Art History Abroad

I would definitely recommend this course to anyone who fancies learning about art, whether you’re a complete beginner or have studied Art History before! The tutors were amazing and I made some very close friends!
You shouldn’t worry if you’re a solo traveller - everyone in my group had joined on their own and it encourages you to make new friends! This was one of my favourite trips on my gap year as you get to explore such a wide variety of art (sculpture, buildings, paintings etc.) with unique perspectives from passionate tutors.

AHA was one of the best travelling experiences I have ever had and I recommend it to any gap year student who is willing to give it a go. The trip gave me access to so many places and opportunities I wouldn’t have thought to try and each one was as enriching as the last. The tutorials were fascinating and the small group size meant the support felt very personal and safe. A few cons would be the expense extra to the initial cost that covers food etc. I also think the course could’ve included more foodie aspects. Additionally, although I was grateful for the packed schedule, there were little rest days which meant exhaustion hit quite hard sometimes. You also get very little alone time. Overall it was an incredible opportunity I would recommend to anyone. Met some of my best friends on this course.

Going on AHA was the best decision I made during my gap year. The tutors are so wonderful and the teaching was really engaging and interesting. I still can’t believe that we had a private tour of the Vatican and Saint Mark’s Basilica. It was really a once in a lifetime experience.

Some people had studied art history before, some hadn’t, but I think being with a group of people with similar interests really helped us to bond. I was quite nervous at first, especially when committing to a 6 week course with a bunch of strangers, but the way that the course is designed meant we all got to know each other very quickly and it didn’t take long to feel comfortable around one another. I have made some of my best friends for life, who I still talk to every day. Do this programme, you will not regret it!!!!

AHA is the one gap year program that truly allows students to immerse in culture and learn powerful lessons in history and life. Tutors form real, lasting connections with both students and the history being taught. I did AHA the fall semester of my gap year in 2021 and know the friendships I made will last me through life. The program completely changed me. I met some of the most influential people in the field of art history, saw history in a way I never could have previously, and was allowed to experience the true culture of every place we traveled to. I saw the Sistine chapel completely empty at 6 in the morning, ate incredible meals in a small vineyard outside of San Gimignano, saw the ceiling of San Marco Basilica light up at night, and shared unforgettable conversation with friends and locals. I’m left with friends who are family, tutors I can always reach out to, and a confidence that only could have been drawn from living the way I did. The people involved with AHA are wonderfully unique and intelligent individuals, and any person willing to be open to the full experience will grow.

It is challenging to articulate the extent to which Art History Abroad shaped my gap year and the time after it. If you are ready to absorb as much knowledge, culture, and joy as possible, Art History Abroad is the program for you. The tutors are excited about their disciplines and even more excited to share it with the students. The friends I’ve made are still some of my closest friends, and hold such a special place in my life. From private tours of galleries in London, sketching in the hilly landscape of Tuscany, and spending days walking through Rome’s history-steeped streets, it is truly an experience to treasure for a lifetime.