Some of our first St. Mary’s College of Maryland Neuroscience and Psychology students are studying abroad as part of the newly added DIS Stockholm Semester program. DIS (The Danish Institute for Study Abroad) is an academic institute that offers study abroad experiences for students from North American colleges and universities. Colin Vanbronkhorst ‘26, Morgan Copanas ‘27, Felicia Fishburne ‘26, Amy Ludden ‘27, and Natalie Canham ‘27 have been sharing their experiences with the program.
Students studying with DIS choose a Core Course that includes experiential learning in Stockholm and two study tours: a short three-day tour in Sweden and a week-long faculty-led study tour in another country. This semester, Morgan, Felicia, Amy, and Natalie are taking the Neuroscience of Emotion Core Course, which includes a short study tour in Umeå, Sweden and a long study tour in Paris, France.
SMCM students are also required to take a Swedish language and culture course and can complete their schedules with electives in Neuroscience and/or Psychology. This semester, our students chose electives such as Psychoneuroimmunology, Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neuroscience of Relationships, and Psychology of Political Behavior. Additionally, students have the opportunity to participate in undergraduate research. Felicia Fishburne is working as a research assistant on a project examining higher cognitive functions and their relationship with speech and noise discrimination in hearing and hearing-aided individuals. Colin Vanbronkhorst, who studied abroad at DIS Stockholm in Fall 2025, also had the opportunity to engage in research, “I worked on an original research project using tools I wouldn’t have had access to at St. Mary’s, from which I learned a lot of valuable skills for my SMP and postgraduate studies”.
Most DIS neuroscience courses require at least one prior course in neuroscience, physiological psychology, biological psychology, or cognitive psychology. Amy Ludden reflects on SMCM courses that helped prepare her for the program, “Courses like PSYC 204/206, PSYC310, and biology and chemistry courses have been extremely helpful for all my classes. I feel that I am more prepared coming into this program than people from most other schools.” Natalie Canham agrees, “All of the neuroscience classes I have taken at St. Mary's have really set me ahead of the crowd here.”
Studying abroad is also an opportunity to experience a new culture and environment. Morgan Copanas wrote about her favorite experience so far, “One of my favorite things I have done so far was ice skating on the Söderström. It was so beautiful and a really cool experience.” Felicia Fishburne also described a few of her favorite activities, “With my Core Course, I have been able to do an improv workshop, sauna and cold plunge, joiking workshop, northern lights expedition, hospital tour, and bouldering activity.”
Recently, DIS Stockholm’s original and sister location, DIS Copenhagen Semester program, has been approved for SMCM Marine Science, Environmental Studies, Neuroscience, Psychology, and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies programs.
The Office of International Education (OIE) was excited to collaborate with Neuroscience and Psychology to propose the multidisciplinary DIS programs be added to the approved study abroad program portfolio. Not only does this study abroad institute offer rare English-taught lab courses and research assistantships in non-English speaking host countries, but both locations are crafted to offer small class sizes and a high level of support navigating a new culture. The OIE knows that students who study at DIS will be highly immersed, experience more than one new country, and have on-site staff to which to turn in case of any challenges while abroad.
The final date to apply for DIS Copenhagen and DIS Stockholm for the Fall 2026 semester is March 15th, and Spring 2027 applications will open in April. Students are encouraged to peruse the OIE website and make an appointment to discuss the possibility of studying abroad.
