Admissions

After students initiate an application to DIS, we send each qualified student an invitation link to continue the application process.

Complete applications are reviewed on a rolling basis according to the DIS admission requirements. We reserve the right to reject an applicant or registrant for any reason. In waitlist situations, DIS favors applicants from partner institutions who have an outstanding personal essay and cumulative GPA. Students not meeting all criteria are occasionally considered.

Registration and enrollment

Admitted students are instructed to register for their DIS courses and housing preferences, and must also submit supplementary materials. All offerings fill on a first-come, first served basis, so it is in students’ best interest to register as soon as possible, as several programs fill before the published application deadlines.

Upon arrival in Scandinavia and typically until after the second course meeting, students may add or drop courses if allowed by your institution. You can see your admitted students, as well as their current course registration at any time in the Partner Portal.

Credits

Semester students must take at least 12 credits per semester and may take up to 18, including no more than five 3-credit classes (or one 6-credit and three 3-credit classes). Most students take two to three courses in their major or a related field, and one or two courses from a completely different discipline.

Summer students take three to 12 credits, depending on their session of study and if they combine more than one session.

Final grade reports

DIS credit transfer policy meets AACROA standards and U.S. regional accrediting agency standards. It is up to individual partner universities to award credit for DIS courses.

Approximately 30 days after students have returned home, DIS sends official final grade reports to each student’s university and also an unofficial copy directly to each student. If a grade change is received from an instructor, DIS will issue a new Final Grade Report with an explanation of the change. Final Grade Reports will only be issued if all fees have been paid to DIS.

Grading Policy

All courses are evaluated by letter grades. One course per semester may be taken on a pass/fail basis if this option is approved by your home institution. Core courses may not be taken on this basis. Grades are on a grading scale from A-F (just like at U.S. institutions).

School of record transcript

Students whose institutions are unable to accept the DIS final grade report as credit may request a University of Minnesota transcript.

If an official transcript is required, this must be arranged prior to the beginning of the term they plan to attend, as part of the registration process. A fee of $450 will be added to the student’s invoice for this service.

View our quality assurance page for more information about our school of record review.

Compass: an online pre-departure course

The Compass course was designed by alumni and DIS staff to answer frequently asked questions and serve as a resource to students before and during their time abroad. It is mandatory for all admitted students to complete before arrival at DIS.

Upon registering for DIS, students will be invited to Canvas – our platform for all DIS courses – and asked to use the login/temporary password DIS sends them. Modules will be released on a staggered sequence in the months leading up to their departure for Scandinavia.

Residence permit

All legal residence processes (entry permits and visas) will be based on each students’ passport, and will vary depending on the amount of time that they spend in Scandinavia.

DIS staff will notify your students of the process specific to them and assist them with the necessary steps. Students will not apply for a residence permit on your own.

View the information about legal residence process.

Pre-departure orientation and advising

From the time students are admitted until they depart, they will receive regular correspondence from the NAO regarding completing Student Registration materials, applying for residence permits, housing information, arrival details, and more. Students can reserve time to meet with a DIS staff at any time, and will also be invited to attend a pre-departure orientation with the rest of their classmates.

Parents are also communicated with regularly, and are invited to a parent pre-departure orientation.

DIS Navigate: our student engagement platform

Approximately two months before departure, all students will be instructed to log into DIS Navigate, our student engagement platform. Here they will first connect socially with their peers, and have quick access to resources that are specifically applicable to them, including their housing groups and orientation schedules.

We require students to download the DIS Navigate app, so we can send timely communications through push notification, inclding those for health and safety notifications.