The Globalization Program is VIU’s core undergraduate level semester program. Students from member universities can participate in courses centered around three interdisciplinary themes:

• Italy: history, culture, art, and society
   
• Cultures of the World: global perspectives across humanities and social sciences
   
• Global Challenges: climate change, innovation, sustainability, and public policy
   

Courses are taught in English by international faculty. Each course is worth 6 ECTS credits, and students typically enroll in 3 to 4 courses per semester. The program emphasizes interactive learning in small, diverse groups. Students can apply to the Globalization Program during the Erasmus+ Applications at Sabancı University. 

Co-Curricular Activities

To complement classroom learning, VIU organizes a range of co-curricular activities including guided tours, workshops, and site visits. These activities are designed to deepen students’ understanding of Venice's cultural and environmental heritage.

Internships in Italy

Students enrolled in the Globalization Program can apply for short-term internships following the semester. These internships are hosted by prestigious organizations such as UNESCO Venice, The Peggy Guggenheim Collection, ALDA – European Association for Local Democracy, and others.

Internships provide practical, hands-on experience in a professional setting and are supported by VIU through scholarships that cover living expenses and accommodation.

The Summer Session is a condensed version of VIU’s core Globalization Program, held over four weeks in the summer. It offers intensive academic courses for undergraduate and graduate students from member universities, with a focus on global challenges through interdisciplinary approaches.

Key Features:

• Open to students from VIU member institutions.
   
• Courses are taught in English by international faculty members.
   
• Topics are interdisciplinary and include sustainability, innovation, cultural heritage, international relations, and more.
   
• Each course carries 6 ECTS credits.
   
• Students may take one course during the session.
   
• Emphasis is placed on interactive teaching and multicultural group work.
   
• Includes co-curricular activities such as guided tours, site visits, and workshops.
   
• Selection is competitive; students are nominated by their home institutions.
   

Application:
For the application and eligibility criteria please contact to suoutgoing@sabanciuniv.edu.

VIU Summer Schools are intensive, short-term academic programs that take place between June and September. Each school is designed in collaboration with one or more member universities and focuses on a specific, timely theme relevant to global research and policy.

Key Features:

• Duration ranges from 5 days to 3 weeks.
   
• Topics include climate change adaptation, sustainable development, digital humanities, global governance, migration, artificial intelligence, and more.
   
• Programs combine lectures, workshops, fieldwork, and project-based learning.
   
• Instruction is in English.
   
• Open to advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, early-career researchers, and professionals.
   

For more information: https://www.univiu.org/study/summer-schools

The VIU PhD Academy is a training program designed for PhD candidates from member universities. It focuses on advanced research themes that require interdisciplinary collaboration and global awareness.

Key Features:

• Duration: 5–7 days, hosted in Venice.
   
• Thematic focus changes annually (e.g., sustainability, urban resilience, climate science, innovation policy).
   
• Includes lectures, roundtables, workshops, and team-based activities.
   
• Participants are expected to contribute actively through presentations and discussions.
   
• Facilitated by expert faculty from VIU member institutions.
   
• Travel grants are often available for selected students.

For more information: https://www.univiu.org/study/phd-academy

VIU Graduate Seminars are high-level, intensive academic events that bring together master’s students, PhD candidates, post-docs, and faculty to explore a specialized theme in depth.

Key Features:

• Duration: 3–5 days, held in Venice.
   
• Topics are advanced and interdisciplinary, such as heritage conservation, sustainability transitions, data ethics, European integration, etc.
   
• Participants engage in lectures, discussions, case studies, and collaborative projects.
   
• Faculty from multiple institutions lead the seminars, encouraging cross-institutional dialogue.
   
• Includes networking opportunities with academics, practitioners, and fellow researchers.
   

For more information: https://www.univiu.org/study/graduate-seminars