Language Requirement: None
Academic Standing by Program Start:
Location: Multicountry, Italy, United Kingdom, England
GPA: 2.5

Program Overview

TWO CITIES - ONE UNFORGETTABLE TERM.

From the medieval streets of Siena to the skyscrapers of London, spend your winter term immersed in two of Europe’s most iconic cities. In Italy, you’ll explore Renaissance art in its original setting and discover how food and wine influence the culture and history of Tuscan life. Then, in London—home to Shakespeare and the West End—you’ll experience world-class theatre and examine the modern social and political landscape of Britain. Along the way, you’ll fulfill core Arts & Letters and Social Science requirements while traveling between two remarkable cultural centers, with opportunities to explore even more of Europe in between. This is your chance to study at the intersection of history, creativity, and society—an unforgettable academic and cultural journey.

Dates and Deadlines

 
TermYearDeadlineArrival DateDeparture Date
Winter Quarter202610/1/20251/8/20263/21/2026

One week travel break: February 13 - 22

This program is less than 90 days. Students with a US passport will be traveling to Italy under the Schengen Visa waiver program and do not require a travel visa for this program, and GEO is unable to assist U.S. citizens in obtaining a visa. If you are not a U.S. Citizen: Notify your GEO Advisor. Students who are not U.S. citizens should contact the Italian consulate in their country of residence about visa requirements, no matter the duration of the program of study.

This program has a rolling admission application process: GEO staff (and the program faculty leader, if applicable) will complete a review of the application materials of complete applications in the order that they are submitted (“first come, first serve”). Decisions about acceptance will be made shortly after you submit a complete application. There are some programs that fill fast, some even before the deadline. Students are encouraged to complete applications and commit to programs early.

Acceptance is 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 the short statement.

back to top

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

All student will enroll in 4 courses for the term, at 4 credits each. Two courses will take place in Siena over a 5-week period, two courses will take place in London over a 4-week period. There will be a one-week break for students to travel from Siena to London. All courses satisfy either an Arts & Letters or Social Science core education requirement at the University of Oregon.

Siena Courses:

ARH388: Renaissance in Central Italy (4 credits, Arts & Letters course)
This course offers you a journey through the rich pageant of Renaissance art and culture, giving you the tools with which to analyze, understand and appreciate more fully the works of art produced in central Italy from the mid-thirteenth to mid-fifteenth centuries. Includes visits to museums, churches and other places of historical or artistic interest in and around Siena and Florence.

HIST388: Wine in Italy and the Western World (4 credits, Social Science course)
From the study of wine students will learn about the practices of earlier cultures, about Italian values and our own. This course will explore various aspects of wine civilization in Italy: mythology, religion, economy, society, history, art, literature, in order to provide students with a unique perspective on wine and Italy today.

London Courses:

The Play's the Thing: GEO Theatre Course (4 credits, Arts & Letters course)
This course provides a foundational overview of Great Britain, its people and culture. There are two blocks: the British Present and the British Past. As their names suggest, they deal with contemporary British politics and society and with key formative moments in English history.

Britain Today: Issues and Perspectives (4 credits, Social Science course)
The intent of this course is to expose students to the various aspects of theatre that make it work. This will include looking at the role of the audience as participants. Students will analyze how the playwright is able to teach the audience about themselves through his/her construction of the play to achieve an expression of truth.

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.

Faculty and Staff

All courses will be taught by local faculty within the GEO Siena and GEO London Centers.

Housing Description

All housing will be fully furnished and include towels and linens. If the housing includes a kitchen, it will be fully equipped with utensils, plates, glasses and cookware. You will likely be housed in apartments or student residences, with shared bedrooms (1-3 students) and common spaces (bathroom, kitchen, washing machine, etc). Depending on housing constraints, there is a possibility students will be housed in hotels for some or all of the program. Your program application will have a housing questionnaire to gather information and assist with roommate assignments.

In Siena, you will live in the medieval city center, within walking distance of your classrooms, as well as restaurants, cafés, and grocery stores.  In London, you will be conveniently located in either Zone 1, 2 or 3. You will be within walking distance of the London Tube network, local supermarkets, restaurants and cafés. Transportation passes will be provided. 

You are responsible for arranging your own housing for the week in between program locations: February 13 - 22.