Study in the Italian Riviera (in English) - ISEP Direct
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
• With one of Italy’s best gelatos in hand, stroll the palm tree-lined cobblestone boardwalk along the waterfront, past the boats bobbing in the Bay of Poets, and into the colorful Art Nouveau historic center. Climb the stone steps up to a medieval castle for beautiful views of La Spezia, a lively and authentic port city.
• La Spezia's busy harbor, bustling port, and active naval base make it the perfect destination for business majors interested in international trade and supply chain management, aspiring writers looking for inspiration, and those pursuing Italian language and cultural studies.
• FUA’s on-site staff provide comprehensive support, helping with course enrollment, housing, and excursions.
• La Spezia is the gateway to the Cinque Terre and its excellent train connections and bustling port make it the ideal base for exploring. Genoa, Pisa, Florence, Tuscany, and Milan are all less than 2 hours away, while Rome, Switzerland, or the French Riveria make a perfect weekend destination!
LIFE ABROAD
FUA’s newest campus combines the breathtaking beauty of the rugged Ligurian coastline with strong student support, hands-on academics, and an authentic taste of Italian life. A walkable city rich with culture and history, La Spezia is easy to explore by foot, bus, bike share, or boat. Sip espresso at one of the many cafes and chat with the regulars—La Spezia’s friendly locals and community-oriented energy make it easy to get to know real Italians.
LIVE
Enjoy efficient community-living in FUA’s modern and newly built off-campus apartments, which are a beautiful 35-minute walk through the historic center to class. You will find an instant community of friends and students in your residence, where each apartment is shared with up to 10 students. Each apartment has full cooking facilities, laundry, air conditioning and heating, bedding, and other essentials.
DINE
Italy is known for its incredible food and La Spezia will not disappoint! Enjoy traditional dishes like Testaroli al Pesto, a crepe like pasta served with Ligurian pesto, stuffed anchovies, rustic chickpea soup, and savory chickpea pancakes. Don’t miss the local gelato—some of the best flavors are seasonal, like fig, lemon and honey! When you want to eat at home, shop at farmers’ markets and nearby grocery stores and head back to your apartment, which is equipped with a refrigerator, oven, and stove and stocked with cookware and serving essentials.
EXPERIENCE
Begin your semester in Italy with a 1-week, 3-credit field learning course designed to serve as your cultural orientation in Rome. Through engaging lectures, visits to historic and contemporary sites, and tasting the local cuisine, you will love this quick introduction to Rome and to Italy before heading north to La Spezia. In addition, FUA organizes optional excursions and field-based learning opportunities. During the semester, register for the included educational field learning trip to Genoa. During this daytrip, FUA staff help you get off the typical tourist track and explore the city like an Italian.
EXPLORE
La Spezia is a short, 10-minute train ride away from the Cinque Terre National Park, made of five historic seaside villages and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Meander through the villages, go for a swim, take a ferry to Portovenere, or hike into the hillsides, home to medieval ruins and historic vineyards. In La Spezia, the Piazza del Mercato is a hub of local culture and perfect for sampling local Ligurian products like cheese, fish, and produce.
THRIVE
Embrace life in La Spezia knowing you will have the support you need while abroad. FUA's La Spezia campus offers assistance with academic advising, in-person writing support, in-person and virtual mental health counseling, a virtual career center, and access to an off-campus fitness facility.
What We Love About La Spezia
Slow down and savor this special part of Italy—we love FUA’s La Spezia campus because it’s easy to settle in and feel like a local. La Spezia makes a perfect base for lots of outdoor adventures and weekend travel, so it’s easy to stay busy or simply enjoy La Dolce Vita!
See ISEP Direct budget and estimated expenses
Course Description
FUA offers courses from International Business, to Fashion, to Culinary Arts, all taught entirely in English. To truly immerse yourself in the local culture, we highly recommend enrolling in one of the many Italian language courses such as Communicating in Italian or Italian Language for Beginners. More advanced students can improve their language skills as well.
Credits Earned
Students who complete the program in good standing can expect to earn between 12-15 US Credits per term. Most courses are worth 3 Credits each.
If you use financial aid, please speak with a qualified financial aid advisor to understand your academic obligations and the requirements for using financial aid.
Required Course
All students are required to enroll in a 1-week, 3-credit field learning course designed to serve as your cultural orientation. This course starts with arrival in Rome and ends in the Italian Riviera.
Service-Learning
Courses designated as ‘Service-Learning’ or ‘Experiential-Learning’ help students earn valuable hands-on experience in collaboration with course instruction. Courses with these designations are worth 3 credits and can contain between 30-150 hours of applicable involvement along with in-class hours.
Sample Classes Available from Spring 2026:
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Arts & Communication |
Business & Marketing |
Italian History, Language, & Culture |
Sciences & Health |
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Art and Places: The Gulf of Poets from Romanticism to Futurism |
Harbors and Trade: Multiculturalism and Economic Growth |
Cultural Introduction to Italy |
Environmental Sciences |
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Art Nouveau Walks |
Entrepreneurial Marketing (also as an EL option) |
Food, Culture, and Society in Italy |
Health and Fitness in the Mediterranean |
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Riviera Sketchbook |
Digital Marketing |
Field Learning: Genova |
Secrets of the Sea: Introduction to Marine Biology |
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Journal Writing Walks |
International Trade |
History of the Mafia |
Biomedical Ethics |
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Supply Chain and Operations Management |
Intermediate Italian Language (3 credits) |
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Wine Communications and Marketing (also as an EL option) |
Intensive Intermediate Italian Language (6-9 credits) |
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For detailed instructions on how to search for all available courses, please click on the "other academic conditions" dropdown link below.
Academics
Other Academic Conditions
PROGRAM DATES
Both the Fall and Spring semesters last 12 weeks (1 week of orientation + 11 weeks of courses including exams). Some courses are 3-week ‘intensive courses’ while others last the full 11 weeks. It is up to the discretion of the student to determine if they wish to enroll in all 11-week long courses or a combination of 3 week and 11 week courses for a maximum credit load of 15 US credits. The ISEP program fee covers up to 15 credits at FUA, including the Cultural Introduction to Italy course (3 US Credits).
- Fall Semester runs from Late-September through Mid-December
- Spring Semester runs from Mid-February through Early-May
ACADEMIC YEAR PARTICIPATION
Students planning on attending FUA in the Italian Riviera for an academic year are required to obtain an Italian visa for the duration of their stay prior to arrival in Italy. Program dates for Academic year students are as follows:
- Fall Semester: Arrival and departure are the same as all other Fall semester participants. Full year students will be required to vacate their student residence after the end of the semester.
- Spring Semester: As academic year students do not need to complete a second orientation for the second semester, they should plan to arrive in La Spezia earlier than the Spring only participants in order to complete a 15 week semester.
COURSE SEARCH
1. Using the link under Website for Course availability, select the Session Drop down menu, then select the appropriate term (Fall or Spring) 11-Week Semester. Study Abroad should automatically be the next filter.
- It is possible to combine 3-week courses within the 11 week semester if students wish to take some intensive courses. Students can select 3-week session courses from Sessions II, III, & IV but NOT session I.
2. Under "Program Selection" select "5Terre Riviera-La Spezia"
3. Courses are listed by Department
4. Clicking on the course title will bring up the course description
CREDIT CAPACITY
The ISEP program fee covers up to 15 credits at FUA, including the Cultural Introduction to Italy course (3 US Credits). Any fees associated with taking more than 15 credits are the responsibility of the student. Additional fees will be billed by FUA directly. Please message your ISEP Student Services Officer to inquire about the cost and process.
HOUSING
The ISEP program fee for the semester in the Italian Riviera will cover the “multiple room” in a shared apartment. For the purpose of this housing option, "multiple room" means more than one - so students could be housed in quads, triples, or doubles.
In the Italian Riviera program, the apartment capacity will be varied but rest assured that there will be no more than 10 students per apartment and no more than 4 students per bedroom. Rooms will be assigned to students and the preferred occupancy cannot be selected except for a single room upgrade.
Students may request a single room in a shared apartment for an extra fee which is the responsibility of the student and should be paid to FUA directly. Any student interested in requesting a single room upgrade should reach out to the Student Services Officer, Destiny Nicholson (dnicholson@isep.org) as early in the application process as possible. Single room requests can never be guaranteed.
Semester & Prices (based on your filters)
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