Study Abroad :
       Santa Chiara

The program is open to all students regularly admitted and matriculated to The University of Texas at Austin. Under special conditions, a limited number of students from other colleges and universities may also participate. (These students must be eligible for regular admission to UT Austin during the fall semester and eligible for transient admission status during the summer semester.) Courses in the program are resident-credit courses, taught by UT-Austin faculty, and meet degree residency and scholarship requirements the same as courses taught on the UT Austin campus. Course registration follows the same procedures and payment schedule as other courses at UT Austin.

The Study in Italy program is located at the Santa Chiara Study Center in the town of Castiglion Fiorentino, just one hour south of Florence and two hours north of Rome. The Santa Chiara complex, which houses all classes, lectures, and studio practicums as well as the dormitory, dining, and administration facilities, is a recently renovated historic facility perched atop the edge of the town overlooking the Val di Chiano Valley. With structural sections dating back to the Renaissance, this former girls' academy provides an idyllic setting for study and is only a few hours away from major cultural centers.

Because of Study in Italy's central location, students have the rare opportunity to view the subjects they are studying firsthand. From taking day trips to Siena, Assisi, and Urbino, as well as staying in Rome and Venice on the weekends, students witness their curriculum come to life.

"The Study in Italy program provides students with a well-rounded sense of what it means to be a citizen of the world beyond their own national boundaries. As both observers and participants of another culture, students see this formative region of the world and its rich cultural heritage from the perspective of multiple and interactive disciplines. This experience has been truly a life changing opportunity for University of Texas at Austin students for almost twenty years."
   -Smilja Milovanovic-Bertram, Program Director

"One of the most rewarding aspects of the Study in Italy program is the cross-cultural community it fosters. As soon as students step off the plane, the citizens of Castiglion Fiorentino welcome them with an elaborate ceremony in their honor. Not to mention, with a café based in the heart of the town frequented by members of the program and natives alike, students interact with the community on a daily basis, learning the value of cultural exchange and developing lifelong friendships. At the end of each term, students produce an exhibition of their work and invite the town to attend."
    -Smilja Milovanovic-Bertram, Program Director

"When I look at these student productions, I can tell that the Italian experience has influenced the image, style and thinking in their work in ways that will impact their creativity for many years."
    -Steve Daly

"The Study in Italy program has profoundly changed the way I see the world."
    -Sterling Allen, Student Participant