Do you have a passion for Italy – its history, culture, language and/or food? Would you like to experience studying abroad as an adult learner? You can with the Scholars Abroad program at UW’s Rome Center.
UW Scholars Abroad is a week-long adult-education program launched by the University of Washington last year. Using the Eternal City as a base, the program transforms Rome into a living classroom for curious lifelong learners.
Guided by UW Rome Center faculty and local experts, participants move beyond the typical tourist experience to engage with the city’s neighborhoods, history, art, architecture, food, language and daily life. What stays with them isn’t a checklist of sights, but an understanding of place and culture that keeps unfolding long after they’re home.
The Rome Center has been the UW’s classroom in Italy since the early 1980s and hosts about 400 students a year. It occupies three floors in Palazzo Pio, a 15th-century building located on Campo de’ Fiori, a lively marketplace in the center of the ancient city. Palazzo Pio was built on the foundations of Pompey the Great’s theater and the building is rich in historical significance.
The Center’s classrooms, meeting spaces, library and outside terrace were extensively renovated a few years ago. The building also houses a handful of spacious apartments for private rentals and faculty use.
The last program in December was packed with in-classroom presentations, site visits, lively discussions and immersive experiences such as a Renaissance cooking class and film screenings. Each day included an hour of beginner language instruction focused on practical skills – like ordering an espresso. More advanced Italian speakers took part in a facilitated conversation class during that time. Each scholar was given a one-week metro pass to help them independently explore the city during their free time.
“Our last group was a fabulous collection of adventurous people,” said Amity Neumeister, UW Rome Center’s resident director. “Everyone was curious, engaged and genuinely excited to explore Rome through a different lens than what the typical tourist experience offers. We are excited to build on this model.”
The next two programs are scheduled for December 2026. The first is “Politics and Power in Italy: From Empire to Fascism and Beyond” which runs December 6-12, 2026 and “The Centenarians: A Food Studies Perspective on Mediterranean Lifestyle and Longevity” which runs December 13-19, 2026.
The pair of sessions are scheduled back-to-back so it’s possible to extend the learning journey, delving deeper into the history, culture, and contemporary life of Rome. The deadline to apply is September 4, 2026.
For more information and to apply, visit the Scholars Abroad webpage.