Design Study Abroad Programs in Italy

Spend a semester or academic year in the classic city of Rome with AIFS Abroad. Earn up to 17 credits studying at AIFS Abroad Global Education Center and receive credits from Fairfield University. No previous Italian language study is required. All programs begin with a 1-week language and cultural orientation. Choose between 4 academic programs: • Multi-Discipline • Intensive Italian Language Program • Study + Internship Program • Music Program (for music majors, in conjunction with Saint Louis College of Music) • Independent Study Courses Volunteer opportunities are also available. Students can choose from the Service Learning and Volunteering Program and the Service Learning and Active Citizenship course. Live in a shared student apartment, which includes an excellent meal plan. You'll enjoy numerous social and cultural activities, including: • 3-day excursion to Sorrento, Naples, Pompeii, and Capri • 3-days in Florence • Day trip to the villages of Assisi and Spello Optional excursions include 3 days in Palermo, Sicily.

Located in the heart of Tuscany, Florence clearly stands out as a cultural, historical, and academic center in Italy. It is known as the Birthplace of the Renaissance, as many Renaissance artists and authors called this city home. Dante, Boccaccio, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and many more all helped make Florence the most important place to be during the Renaissance. With a population of roughly 380,000 people, Florence is a city vast in land area but effortlessly maintains its small-town charm. Students will find that they are able to walk to any major area in less than thirty minutes and, after a few short weeks, they'll instantly feel at home and become comfortable in their new environment. And when they're ready for a bit of adventure, Santa Maria Novella, the main train station, gives them instant access to travel around Italy and Europe.

Your Semester in Florence program lasts a full semester and is designed for students from all academic backgrounds. You will enroll in a combination of CIEE courses, host institution courses, and courses taught online through CIEE's global academic partner, ASU. Enhance your experience with co-curricular and extracurricular activities while immersing yourself in Italian culture. Live and learn in Florence! Florence is Italy’s Renaissance city, offering an inspiring environment for students of all disciplines. The city’s unique blend of Italian culture and history, iconic landmarks like the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio, bustling markets, and lively arts scene create an enriching backdrop for studying abroad. Whether you're studying business, science, engineering, technology, communications, psychology, health sciences, liberal arts, language, or fine arts, Florence is the perfect place to study abroad.

SAI Partner School: Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti di Milano (NABA) Students at NABA don't just learn about design, they live it. NABA instructors are world-renowned artists, professionals, and designers who work in Milan, and their goal is to create the artists, professionals, and designers of the future. NABA's teaching method stresses cultural, theoretical, and practical aspects of design and seeks to put students in constant contact with companies and professionals. While Milan is known as an international capital of fashion, design and art, NABA's creative vision goes beyond the city's boarders. The school has always subscribed to the philosophy that creativity is best cultivated in an international atmosphere. It is among the member institutions of the European League of Institutes of the Arts and the International Council of Fine Arts Deans, which consists of members from over 800 international art and design universities.

In today’s global job market, international experience is more valuable than ever. Earning your degree at John Cabot University will equip you with flexibility, independence, and intercultural skills that are highly sought after by employers. Located in the heart of historic Rome, Italy, John Cabot University offers a distinctive alternative to the traditional college experience. You’ll earn an American bachelor’s degree in English, following a liberal arts curriculum, while studying alongside classmates and professors from around the globe. Our 15 Bachelor of Arts degree programs provide a unique academic content by blending the tradition of US higher education within a European framework. This prepares students for graduate studies and career opportunities worldwide.

Istituto Lorenzo de' Medici offers a variety of Certificate Programs and Special Workshops that are carefully designed with intentionally structured plans of study. These programs provide on-site educational opportunities that allow students not only to develop professional knowledge and the theoretical underpinnings of exciting fields, but also to harness creativity, artistic talent, and technical skills. Location, either Florence or Tuscania, is dependent on the individual programs. Semester Certificates: Italian Gastronomy; Balance in Nutrition; Architecture in Urban Context; Interior Design in Contemporary Living; Product Design towards Sustainability; Visual Communication for Fashion; Fashion Sustainability; Applied Integrated Media (AIM) Yearlong Certificates: Fashion Design; Fashion Marketing and Merchandising; Fine Arts; Graphic Design and Visual Communications; Interior Design; Jewelry Design; Restoration and Conservation Summer Certificates: Wine Business and Culture; Human Creativity; Global Sustainability; Branding Special Workshops: Archaeology Field School; Summer Conservation Workshop; Stop-Motion Workshop

Florence is an art lover’s dream and a food lover’s paradise. During your winter break, you can dive right into exploring this stunningly visual city on our January in Florence program. To make the most of your time abroad, we’ll quickly immerse you in local Italian and Florentine culture. Join excursions in and around Florence to galleries and famous sites. You’ll study at Florence University of the Arts, and you’ll practice Italian with friendly locals. How do you say, “Another gelato, please?”

Experience an unforgettable summer taking classes and traveling through Europe! The Ultimate Summer in Europe program is a multi-city summer study abroad program that visits some of Europe's top cities. Classes are taught by an international team of professors who travel with you. In the evenings and on weekends, enjoy free time to explore and sightsee on your own. Make friends from around the world while gaining valuable professional and academic experience. This is Forum-Nexus! Ultimate Summer in Europe: 5 Countries, 8 Cities in 1 Month Program itinerary: Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam, Milan, Paris, Lugano, Verona, Riva del Garda Program dates: June 28 - July 25, 2026 Shorter sessions are also available. Don't miss our early bird discount! Visit our website for more details, including how to apply for free.

Ciao e benvenuti in Italia! Milan is a wonderful blend of classic architecture and Italian culture as well as a global center for finance, education, commerce, design, and fashion. With the IES Abroad Milan program, students can spend one semester or a full year immersed in the culture of Italia. With a wide range of majors to choose from, students can enjoy the flexibility to choose what program will best fit their academic goals. This study abroad opportunity welcomes students of all Italian language levels, whether they speak no Italian whatsoever or are fluent. Featured programs include Art, Music, Business, Italian Language, Design and Fashion, as well as Social Sciences.

You’ll enhance your expertise and confidence in the many aspects of photography and visual design in this three-week summer course. With a deep understanding of techniques, lighting, postproduction, and design principles, you’ll learn to create compelling visual narratives that engage with contemporary contexts. You’ll also gain valuable insights into conceptual photography, visual storytelling, and the integration of graphic design. During this immersive course, you’ll explore Renaissance masterpieces and Florence's rich artistic heritage as sources of inspiration for developing a complete photographic project. You’ll create a visually striking poster that synthesizes your journey while maintaining a cohesive and contemporary artistic vision. Taught in English and starting in June, the course is designed for students with foundational knowledge or basic professional experience in the field who are looking to enhance their professional skills. Participants should have prior familiarity with photography, graphic design, and editing.

Capital of Italy’s Tuscany region and known as “the cradle of the Renaissance,” Florence has long been a source of inspiration for visionaries such as Galileo Galilei, Leonardo da Vinci, and Niccolò Machiavelli. It's known for the Cathedral on the Piazza del Duomo, a domed edifice engineered by Filippo Brunelleschi, which includes an iconic bell tower rising high above the city. This present home to fashion designers and major wine labels was once a Roman city established by Julius Caesar in 59 BC. The CEA CAPA Florence Center and Santa Reparata International School of Art offer a variety of learning opportunities in English and Italian. Get the most out of this cultural and academic experience through CEA CAPA's volunteer opportunities, excursions to other cities, and various cultural and learning activities, which complement course offerings and turn Florence into a classroom. In addition to our study abroad programs, explore CEA CAPA Internships Abroad in Florence — gain hands-on, pre-professional experience as you dive into a career field and develop professional skills needed to rise above the competition. Interested in going abroad with CEA CAPA? Contact us!

Italy is one of the most complex and enticing places in Europe. A contemporary, industrialized nation with an artistic and architectural heritage that few other countries can rival. It is also a Mediterranean country with a southern European sensibility, where traditional attitudes still prevail. Thriving small businesses contribute to strong, regional identities, helping Italy avoid some of the bland effects of globalization. See all programs in Florence by visiting our website or contacting us for complete details.

A Study Abroad experience in Florence could be considered as the one most similar to that of the ‘Grand Tour’ undertaken by the great travelers of our past. Our aim here at Accademia Europea di Firenze is not to have our students live as tourists, but to ensure that they feel like true residents of Florence and Tuscany: to achieve this we work hard every day to build an all-inclusive experience for them, comprised of education, cultural immersion, entertainment, and a profound knowledge of culture and the Italian way of life. What is more, AEF is the only school that offers study abroad experiences to performing arts students, allowing them to move forward with their degree, here in Florence. AEF was founded in 2005 as an Italian language school for foreigners. Over time, the school expanded its curriculum to include humanistic studies, music, the liberal arts and the performing arts, while providing an extraordinary combination of quality and individual attention: AEF offers the most complete response for any training or educational need. Situated in the very heart of Florence, halfway between the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and the church of San Marco, AEF’s students have the grandeur and beauty of the city’s historical centre on their doorstep. Our location is a Renaissance palace, perfectly restructured and equipped with the most modern technologies to make it an ideal site uniting study and beauty, learning and culture.

Immerse yourself in Italian culture and world-class academics at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, one of Europe’s largest and most prestigious universities. Located in Milan, the heart of Italy’s fashion and business scene, Università Cattolica offers a unique blend of academic excellence and cultural discovery. This program is ideal for students who are curious, adaptable, and eager to explore Italy’s rich history and modern innovations. Choose from diverse courses taught in English, including business, arts, fashion, and international relations. Participants benefit from small class sizes, expert faculty, and opportunities to network globally. Beyond academics, Milan provides endless opportunities for exploration, from iconic landmarks like the Duomo and La Scala to vibrant neighborhoods and world-class cuisine. Students can also travel easily to other parts of Italy and Europe. With a welcoming campus and robust support services, you’ll feel right at home. Make Università Cattolica your gateway to an unforgettable study abroad experience!

Live and study in Siena, Italy at one of Europe’s oldest universities, founded in 1240. Oxford Academia at the University of Siena blends rigorous academic seminars with immersive exploration of Tuscany’s culture, art, and traditions. Students learn through hands-on field experiences, guest lectures, and small-group instruction led by distinguished faculty and local experts. From medieval streets to rolling countryside, Siena becomes a living classroom where students gain academic confidence, cultural fluency, and a deeper understanding of their interests while forming lasting global connections.

See different sides of Italy while studying at an Italian school or university! Enroll in your chosen non-profit, low-cost, direct study program. We connect you to university-level, academic-type programs that are available all year round. Choose from weekly, monthly, summer, quarterly, semester, and academic year terms. Plus, stay in low-cost housing on campus or in nearby areas. Overall, avoid expensive, for-profit programs and register directly with a school in Italy. After successful completion, you will earn academic credits that are transferable to your home school. These study abroad programs are open to students worldwide. See more details on the NPSA website. Use this website to review and book your study abroad program in Italy.

The one-year Master of Interior Design is perfect for young graduates or design professionals interested in attending a specialization course. It emphasizes a professional dimension by honing the understanding of contemporary Italian interior design through investigations into its history, theory, analysis, and methods. It develops design concepts for real, modern-day problems integrated into historical city situations while focusing on a sustainable future. Its location in Florence is essential in illustrating Italy's relevance in forming the foundations of modern thought and concepts. Graduate students come from various academic and professional practice experiences. The department accepts students with an undergraduate degree in interior design or comparable professional practice experience and individuals with degrees in other disciplines who see a connection between their previous studies and interior design. To obtain robust results, studies in interior design require a 'full-time’ commitment throughout the academic year (for 30 weeks).

Are you a student or young professional looking to enhance your career prospects through international work experience and hands-on learning? At Intern Abroad HQ, we help students and young professionals turn career aspirations into reality. We organize affordable internships in 20 destinations across 24 career fields that are tailored to meet each individual’s academic, professional, or personal requirements. With over 200 internship programs across Europe, Asia, Africa, Central America and South America to choose from, and options to intern from 2 weeks to 6 months either full-time or part-time, in-country or virtually, we facilitate career-enhancing experiences that work for you, not just the host organization. Intern Abroad HQ is proudly brought to you by the team behind International Volunteer HQ. We have collectively supported over 120,000 program participants since 2007 and are the only B Corp certified provider in our field.

How about a summer giving expression to your fashion design and artistic talents in one of the world’s treasured locations for art? Or maybe you want to spend your summer learning about Italian life and culture? No matter what you choose to do, this summer program with the world-renowned Accademia Italiana offers you a remarkable opportunity to study a variety of design courses taught by experts in the field, such as fashion, interior design, graphic design and other subjects as well as all levels of Italian language. Florence is a hub for artistic and commercial design, as well as home to multiple sites of cultural significance in Italy. Works of art and architecture are everywhere, reflecting the stunning talent of legendary masters and a thriving artistic community. Enjoy the magic and artful splendor that only Florence can bring. You’ll study alongside both Italian and international students, all eager to explore this artistic learning experience. Whether sketching designs inspired by Florence’s heritage or exploring Italian industrial craftsmanship, you’ll gain hands-on experience, collaborative projects, and an understanding of Italy’s influence on global design.

Immerse yourself in historic art and design in Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, with a thriving contemporary art scene. Here, you take studio courses on SACI’s iconic campus, which has two 17th-century palazzi in the heart of Florence. The campus is centrally located, allowing you to study many important art collections, including the Uffizi and the Accademia. It hosts visiting artists, public lectures, and exhibitions in the gallery space. This means access to contemporary exhibitions, collaborating with contemporary Florentine artists, and visiting important international exhibitions. Famous for its Renaissance legacy, Florence features a fascinating mix of historic and contemporary culture. Buses, taxis, and mopeds drive within feet of the Duomo, the city's magnificent cathedral. Chic shops and elegant restaurants line the charming avenues, and historic piazzas ringed with outdoor cafés host performance artists and flea markets. Enjoy the region's mild climate and world-famous cuisine in one of Europe's most beautiful cities.