Note that neither the Danish national health insurance nor the DIS health insurance cover medication, dental, optical, or treatments not given by a doctor or hospital (for example mental health or physical therapy). As a general rule in Denmark, medication is not reimbursed but is less expensive than in the U.S. An average dental check-up will cost you approximately 500 DKK, while filling a cavity can cost between 500-1200 DKK.
Q\ What about vacation?
You will have 27 days of paid vacation for a 13-month contract, and 31 days of paid vacation for a 15-month contract.
Q\ Do I go on Study Tours?
Many staff members at DIS have the opportunity to be Study Tour leaders during the short and long Study Tours and adventure trips. The assignment of tour leaders is based on faculty interest in participation and the staff’s academic, social, and cultural leadership skills.
You will be assigned to lead or co-lead at least one Study Tour or adventure trip during your internship as an essential part of developing your leadership skills and thus furthering the overall goal of the internship. There is no guarantee on specific destination or duration of the Study Tour or adventure trip you will lead. We will make sure you receive training about going on Study Tours before leaving.
Q\ Can I take Danish language classes?
We encourage you to take Danish, but you are not required to do so. Interns usually take Danish classes from local language schools after work in the evening. This is also an excellent way to meet other expatriates in Denmark.
Danish classes are also a great way to meet friends from many different backgrounds! Classes are usually twice a week, with each class being about 2-3 hours. They are typically 1 month long, at which point you have the option to sign up for the next level. In no time you will soon understand the gist of train and bus announcements, signs, and what words here and there are being said.
Q\ What about cell phones?
Most current interns use Lebara or 3 but there are others such as Telmore, CBB, OiSTER, Bibob, Telenor, or Telia. which are plans where you use your own phone and pay for a sim card and monthly plan. Plans that offer unlimited text and 6 hours of talk and 6GB of Data can be found as well for somewhere around 80 DKK per month, plus an initiation fee. More expensive providers, like Telia, 3, and Telenor will cost about twice as much, but might offer additional perks such as free international roaming, Spotify premium, Netflix, etc.
Please note that all monthly plans require you to have a bank account and ‘NemID’ bank validation code which comes a few weeks after you set up your bank account. Because of this, it is a good idea to purchase pre-paid sim card plans for the few weeks at the beginning of the internship so that you can be connected via phone. Finally, any phone that was purchased through AT&T with a locked cell plan will not be able to receive international sim card, so you will have to buy a new smartphone that is not locked to a cell plan or call them to unlock.
Logistics
Q\ How do I get a Danish work and residence permit?
If you are offered an internship position and you accept the offer, DIS will prepare the necessary documents and mail them to you. After that, it is your responsibility to complete the forms and submit them as soon as possible to the Danish Immigration Service, but we will guide you through this process.
The current visa fee is DKK 4,175 (payable to the Danish Immigration Service in Copenhagen) + + $30 (FVS Service fee) + $30, or $60, variable depending on where you live (to have your passport sent back to you with Federal Express). Biometrics must be obtained at a Danish Consulate or Embassy before you send the application to the Consulate in New York.
HR will assist you throughout this process.
Q\ Does DIS offer a VISA and travel stipend to help me with some of the charges?
DIS will reimburse travel and VISA expenses up to 1,200 USD. Items that may be included with this is all costs related to obtaining a visa, paying the fees to the consulate, the international airfare to/from Copenhagen, as well as any travel expenses you may have in connection with obtaining biometrics at a Danish consulate before submitting your visa application.
Please note that the travel stipend will probably not cover all of your expenses, but will provide some substantial help. You are expected to finance the remaining costs yourself.
As soon as an incoming intern has signed the contract it is encouraged that you start to look for flights, as prices will increase the closer you get to your start date. The expenses will be refunded to you by DIS after you have started work in Copenhagen. Therefore, remember to save all receipts to receive the reimbursement.
Please note that the Danish visa rules are often subject to changes. However, DIS will be fully updated on any new regulations and requirements by the time a candidate is offered a position. Note that you need to have a passport that is valid until 6 months after your internship ends.
Q\ When my internship is complete, can I travel around Europe for a while before traveling back to the U.S.?
It is important to note that you have to leave Denmark no later than on the last day of your visa! However, you can stay in Europe for 90 days afterward on visa-free tourist conditions. You may even come back to Denmark again, but remember that you are not allowed to work!
These are the current rules, but the regulations are constantly changing so make sure you double-check before you make any plans. It is your responsibility to be updated on the rules to avoid an overstay on your visa.