Location
  • Italy
    • Florence
    • Rome
    • Sorrento
Term
Academic Year, Fall, Spring
Subject Areas
Advertising Architecture Art History Arts Business Classical Studies Communications Cultural Studies Design Digital Media Entrepreneurship European Studies Fashion Design Film Finance Food Science and Nutrition Gender Studies Global Studies History Hospitality Human Rights Interior Design International Business International Relations Language Studies Liberal Arts Literature Marketing Natural Sciences Political Science Public Relations Religious Studies Social Sciences Tourism Visual Arts +25

Program Details

Program Type
Provider
Degree Level
Bachelors
Housing
Apartment Dormitory
Language
Italian

Pricing

Starting Price
15990
Price Details
Price may be an estimate, the lower end of a range, accurate for just one program listed here, or from a previous term. Please see our website and specific program pages for accurate costs.
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Classes Wifi
What's Included (Extra)

Please see our website for all that's included.

May 02, 2023
Feb 21, 2024
22 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Italy offers everything you could ever want for a rewarding study abroad experience: a great climate, rich culture, impressive art, tasty cuisine, and so much more! Be more than just one of the millions of tourists in Italy when you go with CIS Abroad, as you’ll have the chance to get off the beaten track with our staff’s guidance. Choose from programs in Rome, Italy's capital; Florence, the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance; or on the colorful Amalfi Coast in quaint Sorrento. All options offer exceptional support, incredible activities, and course options for a wide range of majors. The host institutions range from large, English-speaking universities to small study centers focused on language and culture.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Variety of amazing host cities and academic institutions
  • Courses in English and Italian language at all levels
  • Local cultural activities and excursions
  • Exceptional staff support
  • Small classes with students from the US, Italy, and around the world

Popular Programs

Sorrento, Italy

Study at the Sant’Anna Institute, home to an international community that promotes experiential learning and cross-cultural exploration between faculty, staff, and students. The school sits high atop the cliffs near the colorful Amalfi Coast, overlooking the fishing village of Marina Grande, just a short walk from the café-lined city center where they’ll start to learn your name.

CIS Abroad Semester in Florence - Florence University of the Arts

Live like a local in one of the world’s most popular and timeless destinations. Hit the ground running by participating in a one-week, three-credit traveling Cultural Introduction to Italy course, connecting you with your fellow program participants and your new home country! Study alongside other study abroad students just as excited to experience Italy as you are at Florence University of the Arts, situated throughout downtown Florence.

CIS Abroad Semester in Rome at American University of Rome

Enjoy the services and comforts of a U.S.-style university situated on top of Rome's highest hill in the desirable Trastevere district! You'll study alongside Americans, local Italian students, and other international students from over 40 countries. An active campus social life, immersive cultural activities, and expert staff will help you make the most of every moment.

semester on the italian coast study + intern

Live, study and work on the Amalfi coast in southwestern Italy! Develop your professional skill sets in your field of study, boost your resume, gain practical work experience, and connect with the local community. Choose from unique courses instructed in English, many of which have a local focus (think: History of Italian Food and Culture). With a designated Internship Coordinator and guided reflection along the way, you are sure to progress in your field and future career path.

Scholarships

CISabroad Scholarships

CISabroad Scholarships and Financial Aid

70% of all CISabroad students receive scholarships, grants, or discounts to study abroad. We're unapologetically committed to increasing access to international education for all students.

Value
$250 - $500

Program Reviews

4.81 Rating
based on 47 reviews
  • 5 rating 80.85%
  • 4 rating 19.15%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Academics 3.85
  • Support 4.6
  • Fun 4.55
  • Housing 4.35
  • Safety 4.75
Showing 1 - 8 of 47 reviews
Default avatar
Tara
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Fall in Florence

I spent the fall semester of my senior year with CIS Abroad in Florence, Italy. I had a fantastic time and would go back again in a heartbeat. I only took gen-eds, so my coursework was pretty light but I really enjoyed the "walking" classes that focused on seeing different parts of the city through an academic lens. The city is incredibly walkable, and you can find just about anything you need on the same block as you live. I stayed in the Social Hub, a hotel that hosts long-term students. I liked it because of security, utilities, and kitchenware was all provided. There is a restaurant in the hotel that you can get a prepaid meal plan for, but there is also kitchen space if you are more of a cook. Groceries were very inexpensive, so it was easy to get by without being an extraordinary cook. The hotel was also only a 10/15 minute walk from the train station, which made it super easy to travel on the weekends. The on-site staff were super responsive to outreach and had all of the resources you could possibly need.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
CIS provides a lot of spontaneous events and excursions. I highly suggest going to as many as you can as it often involves trying some yummy food! They tell you when/where to show up and everything is included. I was able to go to the Opera because of Romina and Martina!
Pros
  • Attentive and engaging on-site staff
  • Prime housing location and ammenities
Cons
  • very strict attendance policy for class, only 1 excused absence before impact on grade 4=fail
  • Social Hub sometimes hard to find privacy, especially if not besties with your roomate
3 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Lilyana
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Wish I could have stayed longer!

I spent the January Term in Sorrento, Italy in 2023. This by far was my best experience in college! I was able to explore so many different parts of Italy, such as Rome or Positano. I also was able to attend beer tastings, cooking classes, & more. I met a couple friends on my trip that I still keep in touch with as well. There was no problems with transportations, safety, etc. I even had a counselor on site in Sorrento, Italy who I could get in touch with easily to ask questions or voice concerns. I truly loved my experience with CIS, & even decided to pick up an "International Business" minor at my college once I returned. If you're thinking about studying abroad, GO!

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
Most neve-racking moment for me was the bus trip to Positano! The road are so narrow & windy compared to roads in the USA. I overcame it by reminding myself roads like these are normal in Italian culture & if they were not safe, this destination wouldn't be so popular.
Pros
  • Experiencing another culture
  • Learning a new language
  • Meeting locals
Cons
  • Only stayed for less than a month, wish it was longer
  • A majority of bars & restaurants are closed in January in Sorrento, Italy
7 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Sophia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Fall in Firenze

Florence Italy is a beautiful city full of life and wonderful people. It is a melting pot of other cultures and is the perfect place to meet people from all over the world. Not only did I spend four months diving into the rich art and life-changing food, but I also had the chance to experience life in a walkable city full of history. Florence is also the perfect location to be able to travel to other cities in Italy such as Pisa, Bologna, Roma, Milano, etc. Living so close to the Santa Maria Novella made it so you could hop on the train and make your way over to another beautiful city and their own unique culture. And being a tram ride away from the Peretola Aeroporto made it so we could fly to the other surrounding countries, for example, a trip to Germany!
I stayed in the Social Hub Firenze, where although we had a few struggles with laundry and hotel staff, we had some pretty amazing opportunities. We had access to a rooftop pool and bar with a beautiful view of the Duomo, our kitchen manager Valentina was there to teach us authentic recipes, and access to a dining plan where we could have lunch or dinner and an amazing spread for breakfast, and some amazing events such as Vintage Pop-Up markets and art installations.
I would choose CIS Abroad over and over again if I had to redo my study abroad experience. Our program staff that were in Florence with us, Martina and Romina, were amazing. Not only did they create amazing and unique trips for us to go on as a program, but they also were there to listen to us and consider our ideas. They went above and beyond to make sure that we were comfortable in our living situations at The Social Hub Firenze, and when we were struggling they were right there with us trying to find a solution.
They also made sure we were equipped with a full guide to the city with food, shopping, and museum recommendations, making sure we stayed away from the blue and yellow ATMs! It meant a lot to me and the friends that I made in my program that we had people who were in our corner and wanted to make sure that we could make the most of our trip.
I can't think of any way that my trip abroad could have been more life-changing or life-fulfilling, and I recommend CIS Abroad to anyone interested in studying abroad.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
When my flight home from Florence was cancelled I was unsure if I would be able to get home. I met with our program staff Romina who got into contact with the CIS home office and made sure the airline could get me my flight back home for the move-out date. They went above and beyond for me!
Pros
  • Beautiful art and history
  • Amazing and unique cuisine
  • Fun and safe nightlife with a lot of options
7 people found this review helpful.
My first visit to Pompeii
Alissa
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Sorrento: A small town with delicious food, breathtaking scenery, and rich culture

The town of Sorrento was a beautiful place to spend 4 months abroad. Classes at Sant'Anna Institute were relatively easy with little homework, but all had strict attendance policies. I loved waking up every morning to the view of the ocean and fishing boats in Marina Grande. However, the dorms were messy aside from the weekly cleaning and linen change from the staff. Nonetheless, I made lifelong friends with students and locals, especially at Orbit where I got my daily boba tea just to chat with the owners. The CIS director hosted many delicious meals at local restaurants and took us on several excursions both in and out of Sorrento to show us even more Italian culture. The support from CIS Abroad made my first time outside of the United States comfortable and enjoyable.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
Originally, I was terrified to stay with a host family (and chose not to) because I didn't know a word of Italian and it was my first time outside the United States. After arriving in Sorrento, I realized that it is such a small community with kind locals. Staying with a host family would have given me a view into the customs. It would have been amazing to learn family recipes with local ingredients and find the local hidden gems. Pretty much everyone I met was incredibly kind and I never had anything to be afraid of in Sorrento.
Pros
  • Delicious and Fresh Food
  • Beautiful Scenery
  • Engaging Activities
Cons
  • Strict Academic Policies
  • Poor Dorm Environment
  • Small Town/ limited social scene (bars, clubs, shopping, etc...)
7 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Kaitlyn
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Semester On the Italian Coast: Sorrento

I studied abroad at Sant'Anna Institute in Sorrento, Italy for the spring semester! I didn't know anyone else going and was very nervous about making friends and moving to another country I wasn't familiar with and couldn't speak the local language. CIS abroad was more than amazing at making sure every question I had was answered and set me up with support systems both abroad and at home before I even left. They helped me feel prepared and confident I would succeed abroad despite my many concerns. Once on site, the staff at Sant'Anna was also amazing at helping everyone adjust to the Italian lifestyle and learn the differences between Italian and American culture. The school also hosted events to help students get to know each other like cooking classes, guided hikes, movie nights etc. All of the classes were taught in english and the professors wanted to see you suceed. The class schedule was also designed to give students the opportunity to travel on weekends. Sorrento was also an ideal location; it was a small town so the experience was more personable, and less overwhelming for me than living in one of the larger cities. My experience was filled with adventures, new friendships, good food, and memories that will last a lifetime.

Pros
  • Easy to communicate with locals in English (and become friends with them)
  • Small and very safe town
  • Proximity to Positano and the rest of the Amalfi coast
Cons
  • Sorrento's shops were closed for January and most of February; very quiet
  • limited classes to choose from
77 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Grace
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best Experience Ever

I went to Italy through CIS Abroad's spring semester in Florence program and I am going to talk about it for the rest of my life :) Since returning home a few months ago, I've been thinking about going back almost every single day- it was quite literally the best four months of my life. Romina, the CIS on-site director, was a huge help throughout the entire semester as she was always available to talk and even planned numerous fun events for CIS students. When I got COVID halfway through the semester, she helped me in finding a doctor as well as a good place to quarantine. I can't imagine someone more qualified to do her job- she's the BEST. Overall, I recommend going to study in Italy through CIS as they're very organized, helpful, and responsive.

Pros
  • Good housing
  • Pre-departure support as well as on-site support
  • I strongly believe Florence is the best place to study abroad :D
74 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Lauren
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Sorrento with CIS abroad

I had the BEST time spending the spring semester 2022 in Sorrento, Italy. I learned Italian, made wonderful friends, and went on amazing adventures. CIS really helped with getting the study visa and any covid related questions before I left. I would ABSOLUTELY recommend this program! The food in Sorrento is incredible and the people are very personable. Take the time to introduce yourself to the locals and they will remember your name. Everyone was placed in accommodations walking distance from the school and the school had an amazing ocean view!

Pros
  • Walkable city
  • Safe
  • Good food
Cons
  • Unreliable transportation
  • Far from airport
80 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Mabel
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Abroad In Florence, IT during a Pandemic

This experience was amazing as a junior psychology major from Massachusetts. I have been to China and Canada but I have never been to Italy and I am so happy and lucky that I was able to go, even though it was during peak pandemic. My program did its absolute best to provide all the could during this really tough time when a lot of places were closed. I was able to travel throughout Italy, go to Capri, museums, cities, countrysides, and it was all equally as beautiful no matter where I went. If you're going to go abroad definitely use CIS!

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
When I came down with COVID while in Florence, I found out that the rules with quarantine are much different than here in the US. CisAbroad helped me so much through my 25 day quarantine process. Though it was very hard, but they helped me communicate with health care professionals, my school, and clarify much needed information. (as well as giving me a get well care package!)
101 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers