France & Italy
Visit these linked pages on the U.S. State Department website to learn about travel advisories to France & Italy.
Due to the current instability in global travel, we reserve the right to cancel the trip.
Dive into the heart of luxury, fashion, and international marketing in the cultural hubs of Marseille and Florence. This faculty-led program combines academic exploration with real-world experiences—think brand visits, hands-on workshops, and scenic tours that bring classroom theory to life. Led by Dr. Cate Wengelnik, students will engage with global business trends while enjoying the rich culture, cuisine, and charm of Southern Europe.
Sign-ups for the May 2026 trip to France & Italy are now open.
This program is open to undergraduate students.
If you have any questions about this program, please contact Dr. Cate Wengelnik, Professor of Practice in the Management & Leadership Department and Director of Undergraduate Learning Abroad at cwengelnik@uh.edu.
2026 Program Dates
Sunday, May 24 - Thursday, June 4, 2026
Cost: TBD
Visitors traveling to Europe from one of the 60-visa exempt countries, are required to have a travel authorization to enter most European countries. Please visit the European Union website for more information.
Quick Links
Trip Details
Marseille, France & Florence, Italy
Undergraduate Students Only.
Learn about business in France & Italy, with a focus on Culture and Commerce!
Courses
Students must enroll in the following courses to participate in the program:
MANA 4397: Regional Issues in Global Management
MANA 4333: Cultural Issues in Global Management
All coursework will be completed ONLINE, with the exception of the trip to France & Italy and the Welcome Session, which will have to be completed in-person.
Cost & Payment Information
The cost of the program will approximately be TBD. This includes hotel accommodations (double rooms), corporate visits, cultural visits, and city tours. Daily breakfast at the hotel, a welcome dinner and a farewell dinner, and an additional lunch and dinner are also included. The cost of the trip does not include airfare, health insurance, transportation to and from Houston airport, UH tuition, or any other meals. Because of the current international political climate, we reserve the right to cancel the trip any time prior to departure should we believe that student safety is compromised. In such a case, we will refund all fee payments made, but are not be responsible for airline ticket reimbursements or other related incurred expenses. We recommend that students purchase travel insurance.
Program Cost Includes:
- Hotel accommodations
- 11 nights, double occupancy
- breakfast included
- Welcome dinner and farewell dinner
- Daily company and site tours
- One dinner and one lunch, aside from welcome and farewell dinner
- Transportation during traveling outside Marseille & Florence
- Two multi-day metro cards (valid for metro, bus, train, tram)
Program Cost Does Not Include:
- UH Tuition: Each course is 3 credit hours
- Airfare
- Health Insurance Coverage
- Voluntary Excursions
- Other Meals
Cost Savings & Scholarships
Students have found a number of ways to reduce their costs associated with this trip. First, some students use their frequent flier miles to save on airfare costs. Second, many students have convinced their employers to pay for the program as part of an employer's educational reimbursement program. Third, some students who apply for scholarships receive some money, so we strongly recommend that participants apply for scholarships. Information about these can be found on the Learning Abroad Scholarship website.
International Travel Information
Participants must have a valid passport. Because a copy of your passport is required to sign up for the trip, if you do not have one you should apply for one as soon as possible. Students who are not U.S. citizens may require a Visa to enter France & Italy. It is the student's responsibility to verify visa requirements for their nationality. It is also the student's responsibility to acquire all necessary visas. Visit the state department's web site for more information about international travel.
UH Learning Abroad serves as a full U.S. Passport Acceptance Facility. Services are available to students, faculty, staff, and the general public.
Arrival
Students are responsible for their own arrival travel arrangements. The program begins at 5:00 pm on Sunday, May 24th. Because most flights leave Houston in the afternoon and arrive in Marseille the following day, students will have to depart Houston on Saturday, May 23rd.
During the Program
We will arrange all travel during the program at no additional expense to the student. This includes day trips, tours, visits to local businesses, and travel to and from the international airport.
Departure
The program ends on Thursday, June 4th. Students may depart at any time that day or later.
Accommodation Information
Students will be provided double rooms upon arrival until departure. Breakfast is included, but other meals, phone charges, laundry, and other charges are not.
If students desire to arrive in Marseille before the program's arrival date or depart Florence after the program's departure date, all arrangements for accommodations need to be made directly with the hotel(s).