HOW TO APPLY/DEADLINES   

Students are strongly advised to submit program applications and to begin preparing for the other documentation described below as promptly as possible. 

In order to get a student visa, you will need a current passport and an official letter of acceptance into the program. Letters of acceptance will be issued to qualifying students upon payment of $500 deposit. The deposit is not refundable once an acceptance letter has been issued but will be credited to students’ fees.

1. Apply for a passport:

If you already have one, make sure that it is current through August 2016. If not, or if your old passport has expired, you may apply for a passport at any U.S. Post Office. Consult www.travel.state.gov for further information. Unless you are willing to pay a fee for rush processing, please allow 6-8 weeks for regular passport processing. Because a current valid passport is necessary in order to obtain a student visa, you should apply for one in early September. 

2. Complete the Program Application:

Program application forms may be downloaded from the links below. Be sure you download the correct Part 1 based on your home school: St. Bonaventure (SBU); all others (non-SBU).

(a) Complete Part 1 including the names and e-mail addresses of two references. I will e-mail your references upon receipt of your application. Please get permission from your references and advise them that they will be contacted.

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To expedite processing of your application, you are encouraged to submit Part 1 as e-mail attachment to Michael Chiariello or fax (716) 375-4093 as soon as you can. You will still need to submit a signed Part 1 in order to complete your application. 

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(b) Complete and submit items 2 and 3.

(c) Send a deposit of  $500, payable to “The Perugia Center.” This deposit secures your place if you qualify for the program. But do not send in a deposit if you are uncertain about your interest in the program.

(d) Transcripts. If you attend a school other than SBU you will need to have a transcript sent to the Perugia Center address below.

(e) Send original signed application, including passport photo, deposits and transcripts (if necessary) to Michael Chiariello, P.O. Box 2, The Perugia Center, St. Bonaventure University, St. Bonaventure, NY 14778, or hand delivered to Room 205 Murphy Hall.

***Capacity is limited and we cannot guarantee a place in the program for students whose applications are not complete by Oct. 15, 2015.*** 

After you have received a formal notification of acceptance into the program: 

3. Make Travel Arrangements: Students and parents are advised NOT to make travel arrangements before the director confirms the travel dates as final.

Students are responsible for their own travel arrangements, including ticketing, passports and visas. The Umbra Institute will provide transportation between the Rome airport and Perugia for students arriving and returning only on specified days. If you are accepted into the program, you will receive further information regarding travel arrangements.

Tentative travel dates: Plan to fly to Rome (Leonardo da Vinci - Fiumicino Airport) departing U.S. on Jan. 3 and arriving on Jan. 4 and to return departing from Rome on April 24. These dates do NOT apply to students applying for International Business Internships for May 2015, or for students enrolling in the Full Immersion Program. See the Calendar page for further information.

4. Apply for a Visa:

Visas are required for all Americans (and citizens of non-EU countries) studying in Italy. In order to apply for a Visa you must have an official letter of acceptance into the program and a valid U.S. passport which does not expire for 120 days longer than your intended study program. (In this case, your passport must have an expiration date of August 31, 2016, or later.)

Student visas may be obtained through the Italian consulate that serves your area.  (Go to http://www.esteri.it/visti/index_eng.asp for a list of consulates and jurisdictions.) Please note their specific requirements and apply directly to the consulate in your jurisdiction.

Each consulate has its own rules and requirements. You are advised to study carefully the visa application guidelines for your consulate well before the deadline approaches and begin gathering supporting documents early. Some supporting documents may require a notary. Incomplete applications will not be processed. 

There will be at least two mandatory visa meetings for SBU students. You will receive instructions on how to complete the visa application and assemble supporting documents. We will make a Notary Public available as needed.

You may submit your visa application to the consulate within your jurisdiction no more than 90 days and no less than 30 days prior to the start of the program. Students without a proper visa may be unable to attend school in Italy.