The Umbra Institute was founded in 1999 in Perugia, Italy, as a center for higher education offering academic programs for students of US colleges and universities. Since then, the Umbra Institute has grown steadily and developed a well-respected reputation as a provider of consistently high-quality academic programs, becoming an innovative leader in "study abroad" in Italy.

The Umbra Institute is recognized by the Ministry of Education in Italy, and accredited by the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges through its partnership with Arcadia University in Glenside, Pennsylvania. In 2006, the Institute became recognized by Italian universities and is now an approved provider of credit-bearing courses for the University of Perugia (Universita' degli Studi di Perugia) in Perugia, Italy .

Today, the Institute maintains four locations in Perugia, offers a wide array of courses, and hosts nearly 600 students from more than 100 North American colleges and universities annually, including Italian students from the local Universita' degli Studi di Perugia. Many students enroll directly at Umbra while others participate through cooperative programs accompanied by professors or staff from their home institution. The vast majority of the student body has achieved junior-status (some sophomore) with at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA at their home institution.

The Institute offers semester, year-long and summer programs with a variety of academic programs and special courses to meet the diverse curricular demands of its growing student body. Semester students attending Umbra may choose from the following curricular options:

1. The Umbra Semester Program
This program requires students to enroll in Italian language as part of their curriculum. Students may then choose freely from the more than 30 courses offered each semester and taught in English (some taught in Italian) for 15-18 credits per semester. 

Students with special curricular needs or interests can enroll in 3-credit independent study or 6-credit field research courses. The Institute also offers a number of courses classified as "Honors", open to students with a superior academic record.

2. Italian Language & Culture Program
This full-immersion program consists of full-time study at the Universita' per Stranieri di Perugia, and focuses exclusively on Italian language and cultural studies. This program is conducted entirely in Italian but is open to students from all proficiencies including beginners! It is unequivocally the best way to improve one's knowledge and proficiency in Italian language.

3. Direct Enrollment at the Universita' degli Studi di Perugia (Coming Soon)
This option is only available to students with advanced proficiency in Italian. Umbra can facilitate direct enrollment at the Universita' degli Studi di Perugia. 


Credits, Grades and Transcripts
Program grades and credits are reported on a Arcadia University transcript and are consistent with the credit requirements of most American colleges and universities. Colleges and Universities with direct affiliations with Umbra will receive an Umbra Institute transcript to report courses, grades and credits.

See Academic Programs for more details on the curricular options and course details.