Meet School College students Who Did a Research Overseas Program in Italy

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Italy is a globally celebrated vacation spot the place centuries of historical past, world-class delicacies, wealthy inventive heritage, and tutorial excellence come collectively in a single unforgettable expertise. Whether or not you go to historic cities, quaint countrysides, or sunny seashores, there may be magnificence and tradition to be discovered all over the place. AIFS Overseas presents research overseas applications within the fashion-famous metropolis of Milan, the Renaissance metropolis of Florence, and the historic metropolis of Rome. Excited by studying extra about what it’s actually like to review overseas in Italy? 

Hear from 5 faculty college students who did a research overseas program in Italy with AIFS Overseas! 

Nevaeh: Spring Semester in Milan 

Meet Nevaeh from the School of William & Mary, who studied overseas in Milan, Italy throughout the spring semester. 

Right here’s why Nevaeh selected Milan as her research overseas vacation spot: 

“I picked Milan for a few causes. One motive was [that] I needed the expertise of attending to reside in a metropolis, although it’s not the largest metropolis on the planet, I simply thought that dwelling in an space with so many individuals, that’s so walkable, with so many issues to do, could be such an ideal expertise. I’m additionally half Italian, so I needed to apply my Italian and be among the many locals to get a style of my heritage. Additionally, I really like trend, so I needed to be in one of many trend capitals. I simply thought that Università Cattolica had a whole lot of nice course choices and people programs would slot in my main again at William & Mary.” 

One of many largest questions most aspiring research overseas college students have is “What’s the housing like?” Fortuitously, AIFS Overseas gives a spread of housing choices that modify relying in your program vacation spot; irrespective of which program you select, you may rely upon secure and centrally situated AIFS Overseas housing. Hear Nevaeh describe her shared residence in Milan: 

“I really like our residence! It has a kitchen with an oven, range, microwave, and two fridges, a rest room with a washer and dryer included, and huge bedrooms with numerous cupboard space… not one, however two closets! The residence was totally furnished, so we didn’t need to pay for a sofa or something like that.” 

AIFS Overseas ensures that housing is conveniently situated close to courses, so college students don’t need to commute far. Take heed to Nevaeh describe the brief stroll to her college in Milan: “My residence is shut sufficient to Università Cattolica that I can stroll to class! [The walk is] all the time so lovely.” 

To sum up her research overseas expertise with AIFS Overseas, Nevaeh stated,  “I’ve really had such an incredible expertise learning overseas right here in Milan, a lot of it is because of AIFS and my [Program Directors],” who’re on-site workers which are there to assist you all through your program. 

Nicole: Fall Semester in Florence 

Nicole spent a fall semester overseas within the cultural hub of Florence, conveniently located within the heart of the nation. She selected a Research + Internship program, which permits contributors to research and intern overseas on the similar time.  

Whereas taking programs on the AIFS Overseas World Training Middle, Nicole accomplished a part-time advertising and marketing internship at a neighborhood enterprise, the place her tasks included social media administration, web site enhancing, e mail advertising and marketing, public relations, contact administration, and occasion internet hosting. As she explains, she appreciated the expertise of interning at a small firm: 

“The corporate was very small with just one worker, the founder. This was very totally different as a result of I’ve usually labored with bigger firms. However it was good to see how a start-up works. I additionally discovered the work setting a bit extra relaxed than any American firm I’ve labored for.” 

Many college students who research overseas marvel if they’re required to talk a second language to review overseas. Fortuitously, AIFS Overseas presents loads of applications that require no prior language abilities or language studying. Hear Nicole’s tackle studying the language whilst you research overseas: 

“I didn’t must know the language prematurely to be eligible. Attempt to be taught the language and totally soak up the tradition as a result of it makes it very attention-grabbing and offers you a way of accomplishment.” 

One of many advantages of learning overseas in Italy is that it gives easy accessibility to quite a few different European international locations. Nicole took benefit of her semester overseas in Italy and traveled to a number of different international locations on the weekends: 

“My favourite weekend journeys have been Mykonos, Greece, and Budapest, Hungary. I actually loved the climate and seashores in Mykonos, and I liked the historical past of Budapest.” 

Erin: Could Time period in Rome 

Erin from the College of West Florida studied overseas in Rome throughout Could Time period. This short-term research overseas program offers college students like Erin the chance to review overseas throughout a break within the tutorial calendar—in her case, the beginning of summer season! Right here’s why Erin selected a Could Time period program: 

 “Getting in Could allowed me to expertise research overseas like I’ve all the time needed to, whereas additionally permitting me to nonetheless have a full semester again at house! Three weeks was the proper period of time for me, and going throughout Could Time period additionally helped spare me from the warmth of Italian summers.” 

Under, Erin describes her classroom expertise whereas learning overseas on the AIFS Overseas World Training Middle in Rome: 

“My stroll from my residence to class is barely about 25-Half-hour. I  get to see lovely sights on the way in which there, so it’s type of a win-win. I’m solely taking one class, Cross-Cultural Psychology, solely as a result of I’m right here for 3 weeks, in order that’s what labored greatest for me. All my courses are in English. I’ve a extremely cool professor, he’s from the UK. He offers me the cultural view of the courses that’s totally different than what I’m used to at my house college. All of us have courses in the primary AIFS constructing… I really like the courses, they’re very participating, very customized.” 

It’s regular to marvel (or fear) about making pals overseas, however wherever you go together with AIFS Overseas, you’re not alone! Hear Erin describe her expertise making pals in Rome: 

 “So mainly, I went into this system utterly blind. I didn’t know anyone going into it, I had by no means recognized anybody who had finished AIFS earlier than… I’ve met so many cool individuals, I really like all my roommates, they’re my besties—I really like dwelling with them. All of the individuals in this system are so cool and so good. My largest tip is to only have a optimistic mindset and put your self on the market, you all the time get out what you place in. So long as you try this, you’re going to make pals… Everybody coming right here [wants to] meet new individuals and make enjoyable recollections. I promise, pals should not a problem, go into it with mindset and all the pieces will work out.” 

Calandrea: January Time period in Florence 

Calandrea from Alabama State College selected to review overseas in Florence throughout January Time period. Right here’s why she selected this short-term research overseas program in Italy: 

“I needed to begin 2025 by exploring the world… a J-term was extra handy for me as a full-time pupil at Alabama State College. Since this was my first time learning overseas, it gave me a way of what an extended expertise would really feel like and made the method much less intimidating for me.” 

Hear Calandrea describe her hands-on studying expertise in Florence: 

“I’m taking Museums of Florence… we visited a special museum on a regular basis. We [have] oral displays on the museums. [The museums were] very fascinating and exquisite.” 

Throughout this class, they visited many famend Italian museums together with Opera del Duomo Museum, Nationwide Museum of Bargello, Uffizi Gallery, and Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze.  

Along with an AIFS Overseas tour to Milan, Calandrea took a discipline journey Castello di Verrazzano, a hillside property recognized for its beautiful vineyards and chateau—under, she describes her expertise: 

“So lovely! Studying extra about wine, olive oil, and Italian delicacies has been a spotlight of my journey. The mountains and views have been completely breathtaking!” 

Jenna: Summer season in Rome 

Jenna studied overseas in Rome throughout the summer season as a rising sophomore at Ohio College. Courses on the AIFS Overseas World Training Middle in Rome ship a novel tutorial expertise, as Jenna explains: 

“All the courses listed here are interactive and hands-on! Many excursions/discipline journeys are taken across the metropolis… It’s not the standard sitting within the classroom for 2 hours lecturing, we combine it up lots which helps me keep engaged and fascinated about studying the content material” 

She took two programs, every value three credit: Comparative Religions and Elementary Italian I. Not solely did she take pleasure in her courses, however Jenna additionally appreciated her schedule: “My day begins at 9 within the morning and ends at 2:30 [in the afternoon], which I actually like.” 

Hear Jenna describe what she did throughout her free time in Rome: 

“I truthfully love simply strolling round and exploring the little nooks and crannies of the town! I’ve been very into movie images these days so I can’t wait to develop my movie once I get again and relive all these recollections and exquisite locations!” 

Jenna defined that another excuse she was so pleased she selected AIFS Overseas is due to our supportive on-site workers: 

“AIFS has an superior crew right here… they’re all the time up on the faculty and they’re all the time there for us if we want something.” 

Immerse your self in Italian tradition whilst you earn credit towards your diploma on a research overseas program with AIFS Overseas in Italy! 

AIFS Overseas presents quite a few applications in Italy, every tailor-made to satisfy particular tutorial and private preferences. With a research overseas program in Italy, you may advance your diploma, enhance your Italian (in the event you select to take action!), immerse your self within the wealthy historical past and tradition of the nation, and journey to your coronary heart’s delight. Select AIFS Overseas and benefit from our useful program inclusions (which actually take the stress out of planning!), reminiscent of housing, journeys and excursions, social and cultural actions, complete insurance coverage, 24/7 emergency assist, and the assist of our trusted on-site workers.