BU’s Padua programs take place in a lively town that’s home to one of the oldest universities in the world. Classes are taught both at the BU Padua Academic Center and the Università degli Studi di Padova (UNIPD). Open to BU students only, the spring-semester Padua Business Internship Program consists of management courses, an Italian language and culture course, and an academic internship for credit. Students directly enroll in the University of Padua Department of Business and Economics and have access to all University of Padua facilities and services.
Requirements & Considerations
- All students must enroll according to, and remain in compliance with, the Boston University Study Abroad Course Load Policy.
- Boston University students only
- Open to students with all levels of Italian
- Admissions requirements for all programs
Curriculum
Required Courses
Required Course List
Study Abroad will enroll students in a non-credit Hub co-curricular and in a four-credit internship course, which includes a classroom component. Internship placements are determined by the University of Padua and take place the final eight weeks of the program after the conclusion of UNIPD courses. Students intern full-time Monday through Thursday in the greater Padua area. Those students with no previous knowledge of Italian will also be enrolled in the Italian language and culture course, taught at the BU Padua Center. Upon successful completion of the internship experience, students will receive a Hub unit in the area Individual in Community from the co-curricular HUB SA 330.
- Non-credit Hub Co-curricular: HUB SA 330 Study Abroad Internship
- This course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area:
- Individual in Community
- This course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area:
- CAS EC 497 Internship in Business/Economics (4 credits)
- The internship course focuses on how to analyze, interpret and interact with an organization system based in an Italian cultural environment, preparing students for a field experience with a special focus on the areas of Management and Hospitality Administration. The course is designed to enable students to develop an understanding of Italian economy, society and culture, and to familiarize themselves with work practices in the global, European, Italian and local Veneto and Padua contexts. The first part of the course examines each of these contexts in preparation for students’ immersive experience in their specific internships. Visits to local firms are an integral part of the course.
- SHA HF 390 Internship in Hospitality Administration (4 credits)
- Work in historic café, hotels, and hospitality services. Past internships have included Hotel Majestic Toscanelli, Hotel Tritone Thermae & SPA, Idea Food & Beverages Padova Convention and Visitors' Bureau, internationally renowned historic Caffè Pedrocchi.
- CAS LI 130 Introduction to Italian Language and Culture (4)Effective
Spring '25- This course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area:
- Individual in Community
- The course is designed for students who participate in the Padua Business Internship Program and have no prior knowledge of Italian. The course is an introduction to Italian language and culture with emphasis on oral comprehension, writing and intercultural communication. Readings on contemporary Italian culture and classwork are designed to prepare students for professional internship while studying in Padua, Italy.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area:
Elective Courses
BU Padua Elective Courses in English
- QST FE 449 Corporate Financial Management (4 credits)
- This is an introductory course in corporate finance, that introduces students to the most important concepts and principles in corporate finance. It provides students with the knowledge and the basic skills that allow them to deal with many aspects of a company’s finances and capital. Specifically, the course covers four main topics: Financial Statement Analysis; Value and Capital Budgeting; Capital Structure and Financing Decisions; Options. Upon completion of this course, students should be able to critically evaluate what long-term investments a firm should take, what mixture of debt and equity should use to fund its operations and they are expected to be able to read, interpret and analyze companies’ financial statements in order to evaluate their current and future performance.
- QST IM 471 Made in Italy: Excellence of Bello, Buono e Ben Fatto (4)
- This course will introduce students to the famous Made in Italy, a complex system of entrepreneurs and companies embodying the spirit of Italian excellence, proposing a variegated selection of products and services in which Italy ranks among the best, thanks to a historical tradition, a strong degree of specialization, continuous improvements and innovation, outstanding quality, and a high level of customization. The course will focus on business models, unique competitive advantages, domestic and international growth, creativity and innovation strategies, economic and financial drivers. The course has a strong experiential component, as it offers students the opportunity to have company visits.
University of Padua Elective Courses in English
Please refer to Questrom’s lists of pre-approved courses. School of Hospitality Administration students, please refer to Questrom’s lists of pre-approved courses and consult with your academic advisor.
Housing & Student Services
The Collegio Don Mazza Residence is a private college and has 3 main residence halls in close proximity to each other.
- All students live in furnished double rooms with en suite bathroom
- Students will room with another student from the program
- Partial board included: 5 dinner meals a week (Monday – Friday)
- Communal coffee rooms and possibility to use communal kitchen for breakfast preparation
- Weekly cleaning service
- Wi-Fi, study halls with air conditioning, library, conference room, information center, music room, newspaper and TV room, gym for residents only.
- Irons and coin operated laundry facilities
- Limited single rooms may be available, for an additional charge.
Program Dates
- Spring Semester: Early-January to late May
Application Timeline
This program follows rolling admissions and may fill before the official deadline.
Spring Semester
- Applications Open June 1*
- Applications Deadline October 1
*Applications for the Spring 2025 semester will open on June 12
This program is rolling admissions; applications are reviewed once all application materials are received, prior to all deadlines. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all required materials are received by the BU Study Abroad office. Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible as some programs and internship tracks have limited space and may fill up before the deadline. Submitting a complete application prior to the application deadline, does not guarantee acceptance. Students will be emailed an admissions decision within three weeks of a completed application.
Information for BU Students Awaiting an Admissions Decision and exceptions to the standard admission calendar for all students can be found here.
Cost & Financial Considerations
- 2024/2025 Tuition & Fees: $28,482
Cost includes tuition, housing, partial board, program related activities, administrative fee, overseas medical insurance, and emergency evacuation coverage. - Estimated program budget, including cost of living expenses.
- Grants and Scholarships available
- Special Padua Research Scholarship is available for Boston University students.
