About DIS
DIS Mission
By inspiring each student’s curiosity and love of learning, DIS fosters academic achievement, intercultural understanding, and development of life skills essential for engaged citizenship.
A Scandinavian home – a global mindset
DIS is a non-profit study abroad foundation established in Denmark in 1959 that offers semester, academic year, and summer programs taught in English in Copenhagen and Stockholm. We are designed for upper-division undergraduate students from top North American colleges and universities, providing a rigorous, cutting-edge curriculum enriched by experiential learning and faculty-led Study Tours across Europe.
Rooted in Scandinavian values and culture, DIS fosters deep connections to our local communities, giving students the opportunity to immerse themselves in new cultural experiences and build a home away from home. We help our students connect with these cities while exploring issues that affect the entire globe, offering them a transformative study abroad experience that promotes both academic and personal growth.
Our guiding principles
Our stance in the world is shaped by our educational ethos, Scandinavian roots, and strong ties to U.S. higher education.
While the world evolves: civil rights, gender equality, racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, environmental sustainability, personal autonomy, and protecting democracy remain the cornerstones of our beliefs. We boldly stand by these principles.
Our pedagogy and learning communities are shaped by our history and these beliefs. In fulfillment of our mission, this stance is infused in everything we do.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion
We believe that diversity in all aspects of the educational environment is necessary for students to reach their full potential. We strive to put diversity, equity, and inclusion at the center of how we define an impactful learning environment.
Our sustainability vision
At DIS, we believe that education is one of the most powerful tools for driving meaningful climate action. We are empowering the next generation of climate advocates by making sustainability-focused education more accessible and embedding green practices across our organization.