Copenhagen Scholars Program
Copenhagen Scholars Program
University of Copenhagen (KU) in Copenhagen, Denmark
Danish Technical University (DTU) in Copenhagen, Denmark
GPA Requirements
Minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA required, but will consider students at 2.8 level.
Length of Term
15-week semester
Term Dates
August 30/September 1 through mid-December
Places Available
Five places at DTU and 5 places at KU are available for the Fall term. There is no winter term option.
Accommodation
Students will live in either KU or DTU halls of residence based on the student's admitting university in Copenhagen. Most halls have well set up kitchens in which students can cook for themselves.
Coursework
All Danish students and faculty speak English. In fact, the majority of Danes speak English very well! Upper-level classes are taught in English. KU and DTU each have a rule that upper-level classes (junior/senior or first-year graduate) can be taught in English for non-Danish speakers. Upper-level classes are year 3 bachelor's and year 4 master's level. Note that the master's level is equivalent to our senior year/1st year graduate student level, i.e., classes at Caltech number 100 or over. Students cannot take PhD level classes.
At KU students take two Block 1 classes and one Block 2 class in the subject equipment to their option. Each class is 7.5 ECTS. Each culture class is 15 ECTS (30 ECTS). The workload of the culture classes is similar to that of a 9 unit Humanities or Social Science class at Caltech. Therefore, count each culture class as 7.5 ECTS and not 15 ECTS in the class list and unit total. The total ECTS for a student at KU will be 37.5.
*Note at KU a student in the first half of the semester is taking two 7.5 ECTS option classes and two 7.5 Danish culture classes for a total workload of 30 ECTS. In the second half of the semester, a student is taking one 7.5 option class and two 7.5 Danish culture classes (continuing from the 1st half of the semester) for a total of 22.5 ECTS allowing ample time to write papers and prepare for examinations. Students at KU cannot take classes in STEM departments other than their option or HSS type departments other than the culture class offerings.
At DTU, students must take a minimum of 18 Caltech units in their option. This is equivalent to either option: 1.) two 5 ECTS classes, 2.) a 5 ECTS and a 10 ECTS or 3.) two 10 ECTS classes. The student may need to take additional classes either in their option or another DTU field of interest plus a Danish Culture class offering to achieve a unit total of 30 to 35 ECTS including the 7.5 Danish Culture class taken at KU. Please find a listing of the fall Danish culture class offerings here: https://danishculturecourses.ku.dk/. Again, although the culture classes are listed as 15 ECTS the workload is equivalent to a 9 unit Caltech class and we count these classes as only 7.5 ECTS.
*Note that DTU students select one and KU students select two classes from the Danish culture class offerings. This link shows the classes taught spring term, i.e. not this fall or next fall. But it will provide an idea of what these classes are like and many spring classes are also taught in the fall term: https://danishculturecourses.ku.dk/. The fall list will be posted in the spring and students will be able to modify their choice(s) once the fall 2025 classes are posted. Below is a list of classes that KU indicates will be offered in fall 2025. Caltech counts each class as 9 units of Humanities credit with the exception of "Sustainable Development of Denmark in the World", which should get Social Science credit.
Danish Culture Class Options Offered as of Fall 2024 at KU:
- Course in Danish Culture
- Danish Architecture and Urban Design
- Nordic Mythology
- Danish Film, Television and Streaming
- Danish Design
- Sustainable Development of Denmark in the World
- Søren Kierkegaard and the Challenge of Existence
- Gender and Sexuality Studies
DTU students can consider taking a BEM type class offered by the Management Engineering Department at DTU or History of Technology (5 or 10 ECTS option) taught by the DTU Physics Department. DTU students should not exceed 35 ECTS total for classes including Danish culture.
Both DTU and KU have a one-week holiday break in mid-October-this is a great time for students to travel.
Application Information
Please see the Application Process page for application forms for all programs. Note: Application materials are now posted as of November 2024.
