Fashion! Food! Fun! Italy has it all. It’s not surprising that more than 50 million people visit this European country in the middle of the Mediterranean every year. But traveling for vacay is not the same as setting up to live and study somewhere—so here’s seven great reasons to consider studying abroad in Italy so that you can make your semester or summer abroad the most meaningful and rewarding experience it can be!
Could Italy study abroad get any dreamier?!
Why should you study abroad in Italy?
1. Amazing World-Class Cities to Choose From
Italy is a country with so many beautiful places to see and experience—but four of them are world-renowned for being among the top destinations for any traveler. The history of Rome goes back more than 2800 years and you’ll find evidence of its history at every turn. Once known as the “capital of the world” the city of Rome is home to incredible architecture, the famous catacombs, and even houses Vatican City—also known as the smallest country in the world!
Italy study abroad programs in Venice will find you enjoying the riverways and canals by boat, or walking the waterways (and the hundreds of bridges) on foot. You could do your studying with an espresso and gelato in the famous Piazza San Marco, or spend your afternoons learning about art during the famed Biennale. Venice is a major international center for education—so study abroad programs in Italy often have excellent options here.
The landscapes of Florence and Milan are separated by a two-hour train ride—and in completely different parts of the country—but both cities are major power-players in the areas of finance, fashion, commerce, architecture, history, and art. If you’re interested in Italian literature or painting, what could be better than studying in Italy in Florence—the birthplace of Dante Alighieri and Leonardo da Vinci? And if urban planning, architecture, or museum studies are your thing, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better place than Milan for your Italy study abroad program. Again, these are only four of the many places you might go—but just these cities alone could provide a lifetime of learning!
2. Colosseums and Castles—Beaches and Bocce Ball!
The mix of old and new will keep you enchanted all damn day.
And it’s not just the big four that have the colosseums and the castles for sightseeing. From the Greek ruins of Agrigento, Sicily to that incredible Leaning Tower of Pisa in the coastal city with the same name, the architecture of Italy is as stunning as it is diverse. But don’t forget the beautiful beaches and coastal towns—like Sorrento, Amalfi, and the villages of Cinque Terre—each one more beautiful than the next! And then there’s Italian social life—with the popularity of Italian carnivales, the excitement of football matches, and opportunities for sport—from cycling to bocce ball, all over the country. No matter what you enjoy—you’ll likely find a place to explore it during your Italy study abroad.
3. Tasty, Tasty Food
What could be better than freshly baked bread dipped in some brilliantly flavored Tuscan olive oil? Or some oysters on the coast with a squeeze of lemon and little else? And don’t forget the pizza in Naples made with those famous San Marzano tomatoes—or the gelatos and Italian ices to be found on any street throughout. Feeling like you want to explore Sicilian foods? No problem—eat your fill of arancini (fried rice balls) and wash them down with some sweet Marsala wine. Whatever your tastes, if you enjoy fresh flavors and a Mediterranean profile, if you study in Italy—no matter where you are, you’ll find it there!
4. A Commitment to Education
School in Italy is free and mandatory until age sixteen—and as students progress through their grade levels, they participate in a specialized curriculum that steers them toward vocational programs or various levels of traditional university. Once at the university level, the schools become even more specialized—and selective—with more than twenty of the programs being included in the top 500 universities in the world. The oldest continuously operating university in the world is found in Bologna—having had its doors open to students for over 930 years! If you’re interested in studying in Italy among the best and brightest, you will definitely find it here!
5. A Focus on Health
Study abroad 15? Arrivederci! You’ll stay fab and fit while studying in Italy.
The Mediterranean diet isn’t the only thing that makes study abroad in Italy a popular choice for those concerned with health and wellness. Italy provides an incredibly comprehensive health care program for all its citizens—and Italians rank lower than average in health problems and illness, and higher than average on life expectancy and wellness-markers. If you want to study the impact of cuisine and lifestyle on health, or work in medicine and diagnostics, you’ll find options for exceptional study abroad programs in Italy focusing on these subjects in cities like Pavia, Palermo, Rome, and Milan.
6. A Playground for Decadence
From Amalfi Coast vacations—to ultra-fast cars manufactured in Turin—to super-yachts parked on the coast of Portofino—and ultra-rich shopping opportunities in Capri, if you’re someone who likes to rub elbows with the glitterati, Italy will not disappoint. You can learn any number of subjects while studying abroad in Italy, but if fashion merchandising, or lifestyle curation, or tourism is part of your plan, you can experience first-hand some of the most incredible travel opportunities—including those often reserved for those with means to travel to these places, all for the cost of train fare from wherever you might be while you study in Italy and pursue your goals.
7. All That Culture… Art, Architecture, Music, Theater, and More!
Italy is known for its contributions to Western culture—particularly in the areas of art, architecture, music, literature, and theater. If you want to study music, try Perugia—or any of the big four cities (Rome, Venice, Florence, and Milan). If you’re drawn to architecture, you can find the influences of Italy’s oldest northern city in Pauda—founded by the Trojans in 1183 BC and home to the university where Galileo once taught. Studying abroad in Italy puts you right in the middle of history—and any student can appreciate that!
[View ALL Study Abroad Programs in Italy]
Italy study abroad FAQs
Pizza might not be on our list, but it’s still a pretty good reason to study in Italy
Where are the most popular places for study abroad in Italy?
There are so many major Italian city-centers, it might be hard to decide where you want to set up your home base for studying abroad in Italy. We’ve already named quite a few that you can research further—and it should be no surprise that the big four of Rome, Venice, Florence, and Milan. But there are also beautiful places like Trieste, Viterbo, and Siena—home to a large number of colleges with Italian language schools, language immersion programs, and schools focused on topics like agriculture and cultural heritage. The places are both numerous and diverse—and so are the subjects!
What are the most popular courses to take while studying in Italy?
So with that in mind, how do you settle on what you want to pursue? Obviously, Italian language immersion programs are popular here. You can sound like a native speaker when you order your dinner—or follow along in Italian when you attend the opera. But Italy also lends itself to other popular programs including things like environmental studies and earth science (Italy is a particularly popular spot for volcano-study, as it turns out)—just as the incredible history of the country readily supports excellent opportunities for international business and political science and politics.
[7 Top Colleges in Italy for International Students]
Your options for study in Italy are incredibly robust—so whether you want to study one of the programs already mentioned, or perhaps just grab your camera and find some courses in photography to learn how best to capture all those beautiful Italian vistas, the study abroad programs available to you will definitely capture your interests!
What are the most popular study abroad programs in Italy?
You will find a wide variety of programs and providers with study abroad programs in Italy. Some will provide only short-term or semester-long options—while others will allow you to pursue an entire degree plan as part of your study abroad. There are options for every course of study—and for every budget. Are you looking only for summer programs? If so, you can pack a lot in to that short period of time—but just make sure you also pack light layers and plenty of sunscreen. As with most of Italy, the biggest difference tends to be whether or not the summers are hot and humid, or hot and dry.
Who knows how many besties you’ll make during your study abroad program in Italy!?
Check out the Umbra Institute, a partnered program with Acadia University, to learn more about how to maximize your summer study abroad in beautiful Perugia. And if you’re planning to stay for all four seasons, you might decide to attend throughout the calendar or academic year. Some of the programs catering to full-year experiences include those with housing and meal plans included—like The American Institute for Foreign Study in Florence, another incredible location with plenty of subjects for you to choose!
How much does it cost to study abroad in Italy?
There are so many different types of programs—and in so many different locations, the big factors on cost will likely connect to the specific course of study abroad in Italy you choose—and where that course will be. Some programs are right within traditional universities—which will mean transportation, tuition, housing, and general costs.
While other programs offer housing, residential support, and placement services to ease the financial burden. Whatever you choose, just remember that there are resources available to help you find the right program for you, review your options for making a budget, and a wide variety of scholarships available to help you defray costs. If you’re still in a college program now (or about to enter one), make sure you also check out the resources on building the right support team to help you make this transition. And, finally, don’t forget that your choice of program will also offer tips and tricks to make the most out of your experience—so get them on board early to help you plan!
Next steps to study abroad in Italy ASAP
Discover a whole new world for yourself.
Don't pack your neckerchiefs juuuust yet. There are a few items on your study abroad to do list you should check off first.
- Decide where to go. Figuring out where to study abroad in Italy isn’t easy. The gorgeous sunflower fields of Tuscany? Somewhere in Rome? Don't let anything hold you back—choose a place that's right for you.
- Your major courses or something more fun and experiential? You don't only have to take classes that pertain to your major back home (though it never hurts to knock out some credits towards graduation). Look at your course options and decide what combination of required classes and just-for-fun-or-because-you-want-to-learn-it classes are out there. Choose from literature, the sciences, education, psychology, and more!
- Choose from the best study abroad programs in Italy. Pay attention to past participants’ reviews, program/university reputation, location, and your ease of getting credits. Some schools or providers may even provide contact info for student ambassadors or past international students if you want the REAL dirt. Here’s our guide to choosing between study abroad programs.
- Plan your finances. Sort out funding before you go to afford daily essentials and splurge in travel (in addition to program costs and airfare). Do your research to have an idea of how much your study abroad program will cost. Check out scholarships for study abroad in Italy too!
- Talk to your home university. Getting all your ducks in a row is largely dependent on what your home university requires. Talk to a study abroad advisor or the equivalent at your university to see what choices are available to you.
Now you’re ready to study abroad in Italy!
Life as an international student in Italy is sweet <3
These are only a small number of all the possible reasons you might pursue your study abroad in Italy—and the overall benefits of pursuing your education abroad are many! Whatever your course of study, going abroad for your education—whether for a semester, a year, or an entire degree program—will only bring you enhanced opportunities to learn in new and interesting ways, and give you a competitive advantage when you take those skills to the job market. So now it’s time to get going because Italy—and all that beautiful food, scenery, and experience awaits! And that might just be basta! (enough!) for now. Enjoy!
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