Summer in Florence (in English) - ISEP Direct
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
• Study in Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, and take small, interactive classes housed in historic buildings across the city center alongside a globally diverse student body.
• Earn 3-6 credits taking English-taught courses in Italian culture, fashion, business, communication, fine arts, and more. Add Italian language at the beginner or intermediate level to deepen your daily immersion.
• Choose between a three- or six-week session. Gain hands-on experience during the six-week session through optional, credit-bearing internships and experiential learning projects. Build your résumé in fields like hospitality, culinary arts, fashion, marketing, and fine arts.
LIFE ABROAD
Spend your summer living in Florence's historic center, where you'll spend afternoons studying in sunlit piazzas, visiting the Uffizi or Accademia, and enjoying aperitivo near the Arno. Thrive in a city that balances medieval character with modern convenience all while being a part of a vibrant international student community.
Experience & Cultural Engagement
Begin with a Cultural Introduction to Italy orientation course before diving into your three or six-week program. At Florence University of the Arts you’ll choose from disciplines such as art history, digital photography, culinary arts, wine studies, fashion marketing, journalism, and entrepreneurship — many designed with hands-on or site-based components.
Join Student Life and Development activities like guided city walks and sport nights, or participate in Educational Field Learning trips to Rome, Cinque Terre, Milan, and the Chianti countryside. If you participate in the six-week option, you may also apply for internships or Special Project: Experiential Learning (SPEL) courses that integrate academic credit with supervised field experience in Florence.
Live & Dine
Live in a shared, fully furnished apartment in Florence’s historic city center, just a 5–25 minute walk from academic buildings and Santa Maria Novella station. Stay in an apartment that houses up to 6 students, where you will have access to shared kitchens, living spaces, and bathrooms.Take advantage of the many included on-campus facilities like the gym, writing center, career center, and counseling center for mental health services.
Shop at neighborhood markets or nearby grocery stores and prepare meals at home, or use included university units at campus-run cafés, dining venues, and even the spa. Tuscan staples like ribollita, bistecca alla Fiorentina, fresh pasta, and cantucci are always within reach.
Explore Florence
Walk to the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, Mercato Centrale, and Piazza Michelangelo from your front door, or take a short train ride to Pisa, Siena, Lucca, or Arezzo in about 90 minutes. From Florence’s main station, reach Rome, Milan, Bologna, or Naples in just one to three hours, making weekend travel across Italy simple and affordable.
What We Love About This Program
Florence offers independence without isolation. The city’s scale, beauty, and international student presence create a summer that feels cultured, connected, and deeply personal making it equal parts academic focus and everyday discovery.
See ISEP Direct budget and estimated expenses (3 Weeks)
See ISEP Direct budget and estimated expenses (6 Weeks)
Course Description
FUA offers courses from Marketing, to Fashion, to Culinary Arts and Italian Culture 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 3-6 US Credits depending on the Summer Session selected. 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.
Internships
Students can elect to enroll in a credit-bearing internship in a variety of fields. Internships are only available during the 6 week program normally allowing for 10-20 contact hours per week. Internships are worth 3 credits and are unpaid. Students can sign up when registering for courses.
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:
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Italian Culture |
Arts |
Food and Wine Studies |
Fashion & Marketing |
Communication & Journalism |
|
Italian Language Beginner |
Introduction to Art History |
Food, Health, and Wellness in Italy |
Fashion, Media, and Culture |
Introduction to Journalism |
|
Cultural Introduction to Italy |
Gallery and Exhibition Curating |
Wine Appreciation: Wines of Italy |
Fashion Retail Management |
Social Media |
|
Food, Culture, and Society in Italy |
Painting En Plein Air |
Grow, Cook, Heal: Therapy for Wellbeing |
Consumer Behavior and Retail Strategies |
Special Project: Experiential Learning in Public Relations |
|
Italian Renaissance Architecture |
Introduction to Digital Photography |
Italian Classical Cakes and Tarts |
Style and the City: Florentine Fashion Walks |
Special Project: Experiential Learning in Digital Communication |
|
History of the Mafia |
Tiny Florence: Photography and Writing |
Chocolate Artistry |
Special Project: Experiential Learning in the Fashion Industry Fashion Retail Management |
Art, Food, Fashion, and Wine: Creative Advertising of Italian Destinations |
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
This is a 3 or 6-week program
NOTE: Arrival is always on a Monday and Last day of housing is always on a Sunday;
Sample Summer Calendar 2026
ISEP Summer Session - Intensive Session B (6-Week Session)
- Mon. June 29 - Students arrive
- Tue. June 30 – Orientation
- Wed. July 1 - Classes start
- Thu. August 6 - Classes end
- Fri. August 7 - Housing check-out (by 10am)
ISEP Session I - Intensive Session III (3-Week Session)
- Mon. June 29 - Students arrive
- Tue. June 30 – Orientation
- Wed. July 1 - Classes start
- Thu. July 16 - Classes end
- Fri. July 17 - Housing check-out (by 10am)
ISEP Session II - Intensive Session IV (3-Week Session)
- Mon. July 20 - Students arrive
- Tue. July 21 – Orientation
- Wed. July 22 - Classes start
- Thu. August 6 - Classes end
- Fri. August 7 - Housing check-out (by 10am)
COURSE SEARCH
1. Using the link under Website for Course availability, select Select Summer 2026, then the select the appropriate term Session III 3-Week (ISEP Session I), Session IV 3-week Session (ISEP Session II), or Session B 6-week Session (ISEP Summer Session) from the drop down menus.
- Session I and Session II courses run for exactly 3 weeks each.
- Summer Session (B) courses will span across all 6 weeks.
- Students should only select and apply to one summer session from the three sessions offered. It is not possible to enroll in ISEP Session I and Session II. Students wishing to stay in Florence for 6 weeks should enroll in the Full Summer Session.
2. Courses are listed by Department
3. Clicking on the course title will bring up the course description
CREDIT LOAD
The ISEP program fee covers up to 3 credits for Session I or Session II and up to 6 credits for Session A at FUA. Any fees associated with taking more than 3 or 6 credits (in the respective term) 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 extra cost and process.
HOUSING
The ISEP housing fee will cover the equivalent of the "8-16 multiple apartment" at FUA. "Multiple" is defined by FUA as up to 6 students per room. Any fees associated with a housing upgrade (room type or apartment capacity upgrade) is the responsibility of the student and should be paid to FUA directly.
PASSPORT: All students must have a valid passport to participate in this program. If you do not have a valid passport, we suggest you start the application process as soon as possible.
VISA/RESIDENCE PERMIT: As the Summer program lasts less than 90 days from start to finish, US citizens will not be required to obtain a visa to participate. Students of other nationalities should check to see if a visa is necessary to participate.
Semester & Prices (based on your filters)
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