ISI Abroad

The staff at Umbra, whether professors or office administrators, is incredibly friendly and helpful for anything you may need. You will absolutely have opportunities to explore Italy between the trips planned by the student services team or from the trips that may be a part of your classes. Or even if you are looking for information about your own travels, the professors and staff members are full of great recommendations and bits of advice for your travels.

Had such an amazing study abroad semester with the Umbra Institute! Having participated in two of this program's community engagement commitments, I was able to learn more about Perugia's culture and the people through my major. Along with this, the professors I had cared deeply about our learning and were passionate about what they taught (especially props to Italian Prof. Livia). Likewise, I loved Umbra Institute for its tight-knit community, which I was involved in through a work study job as a front desk receptionist. Overall, the program provided me with so many opportunities to immerse myself with the school and Perugia as a city! If you are seeking a study abroad program that values fostering a close community, I highly recommend the Umbra Institute!

Had a great time with Umbra. They are very helpful and have always been there to provide help with resources and advice on how to navigate the city of Perugia. They have always been very transparent about class and schedules!

The city, the people, the classes, the staff— you cannot even begin to describe how incredible this program is and how it has changed my life. I have built long-lasting relationships while working and serving a community that now means the world to me. The smaller city vibe makes the most authentic experience possible. I always wanted to study abroad in Rome or Florence, but Perugia was the only city available. And thank goodness it was. Being at the Umbra Institute was the biggest blessing in my life so far. I was able to become very close with my classmates, professors, and staff members that would not have been possible in other places. I have found meaning and authenticity in my studies, balanced travel, a social life, and felt SO supported in my time here.

I loved so much about my experience here. There were so many wonderful opportunities to visit cool places, and tons of events to go to. The classes were very interesting and all of the professors and staff are lovely. I had so much fun seeing and trying all the new things.

I had an incredible experience with this study abroad program and would highly recommend it to anyone considering going abroad. From start to finish, everything was well organized, and I felt supported every step of the way. The program made it easy to adjust to living in a new country, and the staff were always available to help with any questions or concerns. One of the best parts of the experience was the opportunity to fully immerse myself in a new culture. I was able to explore the city, try amazing local food, and meet people from all over the world. The program also did a great job of balancing independence with support, giving me the freedom to grow while still providing helpful resources. Academically, the courses were engaging and offered a unique perspective that I wouldn’t have gotten at my home university. I learned so much both inside and outside of the classroom. Overall, this program exceeded all of my expectations. It helped me grow personally, academically, and culturally, and it’s truly an experience I will never forget. I would absolutely give it 10 stars and encourage others to take advantage of this opportunity!

Umbra made sure to make the student feel welcomed and at home right away. The staff is always available if you need help. They’re always planning different activities to bring the students together which is great. They’re always giving you recommendations for places to go to so you don’t feel lost. Overall I’m very happy that I chose Umbra and wouldn’t want to have it any other way.

My experience in Perugia, Italy was absolutely incredible! The program that I chose was the perfect fit for me. The courses that I took abroad really interested me and I feel that I gained so much more knowledge from them. Many of the courses provided included hands-on activities and real life applications. We had the opportunity to go into the Italian community and apply everything we had learned in the classroom. The program provided cultural immersion experiences by hosting Tandem events where Italian students and Umbra students would get together for an aperitivo and practice having conversations in Italian or learning more about the Italian culture. The apartment I lived in was wonderful. It was right by the city center and the Umbra Institute. This location was very convenient and I loved being in the center of a small Italian city. The staff and professors are very helpful, friendly, and overall very supportive of their students. If you are looking to improve your Italian, live in a small city surrounded by stunning nature and panoramic views, and take classes that really enhance the application of your learning, the Umbra Institute is the perfect program for you!

Overall, my time at the Umbra Institute in Perugia was great! The staff are some of the friendliest, welcoming, and patient people I've met. Their support made the transition to living in Italy quite easy. The living situation was great! Students are housed in apartments in the city center all within a fifteen-minute walk from school. My apartment was very spacious. The academics at Umbra were not too challenging and the professors are all passionate about the classes they teach. Additionally, the Umbra Institute offers a variety of specialty programs such as the Multicultural Psychology Program and the Food and Sustainability program. Although I was not in those programs I took a class in the FSE program and it was my favorite class of the semester. Even though I wasn't in the MPP or FSE program my classes were still interesting and counted towards credit at school. This program is great for anyone looking to study abroad in a small city and be surrounded by a close-knit community.

I loved Perugia and getting to experience small town Italy. The umbra institute was very welcoming and helpful. Honestly my classes were a little boring and lack luster but everything else was great. I loved everyone I met. I had the best time getting to know Italian culture and traveling Europe.

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I loved everything about this program, it really felt like a tight knit community which is what I was hoping for when I applied. You get to know the other abroad students, the faculty, and local Italians very well. I also really got to know the city.

I submitted my application at 11: 56 on a Thursday night. On a whim, bored of my college. It was more a fantasy than anything, like making to-do lists you know you won't complete just to get that feeling of validation, like you actually have your life together. Italy is a romanticized place I think in many cultures, the old music, pasta, mamma mia. Let me tell you, best decision ever. Perugia is a town masquerading as a city, with winding small alleys, local flair, this community is more tight knit then my one back home, even with a language barrier. Through a poster hung in Umbra, I joined a speleology group. Caving. And if there is one way to learn Italian quickly, it's by hanging 100 feet above a darkened maw of abyss and your instructor speaks Italian, and you don't. Or, after being adopted as the odd american girl, being lowered from a clocktower as a trial for a local festival for La Befana, You want cultural immerion, what a way to get it. And for those not wanting to suspend their life by some rope, Umbra has so many options to get involved, just ask the kind, amazing, angels at the student services. I got to see so much of Italy and their surrounding, and not so surrounding, countries with the raveworthy train systems. The food, dear god, has made me consider who I can marry to get a visa. I got comfortable being uncomfortable here, who are you when you strip away your ability to communicate verbally, what are your habits when your culture is not there to reinforce them, how do you adapt, how do you stay the same. I say without a doubt that a semester abroad was a great thing for me, and the true Italian experience found at Umbra made it so much better. If I had gone to a city, an actual city with its globalization, I think I would have found it lacking the Italian culture I discovered here. You can find a community here, in the students, and the people.

Studying abroad has been the best experience ever! ISI Florence has housing where everyone is spread out into different apartments across Florence to get a very authentic experience. You can have one to 10 roommates! They really put a lot of thought into their room assignments, I went into the program not knowing anyone and am coming out of it with 7 new best friends. I seriously cannot recommend it enough. I got to go to so many Italian cities and travel to other 6 European countries. The classes were doable but they are extremely strict about attendance so I would not book trips before you get you syllabus. I even more money you think you will spend because when you get here you will want to get food out, buy gifts for people, and do everything you want to. I recommend staying open-minded and embracing every moment. I have made memories here that will last so forever and learned so much about myself and the world around me. If you are questioning whether or not to study abroad, GO!

Going abroad has been the most incredible three months of my life. I not only visted 9 countries and crossed off many things from my bucket list like skydiving in Switzerland, riding a camel in Morrocco, and swimming in the seas of the Amalfi coast, but I’ve also made incredible friendships that will last me a lifetime and learned so much more about myself and the world outside of my life in New Jersey. Having come from a family that could not afford to travel in my life, this experience has been such a blessing and one I will never forget. I came into study abroad knowing no one and it was so easy to connect with others as everyone’s in the same boat and has a similar open minded headspace going abroad. Recommendations I would give are to save a lot of money, more than you think you’ll need. Everyone makes it seem like traveling to other countries is so cheap, and while it is cheaper than in the US, it still adds up quick. I’d also say to be open minded and to give yourself grace because it can be overwhelming at times. That being said, traveling at this age teaches you so many practical skills like planning ahead, budgeting, and communicating effectively with others. It is so fun and the only time you’ll really be able to do something like this in your life before you have the intense responsibilities of adulthood. I will say the academics of my program, ISI, were harder than I thought. I think the classes themself were easy but juggling school with travel, social life and living responsibilities was difficult at times. I would just say really take time during the week to study and keep up so that you can explore on your weekends with no stress! I recommend Florence specifically as a city to study abroad because it is so walkable, there is so much to do and see, and it quickly feels like home. It is also pretty centrally located in Europe, making it easy to travel to many different places. The night life is really fun if you like bars or clubs there is something for you and expenses are comparable to that of the US. Just be aware that anything near the duomo is going to be more expensive. I am someone that thrives with change and new environments but I know that adjusting can be hard for people. Some of my roommates are this way and still say that while it had its difficulties that this experience has been the best in their life. All in all, I have enjoyed every minute of my time abroad and as I type this in my final days here I’m so excited, and envious lol, of anyone that chooses to come here after me. You will not regret it!!!!!

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My experience studying abroad with ISI Florence has been amazing! When you start the process they are extremely helpful and host meetings for more information about the process. They give checklists and settle you into your apartment. Overall, it has been a life changing experience filled with meeting new people and learning Italian culture! I loved every second! Can’t wait to be back!

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Good classes, wonderful staff, incredible community, opportunities for further immersion. Could not recommend this program more. Some of the best few months of my life. Made lasting friends both within the program and in the local community of Perugia, learned a ton about Italian culture and sustainable food system (the Food, Sustainability, and Environmental Studies program is the best Umbra has to offer.)

Umbra Institute was an incredible study-abroad experience. I loved my time in Perugia, it is such a beautiful and manageable city. The institute was in a perfect location in a building with amazing views! The staff were so lovely and helpful at every step of the way (they even helped me navigate a foreign medical system seamlessly). The teachers were all very educated and entertaining - I truly learned a lot. The housing, though different for everyone, was a dream come true for my roommate and me - a beautiful apartment close to the center with all the appliances we could need. The size of the school was perfect for a not-too-overwhelming social life yet a very warm and welcoming community. I made amazing friends (both American and Italian), and memories thanks to the Umbra Institute. I would absolutely recommend this program to someone who is looking to study in Italy.

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My experience at The Umbra Institute in Perugia, Italy exceeded my expectations! The small class sizes and friendly staff makes the school feel like a close-knit community. And the diverse array of courses and disciplines allows you to make connections with others and broaden your global knowledge. Lastly, the charm and beauty of Perugia makes for a wonderful backdrop to an abroad experience!

I came into this experience thinking I would have the time off my life and make life long friendships. While I made many really good friends and some that will stay in my life for good, it took a long time for me to get there. I was homesick for a much longer time than others when hearing about their experiences.

Amazing experience getting to come to study abroad in Florence. ISI made the transition very easy to living in Florence. The classes were very interesting and engaging. I got to experience and learn about the city in all of my classes that included class field trips to local sites around Florence and neighboring cities. Highly recommend!