Summer Academy | SAIS Europe
May 28 - June 28, 2026
Spend four weeks of your summer exploring international affairs in the heart of Europe. Rising sophomores, upperclassmen, and recent college graduates earn four graduate-level credits studying with Johns Hopkins SAIS' world-class faculty in Bologna, Italy.
Curriculum
Learn about international conflict management and resolution. Courses feature classroom lectures in the mornings and site visits or guest speakers in the afternoons. Various excursions will take you to top destinations in the region for cultural experiences outside the classroom.
Program highlights include:
- Examine conflict analysis and causes of civil wars.
- Debate on international interventions.
- Address peacekeeping and peacebuilding through case studies.
- Proposed excursions to Sicily, Florence, and Milan.
Constitutional Development and Democratization
Instructor: Justin O. Frosini
The spread of human rights and constitutional, representative government based on the rule of law, as either spurs for development or desirable outcomes of development, seems both possible and urgently necessary and yet we appear to be in a phase where many countries are undergoing a democratic retrogression. This course examines the nature, fate and prospects for constitutional development and democratization across the globe. Employing both the diachronic and synchronic methods of analysis typical of comparative constitutional law, the course addresses topics such as constitution-making and constitutional amendment; forms of state and forms of government as well as the role and functions of constitutional and supreme courts with the aim of understanding how a given institutional framework may facilitate or obstruct transitions to democracy. The experience of so-called ‘consolidated’ democracies will often be used to examine the transition to democracy of other countries.
The (Geo)Politics of Organized Crime
Instructor: Francesco Strazzari
This course gives students a clear, evidence-based understanding of transnational organized crime, illicit markets and trafficking networks. It moves beyond the usual stereotypes of mafias and criminal worlds by looking closely at real investigations, judicial proceedings, crime statistics and current social-science research.
Students will engage with key ideas from organizational studies, business and political economy, political sociology and international relations to see how criminal groups operate, adapt and influence their environments. The course also examines how governments and law-enforcement agencies respond to cross-border crime in different sectors and geopolitical settings.
Throughout the semester, students will work on concrete cases and reflect critically on what we know about criminal organizations, where the gaps remain and how these issues shape international affairs.
Studying in Bologna
Find out why SAIS Europe alumni recall their time on campus as the best year of their lives. Bologna, Italy consistently ranks in the top 10 European cities for quality of life. The campus’ small scale and collegial atmosphere means that students eat lunch with their professors, debate issues in seminar-style courses with classmates from around the globe, and build the foundations for lifelong friendships and professional networks.
Rising sophomores (students who will have completed one year of college by summer 2025) and upperclassmen may apply with a minimum 3.0 GPA. The program is also open to recent college graduates who have completed their undergraduate degree within the past two years. High-performing undergraduates from any discipline are encouraged to apply.
Students apply through Johns Hopkins SAIS Summer Programs.
Applications open, apply today! Decisions will be rendered on a rolling basis.
Priority Application Deadline: April 1st
After the priority deadline, applications are accepted on a space available basis.
Application Requirements:
- Online application
- Undergraduate transcript
- Resumé
- Personal statement
- Two academic references
- No application fee
Students who successfully complete the Summer Academy courses will earn up to four graduate credits from Johns Hopkins SAIS. These credits can be transferred back to your home institution. Credits will also transfer to most Johns Hopkins SAIS degree programs.
Because the SAIS Europe Summer Academy lasts four weeks, most students will be able to attend without a student visa. Citizens and permanent residents of European Union countries may enter Italy freely. Students from non-EU countries, including the United States, will generally be able to participate on a tourist visa.
If you hold a passport that requires additional steps or prior authorization to enter Italy, we will guide you through the process and provide all necessary documentation. Johns Hopkins SAIS and the Office of Study Abroad will support you at every stage to ensure you have what you need for a smooth arrival.
Students will stay in shared apartments in the heart of Bologna’s historic center within walking distance to campus. Apartments will include a kitchenette, on-site laundry facilities, high-speed wireless internet, and weekly cleaning services.
4 CREDITS/4-WEEK PROGRAM
| 2026 Direct Costs | |
|---|---|
| Tuition (4 credits) | $4,590 |
| Program Fee | $1,530 |
| Housing | $1,940 |
| Total Direct Costs | $8,060 |
*Travel insurance is required for all non-JHU students who are non-European citizens and is automatically billed.
| Indirect Costs | |
|---|---|
| Board | $500 |
| Books & Supplies | Included |
| Travel | $400 |
| Personal Expenses | $375 |
| Total Indirect Costs | $1,275 |
Current JHU Students are also eligible to apply for Study Abroad Scholarships and the Aronson International Experience Grant.
Opportunities for All Students
SAIS General Funds Scholarships- To be eligible for SAIS General Funds Scholarships students must:
- Be admitted to the SAIS Summer Academy
- Demonstrate financial need
- Be a rising sophomore, upperclassman, or recent college graduate who completed their undergraduate degree within the past two years
Propel - The Propel Initiative at Johns Hopkins SAIS provides financial aid to students who demonstrate a financial need, have been admitted to the SAIS Summer Academy and meet any of the following criteria:
- First-generation college students
- Students who have graduated from minority serving institutions
- Students from geographies that are underrepresented at SAIS
Opportunities for Current JHU Students
- Study Abroad Scholarship - Current Johns Hopkins University undergraduate students are eligible to apply for a Study Abroad scholarship for up to $5,000 to attend the SAIS Academy in Washington, D.C. Contact [email protected] with questions.
- Aronson International Experience Grant- Current Johns Hopkins University undergraduate students majoring in International Studies are eligible to apply for an Aronson Grant for up to $2,500. Contact [email protected] with questions.