Collaborative International Programming

At Umbra, we use the phrase: “direct partnership has its privileges”. When your college or university signs a partnership agreement, you’re teaming up with an international institution with over twenty years of experience in study abroad in Italy for US students. We understand well the needs and concerns of advisors, academic departments, professors, registrars, parents, and students.

And with Umbra, you are working directly with the institution which is hosting your programs and teaching your students – we are not a provider or a broker. We operate our own institute and administer all programs directly to ensure that every student, faculty member, and staff, is afforded the safest and most rewarding experience possible. Our student services and admission team are specialists for Italy – they do not advise for dozens of different programs globally like the large providers.

Our team consists of on-site administrators, staff, and alumni who can promptly answer any question about our programs with honest, accurate, and up-to-date information. Not only does that provide more efficient and reassuring communication, but it also allows us to offer you and your students the best experience possible at the most affordable rates – without exorbitant markups or commission fees. Affordability means more students from more diverse socioeconomic backgrounds can make study abroad a reality, something central to Umbra’s mission.

Exclusive Benefits for Partner Colleges and Universities

• A clearly defined, signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) documenting the partnership services and responsibilities, processes, fees schedules, and more;
• Access to our Partner’s Portal which includes all the information needed by partners including course syllabi, instructors’ CVs, guidebooks and policy handbooks, insurance documents, brochures, logos, photos, and more;
• Exclusive partner discounts and access to funding grants and diversity scholarships;
• Pre-approved admission and enrollment for your students into our programs;
• Course equivalency worksheet for transfer credits (curricular integration);
• Opportunities for integrated programs (your syllabi, our instructors or your faculty, and students join our program);
• Opportunities to operate customized embedded, faculty-led, and short-term programs;
• Opportunities for faculty to teach abroad with ISI or pursue sabbatical research hosted by ISI Abroad;
• Opportunities for graduate students to participate in ISI Abroad teaching fellowships;
• ISI facilities use for conferences, meetings, alumni trips, and more.
• Discover tours to visit our programs in Florence and Perugia;
• Opportunity to join our Advisory Board or Consortium;
• Opportunity to participate in our program development initiatives and funding for site visit travel.

US-Based Staff Services

• On-campus and remote info sessions and webinars
• Participation in study abroad fairs
• One-on-one application assistance
• Experienced visa support
• Pre-departure sessions, handbooks, and online resources
• 24/7 emergency services

Scholarships & Financial Aid

ISI Abroad offers a number of scholarships exclusively for students from partner institutions, including Need-Based Financial Aid, Diversity Scholarships, and ISI Research Program scholarships.