High School in Denmark
Denmark is a kingdom of thriving cities and idyllic landscapes with a Viking past. Visit this innovative society with a green lifestyle and you’ll notice bicycle-friendly streets consisting of stately old buildings and modern, sustainable architecture. Want to learn more about this amazing country first hand? You can with our high school study abroad programs!
Overview
Our high school exchange program in Denmark will allow you to live with a Danish host family, explore Danish culture, and brush up on your Danish language skills. As a family member, you will participate in activities and adapt to the family rules as if they were your own. High school abroad in Denmark is a once in a lifetime experience!
Not interested in studying in Denmark? How about Canada! Learn more here.
About Denmark
Denmark is a very small country, 40.000 square kilometer’s (17.000 square miles). From a globe or a map of the world, of course, you already know where it is situated. Denmark is just a little lump on the head of continental Europe! There are 483 islands but only 100 of them are inhabited in Denmark. No matter where you are in Denmark you can quickly get to the seaside. There are miles and miles of beautiful beaches suitable for bathing. Bridges and ferries connect the numerous islands.
Denmark is of a size which will enable you to see most of the country during your stay. The capital is Copenhagen and is a city of about a million citizens, an exciting place with, among other things, the Tivoli Pleasure Gardens and many large department stores and shops. There are excellent shopping facilities in all the towns of Denmark.
Denmark has neither mountains nor large open spaces. It is a fertile farming land with small towns spread out over the whole country. As for industry, there are a few large factories and many small ones. They are often found in pleasant surroundings without noise or huge smoke stacks. You will quickly observe that Denmark is a very clean country.
Denmark
Program Dates & Deadlines
Apply early and get a discount! Submit your application 45 days before the deadline to receive an Early Bird Discount.
These are the approximate start dates. Exact start dates will be provided closer to your arrival.
Spring
Academic Semester: Mid-January – Mid-June
Academic Year: Mid-January – Mid-November
Final Deadline for Completed Applications: November 1st
Fall
Academic Semester: Mid-August – Mid-January
Academic Year: Mid-August – Mid-June
Final Deadline for Completed Applications: May 1st
Program Costs
Costs |
||
---|---|---|
Semester | $13,000 | |
Academic Year | $17,000 | |
Discounts & Scholarships
Early Bird Discount – $250 discount if you apply 45 days prior to the application deadline
Host Family Discount – Discount of up to $1000 for families that hosted an inbound student
Area Representative Discount – Discount of up to $500 for children of ISE Area Representatives
ISE Ambassador Scholarship – Designed for students who would like to engage deeply with their host community and reflect on their experience via blog/video contributions.
What's Included In The Program
- Arrival Orientation
- Comprehensive medical insurance
- Support and supervision by local representative
- Host family accommodation including 2 meals a day during the week, and 3 meals a day on the weekends.
- School tuition and fees
- Progress reports sent directly to parents
- 24/7 emergency support
- ISE Tote bag, luggage tag & lanyard
Additional Expenses You Might Incur
- Personal Expenses – cell phone bills, personal spending money, travel expenses
- Transportation to airport at conclusion of program
- Extra School Fees – Uniform, class trips, extra curricular activities
Eligibility
• Age between 14 and 18 years old.
• Be attending a school in his/her country.
• Have excellent physical and mental health.
• Agree to attend classes and maintain satisfactory standards of work and behavior.
• Be mature and flexible so as to be able to accept the school and host family.
• Be responsible and follow the school, the host family and ISE’s rules and respect the law.
Academic Info
Danish schools are used to foreign students so neither teachers nor students will look upon you as if you were a mysterious creature from another planet. You will fit into your class easily and be accepted in no time. However, since teaching is in Danish you will probably miss out on some of the lessons. On the other hand you will do extremely well when English is on the timetable. There is a distinctly easy relationship between teachers and students and Danish schools are much less strict than schools in many other countries. There is much less formal discipline, more self-discipline. But please do not miss school without permission. The relaxed atmosphere does not mean that you should not be present and do the work, – only that the school educate the students to take responsibility for themselves. Teaching in practical subjects such as woodwork and home economics is somewhat limited. However, this is made up for by the availability of foreign language subjects – English, German, French etc.
Orientation
Upon arrival in Denmark, you will receive a full cultural and welcome orientation. This orientation will teach you the basics of Danish life, as well as what to expect during your time in Denmark.
Application Process
- Explore our programs, options and countries to find your best match.
- Complete our interest form and, if applicable, let us know who referred you to us.
- You can submit the interest form here: Travel & Study Abroad Interest Form
- Schedule a meeting with one of our Travel & Study Abroad experts.
- Submit your application and a $200 application fee. This non-refundable fee will be applied to your overall program costs.
- Upon acceptance, you will be required to pay a deposit of 50% of the total program costs, up to $1500. The final payment is due several weeks before your departure.
Parent FAQs
How can my child's mental health impact their program?
Moving away from your support network and into a new and unfamiliar environment can be difficult even for the most well-adjusted students. Students with pre-existing mental health conditions may find this adjustment particularly challenging, which could worsen any issues they were previously facing.
We conduct a thorough screening of all applicants to ensure they are in the right mindset to participate. While the majority of students are eligible to participate, we may not be able to accept students who have recently struggled with mental illness and/or are reliant on medication to treat mental illness in order to protect the student’s well-being.
Pre-existing mental health conditions include, but are not limited to:
- Severe anxiety
- Depression
- Eating Disorders
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Will studying abroad help my child mature?
For students prepared to take on the challenge, absolutely. It is, however, important to consider a student’s level of maturity prior to the program because it directly impacts their success.
Ideally, our programs will push students beyond their comfort zone and into what is referred to as their stretch zone. It’s in the stretch zone that learning, growth, and development - along with challenges and risk - occur.
If a student is not ready and/or willing to move beyond their comfort zone, plunging into a new and unfamiliar environment could actually have an adverse effect and place them in what is referred to as the panic zone. Parents should make an honest assessment of their child’s maturity level and understand that study abroad will not fundamentally change their child’s personality or behavior when considering the program.
What kind of support will my child receive while studying abroad?
While abroad, your child will be fully supported. First, they will receive a personal Program Manager to assist with everything from the initial request to your child’s departure. Then, they will be supported abroad by a dedicated Local Coordinator who will frequently check in on the student and provide monthly progress reports. Your child will have the contact information of their Local Coordinator and can contact them at any time. There is also a 24/7 emergency line managed out of ISE headquarters.
Can our child come home to visit during their program? Can we visit them?
No. Visits of any kind are not allowed during our programs. If you plan to visit your child, you should plan to do so after the program has ended.
High School Program FAQs
Why participate in the high school program?
There are many benefits to attending high school abroad, including but not limited to:
- Developing new language skills
- Developing problem-solving skills
- Identifying interests to better select your college major
- Inspiring insightful college admissions essays
- Improving academic scores upon your return home
- Developing cross-cultural collaboration skills
If I must take a required class, can you guarantee I can take it abroad?
We can’t offer any guarantees that certain classes will be offered at your host school. We can provide you with general curriculum information, but often students are not able to sign up for specific classes until after they arrive in the host country. In certain instances, virtual high school options for required classes might be a useful option.
Can I take the SATs while abroad?
You will not be able to take the SATs while abroad. We highly recommend that you take the SATs prior to or after the program.
Will I receive a transcript? Will my credits from studying abroad transfer back home?
Upon successful completion of the program, everyone is guaranteed a Certificate of Attendance. Transcripts (i.e. grades) have to be earned. To earn the grades, you will have to excel in your classes abroad, in the language of your destination country. All of our high schools abroad are accredited institutions, therefore their grades are transferable to the United States. Please visit Scholaro for more information on translating and evaluating grades from abroad. As part of the preparation process, you have to check with your guidance counselor which classes/credits you will need to graduate or to advance to your next year of high school. Some classes, such as US History might not be offered abroad, and therefore you will have to find a way to earn those credits either before your study abroad year or after. One option to consider is a virtual high school.
If I already graduated, can I still study abroad?
Yes! Contact us for more details.
Are there additional costs I should budget for?
Yes. Additional expenses to consider include (estimates):
- Stationary and school supplies: $100
- School excursions and trips: $50
- Cell phone service: $20-$50/month
- Personal expenses (shopping, movies, nights out, etc.): $300/month
- Bus pass/transportation: $10-$20/week
General FAQs
Why should I study abroad?
ISE’s Travel & Study Abroad Program will take your academic, career, and life opportunities to new levels! College admissions and employers love compelling personal growth stories, and Travel & Study Abroad will supply you with those stories.
Some of the many benefits of participating in our programs include:
Academic & Career Benefits
- Stand out during the college admissions process
- Develop new language skills in an immersive environment
- Develop problem-solving skills
- Identify interests to better select academic & career paths
- Establish cross-cultural skills
- Improve academic scores
Personal Benefits
- Improve personal organization and time management skills
- Develop a sense of adaptability, independence, and self-reliance
- Boost self-confidence
- Learn about new lifestyles
- Experience new cuisines
- Make lifelong friends
- Gain life experience
Why study abroad with International Student Exchange?
Since 1982, our nonprofit organization has remained committed to educating future leaders and making a positive, long-lasting impact in communities.
To make cross-cultural experiences accessible to more people, we offer the best pricing available to our participants...and we do so without compromising the quality of the experience or level of support offered.
We assign each participant a personal Program Manager, so you’ll receive assistance throughout your entire program experience by someone you know by name. We also provide 24/7 support from our dedicated Student Services Team.
Lastly, the trusted international organizations we partner with have been trained and certified over the course of many years working to provide study abroad programs
Does studying abroad in high school help with college admissions?
“The summer abroad experience does lend itself to some very important essays that students write.” Deputy director of admissions for the University of Texas
“A lot of schools, including ours, are looking for a diverse perspective, and international experiences lend themselves to that.” - Admissions Advisor, University of California
“Anything that makes your application stand out is a good thing.” - Admissions officer, University of Chicago
“Not only does studying outside the United States help build necessary language fluency for all college-bound students, it shows those headed to elite institutions will go outside their comfort zone and expand to meet the challenge. Nothing speaks to the ethics of those institutions quite like a commitment to that kind of excellence and personal achievement.” - Admissions Advisor, New York University
What makes someone a good exchange student?
First and foremost, program candidates should be mature, open-minded, and adaptable. Wondering if our Travel & Study Abroad Program is right for you? Check out our article Should You Study Abroad? 8 Signs You’d Make a Great Exchange Student to find out!
When can I study abroad?
During the Academic Year (Visit Our High School Programs Page for Specific Dates)
- Short Term Option (1-2 months)
- Trimester and Semester Options
- Full Year Options
During the Summer (Visit Our Summer Program Page for Specific Dates)
- Program options from 1-8 weeks
Post-High School Gap Year (Visit Our Gap Year Page for Specific Dates)
- 12-month program option
Where will I live when studying abroad?
For the majority of our programs, you’ll be living with a host family.
A few of our programs offer boarding schools. In those cases, you will be living with other students in a dormitory.
Can I choose my host family?
We offer placements in big cities, medium-sized suburbs, and small towns. For select programs, you can choose the specific location you’d like to stay in for an added fee.
Is airfare included in the program price?
We don’t include airfare in our pricing because we know that allowing people to shop around for the most competitive rates and convenient airport locations is best. Not to mention you might have frequent flyer miles that you could use towards the purchase of a ticket, why take that opportunity away?
You may see other programs that include flights, but it should be noted that often these flights will cost more than what participants could find on their own and/or depart from less convenient locations.
Will someone meet me at the airport?
Yes, pick up and drop-off at the airport is included in all of our programs.
Is insurance included in the program price?
Yes, a travel medical insurance policy is included in the program price for all participants.
Am I required to speak another language?
To attend a high school you must be sufficiently proficient in the native language of the country you would like to visit, but you don’t have to be fluent. Your language skills will improve quickly once you are culturally immersed!
Don’t speak another language? Don’t worry - we offer several programs in English-speaking countries.
How do I apply to study abroad?
We try to make the application process as simple as possible. Here are the steps you should follow if you’d like to apply:
- Explore our programs, options, and countries to find your best match.
- Complete our interest form and, if applicable, let us know who referred you to us.
- Schedule a meeting with one of our Travel & Study Abroad experts.
- Submit your application and a $200 application fee. This non-refundable fee will be applied to your overall program costs.
- Upon acceptance, you will be required to pay a deposit of 50% of the total program cost, up to $1500. The final payment is due several weeks before your departure.
Are there any payment plans available?
All program fees must be received before departure, usually 6-8 weeks before. The usual payment schedule is: $200 student application fee, $1500 deposit before your application is forwarded to our partner in the country of choice and a remainder 6-8 weeks before departure. Personalized installment plans are also available, where a minimum payment is set at $500. We understand that financing a study abroad program might be challenging for some, therefore we want you to know that we are here to help as much as we can. Please visit our Scholarship and Fundraising pages for additional financing hints.
Can I travel alone or with friends when I have free time?
Minors are not permitted to travel alone or with other minors. You may travel with your host family, local representative, or with a school. Students above 18 years old, must coordinate with their host family and local representative before making any travel plans.
How can I make purchases with my spending money abroad?
Making the best decision on how to prepare for a trip to another country where different currency is used takes a bit of planning. Besides US dollar banknotes, that you can exchange anywhere in the world, most debit and credit cards are also accepted worldwide. Before leaving the US you should speak to your bank to make sure that you won’t be charged exorbitant international fees. Many banks in the US offer cards with no international or ATM fees. Also, consider inquiring about prepaid cards. Another option might be traveler’s checks that are an alternative to cash and cards. It is not very common that you will be able to open a local bank account to which you could transfer money to. However, since we live in an ever-changing world, you should never disregard this option; we encourage you to inquire about it upon your arrival. Our local representative will always be happy to assist you. Remember, never keep all of your cards and cash in one place.