Location

Bologna, an elegant city with a population of almost half a million, is the capital of the wealthy and progressive region of Emilia-Romagna in northern Italy. Excellent transportation links make it an ideal base for travel. Venice and Milan are two hours away by train; Ravenna and Florence, just an hour. Bologna is an ancient city settled by the Etruscans. Medieval towers and churches 100m over the porticoed streets and terra-cotta buildings of the central section. Located within the old city is the University of Bologna, Europe's oldest institution of higher learning and Italy's top-ranked university.

Founded at the end of the eleventh century, it developed initially as a law school but soon afterward established its ancient tradition of humanistic studies. The program's Bologna office is located near the Piazza Maggiore in the center of the city.

Program of Study

Participants will study at the University of Bologna through Indiana Univerity's Bologna Consortial Studies Program (BCSP), of which Notre Dame is an associate member.

Students are required to attend the program's four-week presession in Bologna during September.  This presession language course is designed to improve students' command of Italian and facilitate their adjustment to life in Bologna and at the university before the Italian academic year begins. Students earn 3 semester hours of credit for the presession.

During each semester of the academic year, which begins in October and extends through June, students enroll in one or two regular University of Bologna courses with Italian students, or a minimum of three for the full academic year. Students may also take special courses in Italian literature, language, art history, film studies, civilization, and contemporary politics that are arranged by the BCSP for program students. All instruction is in Italian.  See the BCSP website for sample course descriptions. 

Eligibility for the Program

Up to 40 students, from across across the member Bologna Cooperative Studies Program institutions, are selected annually to participate in the Bologna program. In addition to students from BCSP member and associate member institutions, the program accepts applications from undergraduate students attending any accredited U.S. University, regardless of major field, as long as they have attained a B average or better and have reached at least junior standing when program participation begins. Students should plan to study in Bologna during their junior year. Applicants must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA and completed at least two years of college Italian before entering the program. The application deadline is November 15.

Additional Information

There is much more we can tell you — about this location, vibrant religious, cultural and recreational life of this community ... about the student housing, transportation, health care and much, much more. It is, after all, the details that make this program so appealing. Interested? Just click here for additional information.