The Umbra Institute

Perugia, Italy (Map)
  • Looking out from Perugia
  • Perugia
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DESCRIPTION:

Perugia is the capital of the Italian region of Umbria, situated halfway between Florence and Rome on a hilltop surrounded by the rolling hills of Umbria and Tuscany. The ancient city serves as the ideal backdrop for study abroad in Italy. Rich in art, architecture, and historic significance, it is internationally recognized as a city of learning.
The city's multiple train and bus stations, as well as an international airport, allow students to both experience Italian culture and explore Europe. The lively community hosts various festivals (such as Eurochocolate, the International Journalism Festival, and Umbria Jazz) each year and multiple international academic institutions, attracting students and professionals from across the globe.
Explore the Umbra Institute and Perugia through our Youtube, Instagram, and TikTok profiles; and don't forget to check out our student-led Podcast on Spotify!
Visit the Umbra Community Engagement Abroad webpage for information about getting involved in the local community during your time abroad.Visit the Umbra Community Engagement Abroad webpage for information about getting involved in the local community during your time abroad.


ACADEMICS


The Institute offers a number of distinctive and innovative academic programs:


BUILD YOUR OWN SEMESTER with the General Studies Program. Based on a traditional liberal arts curriculum, the GSP allows students to take a wide variety of courses taught in English (art history, history, business, psychology, political sciences, studio art, and more), along with an Italian language courses. This program is offered during both the semester and summer sessions.


The Program in Food, Sustainability & Environmental Studies is an interdisciplinary certificate program open to all students. The program includes a series of co-curricular activities (guest lectures, site visits, field trips, culinary activities, and other hands on experiences). These allow students to directly observe the concepts studied in the classroom and analyze issues surrounding food, food systems & production, the environment and sustainability in an Italian and global context from varied perspectives. Dont' forget to ask about related internship opportunities!


The Multicultural Psychology Program is another certificate program offered by the Institute. It allows students to study how culture influences our understanding of ourselves and others. In addition to their work in the classroom, students experience various experiential learning opportunities that offer insight into the role of cultural norms and values in shaping human behavior and interactions. This includes a capstone trip uniquely designed to delve into the 3 pillars of this program: psychiatry, education, and disability studies. This track is ideal for students of psychology, social work, education, and related fields as it offers relative hands-on learning and research opportunities designed to complement grad school applications.


The Direct Enrollment Programs are for students who wish to focus exclusively on Italian language and culture (from absolute beginner to advanced levels). Through this track, students can enroll in the prestigious Università per Stranieri (University for Foreigners). Students already at an advanced level of Italian (C1) can also choose to enroll in courses with Italian students at the Università degli Studi di Perugia (University of Perugia). Direct Enrollment programs are taught exclusively in Italian and cannot be combined with other program tracks during the same semester.


As complements to the programs above, the Umbra Institute hosts many events, giving students the chance to participate in wine tastings, weekend trips, walking tours, tandem language exchange with Italians, pizza nights, art shows, sporting events, and so much more.

The Independent Research Scholars Program offers students the chance to maximize their study abroad experience by engaging in an individualized research project under the mentorship of an Umbra Institute professor and utilizing the unique resources of Perugia and the surrounding region. The goal is to push students to expand their intellectual and personal boundaries to explore, discover, learn, and create new ideas in an international setting. Features of the Scholars Program include enriching coursework and field experiences, enhanced cultural immersion, and collaboration with other highly motivated students.

For more detailed information on program dates, please see the Umbra academic calendar.

Course Information:
Students traditionally enroll in 12.0 - 18.0 credits of coursework at Umbra. Course options traditionally depend on the program that students participate in.
A full list of courses, searchable by term, subject, and program, is available online.

Accommodation:
Students live in fully-equipped apartments located throughout the historic city center of Perugia. These accommodations include WiFi, basic kitchen utensils (pots, pans, plates, etc.), a washing machine, iron and ironing board, sheets and pillows, among other basic items. Apartments are shared with other students participating in the program and roommate requests can be made as part of the application process if you happen to plan to attend the program with a friend. All apartments have been vetted by the Umbra Institute and are within walking distance to the school.
The Umbra Institute does not offer a meal plan to students, but all apartments have a shared kitchen where students can cook and prepare meals. Low cost meals can also be found throughout the student-oriented areas of the city.
Students participating in the direct enrollment program have the option of living with a local host family. Students choosing to live in a homestay have access to a fully furnished private bedroom, bathroom, laundry, and kitchen facilities. Meals are not included with the homestay option and additional fees apply.
More information about student housing can be found online.

Arrival Information:
Students can fly into Rome (FCO) on the program arrival date set by Umbra. Students will be met at the airport by Umbra staff on the day of pickup and be transported to their accommodation, so long as their flight lands before 2 pm local time on arrival day. If you schedule your flight to land outside the arrival window, the Institute will contact you with guidance on how to get to Perugia independently.
Upon arrival, students will participate in a mandatory orientation to introduce them to campus and cultural life.

Program Cost:
Cost depends on the program that students choose to participate in. Costs generally range around $21,000 for a semester to include tuition, fees, housing, insurance, airport transfers, insurance, books, supplies and personal expenses. 

Student Visa:
SUNY students are eligible to apply for an Italian student visa through the consulate in New York City. Students are advised to contact admissions@isiabroad.org immediately upon acceptance to the Umbra Institute for information on this process. They will connect you with the Visa Processing Portal which you can use to have all of your application materials reviewed prior to your appointment, and they can provide guidance in relation to your appointment.
IMPORTANT: Do not wait to book. Appointments appear a month or more in advance and they are filled almost immediately.


When should you book?
If you will be studying in Italy during the spring semester, we advise you book a visa appointment on any available date between October 15 and December 1. The earlier, the better.
If you will be studying in Italy during the fall semester, we advise you book a visa appointment on any available date in June or July.
You cannot apply earlier as all applications must be submitted within 90 days of the start of your program. The Consulate's booking system will allow you to book an earlier date but if you go, your application will be denied and you'll have to rebook for a date within the ranges suggested above.

 

Application Requirements:

  • Sophomores and above
  • 2.5 GPA or higher

Application Deadlines:

  • Summer Semester: March 1
  • Fall Semester: March 15
  • Spring Semester: October 15

To Apply:
Follow application directions on home page. Your online application requirements include:

  • Study Statement
  • Two Recommendations
  • Official Transcript
  • Judicial Review Form

To Withdraw Your Application:

If you are no longer interested in studying abroad you must notify the Study Abroad Office as well as your foreign university prior to any deadlines.  Failure to do so may lead to student incurring late fees and bills from your foreign university.
https://www.umbra.org/
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Term Apply
Fall 2025
Spring 2025
Spring 2026
Summer 2025
Type:
University Partner
Field(s) of Study:
Anthropology, Archaeology , Art History, Business Administration, Classics, Communication, Education, English, Environmental Sciences, Film Studies, Food & Wine Studies, History, Italian, Music, Political Science, Psychology, Religious Studies, Sociology, Studio Art, Visual Arts and New Media
Special Features:
Internships, Volunteer Programs, Community Service

Program Provider

Host Institution