Academic Program

This program has three sessions, where each session is 2 weeks long (with one exception in session 3). Each session offers ONE class worth a total of 3 SUNY credits. You are welcome to attend one session, two sessions, or all three!
Language of instruction: All courses will be taught in English
Check out the course structure online here.
Note:  Courses in Piacenza and Rome are NOT available. 

Course Descriptions and Syllabi

There are courses in business, marketing and communication, cultural studies and more. A full syllabus is updated and available online.
Review UCSC’s website for more information regarding course offerings.
 

Course equivalency information for UAlbany Students

Credits earned on this program may be approved to satisfy the World History/International Perspectives or other UAlbany General Education requirements, if you earn appropriate credit in these areas and receive approval using the General Education Substitution Request form. 

Courses may also satisfy major and minor requirements, with approval by the associated academic department(s). You may file a request to have additional courses approved for equivalency as necessary. 

All courses successfully completed through this program abroad that are not assigned a specific UAlbany course equivalency will at least count as UAlbany General Elective credits. Credits and grades will appear on your UAlbany transcript.

Housing

Housing is available through UAlbany's partnership with ISA WorldStrides, providing that you complete the ISA WorldStrides online housing application by the deadline. ISA WorldStrides housing is in shared rooms in residences/apartments in Milan, approximately 25 minutes by public transportation from Cattolica. Each apartment is fully furnished and includes a living room, kitchenette, and bathroom. Bedrooms are typically double occupancy. Each apartment includes one single bed per student. Towels and bed linens are included, and coin-operated laundry machines are available.
*ISA WorldStides would not be able to accommodate students planning to take the session 3 course "Personal Branding" for the third week of the course. Students taking this course (and staying with ISA WorldStrides) would need to find their own accommodation for the final week of the course.

If you prefer to your own independent housing in Milan, there are a few options, however, the housing would be your responsibility and UAlbany cannot guarantee, nor assist you in finding or paying for your own housing. Here are a few independent housing options available to you:
Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC) does NOT have on-campus housing.
Milano International Living Service (MIL Service) is a third-party provider that works very closely with Cattolica to accommodate international students. Please note that housing is NOT guaranteed through MIL Service, and accommodations fill up very quickly.
Previous students have found housing through third-party providers such as Airbnb or VRBO.
Cattolica has additional third-party providers listed on their accommodation website, HERE.

Meals

There are many places to eat near campus. No meal plan is provided. 

ESTIMATE OF COSTS

Review this program’s Estimate of Costs.  Note, there may be several tabs in the Estimate of Costs. Please be sure that you are reviewing the tab for your anticipated semester abroad.

More Information

Click for more information on Program Costs and Financial Aid.
Remember to speak with the Office of Financial Aid at your home campus to determine how your aid package could apply towards your program abroad.

Academic Requirements

Sophomores, juniors, and seniors with at least a 2.75 GPA are eligible to participate. Students with lower GPAs may be allowed to apply; please consult with us. Applications are welcome from students in all majors. No prior study of Italian is required. Freshmen can apply to this program but you must have completed at least 1 semester in college when starting your application. 

Experiential Learning

With the campus in the center of Milan there are countless events and activities to enjoy! The ESN organizes activities for students around Italy. You can also refer to the Cattolica 'Milan Guide' HERE.

Funding Opportunities

Most financial aid and academic awards will apply to semester programs.
External scholarships, listed on our website, are a good way to partially fund your study abroad experience. In addition, the Center for International Education and Global Strategy offers two scholarship programs for UAlbany students studying abroad on UAlbany or 4-year SUNY programs.
More information on applying to these scholarships is located on the Scholarships web page.

In Their Own Words

"I am BEYOND grateful for my experience at Cattolica!  Living in another country forced me to step outside of my comfort zone and immerse myself into the Italian culture.  In just four weeks, I learned more than I ever thought was possible.  I cannot wait to go back and explore more parts of Europe!" -Makenzie Carroll, Communication/Sociology 
 

Speak with an Advisor

About the City

You could keep visiting Italy for the rest of your life and still not exhaust what it has to offer.  Few countries in the world offer such variety and few visitors leave without a fervent desire to return. The Italians are correct when they call their homeland Il Belpaese, the Beautiful Country!
Synonymous with style, Milan is the center of Italian fashion, finance, and industry. The largest concentration of industry, most major corporations, fashion house Armani, and countless banks establish Milan as Italy's economic powerhouse. The city also boasts the fourth largest cathedral in the world, Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper, and stunning operas at La Scala. Shopping is of religious significance in Milan and the world's most famous designers have their flagship stores here. For more information on Milan and Italy, visit the following website: The Italian Government Tourist Board

Travel Documents

A valid passport is required to participate in this program. You do not need a visa if you are staying less than 90 days.
**If the ETIAS system is launched and running, you may need to complete the registration. Your study abroad advisor and your host institution will advise you on the process as more information is released.
 

Application Availability

• Summer programs: December

Program Dates

Check out the calendar for each class online here. Make sure you book your flights with enough time to check out of your housing.  The dates above reflect the course dates, not your arrival and departure dates. 

About the Program

Program Orientations

Upon acceptance to the program, you will be required to attend a mandatory pre-departure orientation. During this time, you will have the opportunity to meet other program participants, discuss in-depth the details of your program, and prepare of the overall education abroad experience. The summer pre-departure orientation will be conducted in April.
Upon arrival at Cattolica, you will attend a mandatory program orientation. This is an important and informative set of sessions organized by International Office of your host university.

Support Services

UAlbany’s Office of Education Abroad staff assists you during the application process, in your preparation to travel abroad, and on-site if necessary. UCSC's International Office staff serve as an experienced resource for resolving issues that you may encounter in while abroad.