Italian Language in Florence, Italy

Program Overview

Want to brush up on your Italian? You’ll have the opportunity to choose from a variety of Italian language courses offered at a range of levels. Upon arrival you will be immersed immediately into the Florentine culture. You will have the opportunity for plenty of activities to keep you busy such as city tours, group outings to places around Florence such as galleries, restaurants and more in this Renaissance city.

The perfect city – As a medium-sized city, it won’t take you more than a few days to learn your way around and with so much packed in, there is plenty to keep you occupied during your stay! Make sure to check out the historic city centre, outlying towns and the beautiful snowcapped Apennine Mountains.

Your one-stop shop – Why not take a quick trip to Rome, Venice or Milan? Or perhaps a weekend away to Paris, London or Prague? You’ll be surprised at how affordable European airfares are once you arrive.

Genuine Tuscan food – Everywhere you look you will see and smell local, family-owned cafes and restaurants offering the very best of Italian cuisine. Pasta, pizza, tiramisu and local red wine – life won’t get any better!

Location, location, location – During your Italian Language in Florence program, you will be based in close proximity to neighbouring European countries. Fancy a quick getaway to Spain or France for some cheese and baguette, or maybe a long weekend swimming in Santorini? Or perhaps a weekend away to Paris, London or Prague? You’ll be surprised at how affordable European airfares are once you arrive.

An art lover’s paradise – View famous masterpieces in museums such as the Uffizi Gallery, then purchase your own treasure from a local street artist. You can also choose to take art classes such as photography and painting.

History brought to life – If you’ve heard of the Medici family, you will know that Florence is the best city in the world to discover their history. Spend the morning listening to a class lecture on the powerful Medici family, then walk just minutes from campus to see where the family lived during the Renaissance.

Highlights

We know you’re going to love our Italian Language in Florence, Italy program. A few highlights include:

• With many language programs for you to choose from, you can pick your own adventure!
• Courses are taught in English, or in full Italian for more advanced speakers
• Local English-speaking support staff
• Smaller class sizes of 8 to 25 students mean you will receive personalised teaching and close attention from the academic team
• Numerous options for experiencing the city’s music, art, dance, food and more!
• Cook for yourself in your apartment or enjoy food from the local market and many restaurants
• Vibrant campus life with fully equipped gym, library and internet access
• Everything you could ever need or want is within walking distance of the city centre
• Enjoy a social calendar full of exciting cultural activities – some activities you may choose to do include aperitivo in the piazza, exploring Florence’s local boutique and markets, wine tasting at nearby wineries, art galleries, music events… the list is endless!
• World-class location – it’s a tourist’s dream destination and you will be living the authentic Italian lifestyle
• Organised accommodation with fellow international students – immediate friends!

Choose Your Course

Italian language courses are offered at Florence University of the Arts (FUA). Programs are available in January and between May and July each year.

Course Load: Take 1 or 2 courses (equivalent to 1 or 2 full-time academic courses in Australia)

• Depending on your Australian university, “courses” may be referred to as “subjects” or “units”.
• Each course/subject/unit you undertake on a CISaustralia program is designed to be a full-time, semester course that has been condensed to fit into an intensive, short-term program. As such, for any 1 course you study abroad, you should receive the credit points for 1 full-time course/subject/unit at your Australian university.
• Many universities work off of a 1-for-1 equivalency (1 course abroad = 1 course in Australia), but ultimately credit approval is the decision of your faculty and Australian university.
• CISaustralia strongly recommends that you have any overseas courses pre-approved for academic credit before you depart for your program. Some documentation that may be useful are the course outline/syllabus, program overview and the contact hours.
• Although you will only take 1-2 classes during the program, it is best to get 3-4 courses approved by your home university in Australia before you go to Italy. This gives you some flexibility in setting up your class schedule and allows you to easily switch courses if needed once you get on-site. Why not consider opting for an interesting elective if your degree allows?
• Please be aware that the courses listed below are subject to change and cannot be guaranteed year on year.
• Your CISaustralia Program Advisor can assist with any questions or details your university needs to make a decision.

How to Choose Your Course(s): This is the fun part. As part of the application process you will complete a CISaustralia Course Selection Worksheet. The following instructions will guide you through the steps in choosing your courses.

Academic Requirements: To qualify for this program, students must be in good academic standing with a GPA of 4.5 (out of 7) or equivalent. If your current GPA falls below the requirement, you may still be considered for the program but will need to be prepared to provide supporting documentation. Please contact us to discuss your situation and we will work with you to help find another suitable program if required.

Course Descriptions:

COVID Safe Travel

The health and safety of our students is our highest priority. We take our duty of care for our students, their families and our Australian University partners seriously. For all of our program locations, we have developed a site-specific COVID-19 risk matrix and risk management and emergency response plans so that health and safety response protocols are monitored, managed and communicated.

In preparation for your overseas program, it’s important that you carefully read and understand information related to COVID-19 Travel Safety and Insurance Requirements.

CISaustralia monitors Smartraveller and reliable news feeds to keep up to date with the latest COVID information and any associated travel restrictions and entry requirements for all destinations where we have programs. Due to the constantly evolving COVID-19 situation, Government travel advice can change quickly. For the most up to date information on Italy, visit the Smartraveller website.

Excursions

Included in the program is a Farewell Aperitivo with your Site Director, which includes two beverages and finger foods. During your program you will also enjoy one (1) cultural excursion. The excursion may vary from year to year, but please see a few previous examples below:

• Arno River boat tour with Aperitivo
• Gelato tasting tour

Outside of planned activities, you will also have the opportunity to discover some of Italy’s most spectacular cities and attractions. Below are a few of the many places you might like to visit and activities to undertake during your free time (at own expense) in Florence:

• The Duomo, Florence’s famous cathedral dome, dominates the skyline of Florence
• Uffizi Gallery houses some of the most important works of the Renaissance
• The Accademia houses Michelangelo’s David, one of the most famous sculptures in the world
• The Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) connects the Uffizi to Palazzo Pitti
• Santa Maria Novella Church, Tuscany’s most important Gothic church
• Piazza della Signoria, the Political Heart of Florence

The CISaustralia Site Director in Florence can also provide participants with any assistance or advice regarding local cultural and tourist activities.

Location

As a medium-sized city, it won’t take you more than a few days to learn your way around but with so much to do, your time will go quickly. With so much to see like the countless museums, galleries, shops and plazas we know you’re going to love your stay in Florence. Make sure to check out the historic city centre, outlying towns and the beautiful snowcapped Apennine Mountains.

Florence is the capital of the charming Tuscan region in Italy and has a population of around 400,000 people. Although a famous tourist destination, Florentines (locals) know where to find the best osterias (restaurants), boutiques and stores which are often hidden away from the tourist crowds.

Geographically, Italy is located in south central Europe, close to neighbouring countries such as France, Greece and Spain – it’s a traveller’s delight. Italy is shaped like a high-heeled boot kicking a triangle, which is the island of Sicily.

Italy borders France, Austria and Switzerland to the north and also borders Slovenia along the Alps. The islands of Sicily and Sardinia also form part of the country.

The University

Your Italian Language in Florence program will be hosted at the Florence University of the Arts (FUA-AUF).

The University is located in the heart of this magical city so you will have easy, walking accessibility to some of the country’s most famous tourist attractions. The Ponte Vecchio and the Basilica of Santa Croce are just minutes from the campus!

FUA-AUF’s mission aims to offer a unique educational model for international students. Through this model, FUA-AUF allows students to integrate, benefit, and learn from their academic experience with teaching methodologies that are based on the experience, integration, and engagement with the local community.

Some key points about FUA include:

• FUA was established with International students in mind and offers culturally engaging programs
• Classes are taken in important historic palaces and locations throughout Florence’s city centre
• Your lecturers will come from Italy and across Europe
• Class sizes range from 8-25 students and are taught in English (except for the Italian language courses!).
• The emphasis is on Italian and Florentine culture and history
• English speaking staff that understand what it’s like to study overseas
• Exceptional facilities including a library, fitness facilities, media labs and courtyards
• Cultural activities available to participate in including volunteering, sports nights and gallery outings
• The campus has a fully functioning restaurant that is completely managed, catered, and run by FUA students. This is a unique aspect of the campus and allows you to enjoy this social, cultural experience firsthand.

During your time in Florence, you will become a part of the community, living in your own Florentine apartment and enjoying the many restaurants, cafés and cultural sites throughout this famous city!

Culture in Italy is extremely connected to the food. Italians are known for their wood fired pizzas, olive oil and crusty bread, fresh pasta and desserts. You will certainly never be hungry in this country!

Start packing, because you’re about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime in this thriving and distinctly charming Italian city.

Accommodation

This program in Florence provides you with a fully-furnished, fully functional apartment. Apartments are shared with multiple students from around the world, depending on the size and number of rooms in the apartment layout. Bedrooms are shared single-sex rooms with shared bathrooms, with between 3 to 6 students per room & 8-16 students in an apartment. You may request a single bedroom for an extra fee, however single rooms are limited and subject to availability. All apartments are within walking distance or short bus ride from FUA facilities/campuses.

While no two apartments on the program are the same due to the historical nature of the city center, all apartments include:

• Living/dining room space
• Storage space for clothing and luggage
• Bed linen, pillows, towels
• Kitchen including fridge, oven, stove
• Basic cookware and utensils
• Washing machine and drying racks
• Iron and ironing board
• Internet access

A meal plan is provided for all students, with 10 meal plan units per week. This equates to approximately 5-10 meals per week at one of FUA’s eateries, e.g. 1 plate of pasta (dinner) = 2 units, 1 snack (lunch) = 1 unit.  The apartments are also self-catered, meaning you will also be able to prepare your own meals – a fun time to share cuisine, a fine wine and stories from around the world, or laugh about your day in Florence. The apartments are located within walking distance to some of Florence’s best markets, stores, restaurants and museums. Take advantage of the local restaurants nearby or buy your own food at the markets and cook at home.

The apartments are older-style housing. They may have air-conditioning however this is not central AC. Apartments do not have clothes dryers and not all apartment buildings have elevators. Please be aware that the apartment buildings also house non-students and as such, there is a very strict noise policy. Overnight guests are not permitted in your accommodation.

Program Fee & Dates