Location
  • Italy
    • Florence
Term
Academic Year, Fall, J-Term, Maymester, Spring, Summer
Subject Areas
Accounting Advertising Architecture Art History Business Communications Creative Writing Cultural Studies Design Economics European Studies Fashion Design Global Studies Graphic Design Health Sciences Hospitality Humanities Interior Design Liberal Arts Literature Marketing Mathematics Performing Arts Philosophy Photography Political Science Psychology Public Relations Sociology Sports Sports Science Theater Visual Arts Web Design +24

Program Details

Program Type
Provider
Degree Level
High School Diploma Associates Bachelors
Housing
Apartment Host Family
Language
English

Pricing

Starting Price
$4,250 USD
Price Details
Program cost includes tuition, housing & SAI's 360° Services
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Classes Travel Insurance Wifi
Aug 18, 2020
Jul 19, 2021

About Program

SAI invites students to surround themselves with the refined beauty of Renaissance Italy by studying abroad at the Florence University of the Arts (FUA). FUA offers a wide range of courses in English which have been carefully planned and designed keeping with current interests and contemporary subjects including: Literature, Sciences, Business, Economics, History, Fine Arts, Graphic Design, and more.

SAI oversees and coordinates all aspects of student enrollment, including application processing, course selection and credit, visa advising, housing, student health insurance, and transcripts. SAI also provides comprehensive student services, from the moment of application, through the on-site experience, until students return home. In addition to supporting students throughout their stay in Florence, SAI also coordinates a range of activities and excursions throughout the term, including a walking tour of historic Florence, a “survival Italian” language class, and much more!

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Enroll in unique experiential learning courses for hands-on learning
  • Live among Italians in a bustling but manageable city
  • Enjoy SAI's 360° Services

Program Reviews

9.76 Rating
based on 74 reviews
  • 9-10 rating 93.24%
  • 7-8 rating 6.76%
  • 5-6 rating 0%
  • 3-4 rating 0%
  • 1-2 rating 0%
  • Academics 7.5
  • Support 9.4
  • Fun 9.1
  • Housing 9.3
  • Safety 9.4
Showing 1 - 8 of 74 reviews
Default avatar
John
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Florence Italy - Summer A 2021

The 6 weeks I spent in Italy may have been the most enriching experience of my life. Whether it was the friendships, memories, beauty, culture, history, or the food. I left Italy with a big fat smile on my face. I would recommend going abroad through SAI to anyone and call me biased but I would suggest going abroad anywhere in Italy. I resided in Florence which was a great place to stay because it was close to most places you would want to travel to in Italy and the food rarely disappointed. Not to mention the nightlife never got old.

What was your funniest moment?
Being referred to as Harry Potter and the tourists by locals.
6 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Alexandra
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

A once in a lifetime experience!!

I normally don’t write reviews but my experience with SAI in Florence was so unbelievable I felt like I had to. I decided to sign up knowing I was going by myself and with only a little over a month till the start date. Between the sign ups, paperwork, etc. SAI made sure we had everything we needed to make the process smooth and the second I stepped out of the airport I was greeted by the program directors and other students in the program. My apartment was beautiful, in an amazing location, and I always felt extremely safe. Within the first few days I made the friends that I will probably have for the rest of my life. Daniela and the team make it known from the beginning that you can go to them for absolutely anything and it was so comforting to know that I had program mentors there for me. My course was so much fun and going to FUA was one of the highlights of my whole trip. I was there when covid restrictions were still in place and it couldn’t have been more perfect. If you’re second guessing signing up, here’s your sign to 100% go for it because it will be an experience you will never forget.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Travel anywhere you can!!! Some of my favorite memories with my friends were not only in Florence, but we’re in all the cities we visited in Italy. There were many instances where we felt stretched thin for time and funds to travel somewhere but ultimately decided to go and it was the most fun we had. Even the train rides were something I always looked forward to with everyone. I can promise you that you will regret down the road not going somewhere because of a 30 euro train ticket or a short time span.
4 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Stephanie
9/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Study abroad through SAI!

I was very satisfied with my decision to study abroad through SAI. They were always available and prompt in helping out or answering questions. Because of covid, my experience was very unique in that some experiences were limited or not offered, but even still, SAI did a fine job at offering fun activities. I wouldn't change my experience for the world. SAI also hosts a variety of students from different universities and countries which is awesome in providing full cultural exposure. Daniela, Luca, and Elizabeth were all very kind and friendly as well.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
The weirdest food I ate while abroad was beef tartare which is raw beef that was included in my aperitivo... definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone being that I'm usually a well-done type of meat eater haha.
6 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Sabrina
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

If I could go back, I wouldn't change anything!!

This program was the perfect fit for me in every way. First, SAI. I loved SAI so much, I ended up becoming a student ambassador for their program after I came home! SAI provides students with every resource they need to be successful abroad. I had access to real people right in Florence who were always ready to help me at any moment. More than that, the classes, trips, and experiences offered by SAI were perfect opportunities to explore our city. This program was with me from start to finish and I'll never forget all that SAI did for me!

Secondly, Florence. This city is one of the most popular study abroad locations for a reason! Florence has history, art, food, culture, night life, and really everything you could want in a study abroad. The City is small enough to be walkable, but large enough to feel excited by. The train station provides easy access to anywhere in Italy (or Europe for that matter) and the Florence airport makes it easy to fly out of country too! Florentines are friendly and willing to lend a hand if you get lost, don't speak Italian, or just need some advice about where to eat dinner. When I talk about my study abroad with students who studied in other cities, Florence always reign supreme. This city is vibrant, rich in history, teeming with energy, and waiting for you to discover it. I truly believe that every person should experience Florence at least once in their lifetime!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Branch outside of the tourist areas!! I cannot stress this enough! Florence is a beautiful City with so much history, and there are many incredible sites to see. Unfortunately, many travelers get caught up in the tourist highlights. If you're just passing through, of course it makes sense to spend your entire trip in the Piazza del Duomo. But for those of you staying a few weeks or a few months, please please please branch out. There's plenty more beyond the Ponte Vecchio. Visit the Sunday market at Santo Spirito. Take the tram to Parco delle Cascine or visit the studio of Florentine street artist, Clet. There's so much more to see in this incredible City than just the tourist traps. I know too many people in my program who ended the semester not really knowing the truth of Florence. They spent every weekend traveling. They worried so much about "hitting the highlights," that they missed all of the incredible discoveries right on the streets of their own city. So, please, put down your guide book, forget about the tourist map, and just go get lost in Florence. I swear to you, it will be the best thing you've ever done!
6 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Brianna
8/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Wishing I could do it again!

Florence, unknowingly, was the perfect place for me-- the art, the city size, the feeling, the atmosphere. I dream daily about the food (particularly gluten-free pastries), the peaceful river at night, happening upon street musicians, and my big, beautiful apartment windows.SAI was also very helpful and provided a great program. They set up our housing, health insurance, different events and excursions (book-making workshop, cooking class, day trips to Siena, Lucca, etc.). Even in the chaos and unknowns of the beginning of the pandemic, the on-site staff was sweet, competent, and as helpful as they could be. They made the arrival process easy and made sure we were introduced to our new city through an orientation and a magnificent dinner in a palace on our first night. Having gotten cut short because of corona, I sometimes think about going abroad again and I think I would want to experience the full thing, because it seems like it would've been fantastic beyond my wildest imagination (even more than it already was).

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Don't try to be Italian, you're not going to pass as a local no matter what. Now don't take this to mean you should be obnoxious Americans or not try to learn and respect the local culture. I say this because I tried way too hard to pack clothing that I thought would look Italian and I ended up with a bunch of clothing I didn't wear because it was too fancy and not something I wanted to put on everyday. You'll save yourself stress/time/money if you are realistic about what you'll wear. Definitely do bring a couple of nicer outfits though, because while you won't look Italian, you might feel weird just wearing leggings everyday (it is not something people there do). If you go in the Spring, be aware that the first month or two is actually pretty cold and you will want more than one sweater/sweatpants to wear around your apartment.
9 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Bella
9/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Loved every minute!

I loved studying abroad with SAI! They always had staff available to help in whatever you needed and understood how overwhelming studying abroad can be. SAI planned awesome trips and immersion activities that made me feel like Florence was my home. The three day trip we took was to Commachio, Padova, and Ravena, three places I would never have normally gone but it ended up being a great trip that allowed me to see smaller cities in Europe, unlike some of the other programs which just take you to Rome or Venice (places you would easily go yourself).

What would you improve about this program?
I would love it if they included the meal plan like some of the other providers did
12 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Arianna
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

An Experience I'll Never Forget

I learned a lot about myself as a person, which I was not expecting because I thought I was pretty in touch with who I was. I also feel like I gained a lot of cultural capital as well because I've visited, seen, and learned about all these amazing things, like art and culture, that I had only ever dreamed of. Traveling while I was abroad was one of the biggest highlights and something that I would recommend for all study abroad students. It gives you he chance to see things that you had only ever hoped of seeing and doing. But don't forget to get to know your own host country, especially Italy where there so much to do and see just in the country. Because the professor and school were understanding that study abroad students were there to do more than just school, the workload was lighter, giving everyone the opportunity to be pursue and do things beyond school, like traveling. I can't advocate for study abroad enough, especially SAI who made the experience even better by being such a resource in a new place where I didn't know a lot of things.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I planned a trip with my friends to Prague for our last weekend before finals. However, once I got there, I realized I forgot my passport at my apartment and ended not being able to go to Prague. Long story short, always double check you have your passport when traveling!
10 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Kate
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Best Decision Of my Life

Choosing to Study Abroad was the best decision I have made, and I am so happy I chose to do it through SAI. Everyone that works for SAI programs goes above and beyond for their students and makes sure that we have all the resources we need to make our experience amazing. From day one, before we even leave the country, they are there to help with any kind of problem we may have. The SAI program is a great little community that I loved being a part of. The program works only to enhance your experience, and it did just that for me. Although they are always there to help, they encourage us to have a lot of independence which gives students the courage to travel and discover new things on our own. They hope for us to not only succeed academically, but to succeed in growing as person and gaining the best cultural experience.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Take advantage of the free trips the program offers
9 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers

Our programs range in price a great deal, since they are anywhere from 3 weeks long to full semesters. You can see a snapshot of all prices on our website here: https://www.saiprograms.com/admissions-aid/costs-dates/. Please reach out to our admissions team via Live Chat on our website if you'd like more detail.

I’ve never had study abroad before but the programs had been different than classes to be 120 but when I have my first spring semester but I’ve got different classes

Classes are within walking distance from the apartments, about 10 minutes. They are really easy to get to!