Location
  • Italy
    • Florence
    • Siena
Term
Academic Year, Fall, Spring, Summer
Subject Areas
Anthropology Archaeology Art History Arts Business Classical Studies Communications Economics Education English Environmental Studies European Studies Finance Food Science and Nutrition Gender Studies Global Studies History Humanities International Business International Relations Journalism Language Studies Liberal Arts Linguistics Literature Marketing Mathematics Medieval Studies Philosophy Political Science Psychology Public Relations Social Sciences Sociology Visual Arts +25
Need-based funding, Merit-based funding, General grants/scholarships, Payment plans, LGBTQIA+ funding, BIPOC funding
Health & Safety

Program Details

Program Type
Provider
Degree Level
Bachelors
Housing
Apartment Host Family
Language
Italian

Pricing

Price Details
The CET program fee covers tuition, housing in the city center, activities and excursions (day trips), medical insurance, and course materials/textbooks.

The program fee does not include transportation to/from Florence or Siena, visa fees, meals, homestay fees and a refundable housing deposit.

Still wondering how to budget for your time abroad? CET offers scholarships, and CET staff is happy to provide advice on keeping discretionary purchases to a minimum (i.e., they can tell you where to get cheap eats).
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Classes Wifi
What's Not Included
Airfare
Nov 21, 2023
Dec 18, 2023
31 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

CET Italy programs offer a culturally immersive experience with individual attention from professors and staff, first-rate academics, and the chance to embrace local culture. Choose from a wide variety of electives ranging from Marketing to Economics, Art History to Psychology. CET Florence and CET Siena both offer homestay options with local families, or the choice to live in an apartment with other CET students. Both of these programs offer wonderful cultural experiences such as cooking classes, museum visits, local engagement, and more!

Video and Photos

Diversity & Inclusion

BIPOC Support

CET believes in making study abroad accessible to students of all races, religions, origins, abilities, gender identities, and sexual orientations. We’ve gathered experiences from BIPOC students to share as resources such as the Identity Abroad pages, Perspective Pieces, and Identity Abroad Support Networks. We are also dedicated to becoming a more anti-racist organization by transforming our workplace, programs, and industry with our Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (JEDI) Action Plan.

LGBTQIA+ Support

CET supports and welcomes students of all identities on our programs. We provide program-specific information under the cultural climate section of our Identity Abroad webpages for LGBTQ individuals in each of our program locations.

Neurodivergent Support

CET makes every effort to offer accommodations comparable to that of the students’ home institution. Disclosing early helps us to make proper preparations. The accommodations offered at each program can be found on each program location's Identity Abroad page. These pages can provide a good idea about what classes are like in terms of workload and class time. Initiating one-on-one conversations with Student Service Coordinators can also help inform students' decisions and determine if a program will be a good fit.

Accessibility Support

CET makes every effort to offer accommodations comparable to that of the students’ home institution. The levels of accessibility, from wheelchair accessibility to extra time on exams, are under each program location’s Identity Abroad page. Initiating one-on-one conversations with Student Service Coordinators can help inform students' decisions and determine if a program will be a good fit.

Impact

Sustainability

CET is an environmentally conscientious organization at our headquarters in DC and programs all around the world. In each of our centers, we adopt local measures to reduce our carbon footprint and contribute to sustainable practices. As part of our ongoing efforts towards sustainability, we’ve partnered with Cool Effect, a nonprofit focused on reducing carbon emissions through scientifically-proven, hand-selected carbon projects worldwide. For each trip taken by one of our staff members, travelers, or students, we donate to support three carbon projects chosen by staff volunteers every year.

Ethical Impact

When we set up a program overseas, we become a part of that local community. And as a community member, we are responsible for contributing to local initiatives in meaningful ways. Our website lists some local philanthropic organizations that help us fulfill this responsibility—they host our students, and we support their missions.

Program Highlights

  • Academically engaging courses that suit a variety of majors
  • Group excursions around Italy
  • Out-of-classroom learning & assignments
  • Italian language classes
  • Live in the beautiful downtown areas of Florence or Siena: apartment or homestay options available

Popular Programs

View of Florence

Want to study in one of Italy's most beautiful and cosmopolitan cities? Looking to travel to a different European destination every weekend? The CET Florence program offers the chance to embrace Italian culture—you can visit the Gucci factory or learn from a Tuscan chef. Check off major requirements with classes like Cross-Cultural Psychology or International Marketing. Try something new with Renaissance Art and Architecture. The class meets at least half the time in a museum, church, or piazza!

Students in Siena

CET Siena is for those who want to dive in to the Italian lifestyle. Study Italian language and choose from a wide variety of electives. Visit a contrada to learn about the Palio horserace one day. Choose to live with local roommates or homestay. Students from all colleges and universities are welcome!

Scholarships

CET Academic Programs Scholarships

CET is a study abroad provider with locations in Brazil, China, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Italy, Jordan, and Taiwan.

CET offers scholarships and financial assistance for their high school abroad, gap year abroad, and college study abroad programs. Financial assistance and scholarships are need and merit based.

Upon applying to any CET program, you'll gain access to CET's scholarships application.

Value
$500 - $2,000

Program Reviews

4.75 Rating
based on 63 reviews
  • 5 rating 79.37%
  • 4 rating 15.87%
  • 3 rating 4.76%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Academics 3.75
  • Support 4.7
  • Fun 4.7
  • Housing 4.4
  • Safety 4.85
  • Growth 5
  • Support 5
  • Fun 5
  • Housing 5
  • Safety 5
Showing 9 - 16 of 63 reviews
Default avatar
May
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

CET Florence

This program is great if you want to see a lot of Florence. The classes take you to so many locations--I really feel like I saw all of the important Florence sites and was able to learn a lot about them from my professors. The program also had a lot of included extra activities like gelato tasting, a cooking class, a soccer game, and a pool day at a Tuscan villa.

Florence is a really great city as a study abroad students. There are so many students from US schools and it is really fun to meet them all. Traveling from the train station is so easy, too--pretty quick train ride to Rome, Milan, Pisa, and a lot of other great places, and easy to get to the airport. The week long fall break is great for seeing a lot of Europe.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Definitely sign up for the classes that have field trips--you will get to see all of the city this way. The Renaissance Art, Sketchbook Florence, and Food and Culture courses take you to a variety of museums, gardens, markets, and location around the city and you are able to learn a lot from the professors.
Pros
  • Activities
  • Housing location
  • Field trips in class
54 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Leydi
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My Home Away from Home

Studying abroad with CET Siena was the most rewarding experience of my life so far! As a first-generation & Latina student, imposter syndrome made the idea of studying abroad seem impossible but everyone at CET Siena made me feel so welcomed and like I finally belonged somewhere. The staff genuinely care about getting to know you and put in so much effort to make your stay as comfortable and fun as it can be, from choosing nice apartments to planning a fun and immersive weekend trip. The roommates are some of the best people I have ever met. The staff plan some great weekly bonding events that help immerse you in Italian culture, let you get to know them and your peers, and get you walking around the beautiful town and learn about all its unique history. They’re also a wonderful resource to help you practice Italian language!

In terms of academics, the professors are very receptive of your needs. The Italian course is very comprehensive and it makes learning and practicing Italian in Siena so much less scary. Class schedules are arranged so you have plenty of time in the day to explore the city, visit the biweekly market, and enjoy the amazing Tuscan sunsets (one of my favorite things to do during my time there). The workload is also pretty light overall so you can take weekend trips relatively stress-free. If you’re looking to improve your Italian skills, CET Siena is definitely your best choice. English isn’t spoken as commonly as in other Italian study abroad cities (Florence, Rome, etc.) so you really get to practice what you learn in the classroom! In my experience, the people of Siena are genuinely happy to hear people trying to speak Italian and are very kind even if you make some mistakes. As a Latina, you find so much in common with Italians and Italian culture that you can genuinely feel like you’re at home.

The experience wouldn’t be complete without the food and travel. Siena has some amazing restaurants and local shops that have some of the best foods I’ve ever tried (if you choose CET Siena you should definitely check out the Tea Room by Piazza del Mercato). CET Siena also sets up a cooking class activity where you learn to make your own pasta and sauces from scratch at an incredible restaurant — it was one of my favorite activities by far! Traveling around Italy is super accessible from Siena’s train station; I was able to visit six other cities in Italy and four other countries during my time abroad for a relatively low cost. Siena itself is a very walkable city with very pretty architecture, making your walks to class or the store more enjoyable.

One of my favorite aspects of the program is the opportunity to meet other students from different US universities. The people I studied abroad with are now some of my best friends and made learning Italian and exploring the country so much fun. Overall, my study abroad experience with CET Siena was one of the most memorable periods of my life so far and I would do it all again if given the chance!

Pros
  • Amazing staff & roommate group
  • Incredible food
  • Immersive cultural experience and language-learning opportunities
Cons
  • Limited class options (but staff definitely takes your needs into consideration!)
  • some very steep streets (on the bright side, you build stamina by the end of the semester!)
53 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Jenna
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

CET Florence

Before coming to Florence, I had only been to Europe once, to visit my brother when he was studying in Prague. I had a hazy expectation of what a semester abroad would entail -- likely getting familiar with a new city and people, lots of travel, new friends. All I can say is that CET Florence has exceeded every expectation, and truly clarified for me what it means when people say that study abroad changed their lives. While taking long weekends to travel throughout Europe is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, at the end of every travel experience, I am beyond excited to return to Florence, a place that I consider both a dream vacation destination and my home away from home. The food here is outrageously good, and I always get my steps in -- it is so easy to forget just how much walking you're doing when you're excited to turn every corner and explore a new street. CET has enabled me to make lifelong memories and friends in the most incredible place on earth.

Pros
  • City size: Small enough to be walkable and knowable, but big enough that there is always more to see
  • Incredible proximity by train to other stunning Italian cities, from Venice to Amalfi
  • Perfect combination of modernity and history
Cons
  • Airport access not fantastic. Generally we take a train to Bologna, Pisa, Milan, or Rome for easier airport access.
71 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Liana
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

CET Midyear in Florence

As a midyear student, I participated in the CET Florence Program during my very first semester of college. Everything about the experience of being abroad was brand new to me, but I was so ready to get going! I spent my semester studying in bars (the Italian word for a caffe), walking the city, attending classes at CET and traveling around Italy and Europe. There were a few parts of the program I found particularly challenging: first of all, the program is very small. If a cohort just doesn't click, it can be difficult to find close friends. That was my experience, and it pushed me to truly learn how to travel on my own and how to be productive and happy in my own routines. Second, the program is organized so that there is a 10 day fall break during which students are entirely responsible for figuring out travel plans. This was especially difficult for me because I did not find a group of friends I wanted to travel with, and my family did not come and visit. I also have never had experience planning my own trips before as a freshman in college. The CET staff are absolutely incredible whenever you need help academically or in terms of travel ideas and tips, so they were my primary resource for places to go and things to see! Some of my favorite parts of the CET experience included connecting with Florence through my Renaissance art history course, meeting Italian high school and university students, and enjoying some of the best food I have ever eaten during the Italian Food and Culture course. All in all, I came back to the states with more confidence and a stronger sense of independence than I knew I could have, some of the best travel stories and experiences ever, and I had fallen deeply in love with Florence.

What would you improve about this program?
I think that one way to improve CET Florence would be to, as part of the package, offer different travel options or suggestions to its students so that when the time comes to travel around Italy or Europe, students have a base of resources to refer to. There should be a list of sources given, long before students arrive in Florence, so that they can see what kinds of trips will be available for them to take (or not take!). For example, providing links to the websites for student study abroad tours (Smart Trip, Bus2Alps, etc.). This way, students can plan out their trips in advance, if they decide to, and can still have an easily accessible list of places to go and things to do if they find themselves stuck while abroad.
68 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Randall
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My Semester in Florence

My semester abroad was unique in that I was doing it my first semester of freshman year. This is not normally an experience that many have but my university offers it. I admit I was nervous going in but as soon as I arrived I began to relax. The friends that I met and the staff at CET made the program all the more enjoyable and safe and made me realize I had nothing to worry about. The classes are academically challenging but not overbearing and I was able to travel around Europe often while keeping up with my work. The staff at CET were very helpful in helping me to integrate into Italian society and made the whole experience that much smoother. I met many friends, both locals and other study abroad students alike, and I can definitely say one should not fear being isolated during an experience like this. This semester has easily been the highlight of my life so far, and even though it is not an easy thing to uproot one's life and live in another country, I would 100% recommend the CET program in Florence.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Make as many friends as possible and don't be afraid to challenge yourself.
69 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Estella
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

CET and NYFA Joint Program

Overall, I enjoyed my time in this program. Florence is a beautiful city and I’ve definitely gotten attached. The food was amazing, and nothing beats a cappuccino for €1 when you’re used to starbucks gouging you $5 for the same thing, but with subpar coffee. On the academic front, I found both my Italian classes and my film classes to be challenging. But the most challenging part of the program overall was the schedule. When NYFA classes began, i had class Monday-Friday from 9:30-6:30. In addition to the crazy fast deadlines for projects, this created some stress. However, it was worth it in the end. I learned so much about filmmaking and this course has helped me grow a lot as an artist. All of the faculty and staff on this program were so helpful in facilitating this growth. I do wish, though, that there had been more people in the program. It would have been nice to have more people to mingle with.

What would you improve about this program?
One thing that i would suggest to improve the program is making the schedule more reasonable. At NYFA I had class more hours than a full time job. Also there’s no way to get any absences waived for any reason. I also was initially forwarded a syllabus before beginning the program that led me to believe that in part of the course we would learn how to shoot on physical film and an entirely different digital camera, but that never happened.
70 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
jennifer
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

An unexpected surprise!

So a lot of people ask me why I chose to study abroad in Italy and honestly its a very boring answer... I just picked whatever program gave me what I needed in terms of credits. Which is super awesome that I can easily transfer my credits from CET to my current school but also I had no idea what to expect. I didn't speak a single word of Italian and knew absolutely nothing about the Italian culture. And now looking back, I feel so incredibly grateful to have been able to have this experience.

CET was the best choice for me because of my academic credits I was able to receive and also because of all the resources they provided for me. I took two classes there. One was an Italian Food and Culture class where we took field trips every week to a chocolate tasting, cooking class, wine tasting, olive oil vineyard, etc. It was just an amazing experience being able to do those things because it allowed me to further immerse myself in the Italian culture. And also, I probably would not have done those things on my own. I learned so much about the Italian culture and it was so great being able to live in their country and truly understand everything because of what I was learning in my class. The other class I took was a beginner Italian class and my teacher was one of the best people I met on my trip! She was like my second mom abroad.

The whole of CET staff while I was there was just so considerate and accommodating. They were there for you for anything! They truly understand the mindset of someone who is going abroad in a foreign country and won't hesitate to help you out with whatever you needed from restaurant recommendations, safety tips, and travel tips as well. They wanted me to make the most of everything there and I truly feel like I did because of their help.

The best part of my trip was the my apartment. It was so nice not having to deal with finding an apartment on my own. They worked out all those details and I also decided to go with random roommates within the program because I didn't know anyone else going abroad. The apartment was in a great location and very close to everything I needed. The best part about the apartment was how lucky I was to have met three other incredibly great friends! We travelled together every weekend, ate every meal together, and honestly just spent every second together.

I had no idea that when I went abroad I would get back such a rewarding experience. I honestly don't think it would have been the same if I had done a different program because they everyone at CET in Florence was so helpful and understanding. I think that's really important when you're deciding to do something you've never done before.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
If I could do it all over again, I would have chosen the spring semester instead of summer. It was too short!!!
83 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Yi-Chia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing and Unforgettable Semester in Florence

As an international student in US, I thought I already knew what it would be like to study abroad, but studying in Florence was a totally different and amazing experience! The balance between academic work and extracurricular activities was great. The professors were all so passionate. For my renaissance art history class, we went to different museums almost every week. For other class such as wine studies, we also had field trips to go to wineries, enoteche and restaurants. The courses were conducted in the way that students could learn the core materials from the everyday life, as well as learnt about the Italian culture.
The staffs on the program also gave me a lot of help. They also gave me a lot of good and valuable suggestions when I lived there. For example, once I was trying to get a second-hand guitar there. They searched online for me and wrote down how to get there with lots of details to make sure I would not get lost. I still remember they always greeted everyone warmly with smile and I still appreciate and miss them a lot!
The other part that I really enjoyed a lot was the home stay. I lived in a cute and great family. I was able to experience the local Italian people's life. Cooking with the family and talking with them about the life in school was very heartwarming. They also helped me connected to the neighborhood by introducing their friends to me. The days staying with them were probably one of the most important and memorable time in my life. And I can't wait to go back to see them.
CET Florence helped me broaden my view, make more new friend and I really enjoy my time studying there!

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would seize all the chance to speak and practice my Italian. I was too shy to talk to other people in Italian so i usually just talk to the waiters and the cashiers or other local people in English,,,
77 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers

Hi Kimberly, After you're accepted to CET Florence, we provide a packing guide resource on what to bring and what not to bring. Generally, you just need a laptop for coursework, clothes, and personal items. Your apartments are fully equipped with linens, blankets, pillows, towels, and kitchen equipment, so there's no need to bring any of these supplies from the US. Get in touch with us if you have...

The program had no classes that were specifically geared toward education, but the year I went (2014) we were all given the opportunity to teach English to Italian elementary school students. This would be great experience for a teaching major. Otherwise, the program was focused on Italian language, history, politics, art, and architecture. So humanities-based in general, which of course is great...