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ISI Perugia - The Umbra Institute (Outgoing Program)

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  • Locations: Perugia, Italy
  • Program Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Winter-Spring
  • Homepage: Click to visit
  • Program Sponsor: The Umbra Institute 
  • Restrictions: W&L applicants only
  • Dates / Deadlines
Fact Sheet:
Fact Sheet:
Type of Program: Study Abroad Housing Options: Apartment, Homestay
Area of Study: Anthropology, Archaeology, Art, Art History, Business, Child Development, Classical Studies, Communication, Communications, Creative Writing, Culture, Education, Environmental Studies, European Studies, Film, Fine Art, Gastronomy, History, Humanities, Independent Study, International Business, International Relations, International Studies, Italian, Italian Language & Literature, Liberal Arts, Literature, Management, Marketing, Music, Photography, Politics, Psychology, Religion/Theology, Service Learning, Sociology, Studio Art, Studio Arts, Womens Studies, Writing Language of Instruction: English, Italian
Minimum GPA: 2.75 Class Eligibility: 1 First Year, 2 Sophomore, 3 Junior, 4 Senior
Program Description:

Study at the Umbra Institute in Perugia, Italy

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 Facebook pages. 
Visit the Umbra Community Engagement Abroad webpage for information about getting involved in the local community during your time abroad.

Semester Programs | Summer Programs | Housing | Student Life & Services | Health & Safety | Program Highlights | Quicklinks

Orientation in PerugiaAcademic Programs: Semester and Year-long
The Umbra Institute offers students two certificate programs (the Food, Sustainability, & Environmental Studies Program and the Multicultural Psychology Program), numerous curricular concentrations, the Scholars Program, and an option to 'build your own semester' curriculum.

The General Studies Program allows students to build their own curriculum. This program encourages students to mix and match courses from various disciplines taught at Umbra in order to best compliment their personal and degree goals. Courses are taught in English and the majority include field trips as part of the curriculum.

Food Sustainability StudiesThe program in Food, Sustainability, & Environment is an interdisciplinary curricular concentration with two tracks, Food Studies and Environmental Studies & Sustainability. Students take an Italian class and then choose three food- or sustainability-related courses. All courses include co-curricular field trips and students earn a certificate. Credit-bearing internships are also available.

The Multicultural Psychology Program teaches students about how culture influences our understanding of ourselves and others. In addition to their work in the classroom, participants engage in various experiential learning opportunities that offer deeper insight through hands-on experiences. This cross-cultural knowledge base is useful for careers in counseling, education, research, social work, and many other professions.
 
Community EngagementThe Scholars Independent Research Program welcomes students with a desire to combine high academic standards, extensive study in the subject area, community engagement, and additional contact with instructors. Scholars students conduct original research in an area of their choice, working one-on-one with a faculty advisor. The research culminates into a traditional research paper or a creative project, approved by the faculty advisor.

Click here to view Umbra’s Academic Calendar and see which semester is best for you.

Academic Program: Summer
During the summer, the General Studies Summer Program offers students the opportunity to choose one or two courses from a diverse list of offerings each summer. The majority of courses include field trips and excursions as part of the curriculum.

The Intensive Italian through Culture Program is a five- to nine-week intensive language course. Students can select from the following four levels: elementary, intermediate, intermediate-advanced, and advanced. The program consists of full-time study coupled with rich co-curricular activities alongside Italian students. These cultural activities include language exchanges, cinema nights, day trips, concerts during the Umbria Jazz festival, museum visits, and guided tours in Italian.

The Summer Archaeology Field School provides a curricular concentration in Archaeology and History based in nearby Castiglione del Lago on the shores of Lake Trasimeno. The Field School consists of two courses, both held in Castiglione del Lago. While classroom learning is part of the field school, the core of the program is daily, hands-on experience: learning to excavate through actual experience.

 

Accommodations & Student Life

Housing

To help facilitate a smooth transition into life in Perugia, the Umbra Institute provides housing in apartments situated throughout the city center. Apartments are shared, and most house between two and six Umbra students.  To see pictures of Umbra’s apartments, click here.  You will find that walking through the city is an extremely easy, pleasant, and social experience…after just a few weeks in Perugia, you are sure to bump into people you know while out and about.

As there is no meal plan for the Umbra Institute program, students are encouraged to cook for themselves – don’t worry, Umbra hosts cooking classes in its didactic kitchen. All apartments are stocked with basic kitchen utensils, and often students discover new talents and interests while in the kitchen. If cooking isn’t for you, the Università per Stranieri offers low-price cafeteria meals, and the Umbra student ID card is valid for discounts at many trattorias, pizzerias, and pubs around the city. After all, it is Italy: delicious food is never far away.

Students may also choose to live with Italian or international students or in a homestay. These options are individualized and some background with the Italian language is preferred. Students should contact info@umbra.org for individualized arrangements.

Student Life & Services
Umbra arranges an airport pick-up on arrival day each semester, during which staff personally welcomes students to Italy and Perugia. Through orientation students meet Umbra’s Resident and Academic Directors, chat with community engagement coordinators about volunteering and other opportunities, receive apartment tips from dedicated housing staff, and learn travel tricks from the student services team.

Students are encouraged to be as involved as possible while studying in Perugia. For a complete list of student activity and community engagement options, click here.

Another unique feature available to Umbra students is the Umbra App (available on iPhone and Android). The App gives students immediate access to semester event details and sign-ups, walking directions to local restaurants and businesses, and provides a list of local discount information. Students can also contact each other, faculty, or staff through the App, view course information, and more.


Health and Safety:
The Umbra Institute is dedicated to ensuring that students enjoy a safe and rewarding study abroad experience. As a full-service program with more than 15 years’ experience in study abroad, Umbra is there to assist each student from the time they apply, through their arrival, and up to the day of departure. Services relative to health and safety include:
  • Orientation: an Italian State Police lieutenant gives a presentation on safety and security in Italy and throughout Europe.
  • Emergency Phone: available 24 hours a day.
  • On-site Coaching and Counseling Service
  • Housing Office: offering apartment maintenance and assistance.
  • Umbra App Safety Check-in: In case of an emergency, all students will receive a Safety Check-in notification through the App. They will then be prompted to respond with either “I’m Safe” or “Request Assistance,” so that appropriate steps can be taken to ensure their well-being.
  • Doctors and Medical Care Available 24 Hours a Day: Students may choose to contact medical personnel on their own, but most students come to Umbra staff for support and assistance in making an appointment, either during business hours or through contacting the emergency phone.
  • Travel Workshop and Travel Forms.

The Umbra Institute Highlights
  • International staff and faculty;
  • US Office providing pre-departure support;
  • Private airport pick-up in Rome and transfer to Perugia;
  • Communication: Umbra App (for Apple and Android), monthly newsletters, Wi-Fi in all student apartments, Handbooks and Guidebook;
  • Emergency phone available 24 hours a day;
  • Life-coaching and counseling service;
  • Staff trained in crisis management;
  • Multi-day orientation in Perugia including a practical city walking tour;
  • Cell phone or SIM cards rental services available;
  • Educational and cultural workshops (Travel Workshop, Career Workshop, etc.);
  • Optional Trip, a staff-guided trip offered to explore beautiful, scenic Italy;
  • Co-curricular field trips to world-renowned historic sites and famous cities;
  • Italian language courses to learn practical skills to communicate with locals;
  • Tandem language exchange; and
  • A variety of extracurricular activities (pizza-making workshop, sports with Italian university students, etc.).

Quick links
Academics Programs Overview
Course Descriptions
Umbra Institute videos
Community Engagement page
Build Your Own Curriculum
Food, Sustainability, & Environmental Studies Program
Multicultural Psychology Program
Scholars Program
Umbra for Parents
Study Abroad in Italy


Dates / Deadlines:
Dates / Deadlines:
Term Year App Deadline Decision Date Start Date End Date
Winter-Spring 2025 10/15/2024 ** Rolling Admission 01/10/2025 04/26/2025

** Indicates rolling admission application process. Applicants will be immediately notified of acceptance into this program and be able to complete post-decision materials prior to the term's application deadline.