Take courses in the vibrant city of Milan! SAI semester students at UCSC enroll in 4 - 5 elective courses for a total of 12 - 18 US credits. Courses are taught in English and are offered in a variety of fields, including business & economics, international relations, fashion & design, communications, psychology and more. Students interested in completing Italian language courses can do so during the semester or enroll in an intensive 2 week language course that takes place prior to the regular semester start. Students also have the option of earning a SAI Global Leadership Certificate as part of their programs.
Application open until: April 15, 2025
Apps accepted on a rolling basis, and after deadline as space permits
Application Requirements
Complete online application
Personal statement (300-500 words)
Transcript
Passport scan (photo page)
Digital photo (passport style)
Italian privacy consent form
Highlights
- Complete a part-time internship.
- Earn a SAI Global Leadership Certificate.
- Get a taste of Italy while studying in a traditional Italian educational context.
Program Dates
Early September 2025 – Mid December 2025
dates may differ as a result of add-ons
Eligibility Requirements
Age: 18+
Academic Year: Sophomore (2nd year) or above.
* contact SAI if you don’t meet requirements
Cumulative GPA:* 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale)
English Language:* Non-native English language speakers must submit TOEFL: 79+ or IELTS: 6+, or proof of attending school in English for 3+ years.
Global Leadership Certificate (GLC)
Students can supplement a regular semester of studies with the SAI Global Leadership Certificate (GLC), designed to enrich students’ experiences and to acknowledge their academic and service work by providing an additional credential beyond a university transcript. Students enrolled in the Global Leadership Certificate program broaden their awareness of global issues and deepen their knowledge of the host community’s role in an increasingly interconnected world through exploration of research, engagement in community service and interaction with experts and leaders. Students interested in applying for the GLC should select the program at application. GLC applicants should have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale).
Courses & Schedule
The majority of UCSC courses are held 2 days a week, Monday through Friday. SAI students are free to enroll in any combination of elective courses.
Course Registration
Students select preliminary courses upon submitting their application to SAI. Final course registration for all elective courses (not including Italian Language courses) via UCSC’s registration portal approximately 8 weeks prior to departure.
Program Add-On: Pre-Session 2 Week Italian Language Course
Semester students have the option to add an intensive 2 week 3 credit Italian language course that takes place prior to the semester start (for a maximum of 18 US credits over the semester). The course meets 5 days per week for a total of 45 hours, and is best suited for students with no prior knowledge of Italian, or those with some basic knowledge. Students can also pair this pre-session course with a regular semester Italian language course in order to maximize language learning. Please note: students enrolled in this program add-on will arrive in Milan two weeks prior to the start of the regular semester (to be confirmed).
| Pre-Departure Calendar | |
|---|---|
| April 15 2024 |
Application Closes Applications accepted after closing as space permits |
| Within 1 week of acceptance |
SAI Deposits Due $500 Enrollment Deposit (applied toward program fee) $300 Security Deposit (refundable) |
| April 29 2025 |
Enrollment Closes Students must complete their enrollment, including paying deposits, by this date |
| May 1 2025 |
50% of Total Program Fee Due Students who are accepted and submit SAI deposits after this date will have an amended pay schedule. 50% of the Program Fee will be due within 5 business days, based on the deposit payment date. |
| May 15 2025 |
Financial Aid Agreement & Financial Aid Program Deposit Deadline Students wishing to utilize SAI financial aid payment deferment must complete the Financial Aid Agreement form and submit the Financial Aid Program Deposit by this date. Students whose deposit payment date is on or after this date will have a deadline of 5 days after the deposit. |
| June 1 2025 |
SAI Scholarship Application Deadline Students wishing to apply for a SAI scholarship must have all application items submitted by 11:59pm Pacific Time on this date |
| June 15 2025 |
SAI Financial Aid Verification Deadline Students wishing to defer payment until financial aid disbursement must submit the financial aid verification forms to SAI by this date. |
| July 1 2025 |
Balance of Total Program Fee Due (For students utilizing SAI financial aid payment deferment, any balance not covered by aid is due) |
| On-Site Calendar | |
|---|---|
| Coming soon |
Regular Semester Arrival & Housing Check-in Students arrive at the Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) or Milan Linate Airport (LIN). SAI airport pickup is provided between 9:00am and 12:00 noon, and students are transferred to SAI housing. |
| Coming soon |
SAI Orientation Mandatory SAI orientation introduces students to their city while covering safety, policies, housing, and culture. |
| Coming soon |
UCSC Academic Orientation UCSC holds multi-day orientation activities. In addition to the mandatory orientation, students have opportunities to take city tours, join clubs, and meet professors. |
| Coming soon |
Semester Classes Begin |
| Coming soon |
Last Day to Add or Drop a Class |
| Coming soon |
Semester Classes End |
| Coming soon |
Program End & Housing Check-out Students must move out of SAI housing by 10:00am to return home or pursue independent travel. |
* Students opting to add the Pre-Session Italian language course arrive in Milan on (date to be confirmed).
| SAI Program Fees* | USD |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | $120 |
| Security Deposit Refundable at the end of the term. |
$300 |
| Program Fee Includes tuition, standard housing and SAI 360° Services (see What’s Included). |
Coming soon |
| Optional / Additional Fees: | |
| Program Add-On: Pre-Session Italian Language Course Two-week course that takes place prior to the regular semester. Includes housing; cost varies by private or shared occupancy room. |
Coming soon |
| Optional Private Room Housing Supplement Private room in a shared apartment, with a shared bathroom. |
Coming soon |
| International Mailing Supplement When applicable, students are charged an international mailing supplement to ensure visa paperwork arrives in a timely manner. |
$90 |
*prices are subject to change
Please see SAI Policies for SAI cancellation & withdrawal deadlines.
Note: certain SAI-affiliated US universities require specific payment arrangements. These may require that some fees are paid by the student directly to SAI, and other fees are paid to SAI by the affiliated university on behalf of the student. If you attend a SAI-affiliated university please contact your study abroad office or speak with your SAI Admissions Counselor for details.
| Budget | Low Est. | High Est. |
|---|---|---|
| Airfare to/from Milan |
$900 | $1,800 |
| Visa Visa and Permit to Stay fees. |
$250 | $275 |
| Books, Supplies & Course Fees | $30 / course | $50 / course |
| Meals Includes groceries and eating out. |
$650/ month | $850 / month |
| Personal Expenses | $300 / month | $350 / month |
| Transportation within Milan Public transportation with some taxi rides. |
$125 / month | $150 / month |
| Weekend Travel Cost varies greatly by student. |
$300 / month | $1,000 / month |
This is a SAI 360° Services Program; it includes our full services!
- Program tuition and U.S. academic credit
- Accommodation in carefully selected student housing
- Airport pickup on arrival day
- Welcome reception and events
- Orientation to the host city and school
- On-site staff who foster a welcoming community and provide assistance when needed
- SAI Viva Experience: cultural engagement, excursions & wellness activities
- Student health insurance providing full coverage and medical emergency evacuation
- 24-hour on-site emergency support
- Farewell event
Pre-departure and Re-entry services
- Knowledgeable Admissions Counselor dedicated to you, providing friendly assistance
- Helpful pre-departure tools and resources
- Parent & family resources
- Online student groups to acquaint you with other SAI students
- Student visa advising
- Assistance with financial aid processing
- Need-based SAI scholarships
- Alumni Ambassador Program, with paid internship opportunities
- SAI alumni network
SAI offers all students the Viva Experience: frequent cultural activities, at no extra cost, for participants to get to know their community, city and country. Following is a sample of the activities included in this program. Please note that actual activities may differ.
Welcome Event
SAI welcomes students to Milan with lunch at a hidden gem in the historic city center of Milan.
Duomo Rooftop and Milan Walking Tour
Students admire the architecture of the spire-laden Duomo up close as they walk among the buttresses and statues and enjoy a panoramic view of the city from the rooftop. Following the tour, the group discovers the fashion district including the Galleria, Montenapoleone and La Scala.
Gallery Visit to Fondazione Prada and Bar Luce
Students will visit Fondazione Prada, which offers a captivating journey through contemporary art and architecture. This cultural institution showcases innovative exhibitions, installations, and performances by both established and emerging artists. Bar Luce, a whimsical cafe designed by filmmaker Wes Anderson Bar Luce and it exudes retro charm with its pastel hues, vintage furniture, and quirky decor.
Day Trip to Turin
There’s a whiff of Paris in Turin’s elegant tree-lined boulevards and echoes of Vienna in its stately art nouveau cafes, but make no mistake – this elegant, Alp-fringed city is filled with everything that makes Italy charming. The industrious Torinese gave the world its first saleable hard chocolate and Italy’s most iconic car, the Fiat. Students will spend a day discovering this royal and industrial city.
Wine Tasting
Students will meet at a Milanese Enoteca to learn about Italian wines. A local sommelier will give students a background to each wine, which will then be paired with suitable appetizers.
Day Trip to Lake Como
Students visit the beautiful and serene Lake Como, which promises a perfect blend of history, natural beauty, and culinary delights. Students will wander through narrow cobblestone alleys lined with quaint shops and will be able to visit one of the lake’s most loved lakeside villas.
Pirelli HangarBiccoca Gallery Visit
Students experience the Pirelli HangarBiccoca, a contemporary art space in the Biccoca district of Milan. Formerly a factory that manufactured train cars, the complex is comprised of various areas: reading room, bookshop, cafe, and three exhibition spaces which highlight the original architecture of the factory. One of these rooms is dedicated to a site-specific permanent installation by Anselm Kiefer (‘Seven Heavenly Palaces’). Built over 9 years, this is a staggering piece of work and an absolute must see.
Mindfulness and Clay Moulding
Students will experience a serene and enriching journey of mindfulness and creativity at a small local studio. Throughout the session, students will have the opportunity to pause and reflect on their experience and take home their clay creation as a tangible reminder of their time in Milan.
Farewell Event: Campari Tour & Aperitivo
Students tour the Campari headquarters and “toast” to the end of a successful term abroad
Standard Housing: Student apartment
SAI student apartments are convenient and well equipped, with shared occupancy bedrooms (option to upgrade to private bedroom, if available). Typical residences house 2 – 8 students and contain a combination of private and shared bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom and living areas. Furnishings, a washing machine, basic kitchen supplies, bed linens and towels are provided. All apartments are equipped with wireless Internet. Housing configurations are designated as female, male, and in some locations, gender-inclusive. SAI on-site staff is available to respond to any maintenance needs that may arise.
Passports
Passports should be valid for 3 months after planned departure from Italy.
Student Visas
In accordance with Italian law, students studying in Italy for 91 days or more are required to obtain a student visa. Those with Italian/EU citizenship are exempted. Non-US nationals should consult their local Consulate for information on student visa requirements.
Students must appear in person at the Italian Consulate to present their student visa application. Our Student Visa Office is available to assist students in getting ready for the appointment; SAI provides student visa consulting for all our students at no cost.