Duke in Bologna
A 6-Week Summer Italian Language & Culture Program
EARN CREDIT FOR ITALIAN 203 & 204 IN ONE SUMMER SESSION
Apply NowOffered in cooperation with the University of Bologna, one of Europe’s oldest universities, this six-week, two-course summer program provides you the opportunity to improve your Italian language skills, become acquainted with advanced topics in Italian studies through a culture-based course, and develop your cultural knowledge by utilizing Bologna in a “city as classroom” capacity to explore the richness of Italian society, art, and literature. Via the program’s project-based experiential pedagogy, students actively engage with the city and its multiple communities and institutions, (from museums and ancient medical labs to urban gardens and soup kitchens), participate in the complexity of Italian society and explore, its multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-lingual past and present. Bologna, known for its exciting and forward-looking intellectual and cultural life is the setting for these discoveries.
PROGRAM FAST FACTS
Location: Bologna, Italy
Term: Summer II
Dates: Tentative: Friday, June 27 - Saturday, August 9
Application Deadline: February 1st
Academic Theme(s): Italian Language and Culture
Credit Type: Duke Credit
Eligibility: Must have completed the equivalent of two semesters of college-level Italian. Non-Duke students are welcome to apply.
Duke Affiliation: Co-sponsored by the Duke Department of Romance Studies
Housing: Apartments
Primary Contact: Kayla Soltis-Katella
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Bologna as seen from Asinelli tower
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Duke in Bologna group
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Basilica Bologna
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Porticos in Bologna
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Piazza Santo Stefano
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Bologna market
ACADEMICS
Students will enroll in both a language course and a culture-based content course, each offering one Duke credit. No pass/fail option or auditing is permitted for either course.
ITALIAN 213A
Accelerated Intermediate Italian
(FL, CZ) 1.0 Credit
Pre-requisite: Italian 102 or 112 (the equivalent of two semesters of college-level Italian).
This course is the equivalent of Italian 203 and 204 together. The course is project-based and fosters students’ speaking, reading, and writing abilities through immersion and exploration of the city. Bologna will be used as a classroom with which students engage to develop their linguistic and intercultural competencies.
CONTENT COURSE
Italian 340SA/MUSIC 340SA
Divas: Stages, Screens, and Italian Celebrity
(CCI, ALP, CZ) 1.0 Credit
Italy is spectacular. But what (or even who) constitutes its fame? Historically, divas first emerged on the Italian stage before anywhere else in Europe, transforming into iconic figures of awe, outrage, admiration, scandal, wonder, and celebrity. From the prima donna of early Italian theater to the rise of the Baroque castrato, and the heroines of nineteenth-century opera to the icons of post-war Neorealism, divas have shaped the representations of Italian identity for centuries. This course is media-immersed with materials drawn from the history of theater, music, opera, film, and art. Course topics evolve in tandem with the site visits during the program to various cities, theaters, museums, libraries, and outdoor spaces. Course conducted in English through the Duke in Bologna program.
ACTIVITIES
Past activities have included:
- Excursions to Verona, Venice, or Florence
- Museum visits
- Opera performances
HOUSING & MEALS
Students reside in fully-furnished apartments in Central Bologna, with two or three students per apartment. Students have access to Wi-Fi and laundry facilities. Students will be responsible for their own meals, either purchasing food at grocery stores and markets and cooking in the apartment kitchens or frequenting restaurants and cafés.
COSTS
These costs are estimated based on previous years’ programs and the current exchange rate. All costs are subject to change.
Summer 2025
| Duke Students | Non-Duke Students | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $5,940 | $5,940 |
| Program Fee | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Transcript Fee | N/A | $120 |
| Other Costs | $4,600 | $4,600 |
| TOTAL (Estimated) | $15,540 | $15,660 |
Explanation of Costs
The program fee for this program includes:
- Accommodations
- International SOS Coverage
- Program-sponsored activities and excursions
- On-site orientation program
- Internet and wifi access
- Student support services provided by the University of Bologna
What is not included?
Use the following list to assist with budgeting for expenses outside the program fee. This list contains common examples but should not be considered exhaustive.
- Airfare
- On-site accident and health insurance policy
- Out-of-pocket medical expenses
- Immunizations
- Access to activities such as sports, lectures, social gatherings, etc. at host university
- Visa and/or residency permit (if needed)
- Passport
- Textbooks and class materials
- Mobile phone plan
- Independent travel and entertainment
- Items of a personal nature
- Incidentals
- Laundry
U.S. citizens do not need a visa for this program. However, if you are not a U.S. citizen, you may need a visa. Please be sure to research the cost of obtaining a visa, including any required travel to a consulate or embassy.
If you receive financial aid, and need assistance with travel costs, please contact your financial aid counselor.
Personal expenses can fluctuate greatly depending upon habits and preferences of the individual. It’s also wise to budget for unexpected expenses such as medical emergencies. You can use a cost-of-living comparison tool to get an idea of what daily life costs in the program host location.
Step 1: Upon acceptance to the program, you must submit the Summer Participation Agreement found in your MyGlobalEd application to confirm your enrollment. A parent/guardian’s co-signature is required. This form takes the place of a deposit.
NOTE: If you withdraw after March 15, you will be charged a cancellation fee for voluntary withdrawal. Fees range from $2,000-3,000.
Step 2: Summer invoices will be sent via email to your Duke email address and home email address. Remit payment to the Bursar per due date and address indicated on your online statement. Consult the Duke Bursar's office billing schedule for payment due dates.
Financial Aid
Duke students receiving institutional need-based grant aid are eligible for aid for this program; work-study funds are converted to grants. Students are individually responsible for making the necessary arrangements with the Karsh Office of Undergraduate Financial Support and the Duke Bursar’s Office.
Non-Duke students are not eligible to receive financial aid at Duke and should contact their home institutions for financial aid information.
Scholarships
This program offers the following scholarship opportunities:
DATES
Attendance is required at all classes, excursions, and group events. Given the intense nature of this program, late arrival and/or early departure is not permitted.
- Arrival: TENTATIVE Friday, June 27
- Departure: TENTATIVE Saturday, August 9
Flights
You will make your own travel arrangements to and from the program site. You are expected to arrive on the arrival date cited above, which usually means departing the U.S. one day prior. Once you have a flight itinerary, log in to MyGlobalEd to update your travel registry.
Housing Before/After
You will need to make your own housing arrangements if you will be arriving before the program start date or leaving later than the program end date.
VISA & PASSPORT
VISA
No visa is required of U.S. citizens to participate in this program. Non-U.S. citizens should pay special attention to the visa requirements for their specific citizenship by contacting the country embassy to find out if any visa restrictions are in effect.
PASSPORT
All participants must have a valid passport. Make sure your passport has at least six months of validity beyond the program end date to avoid unintended disruptions. For instructions on obtaining or renewing your U.S. passport, visit passports.state.gov.
International Student Identity Card
An International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is optional. ISIC is the only internationally recognized form of student ID, endorsed by UNESCO. If purchased in the U.S., the card also carries with it a supplemental insurance policy, which can prove to be very helpful in the event of serious injury. You may purchase this card through www.myisic.com. Processing of the card takes between 4-15 days.
PROGRAM FACULTY & STAFF
Program faculty director(s) can assist with questions related to program academics, admissions, on-site needs, etc. For all other inquiries, please contact the GEO representative listed.
ADMISSIONS
Deadline: February 1st
This program has rolling admission. Applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis until the program fills; after that, qualified students are added to a waitlist and notified of openings. Applications must be received by the deadline to be considered. Application opens November 1.
Priority: Priority is given to applicants who apply early and meet the prerequisites.
Minimum GPA: There is no minimum GPA.
Non-Duke students: Non-Duke students are welcome to apply for this program. You must be a degree-seeking student in good standing at an accredited college or university. Consult your university’s registrar and/or study away advisor for assistance with transfer credit. Students who are not matriculated at a college or university are not eligible to participate in Duke’s study away programs.
GEO policy for graduating seniors who wish to apply for a Duke summer study abroad/away program:
Students must be active, matriculated students in order to participate in any Duke-in summer programs, including Duke’s domestic summer programs. All program courses must be taken for graded credit. If seniors plan to graduate in May of the year they plan to study abroad in the summer, they will not be eligible to participate on any of our summer programs unless they receive approval from their academic dean at Duke to delay their graduation until after the summer program has ended.
Non-Duke students planning to graduate in May in the year they plan to study abroad in the summer must provide approval to delay their graduation until after the summer program has ended from the appropriate official at their home institution. Such approval must be furnished in writing to GEO before the student will be allowed to participate in the summer program. This approval may be sent via email to the appropriate program assistant at GEO.
Duke students who defer their graduation to participate in study abroad should consult with their financial aid advisor in the Duke Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid to determine whether they are eligible for a summer aid package and/or a GEO summer scholarship.
APPLY
Start your application early to ensure that it is complete by the deadline! Incomplete applications will not be forwarded to the program directors for consideration.
Submit the following items using MyGloballEd:
- Online application
- Transcript(s) from all colleges and universities attended. First-year students should wait for fall semester grades to be posted before submitting their transcript.
- Personal statement, no longer than one page, explaining why you would like to participate
- One recommendation from a language professor noting your linguistic and academic abilities. Letters from high school teachers will not be accepted
STUDENT STORIES
My understanding of Italian culture and proficiency in the language progressed to a whole new level in just six short weeks.”
GEO ADVISING IS HERE FOR YOU
Get advice on choosing a program, exploring courses and credits, and covering the costs of study away when you engage the Global Education Office's advising network.