Empower your student
Before they arrive in Scandinavia, your student will complete a mandatory pre-departure course where they will learn everything they need to know about academics, housing, health and safety, life abroad, and more. We will also send frequent communication and instructions via email to your student before and throughout their time at DIS.
Encourage your student to check their email and their pre-departure course to make sure that they haven’t missed anything.
Your student may want your help with filling out forms or contacting us in preparing for their experience abroad. Instead of offering to do something for them, encourage them to do the research they need to complete the task themselves.
Explore our comprehensive pre-departure resources
Supporting your student
Before your student departs for Scandinavia, discuss how often you expect to communicate and make a plan together. Try to avoid daily communication, which can actually cause your student to miss home.
Our advice? Keep your conversations focused on what your student is doing and learning, not about what they are missing back at home.
Assisting in a time of need
Similar to university life in the U.S., the study abroad experience can come with ups and downs. Your student might have a hard day in class, worry about making friends abroad, or generally feel homesick or sad. Please remind them that they can always book an appointment with our Care Team or Academic Support, who offer support to students and can help them find resources they need.
Please also read through our resource on emergency contact information and encourage your student to add the relevant numbers to their phone before they arrive. Staff are available 24 hours a day for on-site emergencies, and the most efficient way for us to get straight to the problem is to hear directly from your student when possible.
Find essential resources while abroad
Visiting your student
If you plan to visit your student abroad, we recommend going after their term officially ends or during their study break.
Semester students will have a week-long break during either Travel Week 1 or Travel Week 2. During the other week, they will travel with their Core Course. The specific week for their Study Tour is indicated in their course registration.
Summer students do not have breaks during their summer sessions, so please visit them only before or after the summer session dates.
When you visit, you will need to book your own accommodation, since it is not allowed for students to host overnight visitors in DIS housing. Many DIS staff recommend hotels.com to find reasonably priced lodging in Copenhagen or Stockholm. Be sure to ask your student about their favorite neighborhood for you to stay in.
View the term dates on the calendar.
Returning home
Expect a difference when you pick your student up at the airport after being abroad. A journey like this was likely an eye-opening experience. They may return with different values, new interests, new goals, or maybe just a new haircut.
They may also experience reverse culture shock, comparing the U.S. to Scandinavia. Use this time to learn from your student’s experience. Allow them to make these comparisons and go through this readjustment. They will need your support, interest, and understanding. Watching Scandinavian movies or shows on Netflix is a great way to help your student prepare for their transition, sparking conversations about aspects of life in Copenhagen or Stockholm that differ from home. Additionally, encourage them to join the DIS Alumni Community on LinkedIn to stay connected with DIS, participate in events and online talks, and even plan future trips back to Scandinavia.
Studying abroad can be a journey for the whole family
Familjebesök / Family visit
Eliana’s family visited during her semester at DIS Stockholm and went to her favorite spots around the city and met her Homestay family.
One girl, four parents
Makenzie lived with a host family during her time in Stockholm, and the families got to meet each other when her parents came for a visit.