• Experience Italy beyond the tourist trail! 
• Study at the University for Foreigners of Perugia, Italy's leading institution for teaching Italian to international students.
• Hands-on cooking classes featuring authentic local and national cuisine. 
• Guided cultural excursions to Perugia, Assisi, Firenze (Florence), and other historic destinations. 
• Language learning through daily life and classroom instruction. 

Spend your summer immersed in the language, culture, and daily life of Italy in the historic city of Perugia, the vibrant capital of Umbria. Through a new partnership with the renowned University for Foreigners of Perugia, students will take intensive Italian language courses alongside peers from around the world while earning University of Kansas credit. 

Participants may choose between two program tracks: Language or Language + Cooking Track. Both provide rigorous academics and the Language + Cooking track includes hands-on culinary experiences. Both tracks include guided excursions to iconic destinations such as Assisi and Florence, and complete cultural immersion. Living in shared apartments in the heart of Perugia, students will practice Italian every day in cafés, markets, and historic piazzas while discovering one of Italy's most authentic and welcoming university cities. Open to KU and non-KU students, this faculty-led program offers an unforgettable opportunity to develop language proficiency, deepen cultural understanding, and experience a part of Italy many tourist do not. 

Perugia: this ancient Etruscan and then Roman city is the capital of the Umbria region, often called the Green Heart of Italy. Built on a hilltop and surrounded by rolling countryside, the city offers an authentic Italian experience away from the crowds of larger tourist destinations. Famous for its art (Pietro Vannucci and Pinturicchio), history, chocolate (Eurochocolate Festival), jazz (Umbria Jazz Festival), and fashion (Ellesse and Cucinelli), unlike larger tourist destinations, Perugia allows students to experience everyday Italian life. Students hear Italian in cafés, markets, bookstores, and neighborhoods, making language learning a natural part of daily life. Perugia’s manageable size and affordability encourages exploration on foot while offering all the cultural resources of a major university city.

Università per gli Stranieri di Perugia/University for Foreigners of Perugia: Through a new partnership with one of Italy's premier institutions for teaching Italian language and culture to international students, KU students will enroll in intensive language courses taught by expert faculty while experiencing authentic Italian life in the heart of Umbria.

Students will pick one of two tracks. Each track will have students taking 2 classes. Students on the Language Track will take the equivalent of two Italian language courses. Students who select the Language + Cooking Track will take one Italian language course alongside a month-long cooking course. University of Kansas undergraduate credit is granted upon successful completion of the course. Students who have a GPA in Italian language courses lower than 3.0 at the time of application should consult with the Program Director.

Language Track

Students will take 2 courses from the list below, 5 or 6 credits total:

• ITAL 110 Elementary Italian I. (5 credits) Essentials of grammar and composition, reading of simple texts, practice in pronunciation and speaking.
• ITAL 120 Elementary Italian II. (5 credits) Continuation of ITAL 110.
• ITAL 230 Intermediate Italian I. (3 credits) Intensive and extensive reading of modern texts; vocabulary, idioms, and discussion in Italian of texts. Systematic review of grammar.
• ITAL 240 Intermediate Italian II. (3 credits) Continuation of ITAL 230.
• ITAL 300 Composition and Conversation. H/W. (3 credits) An intensive review of Italian grammar and usage for the advanced student. Compositions, conversation, and supportive readings in Italian.
• ITAL 315 Advanced Composition and Conversation. H/W. (3 credits) Continuation of ITAL 300.
• ITAL 495  Directed Readings in Italian. (1-3 credits)  Enrollment in this course requires permission by the Italian major advisor.

Language + Cooking Track

Students will take one language course from the list above, alongside a cooking course during the program

• ITAL 333 Italian Food Culture. (3 credits) An interdisciplinary course on Italian cultural studies with a focus on Italian cuisine.

Students will be placed in shared apartments managed by a local housing agency in Perugia. Each apartment is furnished and includes cooking facilities, single or twin rooms, internet access, and shared bathrooms. Apartments are within walking distance of the university. Apartments may or may not include a/c so students are encouraged to budget for a purchasing a fan in Perugia.

All students have unique things to consider when studying abroad. A Traveler Profile is a set of personal factors, characteristics or life experiences that could impact daily life abroad. Your individual Traveler Profile may include things such as your age, foreign language proficiency, gender, medical history, medication use, mental health, mobility, piercings and tattoos, travel experience, and more. 

SAGE is dedicated to creating international engagement opportunities that meet the needs of all our students and providing resources to support you through the process of studying abroad. Before selecting a program, consider how your Traveler Profile may impact your experience abroad in unique ways and talk with your Program Coordinator about any program-specific concerns. Students with documented disabilities should discuss any accommodation needs with their Program Coordinator early in the planning process. 

Check our Traveler Profile pages linked below for information specific to you and other students who may be on your program. 

• Adult Learners and Non-Traditional Students
• First Generation Students
• Physical and Mental Health Histories
• Religious, Spiritual, and Non-Religious Students
• Sexual and Gender Diversity
• Students of Color Abroad
• Students with Children
• Students with Financial Need
• Veterans, Active Duty, and ROTC
• Visible and Invisible Disabilities 

Open to students in good standing from any accredited U.S. college or university. One year of Italian is strongly recommended prior to departure. Minimum 2.5 GPA required.

Academic Contact: Prof. Patrizio Ceccagnoli, patrizio@ku.edu 

Study Abroad Program Coordinator: Brooke Stock 
Have a quick question? Email me at: brooke.stock@ku.edu  
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