Program Reviews

I absolutely loved Art History Abroad. It was six weeks of learning about the most wonderful art, eating heavily food, and being with the best people. Being in Italy was amazing and it was a very lucky thing to be lead through it by the best tutors. I always felt very at home there because of that. There was a fabulous mix between hilarious evenings/ moments and wonderfully inspiring lessons. I feel I have learnt so much more about the world. I just loved it all and could not recommend it more.

From start to finish this is a unique and fantastic experience. The tutors are friendly and knowledgeable - supporting you every step of the way. This is a course for people who want to broaden their minds in the most beautiful of countries - La Bella Italia! The course and days are very well paced to enable you to soak up Italian life. From rowing gondolas in Venice to a private tour of the Vatican you will be amazed everyday. This experience made my gap year, I just wish I could do it again! Thank you AHA!

Words cannot accurately express how much I adored these weeks with AHA. I made lifelong friends that I will soon be traveling across seas to visit, vastly expanded my knowledge of the classical arts, truly learned to love and understand my authentic self, and ate some of the best food I have in years. Our lovely tutors became family--with them we were confident asking any kind of question about the imposing architecture or magnificent art, learned the most insanely unhinged historic stories, felt completely safe roaming the most vibrant streets of the world singing at the top of our lungs, and enjoyed good chats over dinner and endless laughter. This course has given me those wholly happy memories you can always look back on whenever the going might get tough, whilst also giving me that undeniable feeling that I am now ready to conquer the next stage of life.

I first travelled with AHA in 2020, having won a scholarship from their writing competition. Within the first few hours of meeting the students and tutors, we felt like a close-knit group of friends, excited to explore Italy together. AHA brings together kind, curious and creative people from all over the world. We learn from each other and challenge each other to see Italian culture in a new light. For instance, our head tutor Nick inspired us to sketch everything we saw, regardless of our artistic skill. The tutors are so knowledgeable and encouraging, so you never feel stupid asking questions. The highlight of every day is supper. The group gathers together to drink wine and enjoy Italy’s famous food. We freely drink and chat and laugh with tutors as well as students. I still keep in touch with many friends I met in Italy, through AHA. I left the trip feeling nourished by art history and confident in my academic potential. I hope you decide to go! I joined AHA again in 2020 and had an equally fun time with a different group.

Best AHA trip Ive taken by far. Felt like it lasted ages even though it was like a week and a half. Theo was amazing, he knew all the stuff, seems really smart, and it was awesome that it was just the two of us. He’s really engaging when he’s lessoning, and it felt special being in Berlin since he clearly loves that city. I also loved that in addition I was able to see Ed, Angie, and Holly in Naples, and Im so glad I got to teach a bit of the Museum. It was also cool being in Paris solo and exploring the city on my own. All of this combined, this was an amazing travel abroad experience overall, and I don't think I could make a better trip if I tried. Love u guys

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.