Study Abroad in Italy
Explore a new culture, learn a new language & broaden your horizons by enrolling in a program to study in Italy with YFU. Discover our programs today.
Study in Italy
Language. Art. Architecture. History. Religion. Food. Fashion. Just like Rome wasn't built in a day, it'll take a whole lot longer than a day to experience all that Italy has to offer and become a part of its unique culture.
“As a junior in high school, going from the foothills of the Rocky Mountains to a small town right outside of Milan was by far one of the best experiences of my life. I lived with a family of five (two host sisters and one host brother) who showed me the in's and out's of the area. Although my exchange was two years ago, I still remain very close to my host family, and have been back to visit since”
- Sidney
+ More About Italy
Ciao! Explore the rolling Tuscan hills, dreamy vineyards, quiet streets, and charming piazzas of a country rich with history. From the cosmopolitan Rome to the Amalfi coast and the island of Sicily, Italy will continue to amaze you with one beautiful scene after another.
Italy is known for its immense architectural achievements which you will have the opportunity to appreciate. On an optional trip to Rome, you will see the iconic structures of the Roman Forum, Coliseum, and other Roman ruins throughout the city! The unique architecture is impossible to ignore, even as you pass by ancient aqueducts on the Italian countryside. The birthplace of the Renaissance, Italy is bursting at the seams with famous paintings and sculptures such as the Statue of David, the Sistine Chapel, and the “Leaning Tower of Pisa”.
From authentic Neapolitan pizza to gelato; from freshly brewed espresso to farm fresh cheeses, Italians love their food. Italian host families will welcome you with open arms and full plates!
+ Scholarships Available
YFU USA is proud to send over 200 American students on cultural exchange with a full or partial scholarship each year. Financial assistance may be in the form of a merit-based scholarship, needs-based financial aid, or Legacy Grant for students who are previously involved in the YFU Community. Scholarships may vary in deadline, requirements, and eligibility. To learn more, please visit our Scholarships Page to find details on the following scholarships eligible for Italy:
YFU Legacy Grant
YFU Financial Aid Fund
Holcomb & Farnell Foreign Study Fund
Karla Topolka Scholarship Fund
Passport to Equity
+ Application Deadline
Applications for tuition based programs must be submitted by September 1 for Winter/Spring departure programs and March 15 for Summer and Fall. Applications submitted after this date will be considered on a case by case basis depending upon availability.
**Please note that all 2024 Italy Winter/Spring departure programs are FULL.
+ Additional Information
Visa Information
Information regarding visas and other immigration processes will be provided upon enrollment.
Additional Costs
For students participating in the year-long program to Italy, it is possible to take an examination and receive an official Language Certification at a small cost. The "Permesso di Soggiorno" (Residence Permit) required in order to study in Italy will cost an additional fee. Program tuition does not include personal spending money or school-related costs such as books and school trips.
Choose Your Program
+ Academic Year Programs
You could have the opportunity to study in Italy and live with a host family for an academic year! Students become fully immersed in their culture first hand as you enjoy the cuisine, learn the language, and build friendships that will last a lifetime. Students are able to enroll in a standard public high school or a special interest school where they will take courses focused on a particular interest.
School
Students in Italy can study in one of four different education tracks: Liceo Scientifico, Liceo Classico, Liceo Linguistico or Istituto Tecnico e Commerciale. These high schools focus on subjects such as Sciences, the Classics, Languages, or Business. All education tracks include Italian, English, Math, History and Philosophy, Physics, History of Art, Biology or Chemistry, and Physical Education. The Scientifico track includes all three sciences in addition to Computer Science, the Classico track includes Greek and Latin, the Linguistico track includes three other foreign languages, and the Tecnico e Commerciale track includes Economy and Law, and Accountancy. Exchange students may choose a track to follow, but each program is tailored to accommodate the student's language ability.
Orientations
All students applying for the year program must be available for a mandatory 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation*, which usually takes place in mid-July. This orientation is a required part of the program aimed at preparing students for their experience overseas. All students will participate in a one-day local pre-departure orientation in May or June.
*Due to COVID-19, the 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation described above may take place on-line dependent upon recommended guidelines at the time of the event. YFU will continue to assess the situation as it develops.
Students will attend a post-arrival orientation as well as a re-entry orientation, both of which are 3 days long and are held in Milan. Students who are in Italy for the full year also attend a mid-year orientation. Generally, regional orientations are also provided for students throughout their programs, enabling them to reflect on their experiences and meet with other exchange students.
Students participating in an academic year program will take a 10-day language course that includes cultural activities, games, tours, and a talent show! The camp is usually held close to Rome and all expenses are included in tuition.
Special Interest Programs
Art School: Students on the art high school program will be enrolled in a Liceo Artistico, where they will take standard high school courses in addition to several high level visual arts classes. No previous artistic training is required, but students that do not have art classes on their recent transcripts are required to submit a letter explaining why they are interested in the arts and attending an art high school. Students should expect to submit a portfolio upon request.
Music School: Students on the music high school program will be enrolled in a Liceo Musicale, where they will take standard high school courses in addition to several high level music classes. No previous music training is required, but students should demonstrate a strong interest in the subject. Admission requirements vary depending on the school, and YFU will be in touch after students apply regarding any necessary supplemental materials. Costs for music supplies, instrument rentals, and activities are not included in the YFU program tuition.
** Science School:** Students participating in this program will be enrolled in a Liceo Scientifico, where they will take standard high school courses with a special concentration in the sciences. No previous study is required, but students that do not have high performance in science courses or extensive scientific credits are required to submit a letter explaining why they are interested in the science and participating in a scientific program.
Tourism and Catering School: Students pursuing Tourism and Catering Studies will be enrolled in a Liceo Alberghiero. No previous study is required, but students must be able to demonstrate an interest in tourism and catering.
Bilingual School: Students on the bilingual school program have the opportunity to attend a high school where courses are taught in both Italian and English. Students will attend a Cambridge International School. On this program, most classes are taught in Italian, but some are taught in English.
| PROGRAM | DEPARTURE | RETURN | FULL TUITION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Fall Year | Late August | Late June | $13,095 |
| 2024 Fall Year Art | Late August | Mid June | $13,595 |
| 2024 Fall Year Music | Late August | Mid June | $13,595 |
| 2024 Fall Year Science | Late August | Mid June | $13,595 |
| 2024 Fall Year Tourism | Late August | Mid June | $13,595 |
| 2024 Fall Year Bilingual | Late August | Mid June | $13,595 |
Tuition Includes
- Placement with a host family
- Enrollment in a local Italian high school
- Airport transfers
- Domestic and international travel
- All pre-departure and post arrival orientations
- Pre-program support by trained YFU staff
- Support from a YFU Italy Area Representative while on program
- Week+ Italian language course after arrival
- Comprehensive insurance
Age Requirement
- 2024 Fall Departures: Students born December 30, 2006 - August 31, 2009.
- Students who do not meet this age requirement will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis.
Language
Italian. Previous language study is not required. Language preparation includes a 10-day language course that includes cultural activities, games, tours, and a talent show! The camp is usually held close to Rome and all expenses are included in tuition.
Host Family Placement
Host families may be located anywhere throughout Italy. Rural areas and mid-sized cities are most common and generally have excellent public transportation. Students are rarely placed in large cities such as Rome. Most placements for students can occur in the following counties in Italy: Lombardy, Lazio, Sardinia, Sicily, Marche, Tuscany, Emilia Romagna, and Veneto. While these counties include major cities such as Rome, Milan, Bologne, Pisa, Caligari, Catania, etc., placement in the county could be anywhere, not necessarily in the cities themselves.
Students have the opportunity to specify which region of Italy where they would like to be placed (North Italy, Central Italy, or South Italy and Italian Islands). This selection is optional and comes at an additional cost. It does not apply to all specialty program options. For more information on how to apply with a specific placement request, please email info@yfu.org.
+ Semester Programs
You could have the opportunity to study in Italy and live with a host family for an academic semester! Students become fully immersed in their culture first hand as you enjoy the cuisine, learn the language, and build friendships that will last a lifetime. Students are able to enroll in a standard public high school or a special interest school where they will take courses focused on a particular interest.
School
Students in Italy can study in one of four different education tracks: Liceo Scientifico, Liceo Classico, Liceo Linguistico or Istituto Tecnico e Commerciale. These high schools focus on subjects such as Sciences, the Classics, Languages, or Business. All education tracks include Italian, English, Math, History and Philosophy, Physics, History of Art, Biology or Chemistry, and Physical Education. The Scientifico track includes all three sciences in addition to Computer Science, the Classico track includes Greek and Latin, the Linguistico track includes three other foreign languages, and the Tecnico e Commerciale track includes Economy and Law, and Accountancy. Exchange students may choose a track to follow, but each program is tailored to accommodate the student's language ability.
Orientations
All students applying for the semester program must be available for a mandatory 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation*, which usually takes place in mid-July or early-mid December (Spring departures). This orientation is a required part of the program aimed at preparing students for their experience overseas. All students applying for a Fall program will participate in a one-day local pre-departure orientation in May or June.
*Due to COVID-19, the 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation described above may take place on-line dependent upon recommended guidelines at the time of the event. YFU will continue to assess the situation as it develops.
Students will attend a post-arrival orientation as well as a re-entry orientation, both of which are 3 days long and are held in Milan. Generally, regional orientations are also provided for students throughout their programs, enabling them to reflect on their experiences and meet with other exchange students.
Students participating in a Fall departure program will take a 10-day language course that includes cultural activities, games, tours, and a talent show! The camp is usually held close to Rome and all expenses are included in tuition.
Special Interest Programs
Art School: Students on the art high school program will be enrolled in a Liceo Artistico, where they will take standard high school courses in addition to several high level visual arts classes. No previous artistic training is required, but students that do not have art classes on their recent transcripts are required to submit a letter explaining why they are interested in the arts and attending an art high school. Students should expect to submit a portfolio upon request.
Music School: Students on the music high school program will be enrolled in a Liceo Musicale, where they will take standard high school courses in addition to several high level music classes. No previous music training is required, but students should demonstrate a strong interest in the subject. Admission requirements vary depending on the school, and YFU will be in touch after students apply regarding any necessary supplemental materials. Costs for music supplies, instrument rentals, and activities are not included in the YFU program tuition.
** Science School:** Students participating in this program will be enrolled in a Liceo Scientifico, where they will take standard high school courses with a special concentration in the sciences. No previous study is required, but students that do not have high performance in science courses or extensive scientific credits are required to submit a letter explaining why they are interested in the science and participating in a scientific program.
Tourism and Catering School: Students persuing Tourism and Catering Studies will be enrolled in a Liceo Alberghiero. No previous study is required, but students must be able to demonstrate an interest in tourism and catering.
Bilingual School: Students on the bilingual school program have the opportunity to attend a high school where courses are taught in both Italian and a second language. Students that choose to enroll in a sciences track of high school will be able to choose between English, Chinese, and Spanish as their secondary language. Students that choose to enroll in a classics track of high school will be able to choose between German and French as their secondary language. On this program, most classes are taught in Italian, but some (history, geography, sports, etc.) are taught in the second language.
| PROGRAM | DEPARTURE | RETURN | FULL TUITION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Fall Semester | Late August | Mid January | $11,595 |
| 2024 Fall Semester Art | Late August | Mid January | $12,095 |
| 2024 Fall Semester Science | Late August | Mid January | $12,095 |
| 2024 Fall Semester Tourism | Late August | Mid January | $12,095 |
| 2025 Spring Semester | Mid January | Mid June | $12,595 |
| 2025 Spring Semester Art | Mid January | Mid June | $13,595 |
| 2025 Spring Semester Science | Mid January | Mid June | $13,595 |
| 2025 Spring Semester Tourism | Mid January | Mid June | $13,595 |
Tuition Includes
- Placement with a host family
- Enrollment in a local Italian high school
- Airport transfers
- Domestic and international travel
- All pre-departure and post arrival orientations
- Pre-program support by trained YFU staff
- Support from a YFU Italy Area Representative while on program
- Week+ Italian language course after arrival
- Comprehensive insurance
Age Requirement
- 2024 Fall Departures: Students born December 30, 2006 - August 31, 2009.
- 2025 Spring Departures: Students born March 31, 2007 - December 31, 2009.
- Students who do not meet this age requirement will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis.
Language
Italian. Previous language study is not required. For Fall departure programs, language preparation includes a 10-day language course that includes cultural activities, games, tours, and a talent show! The camp is usually held close to Rome and all expenses are included in tuition.
Host Family Placement
Host families may be located anywhere throughout Italy. Rural areas and mid-sized cities are most common and generally have excellent public transportation. Students are rarely placed in large cities such as Rome. Most placements for students can occur in the following counties in Italy: Lombardy, Lazio, Sardinia, Sicily, Marche, Tuscany, Emilia Romagna, and Veneto. While these counties include major cities such as Rome, Milan, Bologne, Pisa, Caligari, Catania, etc., placement in the county could be anywhere, not necessarily in the cities themselves.
Students have the opportunity to specify which region of Italy wherein they would like to be placed (North Italy, Central Italy, or South Italy and Italian Islands). This selection is optional and comes at an additional cost. It does not apply to all specialty program options. For more information on how to apply with a specific placement request, please email info@yfu.org.
+ Trimester Programs
You could have the opportunity to study in Italy and live with a host family for an academic trimester! Students become fully immersed in their culture first hand as you enjoy the cuisine, learn the language, and build friendships that will last a lifetime. Students are able to enroll in a standard public high school or a special interest school where they will take courses focused on a particular interest.
School
Students in Italy can study in one of four different education tracks: Liceo Scientifico, Liceo Classico, Liceo Linguistico or Istituto Tecnico e Commerciale. These high schools focus on subjects such as Sciences, the Classics, Languages, or Business. All education tracks include Italian, English, Math, History and Philosophy, Physics, History of Art, Biology or Chemistry, and Physical Education. The Scientifico track includes all three sciences in addition to Computer Science, the Classico track includes Greek and Latin, the Linguistico track includes three other foreign languages, and the Tecnico e Commerciale track includes Economy and Law, and Accountancy. Exchange students may choose a track to follow, but each program is tailored to accommodate the student's language ability.
Orientations
All students applying for the trimester program must be available for a mandatory 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation*, which usually takes place in mid-July. This orientation is a required part of the program aimed at preparing students for their experience overseas. All students applying for a Fall program will participate in a one-day local pre-departure orientation in May or June.
*Due to COVID-19, the 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation described above may take place on-line dependent upon recommended guidelines at the time of the event. YFU will continue to assess the situation as it develops.
Students will attend a post-arrival orientation as well as a re-entry orientation, both of which are 3 days long and are held in Milan. Generally, regional orientations are also provided for students throughout their programs, enabling them to reflect on their experiences and meet with other exchange students.
Students participating in a Fall departure program will take a 10-day language course that includes cultural activities, games, tours, and a talent show! The camp is usually held close to Rome and all expenses are included in tuition.
Special Interest Programs
Art School: Students on the art high school program will be enrolled in a Liceo Artistico, where they will take standard high school courses in addition to several high level visual arts classes. No previous artistic training is required, but students that do not have art classes on their recent transcripts are required to submit a letter explaining why they are interested in the arts and attending an art high school. Students should expect to submit a portfolio upon request.
** Science School:** Students participating in this program will be enrolled in a Liceo Scientifico, where they will take standard high school courses with a special concentration in the sciences. No previous study is required, but students that do not have high performance in science courses or extensive scientific credits are required to submit a letter explaining why they are interested in the science and participating in a scientific program.
Host Family Placement
Host families may be located anywhere throughout Italy. Rural areas and mid-sized cities are most common and generally have excellent public transportation. Students are rarely placed in large cities such as Rome. Most placements for students can occur in the following counties in Italy: Lombardy, Lazio, Sardinia, Sicily, Marche, Tuscany, Emilia Romagna, and Veneto. While these counties include major cities such as Rome, Milan, Bologne, Pisa, Caligari, Catania, etc., placement in the county could be anywhere, not necessarily in the cities themselves.
Students have the opportunity to specify which region of Italy wherein they would like to be placed (North Italy, Central Italy, or South Italy and Italian Islands). This selection is optional and comes at an additional cost. It does not apply to all specialty program options. For more information on how to apply with a specific placement request, please email info@yfu.org.
| PROGRAM | DEPARTURE | RETURN | FULL TUITION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Fall Trimester | Late August | Early November | $10,595 |
| 2024 Fall Trimester Art | Late August | Early November | $11,595 |
| 2024 Fall Trimester Science | Late August | Early November | $11,595 |
Tuition Includes
- Placement with a host family
- Enrollment in a local Italian high school
- Airport transfers
- Domestic and international travel
- All pre-departure and post arrival orientations
- Pre-program support by trained YFU staff
- Support from a YFU Italy Area Representative while on program
- Week+ Italian language course after arrival
- Comprehensive insurance
Age Requirement
- 2024 Fall Departures: Students born December 30, 2006 - August 31, 2009.
- Students who do not meet this age requirement will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis.
Language
Italian. Previous language study is not required. For Fall departure programs, language preparation includes a 10-day language course that includes cultural activities, games, tours, and a talent show! The camp is usually held close to Rome and all expenses are included in tuition.