Location
  • Italy
    • Florence
    • Perugia
    • Sorrento
Term
Academic Year, Fall, Spring
Subject Areas
Architecture Art History Arts Communications Cultural Studies Design Digital Media Film Graphic Design History Interior Design International Relations Liberal Arts Literature Political Science Visual Arts Web Design +7

Program Details

Program Type
Provider
Degree Level
Bachelors
Housing
Apartment
Language
English

Pricing

Starting Price
0
Price Details
Visit our website for details on current program fees, along with what's included, estimates of additional expenses, and available scholarships.
What's Included
Accommodation Some Activities Classes Travel Insurance
What's Not Included
Activities Airfare Meals SIM cards Transportation Visa
Feb 09, 2023
Jun 11, 2018
6 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Arcadia offers semester and summer programs in Italy, in both Florence, Sorrento and Perugia, in conjunction with ISI Florence; ISI Perugia - The Umbra Institute; Sant' Anna Institute; and Accademia Italiana Florence. Students can study everything from Intensive Italian Language and Culture, to STEM, Food & Sustainability Studies, Fashion and Accessory Design, Archaeology, and more. From a hilltop university city to the world-renowned birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, Arcadia in Italy offers intentional, rigorous, and culturally enriching programming and co-curricular activities to help you integrate, innovate, and grow beyond your imagination.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Arcadia excursions enhance cultural immersion and provide meaningful context
  • Courses are offered in English
  • Italian language is offered at all levels, from absolute beginner to advanced
  • Warm, friendly, and knowledgeable staff are available to assist
  • Wide range of subject areas from which to choose

Popular Programs

Florence, Italy

International Studies Institute Florence (ISI) is located in the heart of Florence and situated in two historic palazzi. ISI offers a range of programs in Architecture, Food Studies, Art History, Italian Culture, Interior Design, STEM, Fashion, Psychology, Studio Art, and more. The program is a truly unique educational experience which uses this Renaissance jewel of a city as your classroom and laboratory.

Florence, Italy

The ISI Florence Summer Program is an unparalleled opportunity to spend six weeks in this beautiful Renaissance city, which is utilizes as part of your classroom experience. Co-curricular activities are featured as a component of each course. You can earn up to six credits studying subjects such as Culture Studies, Art History, Media, Food Studies, History, Sport and Culture, Political Science, Italian Language, Studio Art, and more.

Perugia, Italy

ISI Perugia -The Umbra Institute, located on Perugia’s main piazza, adjacent to the duomo, is the only year-round independent American institute based in Perugia. The Institute maximizes the resources of its surroundings, by infusing community engagement and experiential learning into all of its programming.
As a student at ISI Perugia, you’ll take courses which connect you to the surrounding community and foster a genuine Italian experience.

Perugia, Italy

Summer at ISI Perugia - The Umbra Institute provides an exciting opportunity to take courses in Italian Language and Culture and enjoy all that this unique region of Italy has to offer.
You’ll take one or two courses exploring Italian language, culture and history. There are no Italian language proficiency requirements to enroll. There are a wide variety of courses from which to choose, ranging from art history and performing arts, to literature and political science.

Perugia, Italy

Study Italian language and culture this summer! This summer Italian Immersion Program is a special opportunity provided by ISI Perugia - The Umbra Institute over six weeks, which provides the equivalent of two semesters of Italian language and culture studies (eight credits). The program is a blend of in-class and interactive co-curricular components, many of which are with Italian students, and include workshops, museum visits, social events, and guided tours.

Perugia, Italy

Study Italian at any level - from absolute beginner to advanced - at one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions of Italian language instruction in Italy. This Direct Enrollment Program is a partnership between ISI Perugia - The Umbra Institute and the Università per Stranieri (University for Foreigners).
Coursework may consist of studying Italian language exclusively, or a combination of Italian language and literature, art, history, and culture at the advanced levels.

ponte vecchio

You'll study with Arcadia at Accademia Italiana Florence, one of the leading fashion design and art schools in Europe. Courses range from graphics to textiles to design and fashion and culture. Your setting is two beautiful renaissance buildings directly across from the famous Pitti Palace in Florence's Oltrarno district, just steps away from the Ponte Vecchio. This unique and innovative program option will excite, motivate, and inspire you at every turn.

Perugia, Italy

An exclusive six-week opportunity to be part of the excavation of the newly discovered ruins of a Roman villa in Castiglione del Lago on the shores of Lake Trasimeno between Umbria and Tuscany. Sponsored by ISI Perugia - The Umbra Institute, this hands-on program uncovers fascinating history and allows you to participate both in the fieldwork and in co-curricular components that enhance and enrich your program experience. Coursework consists of two modules, one theoretical and one practical.

Perugia, Italy

The Università degli Studi di Perugia, founded in 1308, is one of Italy’s oldest universities, offering a diverse and multicultural environment with a commitment to innovative programming.
This program gives you an immersive experience alongside Italian and international students, while allowing you to build your Italian language skills, and to benefit from all the student welfare services and cultural programming offered by the Umbra Institute.

Scholarships

Arcadia Abroad Scholarships & Financial Aid

Arcadia Abroad Offers Need-Based Scholarships
Did you know that Arcadia Abroad provides financial aid to around 70% of students who apply for it? The scholarships are open to all current Arcadia Abroad applicants. Arcadia Abroad values equity, diversity, and inclusivity when awarding scholarships. Students who apply for scholarships will have the opportunity to write a 300-word essay. The deadline for applications is ongoing, so apply today!

Value
$500 - $2,500

Program Reviews

4.86 Rating
based on 14 reviews
  • 5 rating 85.71%
  • 4 rating 14.29%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Academics 3.65
  • Support 4.3
  • Fun 4.6
  • Housing 4.65
  • Safety 4.75
Showing 1 - 8 of 14 reviews
Default avatar
Alexandra
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Greatest Study Program

You're studying food in Italy in a historical city. You get to live in an apartment and make your place your home. The program is filled with awesome field trips, workshops, and tastings! Worth every penny and the memories you make are priceless! Highly recommend this program especially if you are majoring in either. Even if you're not, these courses are insightful and fun! The anthropology class is highly recommendable with full dinners every so often. Overall this program is fantastic whether this is your first time abroad or not.

What would you improve about this program?
Keep the fieldtrips!
90 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Paige
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Dreaming of Italy

I absolutely loved every part of studying abroad in Perugia. It was amazing to get to live in a very real part of Italy where tourists were few and far between and you could get to know your local shop owner. I wish I could be back there now eating at my favorite restaurants and having an afternoon gelato. The city of Perugia is absolutely beautiful and filled with so much history, I loved walking around in the afternoon and exploring all it had to offer.
My classes at the Umbra Institute were also incredible. I learned so much about Italian history and culture, wine, sustainability and even felt comfortable speaking Italian before I left.
I highly recommend this program to anyone who wants an authentic Italian experience and is passionate about food. I wish I were there now!

89 people found this review helpful.
Response from Arcadia Abroad

We are thrilled to hear you had a lovely time in Italy.

Default avatar
Anna
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Charming City, Delicious Food, Some Downsides

The best part of Umbra's program in Perugia is the city itself. It's beautiful, charming and historical but isn't dangerous like bigger Italian cities can be. By the end of my four months, I was recognizing different people on the streets. The program itself is great, with one of the highlights being the weekly, hour-long tandems to improve our Italian and also make friends. One of the downsides washow late some of the cultural immersion programs startes and a lack of clarity about the language levels that were offered. Overall, I loved my time here and all the opportunities to connect with the community that Umbra offered.

What would you improve about this program?
IHonestly, the program was great but
I definitely wish there had been more preparing of food in my History of Food and Culture class.
95 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Melissa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Wish I could go back....

Ever since I heard that studying abroad was an option I had my heart set on Italy. It didn’t really matter where exactly in Italy, just as long as I was there. When I first met with my advisor we went over the different programs and I began looking at pictures of the town I had chosen. I had no idea at the time how much that city would come to mean to me. I studied in a small town called Perugia, which is located between Florence and Rome in the region of Umbria which borders Tuscany. Little did I know, this would turn out to be the perfect city to call home for a semester. We all quickly fell in love with this town because of its small size and large student population, both local and international. My friends and I quickly adapted to the Italian lifestyle and met for a cup of coffee every morning before class and would attempt to use our broken Italian as we built relationships with the locals. The first class every morning was our Italian class, then we would all meet for lunch on the steps of the center of town. After lunch we attended our other classes, which all had an aspect of community involvement. Luckily we only had class Monday through Thursday which left us a long weekend to explore. Some weekends we would stay in town and walk around and really get to know the city we were living in. Other weekends we would take the train and visit other cities. I got to visit Venice for Carnival; I saw Florence in spring and stopped in Bologna for a daytrip. In addition we got to see the Amalfi coast and swim and cliff dive in Capri. I visited the Vatican while we were exploring Rome and explored countless cities during my semester abroad. Living in Italy was an unforgettable and life changing experience which not only broadened my worldview but also deepened my love of cultures and languages.

What would you improve about this program?
I would change the length. I wish the semester had been longer.
86 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Rebecca
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE

Every morning, I would wake up to a beautiful view and there was always ongoing action. Perugia is a beautiful and quaint city that is perfect for college students to immerse themselves in the culture and feel safe at any time.

87 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Emily
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing Experience

Studying abroad in Florence, Italy was the best experience in my life. From living so close to the Duomo, being able to walk to my school and experience the culture firsthand was amazing. I felt extremely safe as I would always travel in groups, and the staff provided us with many useful tips on how to get around. I would wake up in the morning, go to the local bakery outside my apartment to get an espresso, walk to school, complete my classes, and walk home and cook dinner with my friends. At night, we would often go out to the clubs. Florence had an amazing social scene. As for school, my teachers all were extremely nice and helpful and seemed to care about they students. I would study abroad again in one second.

What would you improve about this program?
The only thing I would change about this program would be the various spread out locations of the living spaces. We all lived very spread out and sometimes it would be hard to meet up if it was late at night and someone lived alone.
70 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Cassandra
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Living in Florence

In September of 2013, I landed in Florence and did a full academic year at Accademia Italiana. Being a fashion major, this was an amazing fit for me personally but I was also able to connect with students from a diverse range of concentrations, including graphic design, interior design, and art history. I never realized how fully I had immersed into my life in Italy until a comment from my wonderful Pattern Drafting professor caught my attention. She responded to a request for me to move my seat by saying: "But she always sits there!" Having been there only one semester, I was already a fixture in university life and always found the staff welcoming and helpful.

In addition to their great art and design courses, Accademia Italiana offers Italian language courses to all of its students. I've studied Italian since high school and this was an amazing chance for me to practice
my skills and really dive into learning conversational Italian. Though my speech still isn't perfect, after spending a year in Florence I can understand almost everything I hear, which is a huge improvement from how I was when I landed. Accademia also offers separate weekend trips that are free for students and go to different cities including Rome, Sorrento, Siena, and more; independent travel is also extremely easy to organize.

Summing up an entire year of living in Florence is incredibly hard to do. All in all, Arcadia and Accademia Italiana gave me the opportunity to really establish a life abroad. I was not simply a student going overseas to party and mingle only with other American students, I became a resident in Florence and learned more about the city and its culture than I ever expected and made lasting friendships that are still going strong almost another year later.

What would you improve about this program?
Every opportunity is what you make of it, so educating yourself about a host country before going abroad is essential. My only advice is to keep in mind that Accademia Italiana is a renowned design school with locations in Florence and Rome. A simple Google search will tell you this and it probably isn’t the best choice for students outside of the fields of art and design.

Also, though travel within Europe is considerably cheaper than if you were coming from the U.S., traveling across countries is still quite expensive and I found that the idea of taking multiple weekend excursions all over Europe was unrealistic on a student budget.
68 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Casey
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Accademia Italiana!

The program at Accademia Italiana, Florence was wonderful. I was a junior in college when I decided to study abroad so I didn't have enough classes available to take a full semester, I did however get to take this shorter two month program. It is shorter than the full semester programs but the staff made sure to pack in so many wonderful experiences. Traveling as a group, and visiting local restaurants and sights, the staff made sure we were safe and having a great time. Since it was a summer program we were allotted a great amount of free time to travel around europe, the staff was always willing to help us arrange trips and give us tips and resources. As an art student with a minor in art history my favorite part was my art history class. Although our class was solely focused on Michelangelo our teacher took the opportunity to take us to a ton of museums and show us all of the important pieces central to florence and italy as a whole. This was a life changing experience I loved every second of it!

What would you improve about this program?
I think that I would make the housing situation a little more evenly distributed. I loved my roommates and still stay in contact with them but from talking to others I found that they were all piled in a house and then others only had two roommates compared to seven.
74 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers