Using Your Phone Abroad

Summer study tour to Vienna, Human Health and Disease, DIS Copenhagen

How to Get a Phone Plan Abroad

All students must have an active cell phone while at DIS, including a data plan so that your phone is fully operational when away from WIFI. You are required to submit your phone number to DIS in your Registration once you arrive.

DIS works with local carriers to offer convenient and affordable physical SIM and eSIM options — the vast majority of DIS students use one of these options, as other international plans can be limited and costly. Having a local phone number means easier access to local medical resources as well as meal delivery, restaurant reservations, and smoother communication with DIS students/faculty/staff, particularly during Study Tours. While we highly recommend the local plans below, you are free to choose any provider.

Your summer phone plan options will be based on your starting location (Copenhagen or Stockholm). Only students starting in Stockholm (either with sessions only in Stockholm or who have sessions in both locations but are starting in Stockholm) need to sign up for their phone plan and pay in advance.

It is critical that your phone is unlocked in order to use any plan below — check with your current phone carrier if unsure. 

Starting at DIS Copenhagen

Students who are studying only in Copenhagen (or have summer sessions in both locations but are starting in Copenhagen) can choose between two local carriers depending on whether they’ll need an eSIM or physical SIM card. 

You do not need to sign up (or pay for) these plans in advance and will be provided with instructions on setting up both options in your arrival packet. 

If your phone uses an eSIM

With local carrier Greentel, students have 40 GB of data per month, and 12 GB can be used throughout the EU. This plan also includes unlimited calls and texts to Danish numbers throughout the EU.

Cost of plan: 99 DKK ($14) per month

If your phone uses a physical SIM card

With local carrier Lebara, students choose a data plan ranging from 20-300 GB (with 2-8 GB that can be used throughout the EU). This plan includes unlimited texts to Danish numbers and and 20-unlimited calling hours to Danish numbers (and 5 calling hours to other EU numbers). Also includes free calls to US numbers.

Cost of plan: 49-159 DKK ($7-23) per month. Most students choose the 99 DKK plan.

Read more about Lebara options here

Read the fine print and terms here

Note: To avoid incurring any extra charges, we recommend that students text and call non-Danish numbers using iMessage, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or other chat services.

Starting at DIS Stockholm

Students who are studying only in DIS Stockholm (or have summer sessions in both locations but are starting in Stockholm) have the option to sign up for Tele2, a local carrier with both eSIM and physical SIM card options.

You need to sign up in advance and submit payment in your Registration to use Tele2. By doing so, you’ll receive instructions in your DIS arrival packet to set up your new SIM and activate your account.

With Tele2, students have 100 GB of data per month that can be used throughout the EU. This plan also includes unlimited calls and texts to Swedish numbers throughout the EU.

Cost of plan: $50 (one time payment regardless of number of sessions)

Note: To avoid incurring any extra charges, we recommend that students text and call non-Swedish numbers using iMessage, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or other chat services.

Find additional plan information and fine print here.