Advising on DIS Academic Offerings

The DIS model offers your students Scandinavia as their home and Europe as their classroom. The following illustrates our academic model at DIS:

DIS Semester Programs

All semester students apply to enroll in one Program, focusing on a specific academic field or topic in the form of a Core Course. The Core Course includes two course-integrated Study Tours. Early in the semester, students delve into their academic focus during Core Course Week, in which they travel on a faculty-led short Study Tour for three days and then return to Copenhagen or Stockholm for a two-day seminar. Later in the semester, they travel with their Core Course on a week-long Study Tour in Europe. Participation in these tours is required and the cost is included in the comprehensive tuition fee.

This integration of coursework and Study Tours is a unique feature of DIS. The idea behind it is to offer students a strong academic focus while studying and traveling abroad without compromising their ability to choose electives according to their major requirements and interests.

Most Core Courses carry three credits, however, some that include corequisite design studios or hands-on practicums/labs earn six credits.

Semester Elective Courses

Most elective courses earn three credits, while a few earn six credits. All courses are designed for upper-division undergraduate students, with the exception of Language and Culture courses. All courses are taught in English. Courses at DIS include a blend of lectures, group work, and Field Study visits.

Students have several additional academic opportunities while at DIS – from research projects to hands-on practicums and labs to the performing arts – see more on our Enrich Your Academic Experience pages for Copenhagen and Stockholm.

Full-Year Students

Normally, full-year students switch to a new program in their second semester, enrolling in a new Core Course and new Study Tours, while continuing to be able to take advantage of the wide variety of electives offered. Students may also arrange to do a research project within the academic field of the Core Course they took in the previous semester if approved by their home school. Students that wish to change cities in between semesters may do so as well at no extra cost and full year students receive a substantial discount.

Summer Sessions

Summer session options are available at both DIS Copenhagen and DIS Stockholm. Your students can choose from three, four, or seven-week single course options. They can also mix and match summer sessions in one location – or both – to stay six, seven, or up to 10 weeks and earn from three up to 12 credits.