Intern Abroad in Florence, Italy with AIFS Abroad

Ever sense I was a little girl I have always told people I wanted to be a fashion designer in Paris and I think if I would've known what the duomo was I would've said italy. Over my internship I worked with Ilaria Tollsi a fashion designer who opened her own atelier. with her I gained real life experience and got to feel what its like to work in my dream career field in a beautiful place. I dont think I would change my experience for anything. i think about florence every day.

I am so very grateful for my experience through AIFS. Although my internship placements were off to a rocky start, my studies abroad truly made up for it. From weekly activities, cooking classes, and local restaurants, AIFS has curated such a unique broad brush stroke into dipping your toe into long-term living in the heart of Florence. I could not be happier with my roomates and all of my friends made through the program and credit this opportunity for all of the locals and other fellow study abroad students through various programs to AIFS.

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I did an internship in Florence, Italy in the summer of 2025 through AIFS Abroad, and it was truly one of the best experiences I’ve had. I chose AIFS because of their strong reputation and the support they provide, and they really delivered. From the application process to my time in Italy, the staff was always there to answer questions, give guidance, and make sure I felt prepared and supported throughout the program. The housing was safe and well located, which made it easy to enjoy daily life in Florence. I also appreciated the excursions and cultural activities that were included, since they gave me the chance to explore more of Italy and learn about its history and culture in a hands-on way. These experiences helped me connect with other students in the program, and I built friendships that made my time abroad even more meaningful. This internship not only allowed me to live and work in another culture but also helped me grow in confidence, adaptability, and intercultural communication skills. It has had a lasting impact on me personally and professionally, and I feel more prepared for future opportunities because of it. I would highly recommend AIFS Abroad to anyone who wants a supportive, well-rounded, and unforgettable study abroad or internship experience.

Cassidy was awesome, smart trip was awesome and it was a great experience overall def recommend! I made the best friends and am so glad I did this experience. The summer program was super fun and the perfect amount of time!

My experience interning abroad in Florence was absolutely amazing! AIFS paired me with the perfect internship for my aspiring career. I had the opportunity to immerse myself in a new culture and learn in a foreign work environment. It was the best internship I could have asked for immediately following my undergraduate graduation and made me feel more prepared when returning home to start my career. It was truly an unforgettable summer!

Everything from the beginning steps of applying to landing back home 2 months later for me was as smooth and straightforward as one could ask for. All the coordinators work with you to ensure your safety. This program changed my life and opened the door for endless possibilities for the future in my profession. I was able to live another life and travel so easily, if any issues arose there was always someone I could talk to 24/7 no matter where I was. Made so many friends not only within the program but also from where I was living. I now because of this am lucky enough to say I’m returning to Florence, Italy due to a job offer I received while interning thanks to the wonderful placement from AIFS.

I had a truly amazing experience from start to finish while being involved in this program and working at my internship. The living accommodation I was given was very nice and I was placed with great roommates who made the experience even better. The AIFS staff were very helpful and there for support if needed and were easy to communicate with. My internship placement exceeded my expectations and the people I worked with were amazing and I was able to build relationships and friendships with them even outside of work. Overall I am truly grateful and happy that I chose to take part in this summer abroad program and for the experiences and memories this has given me that I will never forget.

I spent the summer in Florence, Italy with AIFS working as a communications intern for a local company. The internship was a really valuable experience as I got to experience what it's like to work full-time in addition to having the opportunity to do a multitude of tasks for the company I interned with. The staff at AIFS were constantly available if we needed help or support and I am really thankful to have had this opportunity.

I got to meet so many amazing people from around the world, and connect with so many employers and people on a business level as well!! This experience allowed me to really step out of my comfort zone, and learn so much about myself, I will remember these experiences for a lifetime!

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I had the best time interning abroad in Florence. I had a good internship and I made great friends. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Cassidy Fickes was our AIFS contact in Florence, and she was always so helpful and made the process so smooth.

Embarking on the AIFS Florence Study Abroad Program was one of the most transformative experiences of my academic journey. From the breathtaking landscapes to the rich cultural heritage, Florence served as an unparalleled backdrop for an unforgettable adventure. One of the most commendable aspects of the program was its seamless integration of academics and cultural immersion. The curriculum, designed offered a diverse range of courses taught by knowledgeable professors who were passionate about their subjects. My personal favorite course was Marketing of Italian luxury fashion. Whether delving into Italian fashion or mastering the nuances of the Italian language, each class was an opportunity for intellectual growth and exploration. Beyond the classroom, AIFS provided a plethora of experiential learning opportunities that allowed students to engage directly with Italian culture. From guided tours of renowned museums to cooking classes led by local chefs, every activity was thoughtfully curated to deepen our understanding of Italian traditions and customs. Living in Florence for a semester provided a unique opportunity for personal growth and self-discovery. Immersing myself in the vibrant local community allowed me to develop many intercultural skills and forge lifelong friendships with fellow students from around the world. Overall, AIFS provides students with an amazing program, idea housing situation, and engaging courses and excursions that will contribute to lifelong memories.

I couldn’t have asked for a better experience in Florence. AIFS did an amazing job at placing me with an internship that not only fit my interests, but gave me incredible connections in my field of work. The 3 girls I was roomed with quickly became my closest friends, and we got to travel and experience living abroad together. In all transparency, working abroad is a lot different than studying. It is very demanding, however so insightful and worthwhile. I highly recommend AIFS if you are looking for an opportunity to work abroad. I even got a job offer after my internship!

Hi! I was apart of the Spring 2024 intern abroad program in Florence. I had the best time ever! I will be honest though, the experience is not easy. As an intern abroad you have to balance time very well with social life and work life. I worked 40 hours weeks most weeks and traveled on the weekends. It is exhausting. Luckily I had a great group of girls I was living with and we really bonded over our experience in the program and helped each other vent and get through the hard parts. The placement I had was the perfect type of internship, which is great because I needed the experience. Although, working in a different countries does have some hardships. I am a pretty personable person and the language barrier made it very hard for me to make connections with the people in the office with me, a lot of the time they would speak in Italian and I knew very little. It felt a little lonely and I have never been in a work environment where I wasn’t friends with those who I was working with. It definitely became a really tiresome feeling and I dreaded going to the internship towards the end. I also did not need credit and was doing this for experience so working as much as I did burnt me out kind of fast. I had hoped there was a part time position or option but that was not possible. But in all I had a really great time, the experience was once in a lifetime and I would definitely recommend!

In Fall of 2023, I had the opportunity to live in Florence and work as an intern for a local company. As part of the program, AIFS Abroad provided me housing and a cohort with whom to live and spend time around the city. They matched us well with roommates and housemates of program participants with similar living habits and preferences. I enjoyed the time I spent with this group, and we still keep in touch. The beginning of the program included three weeks of language classes at a local language school for foreign students. This immersion class is one of my favorite experiences, as I got to learn Italian language from an authentic Italian teacher, and I got to be in class with students from all over the world. I made new friends and learned language skills that I still practice to this day. Outside of language classes and internships, AIFS provided group activities and excursions like dinners, cooking classes, and day trips to nearby cities. I greatly enjoyed these trips, and if anything, wish we could have had more activities like this. One thing that I do wish there was more of is connection to local groups and communities within the city. I found myself wanting to get involved in certain hobbies or groups that I did not know how to find. I think that if I had been connected to a college campus this may have been easier. AIFS does provide a great deal of resources to acclimate you to life in a foreign city, such as mental health resources, but I think it would be beneficial to provide participants with connections to local clubs, groups, and other activities.

I recently did a semester abroad in Florence, Italy with AIFS this past fall semester and it was such an absolutely amazing experience. From the application process to the time I left Italy the AIFS staff was incredibly helpful and truly wanted to make your experience as amazing as possible. All 10 of us in the program attended all of the events AIFS organized except for 1 and they were absolutely amazing. The welcome dinner and exit dinner were also at 2 places that I had been wanting to try and they were so delicious. The AIFS team was super helpful and made the whole experience just that much better!

This program gave me a life changing opportunity to work and live in the heart of Florence, Italy. Words cannot describe how amazing my time was because of the coordination of the program and the advisors who were always eager to help from the beginning to end. I was placed in an internship that helped me grow professionally and personally where I had real responsibilities, unlike some of the girls that barely had to come to work and had poor communication with their bosses. My housing situation only had some issues with the oven not working a few times, besides that the apartment was amazing. We had a balcony with a great view unlike the others, it was very spacious and in a nice quiet neighborhood close to the center. I truly made lifelong friendships with the people in the program, especially the girls I lived with and traveled. The program gave a lot of freedom to the students which forced us to be independent and made it possible for me to travel somewhere every weekend. This experience opened my eyes to the world and if you have the chance, 100% I suggest this program!

I went to Florence right after Covid in 2022. AIFS did an amazing job prepping us for any health and safety measures we needed to take and I felt so comfortable there. My placement was the best - a marketing intern for a Tuscan wedding cake designer, I learned so much and it set me apart from so many others in my future career endeavors. I am so grateful for the cultural education I received and I highly recommend any and everyone to go to Florence with AIFS!!! P.S. Anna is the BEST!!!

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I loved my internship that I did in Florence. I did a semester long marketing internship and it was great. The people I worked with were lovely and I felt like I got so much valuable experience that I can use in my future career!

Interning abroad was the most thrilling and transformative experience I’ve ever had. It offered the right amount of push out my of comfort zone. Yet maintaining just the right amount of support from the program to feel safe in such a new environment. Without my internship at Global Experiences I wouldn't have the full-time job I have right now. I think a program like this is even better than studying abroad because it forces you to learn and adapt.

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I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to intern abroad in Florence, Italy. The company I interned with, Madai, had some great mentors and I really got to connect with them 1 on 1. I learned a lot about the technical side of advertisement and I met some great people along the way! My internship was located in Belloscuardo, a really picturesque part of the city. Overall, I feel like my placement was ideal; my internship wasn't so time consuming that I missed out on quintessential study abroad opportunities, but I spent enough time there to actually learn something.