Live Italian. Study Italian. Experience Bologna.
Dickinson's Italian Studies Program in Bologna offers students an immersive academic and cultural experience in one of Italy's great university cities. Students can spend a semester or a full academic year in Bologna, taking courses in Italian and at the University of Bologna, living in an Italian-speaking environment, and engaging with the city through internships, volunteering, cultural activities and everyday life.
The program is designed to make Italian part of students' daily lives while allowing them to continue making progress toward the Italian Studies major or Italian minor. Students who spend the full academic year in Bologna have even more time to deepen their language skills, build relationships, experience Italian university life and make Bologna their home.
“It made me appreciate life a whole lot more. Looking back, I wish I'd done a full year.”
— Andrew Culbertson ’26, Bologna alum, Spring ’25
Bologna at a Glance
- Stay for a Semester—or a Full Academic Year. Students can study in Bologna for one semester or spend the full academic year immersed in Italian language and culture while experiencing university life and becoming part of the local community.
- Study in Italian. Take Italian language and interdisciplinary Italian Studies courses at Dickinson's K. Robert Nilsson Center.
- Study at the University of Bologna. Choose from a wide range of courses at the University of Bologna (UniBo) and experience Italian university life.
- Live in Italian. Live in an Italian-speaking environment designed to make Italian part of everyday life and build connections with native speakers.
- Intern or Volunteer. Qualified students can pursue internships or volunteer experiences that connect them with the local community and provide opportunities to use Italian beyond the classroom.
- Experience Bologna. Make one of Italy's great university cities your classroom through cultural activities, social experiences and daily interactions with the local community.
Academics in Bologna
The Bologna curriculum combines Italian language and cultural immersion with opportunities for students to pursue their individual academic interests. Students may take courses in three areas:
- K. Robert Nilsson Center Courses. Students take Italian language and interdisciplinary Italian Studies courses taught in Italian. Offerings may include language courses and ITAL 300 topics courses in areas such as art history, literature and culture. Students conduct research and write papers in Italian.
- University of Bologna Courses. Students are encouraged to take courses at the University of Bologna (UniBo) from a wide range of offerings appropriate to their academic interests and degree requirements.
- Independent Study. In some cases, students may pursue specialized independent projects in Italian that take advantage of academic and cultural resources available in Bologna.
Course offerings vary by semester. Students should consult with Italian Studies faculty when planning their coursework in Bologna.
Living in Italian
Language learning in Bologna doesn't end when class does.
Students in the Italian Studies Program live in an Italian-speaking environment designed to encourage the use of Italian in everyday life. Students may live in apartments with a native Italian speaker who helps foster the use of Italian at home and organizes social activities during the semester.
From conversations at home to shopping, eating, studying and exploring the city, students have opportunities to develop greater confidence in Italian through daily life.
“I learned how to adapt to new environments and immerse myself in different cultures.”
— Damian Garrubbo ’22, Bologna alum, Fall ’21
Internships & Community Engagement
Bologna offers students opportunities to connect their academic experience with professional and community life.
Qualified students may pursue internships or volunteer experiences while studying in Bologna. Internship opportunities vary and require advance planning. Strong Italian language skills may be necessary for many placements.
Students can also become involved in the local community through volunteering. Recent experiences have included teaching English in local middle and high schools and volunteering at a soup kitchen.
These experiences give students another way to use Italian, develop intercultural skills and build relationships with people in Bologna.
Why Bologna?
Bologna offers an ideal setting for linguistic and cultural immersion. Home to the University of Bologna, the city has been shaped by university life for centuries and remains a vibrant center of Italian education, culture and everyday life.
Students live and study in a city where Italian is not simply the subject of a course—it is the language of the apartment, the university, cafés, markets, streets and relationships they encounter every day.
Bologna's central location also makes it an excellent base for experiencing other cities and regions while remaining rooted in Bologna.
Learn More About Dickinson in Bologna →
See Bologna Through Our Students' Eyes
Follow Italian Studies in Bologna on Instagram for a look at student life, academics and everyday experiences in Bologna.
Hear directly from Dickinson students about what it is like to study and live in Bologna.
Ready for Bologna?
Students interested in the Italian Studies Program in Bologna should begin planning early with an Italian Studies faculty member to determine whether a semester or a full academic year in Bologna best fits their academic plans.
Study in Bologna for a Semester or Academic Year →
Other Possibilities for Studying Italian
Bologna is not the only way to continue your Italian beyond Dickinson. Students can also explore summer study in Italy and intensive summer language programs in the United States.
Explore Other Possibilities for Studying Italian →
Support Italian at Dickinson
Your gift helps us provide enriching opportunities for our students, including cultural programming, visiting speakers, internships, research opportunities and immersive experiences in Italy.
Support Italian Studies → When making your gift, enter “Italian” and select “Italian Department” as the designation.
