A Taste of Umbria: Italia In Focus

Submit a portfolio consisting of 15-20 examples of your photographic work by providing a link to a shared folder (via GoogleDrive, Dropbox, etc) or portfolio website. At least 10 images should be on a single theme. All portfolios must include a detailed description list for each image. Label each image with a title or caption and a number that corresponds to the description list. Include the medium/format (analog, digital, etc) and indicate which ten images are within a single theme. You will be asked to explain your chosen series in a written project statement.

Sequence your work to communicate your ideas effectively. Your portfolio should be a cohesive body of work that reveals your passion, effort, and, most importantly, your point of view. We look for diversity in student thinking, experience, and media presentation. The significant development of meaningful content is of particular importance. The portfolio assignment requests images on a single theme, but this should not limit you to submitting work from a single photoshoot or a single roll of film. Take time to review our suggestions for generating portfolio content and consider the myriad ways you can approach your submission.

Tips for Developing a Portfolio

• Avoid compiling a disjointed group of images that are intended to be considered individually. A large variety of photographs that show a sampling of every genre and technique often appear incoherent or lacking in vision.

• When selecting the content for your portfolio, include images that expand on the same theme (or a series of themes and ideas) rather than thematically unrelated photos.

• Sequence your work so that the images flow and relate to one another conceptually and visually. Consider what the work tells the viewer about you. Your portfolio is an opportunity to share your opinions, passion for ideas, and personal vision of the world.</p>

Suggestions for Generating Portfolio Content

• Create from your passion and embrace the fact that personal passion is subjective. You may find inspiration exploring something you love, or you may feel driven to create work in response to something you find unjust, unpleasant, or objectionable. Any theme can be worthy of exploration. Show us what evokes your excitement to create images.

• For inspiration, see photography/art exhibitions and movies. Read literature, poetry. In short, seek out media that excites your creativity. Try to understand what makes this work engaging and coherent.

• Keep a journal of ideas for image-making.

• Ask yourself what elements to add to the images so that other possibilities can be explored and developed, expanding the boundaries of your idea.

• Ask others for feedback and learn how others read your images.

• Accept critical feedback.

A completed application to Spoleto Study Abroad includes the following:

• Completed application form

• Portfolio of 15-20 photographic samples

• Two teacher recommendations, emailed to admin@spoletostudyabroad.org

• $95.00 non-refundable application fee (Application fee is waived for all applications received by 11:59pm EST on Nov 30, 2025)

Note: Recommendation Instructions should be given to those from whom you are asking for a recommendation.

In consideration of your application processing, a $95 application fee is required with this application. The application fee is non-refundable and does not go toward tuition. This application fee is waived for all applications submitted by 11:59pm EST on November 30, 2025.

The comprehensive fee for Spoleto Study Abroad Summer Taste of Umbria program is $5,400. This fee includes tuition for courses, meals, lodging, books, materials, entrance fees for group activities, and all field trip-related transportation within Italy. Expenses not included are round-trip airfare to Rome, passport fees, travel insurance, personal expenses, camera equipment, computer, and editing software. 

Upon acceptance, a 50% deposit is due within 2 weeks in consideration of program planning and reservation of your place in the program. The remainder is payable in full by May 1, 2026. The $95 application fee and 50% deposit are not refundable.

The tuition payment (minus the deposit) is fully refundable until June 17, 2026. Withdrawals from the program must be submitted in writing. In consideration of such application process and program placement and preparation, it is understood and hereby agreed that on or after June 17, 2026, no refund of any amount will be owed by Spoleto Study Abroad to the undersigned or his/her/their family or school for any reason nor will any such refund be made should the student be withdrawn or dismissed from the program. Families are encouraged to purchase travel insurance at the time of payment of tuition deposit. Expenses are based on the exchange rate effective September 1, 2025. Prices are subject to equitable adjustment should there be a significant change in the rate of exchange by May 1, 2026.

Tuition can be paid via credit card, bank transfer, or by check. Please make checks payable to "Spoleto Study Abroad." 

Please note, all credit card transactions will incur an additional processing fee.

Travel dates are July 17 - July 27, 2026 

Arrive in Rome (FCO) on July 18th by 11 amU.S. flights to Rome depart the evening of July 17rd

Depart Rome (FCO) after 11 am on July 27th

Spoleto Study Abroad will have a departure flight(s) from the U.S. with Spoleto Study Abroad staff on board. Students are not required to fly on this flight, but have the option to do so. Students make their own travel arrangements.  

Students will be bused from the airport in Rome to the accommodations in Spoleto.

As summer “guests” of the town of Spoleto, the guidelines by which we live consist both of rules to obey and Italian traditions to respect. Our basic code is to forbid any behavior that is illegal, antisocial, or dangerous, either to the student or to the group. Smoking is not allowed. Possession, use or any contact with those in possession of alcohol or drugs is strictly forbidden. Driving any motorized vehicles, including motorcycles and motorbikes is prohibited.

All students live together sharing rooms (double occupancy), collegial style, in a gorgeous renovated 13th century residence (Palazzo Leti) in the historic medieval section of Spoleto. The Palazzo has been updated with modern conveniences and has spacious gardens, terraces, and complimentary breakfast. All rooms come with private bathrooms, a mini fridge, and A/C. It is only a short walk to classes, the main piazzas of town, shops, and restaurants.

Students are supervised and guided by faculty and the fellowship teachers who also stay in the Palazzo in order to oversee student life.

For obvious reasons, students are expected to maintain a standard of behavior representative of the program. Excessive noise, abuse of property or facilities and similar lapses from this standard are strictly forbidden. Our faculty-in-residence take responsibility for maintaining standards of behavior, in addition to their primary role as teachers and advisors. Both to protect our students’ well-being and to respect the rules and standards of Spoleto Study Abroad, we must reserve the right to send home, at the family’s expense, any student who violates these rules.