Bergamo - Universita degli Studi di Bergamo

Q. What does this program offer?
A. The University of Missouri participates in an undergraduate exchange program with the University of Bergamo, Italy. Formerly a private institution, this university of 6,500 students has particularly well-developed programs for teaching Italian language and culture to foreigners.

Q. What is it like there?
A. Bergamo is a city of 140,000 at the foot of the Alps in northern Italy. Bergamo is one of Italy's most prosperous commercial and industrial regions, while retaining the charm and beauty of its medieval and renaissance past. Bergamo's three historical phases are marked out architecturally. The Citta Alta is a beautifully preserved medieval town, with several 12-13th century cathedrals, two piazzas, the Biblioteca Civica and a 12th century tower. The Citta Bassa, which contains Bergamo's small firms and industries, represents the Renaissance, with ornate cathedrals, art collections and 16-18th century palaces. The modern sections of Bergamo spread out into the plains. The opera season features Italy's most prestigious companies at the Donizette Theater. In the summer, Bergamo hosts the Festivale Pianistico Internazionale. In Bergamo, the traditional and the modern are represented artistically, architecturally and musically. However, if you need a break from Bergamo, Milan, Italy's leading commercial center, is just 50 km away by train or car.

Q. What will I study?
A. The program emphasizes instruction of Italian language for foreign students at various levels. You can enroll in regular university courses and further your Italian language study with one course for non-native speakers (4 hours/per week) at the language school. You may also choose from a wide variety of courses offered through the University of Bergamo's three colleges: Humanities, Engineering and Business and Economics. Students studying in Bergamo for the entire academic year should plan to sit for fall semester exams in mid-February. Spring exams run until the end of the first week in July.

Q. When can I go?
A. You can participate in this program for any of the following terms:
 Fall Semester
 Spring Semester
 Academic Year

Q. Where will I live?
A. MU students live in shared apartments arranged by the University of Bergamo, most often with other international students.

Q. Will I get academic credit?
A. For each semester of academic work completed abroad, you may earn between 12 and 15 credit hours. Course credit transfers to MU, but your grades will not appear on your MU transcript and are not figured into your GPA. Although you are guaranteed to receive credit for successfully completed courses, you must work with your academic advisors to get pre-approval for how the courses you take might fulfill specific degree requirements. As part of your pre-departure preparation, you will need to look up what courses are available on the program and then arrange to meet with your academic advisor(s) to get pre-approval for the courses you wish to take.

Q. Can I afford to go?
A. MU attempts to make the costs of studying abroad affordable for you. Because this is a reciprocal exchange program, you will pay MU educational fees, non-resident tuition (for non-Missouri residents), student activities fees, information technology fees and the student health center fee. You will also pay a $500 study abroad administrative fee to cover MU administrative costs. Additional expenses for this program include international airfare, on-site housing costs, visa fees, health insurance and other miscellaneous expenses. Estimated costs for this program are listed below.

Q. Can I get financial aid?
A. Most financial aid that you normally receive for your classes at MU should apply to the cost of the program. If you are not a Missouri resident, you will be billed for MU non-resident fees and so remain eligible for any non-resident scholarships you receive from MU. Additional grants, loans or scholarships may be available to offset the extra costs incurred on this program. Please see the advisor for study abroad financing at the MU Financial Aid Office for more complete information. The International Center offers study abroad scholarships as well. Scholarship applications are included in the MU Study Abroad Application. More information is also available on the MU Financial Aid Office website.

Q. Am I eligible?
A. If you are a sophomore, junior or senior, with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above, and you have completed Italian 2160 you are eligible to apply. Freshmen with a strong Italian background may also apply.

Q. How do I apply?
A. See the Study Abroad Application Instructions on this web-site for more information.

Q. Where can I find out more?
A. In the Study Abroad Resource Room at the International Center, you will find additional information on this and other overseas opportunities. Peer Advisors will be on hand to answer any questions you may have, and Study Abroad Advisors are available by appointment. You can also visit the Universita degli Studi di Bergamo website for more information about the program.