Illustration & Animation Study Abroad Programs in Florence, Italy

SAI invites students to surround themselves with the refined beauty of Renaissance Italy by studying abroad at the Florence University of the Arts (FUA). FUA offers a wide range of courses in English, which have been carefully planned and designed in keeping with current interests and contemporary subjects including Literature, Sciences, Business, Economics, History, Fine Arts, Graphic Design, and more. SAI oversees and coordinates all aspects of student enrollment, including application processing, course selection and credit, visa advising, housing, student health insurance, and transcripts. In addition, SAI provides comprehensive student services, from the moment of application, through the on-site experience, until students return home. In addition to supporting students throughout their stay in Florence, SAI also coordinates a range of activities and excursions throughout the term, including a walking tour of historic Florence, a “survival Italian” language class, a hike to the Piazzale Michelangelo, and Italian cooking workshop, a weekend excursion to Milan and Lake Como (semester only), and many others.

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

Ready for an Italian summer that's a perfect mix of coastal relaxation and vibrant city life? This unique two-city program is designed for students who want to experience it all, splitting time between two distinct and iconic locations. Your adventure starts in La Spezia, a charming seaside city and the perfect home base for exploring the world-famous Cinque Terre. You'll spend your days hiking breathtaking trails and soaking up the sun on the Italian Riviera. Then you’ll head to the bustling, creative hub of Florence. Here, you'll be surrounded by centuries of history, from the awe-inspiring Duomo to the iconic Ponte Vecchio. You’ll study at Florence University of the Arts, known for its hands-on approach. Whether you’re learning about art, business, or culinary arts, your lessons will be as vibrant as the city itself. This program offers the best of both worlds—the laid-back beauty of the coast and the dynamic energy of a major city—all packed into one amazing summer.

The Master of Graphic Design is perfect for working professionals or young graduates interested in attending a specialization course. It mainly focuses on providing a professional dimension to the field by fostering the understanding of contemporary graphic design through investigations into its history, theory, criticism, and methodology. Its setting in Florence is essential in illustrating the relevance of Italy in forming the foundations of modern thought and imagery. The Graphic Design Master's is intended for graduates, young designers, and students with professional training and/or experience in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Interactive Media, Communication Sciences, and Computer Sciences. Graduate students come from various academic and professional practice experiences. Acceptance to this graduate program requires a degree in design. Each one-year graphic design master course has a duration of 30 weeks.

Join us for an unforgettable experience in one of Italy’s most enchanting cities, Florence. Immerse yourself in the rich Italian culture, savor delicious local cuisine, and make lifelong connections with fellow students from around the world. 2026 SUMMER INTENSIVE COURSES - List of subjects Classes held at the school: Painting & Drawing Art History Jewelry Making Jewelry Design Architecture Interior Design Furniture Design Bag Making & Leather Arts Fashion Design Textile Design Graphic Design Glass Art Italian Culture Experience Italian Language Classes held off-campus: Art Conservation & Restoration (some classes may be held at the school) Ceramics Woodworking Furniture Restoration Floral Design Gelato Course Italian Home Cooking Duration: from 1 to 12 weeks 2026 Start Dates (Check-in) May 03 | May 17 | May 31 | Jun 14 | Jun 28 | Jul 12 | Jul 26 | Aug 16 | Aug 30 | Sep 13 | Sep 27

The Accademia Italiana is internationally recognized as one of Europe's most prestigious institutes of art and design. Each year, creative students from all over the world come to the Accademia Italiana to take courses in the Accademia's signature programs in fashion design, graphic design and visual communications, interior and product design, window display design, photography and new media and studio arts. The Accademia also offers study abroad students courses in liberal arts and Italian language and culture. Italian culture courses include art history, history, literature, cinema and style. The Accademia has semester and year-long academic programs, bachelor's and master's degree programs, and short-term summer programs. Design courses are taught in Italian and in English languages. University credit is available.