The setting for the UGA Cortona Financial Planning Program is the small, quiet, walled hill town of Cortona, Italy. Centrally located within the Tuscany region on the crest of Mont S. Egidio overlooking the vast Val di Chiana, Cortona is surrounded by beautiful olive groves, vineyards, rich valley farmland, and immense history.
The town of Cortona is a veritable museum that offers the student a rich artistic and historical environment that reveals itself through fine examples of Etruscan, Roman, Romanesque, and Renaissance art and architecture. Since 1970, the small community of Cortona and the University of Georgia have shared a mutual tradition of goodwill and respect where the local government and citizens provide generous support and encouragement to the Study Abroad Program and its students.
In this idyllic environment, the UGA Financial Planning Cortona Program provides an opportunity for the serious student who wishes to combine international travel and cultural immersion with coursework in financial planning that is infused with an international perspective. The core financial planning classes are fully transferrable into the undergraduate financial planning program at the University of Georgia (UGA). Non-UGA students will find that the coursework offered in Cortona may be transferrable to their home institution and applied for credit if their program is registered with CFP Board of Standards, Inc. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity provides motivated students an opportunity to merge the lifestyle and culture of a historic Italian community with their work as a U.S. financial planner.
What to Expect
Depart US on Monday, August 21, arrival UK Tuesday, August 22 - program ends November 20th, 2023.
In addition to class sessions, students are required to participate in program cultural events and activities alongside university art and history. Students will have an opportunity to experience the culture of Italy from an insider’s perspective.
Program Dates
August 22, 2023 through November 20, 2023. August 21st is the last day to depart the US for arrival day in UK on August 22nd.
Cost
$9,515 (estimated) (includes a $500 program deposit) + $4,895 (estimated) for tuition (this allows a student to take more than six hours of classes; students generally take between 12 and 15 credit hours).
The cost of the program includes:
- $500 Program Deposit - due after acceptance to program and applied towards total program cost
- International Health Insurance (UGA requirement)
- Charter bus transportation from Rome to Cortona at the beginning of the program, round-trip between Cortona and Venice in the middle of the semester, and from Cortona to Naples at the end of the program
- Residence in the John D. Kehoe Center dormitories in Cortona
- Dinner 3 days a week while in Cortona
- Breakfast 7 days a week while in Cortona
- Transportation to and from cities during program excursions
- Shared hotel accommodations during program excursions
- Breakfast during program excursions
- One dinner in Oxford
- One dinner in Rome
- One dinner in Venice
- One dinner in Naples
- UGA Cortona t-shirt
We have 3 dinners a week while in Cortona for students but we also provide “Voucher” for one dinner per week as well (during fall, spring semesters).
The program fee includes bus transportation and hotel costs for all excursions. Breakfasts and dinners while in Naples and Rome are also included. Breakfasts and some dinners while in Florence are covered; however, only breakfast is serviced while in Venice.
Application Deadline
Early Application Deadline: November 24th, 2022
Standard Application Deadline: March 9, 2023
Seminars
Financial planning students will participate in seminars with European financial planning scholars. Seminar topics include:
- Art and collectible valuation· Investing in art and collectibles
- Cross-border tax and estate issues
- Working as a financial planner in Europe
Offered Courses
- Introduction to Personal Finance (FHCE 3200)
- Wealth Management II (FHCE 4205)
- Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits (FHCE 4210)
- Family Tax Planning (FHCE 4230)
Other Offered Classes
Students are encouraged to take one or two elective courses. Examples of course offerings include:
- Art History II: Baroque to Modern (ARST 2400) - this course satisfies Gen Ed Core area IV (World Languages and Global Culture, Humanities and the Arts)
- Renaissance Art History (ARHI 3020)
- Thematic Inquiry in Contemporary Art (ARST 4915)
- Sculpture: The Subtractive Process I (ARST 3420)/Sculpture: The Subtractive Process II (ARST 3430)
- Sculpture: The Object (ARST 3498)
- Introduction to Painting and Visuality (ARST 2100)/Painting Studio Concepts (ARST 3140)
- Painting: Color and Application (ARST 3115)
- Cultural Diversity in American Art (ARTS 2050) - this course satisfies Gen Ed Core area IV (Humanities and the Arts and Franklin Multicultural requirement)
Scheduled Excursions
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Rome
The Roman Empire originated there, and today “The Eternal City” is an international cultural nexus and the current political capital of Italy. We will spend several days in Roma.
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Orvieto
Steep bluffs of volcanic rock surround the Umbrian town of Orvieto, and the town presents visitors with impressive hilltop views of the surrounding countryside. Its Duomo di Orvieto (Orvieto Cathedral) is a 14th century architectural masterwork, and houses Luca Signorelli’s famous Last Judgment cycle of frescoes.
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Venice
Venezia, Italy’s legendary island city, dominated maritime trade in the Adriatic region from the 12th to the 15th centuries, becoming the most prosperous city in Europe. Its magnificent artistic and cultural treasures reflect this success
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Florence
As the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, Firenze contains an unparalleled collection of beautiful masterworks: painting, sculpture, architecture, design, and literature.
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Siena
Siena is a Tuscan hill town famous for its semi-annual Palio horse race on its Piazza del Campo, and its colorful contrade (city districts). Its distinctive architecture speaks to its prosperous history as a trading stop on the pilgrim roads to Roma
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Naples
Napoli, the third largest city in Italy, is known for its location at the base of Mount Vesuvius. This active volcano’s most infamous eruption buried the Roman city of Pompei, now accessible as an archaeological site.
Faculty
FAQ
- Where Do Students Stay in Cortona?
- What Food Options are Available?
- Who is Responsible for Flight Costs to and From Europe?
- Is Transportation from Rome to the Campus Provided
- Is a Laptop Required or are Computers Available on Campus?
- Is Wi-Fi Available in Cortona and/or on Campus
- Do U.S. Cell Phones Work in Italy?
- Do Students go Together or Meet Separately at the Beginning and End of the Semester?
- Can Zell Miller be used to Pay Tuition Expenses?
- Can non-UGA Students Participate in this Program?
- Can Qualified Education Funds (e.g., 529 Plan) be used to Offset Expenses?
- Is Financial Aid Available?
- Is there a Vaccination Requirement?
- Do Students Need a Passport?
- May a Family Member or Friend Visit a Student in Italy?
- May a Student go to Europe Before Classes Start and Then Meet in London?
- Where Do Students Stay in Cortona?
Living conditions for UGA students are similar to those experienced by European students in pensiones or one-star hotels. The John D. Kehoe building is the permanent UGA Cortona facility, and has been recently renovated with modern conveniences. The Kehoe building has multiple-bed dormitory rooms and shared bathrooms. A large courtyard provides students an opportunity to gather outdoors to study, draw or tend to personal chores such as laundry. Downstairs is a large kitchen. In an adjoining room, a continental breakfast is served between the hours of 7:00am to 9:00am. There are several coin operated washers for use, but many students choose to wash their clothes by hand in available sinks or tubs. The terrace has several clothes lines to dry your clothes on, which is the only means to do so. There are several common rooms available for studying or reading. The Kehoe building doors remain locked but each student is provided with a personal key. Linens are provided and are changed by the staff.
- What Food Options are Available?
- A continental breakfast is served every morning at the Kehoe Building. Continental breakfast consists of bread, jam, fruit juice and coffee or tea. Students who want or need additional food for breakfast may buy groceries and keep them in the student refrigerator.
- Lunch while in Cortona and on field trips is up to each student. In Cortona, there are many options for an inexpensive quick lunch at local grocery stores and bars, as well as numerous full-service restaurants.
- For lunch, sandwiches are available at most bars and grocery stores in town. A "toast" in Italy is a grilled ham and cheese sandwich, and most bars will offer other choices as well. Any of the grocery stores in town will prepare a sandwich made to your specifications or you can buy your own fruit, cheese and bread. The range of restaurants in Cortona varies from first-class full menu restaurants to more inexpensive places where you can order a pizza or a plate of pasta.
- Students who would like to go to a full-service restaurant for lunch, the prices will generally be higher, which is the responsibility of the student. A cover charge is automatically added to bills and students are also expected to tip their waiter. Sitting down in a restaurant means possible waiting times, as food in Italy is cooked only after it is ordered. In Cortona, smaller family-run restaurants are usually fairly inexpensive and provide an opportunity to make friends with the Cortonese.
- Evening meals are shared as a group three (3) nights per week. Students will also receive a voucher one (1) night a week, redeemable from one of many restaurant options in Cortona (conditions/terms apply).
- When taken with the group, meals are typical Tuscan fare prepared and served at d'Antonio's Ristorante, one of the most well-known and respected restaurants in the region.
- Dinner at d'Antonio's consists of three courses: the first course (primo piatto) is usually pasta or rice, the second course (secondo piatto) is usually meat or fish and a selection of salad or vegetables, and dessert (dolce) is usually fruit or cake or pastry. A different second course is served to those who are vegetarians.
- The University of Georgia group gathers for dinner at 7:30 pm.
- Students are responsible for their weekend dinners and can choose to prepare their meals or eat at one of the many restaurants in Cortona.
- Note: Breakfasts and dinners are provided while in Rome; breakfasts and some dinners are covered while in Florence; only breakfast is serviced while in Venice.
- Who is Responsible for Flight Costs to and From Europe?
Each student is responsible for travel expenses to and from the program, as well as miscellaneous travel expenses while in Europe.
- Is Transportation from Rome to the Campus Provided
Yes.
- Is a Laptop Required or are Computers Available on Campus?
Nearly all students bring their own laptop computer with them. There are some computers on campus but these may not always be available when needed.
- Is Wi-Fi Available in Cortona and/or on Campus
The Cortona campus has Wi-F; however, some areas of the town have less reliable Wi-Fi.
- Do U.S. Cell Phones Work in Italy?
Students should make arrangements with their mobile phone carrier prior to leaving the United States. Purchasing an international package add-on to a mobile phone plan may be the easiest way to maintain phone service. Other options may include purchasing a local SIM card or a separate local phone and mobile phone plan.
- Do Students go Together or Meet Separately at the Beginning and End of the Semester?
Students must be present in London the morning of August 22, 2023. Many students fly together from Atlanta; however, this is not a requirement.
Many students travel back to the United States together, but this is not a requirement. Those wanting to stay in Italy or Europe beyond the end of the semester are advised to review European Union visa requirements.
- Can Zell Miller be used to Pay Tuition Expenses?
Yes for Georgia residents who qualify.
- Can non-UGA Students Participate in this Program?
Yes! Non-UGA students should use the same program application links as UGA students. Instructions regarding a UGA Admissions application will be sent in your UGA Cortona program acceptance packet.
- Can Qualified Education Funds (e.g., 529 Plan) be used to Offset Expenses?
Program and tuition costs can be paid from qualified education funding programs and plans
- Is Financial Aid Available?
Some financial aid may be available. See: https://cortona.uga.edu/scholarships
- Is there a Vaccination Requirement?
Currently, there is no vaccination requirement for students from the United States (this may change in the future).
- Do Students Need a Passport?
Yes; the passport must be valid through January 2024.
- May a Family Member or Friend Visit a Student in Italy?
Yes; however, the family member or friend may not stay overnight on campus.
- May a Student go to Europe Before Classes Start and Then Meet in London?
Students must be present in London the morning of August 22, 2023. Many students fly together from Atlanta; however, this is not a requirement. For those wanting to arrive early or stay in Italy or Europe beyond the end of the semester it is strongly advised that they review European Union visa requirements. An Italian visa is not required; however, students are limited to 90 days in Italy or the Schengen area (i.e., much of Europe).