Support
UCEAP students are supported by a network of people throughout the world. Your study abroad experience will be guided by trained staff who are there to support you as you prepare to study abroad, while you are abroad, and throughout the program. While on a UCEAP program, all student participants have travel insurance coverage and 24/7 emergency assistance.
On-site support
The Bologna Study Center is in the cultural hub of the city near the Cineteca di Bologna movie theater and film archive, the Museum of Modern Art (MAMbo), and the Cassero, Bologna’s LGBTI+ center. The study center features a study room, a library, free Wi-Fi, and printing and copying facilities for students’ academic needs. A friendly group of interns help incoming students get to know the city and the university as well as practice Italian. The study center is a quick walk to Inlingua language school (where the intensive language programs are held) and the main university. Students often take their books to the Cineteca’s open access library and UniONE, the university’s most popular study hall, complete with a gym. Take a short walk to the small city park nearby—it's the perfect place to wander with a gelato or panino on sunny days.
Talk to study center staff about:
- Everyday issues, medical concerns, and questions about housing
- Academic planning and selecting courses
- Internships and service-learning options including CV prep and requesting interviews
- Information and advice on job opportunities
- Special events such as pasta-making classes, museum visits, guided hikes, gelato tasting, and how to meet Italian students
- Travel recommendations for local and weekend trips
Study center activities may include:
- Italian cooking classes
- Movie screenings
- Gatherings with local and visiting students
- Classes and study groups
- Language exchanges
Maiju Hourula (she/her)
Program Manager, Bologna Center in Bologna, Italy
Maiju helps students settle into life in Bologna. She recommends taking part in the local student culture by volunteering and (for students in Bologna) completing an internship. When a break is needed, join locals in packing a picnic and walking to the parks in the hills just outside the city—amazing views are guaranteed!
She says, “Life in a medieval city like Bologna is very different from a California campus. After almost 20 years here, I still sometimes stop on my bike, in awe of the beauty and history this city holds.”
Maiju hopes students will talk forever about the places they discovered, the Italian they learned, and the friendships they made. She hopes students return with a stronger sense of self and purpose after living and studying in Italy.
Bologna Study Center
Orientations
To help navigate the transition of leaving home and going abroad, you’ll attend various in-person and online events. At these events, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and meet the staff who will be supporting you while you study abroad. You’ll learn things like:
- What student services are available at your host location
- Where to find local health care
- How and when to register for classes
- What to do and who to contact in an emergency
- How to travel to and from where you live to classes
- How to handle money matters like opening a bank account
- How to use technology, including your phone, and get access to the Internet
On-site orientations may include a tour of the campus and other local sites to help you settle in. At orientations, you'll also meet other students (local, international, and/or from UC campuses) who will be part of your experience.
Students with dis/Abilities
Students with dis/abilities can and do study abroad. A successful experience is dependent upon careful planning, coordination, and communication.
Focus on programs that best fit your interests, academic goals, and career aspirations. You'll work with the staff at the disability services and study abroad offices on your UC campus. They can help you identify strategies to remain flexible and think creatively about accessibility and realities abroad as some international locations can be different than what you are typically accustomed to in the US. They can also help you get the necessary paperwork you'll need to apply.
After you apply, your UCEAP program specialist will coordinate with the institution abroad and connect you with those who can arrange for an accessible experience. If your needs cannot be accommodated at any point in the process, your advisors will help you choose another program. You will not be alone in this decision.