DIS: Study Abroad in Scandinavia - Architecture
- Study architecture in beautiful Copenhagen
- Live in a homestay with locals (other options available too)
- No foreign language experience necessary
- Most courses have several field study events during the semester to add depth and perspective to the courses
Study in Copenhagen, Denmark's beautiful capital and a European capital city in every sense of the word. DIS offers many areas of study, including Architecture and Design, Biomedicine, Business, Child Development & Diversity, Economics, European Politics, Medical Practice & Policy, Philosophy, Neuroscience, Sustainability, and more. Courses are taught in English by local faculty. Danish language is offered as an option.
KU Architecture students are eligible to participate in a semester at DIS Copenhagen during the third year of the M.Arch. degree, taking ARCH 508 Material and Tectonics (6 credits) or ARCH 509 Designbuild plus six to nine additional credits. Students must make sure to coordinate taking ARCH 508 or 509 at KU with the studio they wish to take while at DIS Copenhagen. Courses are designed for advanced undergraduate students and are geared toward students prepared to do serious academic work.
Students interested in a semester at DIS must be nominated to KU Study Abroad & Global Engagement by the KU Department of Architecture. Interested students should meet with their academic advisor to confirm the deadline to submit a nomination request to the KU Architecture faculty. The KU Architecture nomination process is wholly administered through KU Architecture, not KU Study Abroad & Global Engagement. Once KU Architecture has nominated a student to participate at DIS, KU Study Abroad & Global Engagement will share an application link with the student to start applications through both DIS and KU Study Abroad & Global Engagement.
For 2025/26 placements, the intent forms were due December 20, 2024 for Fall 2025, and March 1, 2025 for Spring 2026. Timelines for 2026/27 placements should be similar, and will be released following the Architecture & Design study abroad meeting in the Forum in Marvin Hall from 12:30p-1:30p on Friday, September 26, 2025. Once the 2026/27 intent form is published by KU Architecture, it will be linked here for your convenience.
Study Tours:
Core Courses include a week-long Program Study Tour to a European destination and a Core Course Week, comprised of a two-day seminar in Copenhagen and three-day short Study Tour. Both Study Tours are faculty-led and integrated into the Core Course curriculum. Some Core Courses offer multiple Study Tour options and we do our best to match you with your first preference. Elective courses also incorporate local field studies during the semester to add depth and perspective to the course.
Summer:
The Architecture & Design summer session offers Architecture, Interior Architecture, Furniture Design, and Urban Design studios. KU Architecture students do NOT need to be nominated by KU Architecture for the summer program, and can participate during a summer that best fits their degree plan. Students interested in studying at DIS for the summer, regardless of major, should use the application link here.
The DIS homestay is consistently the highest rated housing option. Other options include living in residence halls with DIS students as well as local and international students, living with a local roommate, and living with other DIS students in shared apartments. More information on housing options is available here.
All students have unique things to consider when studying abroad. A Traveler Profile is a set of personal factors, characteristics or life experiences that could impact daily life abroad. Your individual Traveler Profile may include things such as your age, foreign language proficiency, gender, medical history, medication use, mental health, mobility, piercings and tattoos, travel experience, and more.
SAGE is dedicated to creating international engagement opportunities that meet the needs of all our students and providing resources to support you through the process of studying abroad. Before selecting a program, consider how your Traveler Profile may impact your experience abroad in unique ways and talk with your Program Coordinator about any program-specific concerns. Students with documented disabilities should discuss any accommodation needs with their Program Coordinator early in the planning process.
Check our Traveler Profile pages linked below for information specific to you and other students who may be on your program.
- Adult Learners and Non-Traditional Students
- First Generation Students
- Physical and Mental Health Histories
- Religious, Spiritual, and Non-Religious Students
- Sexual and Gender Diversity
- Students of Color Abroad
- Students with Children
- Students with Financial Need
- Veterans, Active Duty, and ROTC
- Visible and Invisible Disabilities
Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0. Semester participants must be nominated by the University of Kansas Department of Architecture.
Interior Architecture students wishing to spend a semester at DIS will likely need to consider the fall of the fourth year to be able to stay on track for graduation. IA students should contact their academic advisor to see if their degree plan can accommodate participation in the DIS program.
Scholarships
DIS offers scholarships of $500-$5000 per semester. Students may also apply for work study scholarships of up to $300 per semester. KU students qualify for an automatic discount of $4,000 per semester and $500 per summer session. These automatic discounts are included in KU's financial aid budgets and in program budgets on the KU Study Abroad & Global Engagement website.
Learn more about DIS Programs in Scandinavia.