This program offers rigorous, high-quality courses taught in English.

A full range of business and economics courses are offered, as well as courses in journalism and communication studies. Italian language classes are offered, and students are encouraged to enhance their language skills. Students may take up to 18 credits of coursework and are encouraged to take at least one class outside of their professional area. This program is supported by the Saint Mary’s Business Department. Courses taken may fulfill major requirements. Contact the Business Department Chair for specific information.

Courses Offered

The Filippin Institute campus offers dormitory style housing with single and double rooms available.

All rooms have a private bathroom. Three meals a day are provided while classes are in session. Meals are served cafeteria style in the Italian tradition (first course = pasta or rice; second course = meat with vegetable or salad; third course = dessert). While traveling, students are responsible for their own housing and food.

The CIMBA – Italy semester abroad is a Saint Mary’s Affiliated Program. For any of Saint Mary’s Affiliated Programs, all federal and state aid (except work-study) and up to $2,000 in Saint Mary’s institutional aid may be applied to a program’s costs. However, certain forms of institutional aid, including tuition remission, the Catholic Educator Promise, and the Cardinal Promise, are not eligible for this $2,000 allocation.

CIMBA offers both merit- and need-based financial awards available for students attending the semester programs. Award amounts vary from year to year based on the number of applications received and funding available. Only students who have applied and been accepted to the program will be considered.

Financial Aid Application Deadline:
October 15th – Spring Semester
May 1st – Fall Semester

CIMBA Financial Aid & Scholarship page

Undergraduate Fall: May 15
Undergraduate Spring: November 15
Undergraduate Summer: February 1

All CIMBA students must apply as non-degree seeking students at the University of Iowa. Certain schools are subject to an enrollment cap and you may be placed on a waitlist as a result; we will let you know if this applies to you.

To apply to CIMBA Italy you must:

1. Submit an online application. Choose Create An Account on the right hand side.
   Online application includes the following components:

    

   • Resume (PDF preferred)
   • Essay (we are happy to waive this requirement if you set up a time to chat with a CIMBA Italy coordinator!)
   • The name and contact information for one academic reference must be entered as part of the application, but this person won’t be contacted.
   • If your GPA is below 2.75, please email joelle-petersen@uiowa.edu before applying, so that we can go into more detail about program structure and class pacing. You will also be prompted to answer two short answer questions for admission.
   • Must be Sophomore status or higher
2. At the time of application, you will be asked to pay a $40 non-refundable application fee, payable to the University of Iowa. This fee must be paid by Visa, MasterCard or Discover.
3. Request that an official undergraduate transcript from your home university be sent to the University of Iowa (address below). Please note: you must submit your application to CIMBA Italy before your transcript can be linked to your account. Transcript must come directly to the UI from your institution’s transcript database to be considered valid (for example, do not have it emailed to yourself and then forward it to CIMBA Italy or the UI, as it won’t be official).

The University of Iowa
Office of Admissions
107 Calvin Hall
Iowa City, IA 52242
admissions@uiowa.edu
(Do not send unofficial copies to this address.)

   4. Visit the Study Abroad Office for an application packet from Saint Mary’s.

Acceptance is contingent on a thorough review of the student’s application by the Saint Mary’s Director of Study Abroad and subsequent approval from CIMBA.

After acceptance, complete the following required items:

1. Obtain a passport. Submit a copy of the first page of passport to the Study Abroad Office.
2. Obtain a student visa if needed. Submit copy of visa stamp to Study Abroad Office.
3. Arrange travel plans. Once obtained, submit a copy of your flight itinerary to the Study Abroad Office.

Paderno del Grappa is a town and commune in the province of Treviso, in Veneto, Italy.

Paderno del Grappa is located at the base of Mount Grappa, a mountain located in the Dolomites. The municipality of Paderno del Grappa is approximately 45 miles north of Venice, and is close to larger towns, Asolo and Bassano del Grappa, also in the Treviso province.

The undergraduate campus is only a few miles from the campus in Asolo, at the base of Mount Grappa. The campus offers students the cultural experience of living in a small Italian community while providing access to the celebrated art and historical treasures of the Veneto region.

Climate
Winter months in Italy are generally cloudy and rainy. Cold temperatures rarely fall under 32 ° F (0 °C). January-March in Paderno del Grappa will typically be cool, damp, foggy, and rainy, ranging in temperatures from 40-50 °F (4-10 °C). Temperatures in April will be warmer, around 60-65 °F (16-18 °C). In Italy, temperature is measured in Celsius. F=(C*1.8)+32. Ex: 21 °C = 70 °F.

Time
When Central Standard Time is in effect in the United States, Italy is seven hours ahead. Daylight Savings Time is also observed in Italy.

Currency
The currency in Italy is the Euro. For the current exchange rate, click here. Euro bank notes come in the following denominations: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500. Coins are in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 1 euro and 2 euro.

More Information

• CIMBA Program
• Embassy of Italy
• Italian Tourism
• Travel.state.gov country information