The BCSP (Bologna Consortial Studies Program), now in its 58^th year of activity, continues to host students from many prestigious institutions of the Midwest and the Northeast of the US. Students participating in the BCSP usually take courses at both the BCSP office and the University of Bologna. All courses are taught in Italian, although a few students may opt to take courses in English at the University of Bologna (UNIBO). Starting in Spring 2025, the BCSP will add a parallel track for students who want to take only English-taught courses at UNIBO and come to Bologna with no knowledge of the Italian language.

BCSP students are involved in many interesting and fun activities during the semester. Recently, they learned how to make pasta at a biodynamic farmhouse and how to make “la piadina romagnola” (a traditional local flatbread); they also visited a Renaissance castle in Parma, the historical seaside town of Rimini, Giotto’s Scrovegni Chapel in Padova, and the Ferrari and Lamborghini museums and factories.

Students in this program are very independent and are free to build their own experience abroad. All opportunities are open for an ambitious, adventurous person who wants to know more about Italy, its culture, and its fascinating past and present. The BCSP offers various volunteer opportunities, such as interning at local elementary and middle schools as ambassadors of the English language and U.S. culture. Some students participate in press trips for a popular travel website and curate social media posts about the places they visit.

Overall, Bologna is the place for those who enjoy a lively student life, delicious food, and immersion in the texture of a very welcoming city that maintains its ancient traditions but looks ahead at a world in constant evolution.  

Bologna Program Through Students’ Eyes:

“Choosing to study abroad was never a question for me. I considered many options but am forever grateful that I chose to go through IU BCSP. Through the program, I truly found myself. I was tested in ways I had never been before, and I grew as a person more than any other semester at IU. To be able to go across the world and establish roots with locals in Italian was a surreal experience. I cannot wait to return and be able to visit all of the friends I made from classmates to my local barista, I’ve never felt such community.”
-Erica Goldsworthy 

“My time in Bologna, Italy, has been an incredibly enriching journey, both culturally and educationally. The challenges I've encountered here have provided opportunities for such profound personal growth. Additionally, I've had the privilege of building a community full of life-long friends, which has been so special.

"Also, witnessing the improvement in my Italian proficiency has been extremely rewarding. Despite the challenges of adjusting to the Italian education system, I feel that I have retained a significant amount of knowledge. The immersion in Italian language instruction demands a certain level attentiveness, effort, and understanding that I feel really enhanced my capabilities as a student. Frankly, I don't think I would have felt as fulfilled pursuing my Italian degree without the experience of studying in Bologna.

"I'm immensely grateful to the Department of French and Italian at IU for their enthusiastic support of this program, and for preparing me for this transformative year. Studying abroad in Bologna feels like one of those moments in life that you know will be cherished forever, even as you're living through it.”
-Martha Abaddi 

“I am grateful to say that I was able to travel to Bologna in the Fall of 2024. I went to gain confidence in myself and my ability to learn and put my learning into practice. Additionally, I wanted to gain a new perspective in life. Thankfully, I can truly say that I have achieved both goals and more. I proved to myself that hard things, like solo traveling or speaking conversationally in Italian, are possible and rewarding. As I continue into adulthood, I take this experience with me as a reminder to push myself to my full potential.”
-Emily Landsittel

“When I first began studying Italian, I was excited at the prospect of traveling to Italy and practicing my Italian there. Studying abroad in Bologna provided the perfect opportunity to do exactly that! While I was thrilled to go, relying on my Italian was also daunting. But the fears that I had, began to melt away as I continued to practice with my roommates or with people in my day-to-day life in Bologna. I cannot recommend this program enough; Bologna is the perfect opportunity to develop confidence in the language and in your own abilities!”
-Holly Fizer