AIFS Abroad Internships in Florence, Italy

Name: AIFS Abroad Internships in Florence, Italy
Brand: AIFS Abroad
SKU: 17670
Rating: 4.92 (108 reviews)

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4.92 Rating

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Location

Italy
- Florence

Length

8 to 12 weeks

Industry

Accounting Advertising Architecture Arts Business Communications Culinary Arts Design Economics Education Engineering Film Finance Hospitality International Relations Journalism Marketing Media Relations Performing Arts Photography Psychology Sports Science Tourism +13

General grants/scholarships, BIPOC funding

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Program Details

Compensation

Non-Monetary Benefits

Timeframe

Fall Spring Summer

Housing

Apartment

Language

English

Weekly Hours

Age Min.

Pricing

Price Details

Program fee includes: guaranteed internship, social events & excursions, Italian language courses, centralized housing, personalized support before and during the internship program, support and orientations from local staff, medical/travel insurance, and an international SIM card.

What's Included

Accommodation Some Activities SIM cards

What's Not Included

Airfare Meals

Last Updated: Feb 21, 2024

Last Reviewed: Apr 04, 2024

Wish List

149 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Florence is an incredible city full of history and fantastic internship opportunities. In Florence, there are international internships in nearly every career field. Some of the most popular internships include event planning, journalism, marketing, business administration, and fashion.

As an intern, you’ll have the chance to immerse yourself in your approved career field and Italian culture. You will develop language skills and gain professional experiences all while enjoying everything Tuscany has to offer. We do our best to tailor an internship that matches your background and future goals. We are dedicated to making your international internship in Florence an unforgettable experience.

This is the perfect internship program for students and young professionals from the U.S. or Canada. Included in the cost of your tuition is a guaranteed internship, housing, social events, our career development program, and more.

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Diversity & Inclusion

BIPOC Support

At AIFS Abroad, we want to support all participants in their study/internship abroad journey, inclusive of gender, race, religion, age, physical ability, or sexual orientation. Everyone has a complex identity, and faith, spirituality, and religion are important factors when deciding on a program location.

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LGBTQIA+ Support

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Accessibility Support

Everyone’s experience is unique. We recognize the location you choose can have an impact on your sense of belonging. We encourage you to use the information below as you review your options to select the program and location that will be the best choice for you. If you do not hold the identities that are amplified here, this information is still a great resource for you as well. It will give you a better understanding of those who have this identity.

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Impact

Sustainability

In response to the overwhelming global climate crisis, AIFS Abroad is pleased to make Sustainability a key priority when considering organizational, operational, and programming decisions. We understand that the only way to effectively combat this crisis and mitigate the effects of climate change is to drastically reduce our environmental impact. Therefore, AIFS Abroad has committed to reaching carbon neutrality by the year 2025. AIFS Abroad is proud to announce we have signed the CANIE Accord, becoming the first US provider to make this commitment.

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Program Highlights

Guaranteed Internship: As part of the AIFS Abroad program you are guaranteed an internship in your host city. We do our best to tailor your internship to match your background and future goals.
Personalized Attention: We want this experience to be as fulfilling as possible. From the first phone call, we support you and give you all the resources you need to make sure your internship is a success.
Centralized Housing: You’ll be living in accommodations centrally located in Florence with other AIFS Abroad interns. Your housing will have access to public transportation, ensuring it is easy to get to and from your internship.
Professional Development: Through one-on-one coaching and webinars, we assist you in improving your professional documents, prepare you for an interview with potential employers, establish internship goals, and discuss your strengths.
On-Site Staff and Social Events: Our Location Coordinator lives in Florence year-round and provides you with an insider's glimpse of the city. The LC is there to provide 24/7 emergency support and takes all interns on a range of social events.

Popular Programs

Florence Internship Examples

If you would like to earn academic credit for your internship and your university does not offer academic credit for your internship, it’s possible that you can receive transfer credit through our School of Record, Fairfield University.

Program Reviews

4.92 Rating

based on 108 reviews

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Rating Spread Intern

5 rating 93.52%
4 rating 5.56%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0.93%
1 rating 0%

Growth 4.75
Support 4.85
Fun 4.9
Housing 4.65
Safety 4.95

Good for Students, Building your resume, Adventure travelers

Showing 49 - 56 of 108 reviews

This was a once in a lifetime experience that I would recommend to everyone.I was thankful that I had Anna to guide me through the whole trip. Florence was a beautiful city and working there helped me get used to the culture and also provided me with a lot culinary knowledge. This has made getting a job a lot easier as well. I would definitely recommend this to anyone trying to travel and experience more of life and Italy. When I have to chance I’m definitely booking another internship through GE

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?

I would bring more money and definitely go to see David

I would highly recommend this program to anyone looking to experience a new culture and city. I interned in Florence, Italy as a tour guide for the Florence Duomo and had the opportunity to learn so much about art history and the Italian Renaissance through my job. I also met people from all over the world every day, which was so fun and rewarding. Global Experiences does a great job with career coaching and preparing you to work in a new culture and environment. GE also provides social activities that help you get to know the city and your fellow interns a lot better. I actually left Florence with three lifelong friends, which for me was probably the most amazing part of the program! Thanks to GE, I was able to both work in a field that I love and explore a new city and culture that I will forever cherish.

What would you improve about this program?

The program includes two weeks of Italian classes prior to the internship, which was so helpful. I would just like to have more Italian classes, maybe three weeks instead of two, just because learning more Italian would have been beneficial.

I was placed in a fabulous restaurant called La Ménagère. They taught me so much through the time we shared. We laughed together as we created these beautiful memories as a family and team that'll surely never fade. Global experience gave me an opportunity that blew every one of my expectations out of the water. My program coordinator, Anna was beyond helpful through even the simplest inconveniences. She was always there day and night if we needed anything, or even a friend to talk to. Throughout this journey she provided us with great advice to further prepare us for success. I'm greatful for the opportunity that Global provided; and the cost of this program is nothing compared to what you get out of it. Because of Global, I was able to make life long friends and many professional connections that will get me so far in life.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?

The only thing that I would do differently, would be to branch out more with the locals. The city is filled with so many friendly people and I realized much later in the game how fun it is to get to know the locals first hand. It gives you a unique experience that an average visitor wouldn't recieve.

A photo of some of the amazing staff that I worked along side during this experience.

I had an incredible experience working abroad in Florence, it has been one of the best experiences of my life thus far. Global Experience was an incredible company with helpful staff who set me up with an internship that suited my needs and future career goals. The company even sets up cultural events during your time in Florence for you to attend. The events are catered to learning more about Florentine culture and taking your experience beyond the local tourist spots. From the marble paper making to the Siena wine tour in the Tuscan countryside, GE did a fantastic job coordinating and creating the wonderful events. It was a great way to get to know your fellow interns and learn something new about Italian and Florentine culture.

Additionally, before the program began, I decided to pursue my own housing outside of GE. Even though this was my choice and out of their hands, the GE staff assisted me with recommendations on neighborhoods to live in. This went completely beyond their job scope to help a fellow intern find a safe living space and neighborhood. This assistance showed their dedication to their interns and the want to make their experience the best possible while abroad.

I would highly recommend this experience to anyone looking to work abroad! I had the absolute time of my life!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

Don't be afraid to go out of your comfort zone. Each experience you encounter is special and will further develop you as a person while being abroad. So when an opportunity presents itself, absolutely just go for it! You won't regret it.

This was on one of my weekend excursions with the other interns to Venice. I am standing in front of the famous Ponte Rialto bridge.

This was taken towards the end of my internship, about a week before completion. I was basking in the ambiance of Florence on the Ponte Santa Trinita bridge.

This was taken during the peak moment of sunlight in Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre is a group of five seaside towns located on the Italian Riviera coastline. I highly recommend visiting!

While interning and living in Florence for 2 months I can honestly say this is one of the most unforgettable times of my life. I interned for a marketing company that was perfect for me because I was surrounded by such nice, helpful and welcoming co-workers. I thoroughly enjoyed my internship and I've gained much knowledge in the field of marketing, which was my goal. As for my experience in Florence, Italy as a whole, I've had a very fruitful experience because Florence is so beautiful and has an incredible history. Global Experiences put together some really fun events for our group that brought us closer together and formed friendships. Global Experiences made the process of working and living in Florence, Italy so easy and comfortable, which was instrumental in my experience. By placing us in apartments that are close to grocery stores, tourist areas and nice restaurants. Also, by making sure that we're safe and enjoying ourselves with trips that are interesting. This life-changing experience has helped me become a person and I'm very thankful to Global Experiences for all their help in this process.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

Be open to exploring your host city as while as other places within Europe because this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. You'll get the most out of your time here by being willing to get out of your comfort zone and replace nervousness or fearfulness with adventures that you'll remember forever.

This experience was absolutely amazing! I would have to say the most unique part about this program is actually being able to experience an internship overseas. It was so neat to be apart of another culture and to see how they do certain things. Just trying all the different types of foods and finding where the best places were to eat, drink, or even shop was such an experience. Not only was that unique but our location coordinator Anna put together one of my favorite trips a wine tasting tour. Where we got to go and see a city called Siena and the vineyards in Chianti. Overall, this experience has helped me grow as a person and in the work force. I would not have wanted my overseas internship experience to go any other way. Thank you Global Experience for providing me with the best summer. I will always remember this time in my life.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?

The most nerve racking moment I had in Florence was probably the grocery stores. I barely knew the language, so trying to grocery shop for me was a bit challenging. How I overcame this was learn the foods I wanted in Italian.

While interning in Florence, I learned a lot about how to communicate with others, and how working environments change across countries. The Global Experiences programs did a great job in helping me find the perfect internship for my career goals. GE gave me the opportunity to see what working in the Tourism Industry would be like, by not throwing me into the deep in, but allowing to work with a smaller company, so I could see if this was a career choice I was interested in working in the long term of things. Also, GE aligned my skill sets to the company I was working with, and it was perfect, because it allowed me to strengthen those skills I was weak in and amplify the skills that I was already secured in with a international outlook on them.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

My Top Advice:

1) Bring Good Walking SHOES, you will need them! Ladies you can leave the heels at home
2) Budget. Really plan out how much money you're going to spend on food, shopping, traveling, and anything else you can think of, and try to stick to it. I know it's going to be hard, but in the end it will help you IMMENSELY!
3) Don't be afraid to get to know the other interns, they are the only people are in the exact same situation as you.
4) Don't be afraid of doing things alone; you can't do everything with everybody all the time, sometime you need to experience things by yourself to really take in the global experience you are having

I was very happy with my summer experience in Florence. On the end of Global Experiences, they made the entire process very easy and ensured that everything went smoothly. Anna was very helpful and went above and beyond to make sure that we were comfortable and satisfied with our experience throughout our time here. My internship placement was great, and my supervisors and coworkers at Appstyx were great to work with and allowed me to learn and grow throughout my time here. I also was pleased with the living situation and was pleasantly surprised by the ease of the move-in process. Global Experiences takes care of pretty much all of the groundwork and makes it very easy to pretty much show up and move in with no other concerns. I was very satisfied with my experience in general.

Questions & Answers

Is there an age limit on these internship programs?

No, their is no age limit to the GE programs. However, in order to qualify for the GE internship program, you have to have been within some schooling program within the last two years. It could be any level of schooling- bachelors, master, etc. But that is a requirement to being accepted into the GE internship program.

By Jillian Augusta on May 26, 2020

Is there any online internship program for the field Architecture heritage and restoration?

No, there are no virtual internships in the Architecture field. GE has virtual internship opportunities in Business, Marketing, Finance, Accounting, Graphic Design, IT/Computing, SEO, and Journalism.

By Jillian Augusta on May 13, 2020

Are there interships in international relations and international law available?

Thanks for your response, Jill! Isidora, yes, we do offer internships in International Law and International Relations. Please see all available career fields here: https://www.globalexperiences.com/students/internships-abro…

By Global Experiences on March 10, 2020

See all 2 answers

Are there architecture heritage internships available for undergraduate students?

We do offer internships in architecture but for specific fields such as architecture heritage and restoration, you can state these as your interests in both your application Program Goals and your Admissions Interview with your Admissions Counselor. However, it's not something we could guarantee as it depends on employer opportunities at the time. Hope this helps!

By Global Experiences on June 5, 2019

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

lake como

Why did you decide to intern abroad with Global Experiences?

Marisa: When I was choosing to study abroad, I knew I wanted to go to Italy more than any other country, but I did not know which program that I wanted to do. My friend told me how she did the same interning abroad program with Global Experiences and the same teacher when she went to Ireland so I did my research and immediately fell in love with the program and knew I had to do it.

The fact that it was an internship program made it that much better because then I could get a great experience, along with learning a new language, and have something great to put on my resume for my future career as a psychologist.

Did you run into a language barrier? Did you ever think you knew more/less of the language?

Marisa: I think after living in Florence for two weeks and taking the Italian language course, the language became a lot easier for me. I was able to communicate more easily, not to mention, the fact that my roommate at lived in Italy for ten months in high school definitely helped too.

I also enrolled myself in an Italian 101 course back at ASU in order to force myself to learn Italian because learning languages have always been my strong suit; however, even when I thought I was doing great with my Italian, I would run into a language barrier at the grocery store.

florence duomo

Needing to know the name of everything I needed to buy was really tough and communicating to the employees what I needed was even tougher. I think if I knew more Italian it would have definitely made a difference, but I think that is the same for any country you go to in which you don’t speak the language.

Do you feel you got a chance to see the city from a local's perspective?

Marisa: I actually think that probably more than most people I got to see the city from a local’s perspective. I did see touristy parts as well because who wouldn’t when it’s your first time in Europe. In Florence, I definitely had a local experience because even though most of the people lived by the Duomo, I lived in the local side of town, about a thirty minute walk away.

I actually really appreciated it because I felt like I was able to live like a true Italian and it was so green by where I lived. When I got to Milan, I visited a few touristy areas, but I mainly took the subway to random areas or just walked. In Florence, I walked everywhere and almost never used public transportation because I feel like you get such a better perspective. I mean I got to witness the presidential election in Florence. How many people get to say that?

In Milan, I just went to a new area everyday, went to the Farmer’s Market, and tried the best orange juice. I was able to travel around Italy on my own or with a group too so I went to Rome, Venice, Lake Como, and Chianti. I went to Rome twice, once at the beginning and once in the middle, and I appreciated it less the area the second time because I learned to have more of an appreciation for the local area than the touristy area.

What made this intern abroad experience unique and special?

Marisa: There were many things that made this intern abroad experience unique and special. For one, I loved the people at my job, each and every one of them. Italians are more laid back than Americans because in Italy it is less of “work, work, work” and more of enjoy your time here.

My job told me to come back whenever I wanted to from my lunch break and to come in and leave the office whenever I wanted to. Living in the same dorms as Italians and other Americans from other schools was awesome too. I made so many friends and tried so many new things.

milan cathedral

This is the first time I am able to say that I liked everyone in the group and got to know each and every person and I’ve never been able to say that before. Some of the friendships that I made on this trip are friendships that are going to last a lifetime. I love Italy and I would love to go back.

Do you think your experience changed you as a person?

Marisa: I absolutely think it did for many reasons. For one, it has made me want to dress up everywhere I go and not just throw on a t-shirt and shorts or something, which I never did the whole trip even though I always do it back home. I think it has made me open to the possibility of seeing the world more and living outside of the United States. It also gave me a better appreciation for life and the things that I have.

I worked for Reach Italia, a social media internship in which I translated from Italian to English their website blogs as well as lengthy business proposals that were to be presented in front of English-speaking sponsors in order to raise money for kids in Africa. After going through files, editing, and reading everything, it has made me see how much worse life can be in other countries and made me realize that I actually have it good.

I can think now that when I am struggling, that I can make it through and to get over it, because there are kids in other countries going through something ten times worse.

Courtney Schadewald

2013 Alum

Andrew Lauria

2013 Alum

Heather Bonello

2013 Alum

Jordan Helmey

2013 Alum

Katie Conner

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

What is your favorite travel memory?

When thinking of my favorite travel memories, an array of breathtaking new sights, laughter, stepping out of my comfort zone, and spending time with unforgettable people flashes through my mind. One memory that combines all four aspects was during my time interning abroad in Florence, Italy.

My roommates and I took a day trip to visit Cinque Terre, the string of centuries-old villages on the Italian Riviera coastline. After exploring Riomaggiore (picture the famous shot of colorful houses on a seaside cliff), the beach town of Monterosso al Mare was next on our list. The furthest villages away from each other, there were two options for methods of transportation: the train, or a strenuous 7.5 mile hike that could take up to 5 hours. While most of the group opted for the train, my roommate from Amsterdam was feeling adventurous and asked me to join her in the hike.

Together, we braved through climbing, descending, narrow passages, and steep, uneven stone steps. Though it was exhausting, the trek was well worth it as we discovered incredible views of the coast, lush olive groves, and exotic plants and flowers.

My favorite part was coming across a quaint stand selling limoncello during one of the descents, manned by a sweet old Italian man. While I may have regretted thinking that taking a limoncello shot in the middle of a 5-hour hike would be refreshing, I’ll never regret that I said yes to a new adventure that would turn into a cherished memory.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I started working at Global Experiences fresh out of college, eager to learn and take on responsibilities. While I've gained technical skills such as learning how to code and Photoshop, I've also learned valuable soft skills that I'll have with me for the years to come. I've gained organizational skills and become more confident in my decision making. Through being welcomed to give new ideas and input, my creativity has also been able to grow.

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What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

I'm lucky to be able to work with many of our alumni and interns while they're abroad and capturing their stories and experiences. I get to hear a lot of awesome perks that our interns receive from working hard at their internships, but my favorite was when our Barcelona Fashion Business intern, Olivia V., attended the 080 Barcelona Fashion Show for work. She was interviewed by Elle Magazine, and was featured on their next issue!

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

This question is perfect for me because I have gone on one of GE's internship abroad programs!

Fall of my senior year, I had a marketing internship abroad in Florence, Italy for 3 months. Studying abroad in Italy had always been a dream of mine, and Florence seemed like the perfect choice for many reasons. I wanted to experience a different culture, and knew that Florence had so much art, history and architecture to offer for me to learn and explore. For my first time living abroad, I wanted to live somewhere that was easy to get around in, yet was also an easy gateway to explore the rest of the country and Europe. The language barrier did not bother me either because I heard that Italians were friendly and just appreciated you trying to speak their language.

Upon arriving, these reasons proved to be right on all accounts. Interning in Florence, Italy was everything that I could have dreamed of and more!

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

I find Global Experiences to be unique because of how passionate every member of our team is about our mission. We've all had life-changing experiences abroad, and want to help young professionals gain a worldly perspective while enhancing their career path. We truly care about every single intern that goes through our program and are dedicated to finding the best possible match for them from pre-departure to when they're on the ground. I felt that myself as I was going through the Florence program, and was confirmed once I started working behind the scenes at GE.

I was especially proud of my team when we pledged to donate $20,000 every year in scholarships to interns. We want to make this experience accessible to as many students as possible, and to make this official was really exciting.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

I believe that the biggest factor in being a successful company is to value your customers and always put their best interests first. It's important to ask for their feedback, listen, and act on it. No one knows their customer journey better than they do. Using their data to create useful, personalized experiences for others is okay, but it's important not to abuse their data. A successful business starts and ends with valued customers.

Anna Gomez Pascarella

Location Coordinator

Alex Paisner

Location

Location:

Florence

Currency:

Euro

Weather:

Jan-Mar

61 F / 36 F

Apr-Jun

82 F / 45 F

Jul-Sep

90 F / 57 F

Oct-Dec

70 F / 37 F

Airports:

Aeroporto di Firenze-Peretola

( FLR )

Gelato festival is April should be enough to get your attention, but this won't be the only thing that keeps you coming back for more. Florence sits in the Tuscany region and is regarded for its artistic history and worldly views.

About AIFS Abroad

AIFS Abroad is a leading provider of study abroad programs. Since 1964, more than 1.5 million students have traveled abroad with AIFS Abroad. Comprehensive program fees make it convenient for students to study abroad and intern abroad to experience all that the world has to offer. Celebrating 60 years of service in 2024, AIFS Abroad has the...

Program Details

Pricing

Program Highlights

Florence Internship Examples 

Alumni Interviews

Marisa Singerman

Why did you decide to intern abroad with Global Experiences?

Did you run into a language barrier? Did you ever think you knew more/less of the language?

Do you feel you got a chance to see the city from a local's perspective?

What made this intern abroad experience unique and special?

Do you think your experience changed you as a person?

Staff Interviews

Lydia Theologus

What is your favorite travel memory?

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Florence Internship Examples