Study in Italy while staying on track with your STEM degree!

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Welcome to the Umbra Institute

Explore courses in Biology, Physics, Engineering, Math and AI!

Experience the Real Italy: Each summer and semester, students take advantage of the Umbra Institute’s beautiful location in historic Perugia, Italy. At Umbra, students complete courses, taught in English, that count toward their degree. Courses are designed to use Perugia as a classroom and to give students ample time to travel elsewhere in Italy and Europe.

Live Like an Italian: Learn to appreciate the Italian lifestyle. Umbra provides students with shared apartments within a 5-15 minute walk of the Institute, allowing for innumerable opportunities to enjoy mid-day siestas, eat a panino on the fountain steps, and walk the city center like a native. Apartments are furnished with full kitchens so that you can try to duplicate your favorite new Italian dish. WiFi is provided both within the Institute and in each student apartment.

Our STEM program: The Umbra Institute’s STEM program is offered in collaboration with the Departments of Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry of the University of Perugia—an historic institution and a recognized international leader in academic research and sustainability. Faculty from these departments actively contribute to groundbreaking discoveries, such as the LHC experiments at CERN, which have led to prestigious international awards including the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics.
All STEM courses at Umbra are taught by professors from these departments, delivered in the Umbra Institute’s classrooms and designed exclusively for study abroad students. Several courses also include a laboratory component, held in the advanced research facilities of the University of Perugia.

The Umbra Institute Highlights

No prior study in Italian required
Accredited academic programs in both in English & Italian
Immersive field trips & activities
Centrally-located facilities and housing
International student city – Perugia

Easily transferable courses
Extra-curricular activities series
Volunteer opportunities
Experienced & dedicated staff & faculty
Assistance from pre-departure to return

Browse Current STEM Offerings

Click here to view a full list of courses across all disciplines. Click any course to access its description, sample syllabus, field trip highlights, and course fees. Have questions about how these transfer to your home university? Contact a member of our advising team!

CHEM 401: General Biochemistry I

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CHEM 402: General Biochemistry II

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CS/STAT/BUS 315: Applied Data Science – Discovering Consumer Insights from Everyday Data

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ENGR 200: Statics

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HEB/HIST/GSCI 310 – Plants, People & Civilization

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MATH 240: Introduction to Linear Algebra

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MATH 260: Differential Equations

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MATH 270: Multivariable Calculus

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PHYS/ENGR 210: Classical Mechanics I: Statics & Dynamics

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PHYS/ENGR 250: Classical Mechanics II: Fluids, Waves, & Thermodynamics

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PSYC/AI 305: It’s All in Your Head: The Cognition of Everyday Life

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EXPLORE OUR
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

SEMESTER
YEAR-LONG
SUMMER

Health and Safety – Dedicated Support
Immersive Opportunities – Inspiring Academics
Unparalleled Student Services

Program Options

The Umbra Identity

Umbra students distinguish themselves with a fervent desire to explore the less travelled paths and immerse themselves in their environs. For our students, its difficult to think of a more inspiring backdrop than Perugia – a city that attracts tens of thousands of Italian and international students. If the Umbra identity describes you, then you will be right at home studying with us.

 

 

Interested in joining the Umbra community?

Get in touch with a member of our advising team. 

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