Aerial view of Copenhagen City
Copenhagen, Denmark

Global Internship

Study Program Part-Time Internship
Overview

As a hub for sustainable development, Copenhagen is an exciting European city to gain real-world work experience in! Designed for students interested in sustainable city planning and climate advocacy, interning in Denmark's capital city will outfit you with a wide range of hard and soft skills to carry with you into your career path moving forward.

When you decide to intern abroad with CIEE, our staff will work directly with you to match you with an internship opportunity that suits your unique needs and professional goals. While internships are competitive, CIEE will help you navigate the internship interview process to set you up for success. Our staff will offer you constructive resume revisions and provide you with the tools to succeed in your interview to ensure you are confirmed for the right opportunity. Learn more about our personalized placement process.

Whether you work in one of Copenhagen's many startups or among researchers in the city's top universities (Copenhagen Business School and The University of Copenhagen), the work experience you gain and the contacts you network with will impact your career for years to come. 

Unique Experiences

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Learn about Scandinavian innovation and design

Copenhagen integrates old and new architecture and design to create a modern European capital that still feels cozy and “hyggelig.”

Work in one of Europe's most bike-friendly cities

enjoy the freedom and flexibility of eco-friendly commuting.

Major industries headquartered in Copenhagen

including Maersk, the world’s leader in shipping and logistics.

1843

Year the second-oldest amusement park in the world, Tivoli gardens, was founded

160

Number of languages that Christian Andersen's famous fairytales are translated to

2nd

World-ranked happiest country

Experience
  • Copenhagen river and flag
  • copenhagen group biking in the fall

Your Destination

Copenhagen has undergone a transformation in the past decade and has emerged as a “must-stop” destination in Europe. Fine dining, natural wines, and its reputation as an environmentally friendly city have earned the city top billing from foodies, students, and those seeking refuge in one of the “happiest countries in the world.” Despite playing host to over 600,000 residents, Copenhagen retains an old-world, small-village feel – with more bicycles than cars traveling its streets. Students discover an endless array of cultural activities, history, architecture, and more, in one of Europe’s safest capitals.

CIEE Copenhagen is located in the city center – we like to say a 5-minute walk gets you everywhere you want to go. The Center’s beautiful and very comfortable Lounge is where students love to work, hang out, people-watch - and take naps! 

CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Copenhagen.

The Culture

copenhagen city hall

Excursions & Activities

  • Take a daytrip to explore Hamlet’s Castle in Helsingør - just one of many castles harboring the stories of Scandinavia’s past. 
  • Take an overnight trip to other parts of Denmark, and explore some of the unique landscape and visit one or more of the sites listed on UNESCO World Heritage list – like the Wadden Sea or Stevns Klint 
  • Explore the National Museum and see how Copenhagen transformed from a fishing village in the 10th century to a world leader in sustainability and innovation. 
  • Experience Danish hygge – a lifestyle trend described as a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being. 
  • Take a short train trip across the bridge to Sweden and explore the young city of Malmø (half the population is under 35) with lots of cobblestone streets full of cafes and shops. Get on the train again and Visit Lund – home of a 12th – century Romanesque cathedral and one of the oldest and largest universities in Scandinavia.
copenhagen group of student wearing hard hats at factory

Professional Development

  • Take advantage of resume help and interviewing skills based on local business culture 
  • Explore your own career path through workshops on personal branding, networking skills, and making the most of out your internship 
  • Examine and develop your transferable skills through guidance and feedback from your supervisor and instructor

Program Blogs

From CIEE

My Five Favorite Places to Go In Copenhagen

By College Study Abroad Ambassador at CIEE

By: Emmet Anderson The Louisiana Museum I genuinely think the Louisiana Museum in Humlebaek is the greatest museum I’ve ever been to. For starters, the location is impeccable. On the... keep reading

From CIEE

Finding the Meaning of Hygge

By College Study Abroad Ambassador at CIEE

By: Emmet Anderson When I was trying to decide what city to study abroad in this summer, I stumbled upon a video about Copenhagen with the concept of Hygge at... keep reading

Polar Plunge in Copenhagen

By Elizabeth H.

Hi friends! I just wanted to share about one of my favorite memories from my time in Copenhagen. CIEE offers a lot of fun activities throughout the week so students... keep reading

Housing
Academics

Academics

As a global intern in Copenhagen, you’ll work in a non-paying position within a wide range of opportunities across a diverse set of industries. Extracurricular excursions and cultural activities in and around London complement your coursework and immerse you in the history and culture of the city.

This semester-long program includes 6 weeks of academic coursework and a 12-week internship and academic seminar. Class environment varies depending on the course and is designed to follow U.S. academic culture and standards.

GPA

2.5

Language Requirements

There are no specific language requirements for this program.

Additional Requirements

Students participating in the Copenhagen Semester Global Internship program must maintain full-time student status at their home university while participating in the CIEE program and must have matriculated full-time at their home university at least three months prior to application. Students should be prepared to obtain a signed letter from their home university confirming student matriculation details.

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.

Requirements

Upon completing the two electives during the first 6-week block, students participate in an integrated academic seminar taught alongside the 12-week internship. The two 6-week elective courses, seminar and internship are required components of the program. 

Explore culture, history, religion, and more with our course offerings. Students will enroll in: 

  • Two Block I CIEE courses offered on a 6-week academic block system. 
  • 12-week internship with an integrated online academic course. 
  • Optional additional CIEE elective course in Block II and/or Block III.

Program Credit

Total credit: 12-18 U.S. semester/18-27 quarter credits

Course Credit

  • CIEE courses: 3 semester/4.5 quarter credits; 45 contact hours
  • CIEE Internship: 6 U.S. semester/9 quarter credits; 45 academic course hours, 225-300 internship placement hours

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.

Academic Culture

CIEE courses are designed to follow U.S. academic culture and standards. The class environment for elective courses typically features a combination of traditional lecture and discussion. The integrated academic course which correlates with the 12-week internship is taught primarily in an online learning environment to complement the internship experience. Students are expected to dress and behave professionally throughout their internship and are subject to the agreed-upon internship protocols arranged by CIEE and the host organization.

Class Format

Students begin by taking two Block I CIEE courses offered on a 6-week academic block system. All courses are customized for and open only to CIEE students. Elective classes include a combination of lectures, group work, presentations, and discussions. The second part of the program includes a12-week CIEE internship and required academic seminar and one optional CIEE elective course in Block II and/or Block III. 

Except for the required Internship course, all courses are offered with the CIEE Open Campus program, and will therefore be shared with students on the program, and many are available in multiple CIEE locations. To help ensure you are able to enroll in the courses you need, some courses may be facilitated as a Hybrid course by an instructor from a location that is separate from your own. In a Hybrid course, you will learn either face-to-face or online, depending on your location. However, regardless of your location, you will apply what you learn from the instructor and course materials in your location.

Grading

The U.S. grading scale of A-F is used. Final grades are based on class participation, homework, individual project work, presentations, and midterm and final exams. In the integrated academic course which correlates with the 12-week internship, students should expect to be assessed via assignments as outlined in the syllabus. Internship supervisors provide a written evaluation of progress towards internship goals at the conclusion of the placement.

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.

Language of Instruction

English

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.

Courses

Course Information

Course Notes

  • All internships are offered in English.
  • Students should expect to spend 19-25 hours per week engaged in internship work
  • Block I courses are chosen from any of the courses offered through the Open Campus Block program in Block I. Courses are listed as “Fall Block I” and “Spring Block I” respectively.
  • The optional courses for Weeks 7-18 available for Block II and Block III are listed below. Students can only add one optional course per block (Block II and/or Block III).
  • Hybrid Courses  
    Some CIEE courses are offered in hybrid format to make them available at multiple program locations and increase your course choices. A hybrid class is taught synchronously in a classroom in one location, and students in the program at other CIEE locations join live online. All students have the same instructor and meet as one class. Co-curricular activities are tailored to each student’s location to promote local, experiential and intercultural learning for all. The syllabi show the location of instruction for all hybrid classes and from what program locations the course can be taken. Hybrid courses can be identified as those whose course codes end in “CIEE”.

Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.

Scholarships

Scholarships & Grants

CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.

Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:

  • Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
  • Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
  • CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
  • MSI Grant

To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application.

Learn more about scholarships

Dates & Fees

What's Included

Tuition

Housing

Pre-departure Advising

Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions

Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet

Orientation

Introduction to your program plus practical information about living in your host city

On-site Staff

Full-time program leadership and support in your city

Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities

Travel Protection

CIEE iNext travel protection

24/7 emergency on-site support

Staff

Our Staff

Brittany Perry

Academic director

Brittany Perry has been the academic director for CIEE in Copenhagen since December 2021, and brings extensive teaching experience with her from several US institutions of Higher Education.

Rebecca Siert

Student Life and Program Manager

Rebecca Siert has been with CIEE in Copenhagen since May 2019, and has studied abroad in the US and worked as an event planner and on projects for different organizations before joining CIEE Copenhagen.

Get Started Steps

Get Started

Here’s what you need to do to take the next steps:

1

Start an Application 
You're one step closer to an amazing study abroad experience!

2

Connect With Your Campus Study Abroad Office  
Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad. 

3

Contact Us 
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program. 

Request Info