Bologna, Italy
The Eastern College Consortium Bologna program (E.C.Co.) is run jointly between Vassar College, Wellesley College and Wesleyan University and takes place in Bologna, the capital of Italy’s northern region, Emilia-Romagna. Home to Università di Bologna – Europe’s oldest university founded in 1088 – Bologna is known for its thriving center of student life, flourishing intellectual community, and vibrant cultural scene.
Academics
Students take courses in Italian through the E.C.Co. program and through the Università di Bologna. Program courses are specially designed for E.C.Co students to integrate on-site resources and classroom learning. They include advanced language and culture, and selected courses in humanities and social sciences. At the Università di Bologna students with the appropriate language proficiency may take courses in the humanities, sciences, and social sciences alongside Italian university students. Vassar students are permitted to take one STEM discipline class taught in English at the Università di Bologna. Spring semester students may take one course at the Accademia di Belle Arti.
Each term a faculty member from one of the three consortial institutions serves as the program’s resident director and acts as academic advisor to participants, helping them to develop a program of study suited to their own language proficiency and disciplinary interests.
Housing
Participants stay in the university’s “studentati” (dormitories) located within a reasonable distance of the city center. They live with Italian-speaking roommates and benefit from a full immersion experience.
Eligibility
Please visit the E.C.Co. Bologna website and the E.C.Co. Bologna Facebook page for eligibility requirements and more detailed information about the program. Students may participate for either one semester (fall or spring) or two semesters.