ISI Abroad

Thanks to the Umbra Institute's small size and the nurturing relationship between its faculty and staff and its students, this program provides an intimate and malleable experience. Perugia, in some ways personal and remote, is also full of opportunities. To name just a few: a close proximity to Tuscany, an easily accessible rock climbing gym, nearby day hikes, two other universities and their students, and local organizations that promote fair trade or sustainable agriculture. Not to mention, for music fanatics, Perugia is the jazz capital of Europe! I would absolutely recommend the program to a friend.

I went without knowing a single word in Italian. Perugia is a small city, and the locals love it when you try to speak Italian. Which makes it a great place to practice what you learn. There is also a definite connection between Umbra and the community, which I am grateful to experience! The classes all have an out of the classroom experience to go along with them, so you will get to explore Italy with professors who know what they are talking about too! There are also weekends to explore Italy as well as the rest of Europe. Don't worry to much about risks while traveling because the staff will know where you are as long as you have filled out a travel form. Even if you don't want to travel every weekend there's so much to do in Perugia, with the community!

This is such a great city to study abroad in. Unlike most American college cities in Italy, I believe this one is the most authentic. The people that live here are lively, never a dull Saturday night...unless it's raining. There's always something going on in the Piazza! The food is good and the scenic views seem unreal. The school is small and intimate, which is great for a learning environment. The faculty and staff are always available to lend a helping hand. The community service projects are a great way to get involved in the culture and the workshops teach skills that we can bring back to the States. I couldn't have chosen a better place to study abroad.