Language Requirement: 3 years
Academic Standing by Program Start: Junior or above
Location: Europe, Italy
GPA: 3.0

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Dates & Deadlines
Applications for Academic Year close on 02/01/2026

Program Overview

Enroll directly in courses taught in Italian at the University of Pavia, Italy. If you are an undergraduate or graduate student in Italian and/or Romance Languages, this program is ideal for you. The program is limited to a maximum of two UO participants per year and one of the participants will be admitted to the prestigious Collegio Ghislieri and housed in the Collegio's sixteenth century building, in a large single suite.

Pavia is the capital city of the Pavia province in the Lombardy region of Northern Italy, and is located at the confluence of the Ticino and Po rivers. Milan, the industrial and commercial capital of Italy, is 20 miles to the north, while Genoa and the Mediterranean are just across the Apennines to the south, a two-hour train ride.

 

Dates and Deadlines

Term Year Deadline Arrival Date Departure Date
Academic Year 2026-27 02/01/2026 Mid-September Late July

You will be screened by Italian instructors for language proficiency as part of the acceptance process. 

The application process for this program is competitive: GEO staff will review your application materials, and a decision about your enrollment will not be made until after the application deadline. In some cases, an interview is required. If your program requires an interview, you will be contacted with further details about this process after the application deadline. Early applications are encouraged.

Successful applicants will receive an exchange nomination from GEO. Selection will be based on a holistic review of your application. This includes a review of your GPA, transcripts (including courses taken and in-progress), any additional requirements or prerequisites (see section "Additional Requirements"), and written statements. 

Applying for an exchange program involves 2 steps. If you receive a nomination from GEO, you will also need to complete the host university's application, which is administered and reviewed by your host university directly. Instructions will be provided after acceptance by GEO. The host university makes the final decision regarding acceptance into the program.

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Discount for Pell Recipients

To expand access to study abroad, GEO is offering a $500 discount for this program to UO students who currently have the Pell Grant as part of their federal financial aid (FAFSA).

Academic Details

Take courses taught entirely in Italian (except foreign language courses) at the University of Pavia. Courses in Italian universities follow a semester schedule and are further divided into two periods within each semester. 

The International Exchanges Coordinator of the Collegio Ghislieri and the International Student Advisor of the University serve as your liaisons in Pavia. 

Course Availability:

Please review the course offerings for exchange students on the University of Pavia's website using the "Course Search" link on the sidebar menu. You may need to use the current academic year's course list as a guide for what might be available for the term you want to study at the University of Pavia. Choose from courses in the faculties of the Humanities, Law, Political Science, Economics, Science, Engineering, and Mathematics.

You need to be flexible with choosing courses and have multiple back-up courses in case you do not get into your top choices. You are responsible for ensuring you meet any pre-requisites for courses at the University of Pavia.

Note: Students should consult with their UO academic advisor before submitting their course enrollment to the University of Pavia.

Credits:

Pavia uses the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), which is a workload-based system for measuring and comparing study results. A typical full-time workload for a semester is 30 ECTS credits. 

ECTS credits are transferred at the UO rate of 1 ECTS credit = 0.75 UO quarter credits.

To maintain full-time student status at the UO while on a university exchange, UO students need to earn at least 12 UO credits per UO term abroad. 

Language of Instruction:

All courses are taught in Italian. Some courses may be offered in English, but it is not guaranteed. 

Course Equivalencies

UO students: please refer to the UO Course Equivalency Process and the UO Office of the Registrar Course Equivalency Database.

Non-UO students: Actual credit awarded is determined by the relevant department at your university in consultation with the study abroad office. Check with your study abroad advisor for more information.

Additional Requirements

Previous study abroad experience recommended.

Housing Description

Collegio Ghislieri participant:
If admitted to the Collegio, you will pay the University of Oregon the current year's costs for on-campus UO student housing (in a regular, shared residence hall room) with a full meal plan, including costs for housing and meals during the winter and spring breaks. This payment is added to a fund to provide room-and-board support for the Italian students who come from the University of Pavia to study at the University of Oregon. In return, you will receive housing in a nicely appointed single room (with en-suite bathroom) in the Collegio's sixteenth century palazzo, along with a paid meal plan in the Collegio's dining. You will have access to a private library, two computer rooms, gym, tennis court, and a music practice room. The Collegio offers its own courses in modern languages (French, Spanish, German, English and Japanese) and computer science, and organizes a full program of lectures by visiting academics three nights a week during the term.

At-large participant:
You will be assisted in locating housing by the "Institute for the Right to University Study," an independent agency that assists Italian students not admitted directly into any collegio. Depending on demand and availability, the Institute will offer one or more options in a collegio facility, a shared apartment, a rented room, or a home-stay family. The Institute cannot guarantee that you will receive your first choice of housing. You will have access to kitchen facilities and/or inexpensive student restaurants in Pavia. Rent is paid either to the Institute, or directly to the landowner.