Apply to CIMBA

We are excited that you are ready to begin your CIMBA application. Your university may have specific admission procedures. It is important to visit the CIMBA and Your University page to identify any special criteria that may apply.

Once all the pieces of your application are received, you will hear from us by email, typically within two weeks.

CIMBA has suggested application dates for each study abroad program, though we will continue to accept applications after these dates until we reach our capacity. After we reach capacity, we will institute a waitlist for any students who have not committed to enrollment. The suggested application dates are:

Undergraduate Fall: May 15

 Undergraduate Spring: November 15

Undergraduate Summer: March 15 *Program may fill sooner.

 Graduate Summer: April 1

Please use the following categories to find the specific admission process that applies to you.

I am an undergraduate student at the University of Iowa.

If you are currently a University of Iowa undergraduate student, to apply to CIMBA you must: 

  1. Submit an online application. Choose Create An Account on the right hand side. The online application includes the following components:
    • Resume (PDF preferred)
    • Essay (We are happy to waive this requirement if you schedule a time to chat with a CIMBA coordinator!)
    • Official transcripts do not need to be submitted for University of Iowa students.
  2. If your GPA is below 2.75, you will also be asked to respond to a short answer question explaining what contributed to the low grades, what your plan is for future success, and how the CIMBA program fits into this plan. The purpose is for us to better understand your background and see a sample of your writing. We will prompt you for this piece of writing after we receive your transcript or, if you are an Iowa student, after you’ve submitted your application.
  3. All UI students are required to complete the Iowa Advisor Form prior to their departure for Italy. To complete the form, students meet with both their Academic Advisor AND a Study Abroad Advisor. To make an appointment with a Study Abroad Advisor, you must call the International Programs Office at 319-353-2700 (do not just show up). We advise students to complete the form during the application process or immediately following admission to the program.

I am an undergraduate student at another university (non-University of Iowa).

If you are currently an undergraduate student and attend a university other than the University of Iowa, you must be admitted to the UI as a non-degree seeking student. Remember to visit the CIMBA and Your University page to identify any special criteria that may also apply. Certain schools are subject to an enrollment cap and may be placed on a waitlist as a result; we will let you know if this applies to you. To apply to CIMBA you must:

  1. Submit an online application. Choose Create An Account on the right hand side.
    • A resume (PDF preferred)
    • Essay (we are happy to waive this requirement if you set up a time to chat with a CIMBA coordinator!)
    • The name and contact information for one academic reference must be entered as part of the application. (Note: A CIMBA recommendation form or a letter of reference from an academic reference is required if your GPA is below 2.75. You will have to list someone as a reference in the application regardless of GPA, but we will only contact them if applicable. Email the recommendation to cimba-italy@uiowa.edu). 
    • If your GPA is below 2.75, please email joelle-petersen@uiowa.edu before applying so that we can go into more detail about program structure and class pacing. 
  2. At the time of application, you will be asked to pay a $40 non-refundable application fee, payable to the University of Iowa. This fee must be paid by Visa, MasterCard, or Discover.
  3. Request that an official undergraduate transcript from your home university be sent to the University of Iowa (address below) when directed by CIMBA staff. We ask summer students to hold off on submitting their transcripts until after the previous fall’s grades have been reported. Applicants must submit completed grades on their transcripts as follows: Summer/fall applicants need previous fall completed grades, and spring applicants need previous spring completed grades. Please note: you must submit your application to CIMBA before your transcript can be linked to your account.
      
    The University of Iowa
    Office of Admissions
    107 Calvin Hall
    Iowa City, IA 52242
    adm-transcript@uiowa.edu (Do not send unofficial copies to this address.)

I am a graduate student at the University of Iowa.

If you are currently a University of Iowa graduate student, you must submit an online application via the Tippie Application Portal. If you have not used the portal for a previous application, select Create An Account on the right hand side. The online application which includes the following components:

    • Resume (PDF preferred)
    • Essay (PDF preferred)
    • Official transcripts do not need to be submitted for University of Iowa students

I am a graduate student at another university (non-University of Iowa).

If you are a graduate student and currently attend a university other than the University of Iowa, you must be admitted to the University of Iowa as a non-degree student to receive academic credit for the program. Make sure you visit the CIMBA and Your University page to identify special criteria from your home university that may also apply. To apply to CIMBA you must:

  1. Submit an online application. Choose Create An Account on the right hand side.
    • A resume and essay must be uploaded as part of the online application (PDF preferred).
  2. At the time of application, you will be asked to pay a $40 non-refundable application fee, payable to the University of Iowa. This fee must be paid by Visa, MasterCard, or Discover.
  3. Request that an official undergraduate transcript be sent to:
      
    The University of Iowa
    Office of Admissions
    107 Calvin Hall
    Iowa City, IA 52242
    adm-transcript@uiowa.edu (Do not send unofficial copies to this address.)

    If your undergraduate degree is from an international institution, you have two options for how to submit your official records. One is to send the originals documents to the Iowa City CIMBA office, and we can send them back to you.  Another way is to ask the registrar at your home institution to send the copies of the undergraduate records they have on file.  You likely provided these at the time of admission to their university.  Please ask them to send the copies directly to the University of Iowa Office of Admissions as they would with all official transcripts.  All of the copies must have your home institutions official stamp in order to be accepted as official.

  4. Send an unofficial copy of your graduate transcript to studyabroad@cimbaitaly.com.  If you do not have an unofficial copy, you can ask your school to send an official copy to the University of Iowa Office of Admissions address above.