Study Abroad in Florence, Italy

Florence, Italy – Spring 2027

• Dates: April 2 - June 5, 2027
• Zoom info session: June 4, 2026, at 10 a.m. Meeting Registration - Zoom
• Application Open: How To Apply – WCCCSA

Study abroad in Florence offers Community College students an accessible and transformative opportunity with a strong emphasis on art & culture. As the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence serves as a living classroom where students can study art history and visual arts while experiencing masterpieces by artists like Michelangelo and Botticelli firsthand. Beyond academics, students gain independence and cultural awareness, making Florence an especially enriching destination for those seeking both creative inspiration and personal growth.

Important Dates

• Application Deadline: January 8, 2027
• Program Deposit Due: January 8, 2027
• Early Bird Deadline: October 2, 2026 & save €100
• Balance of Program Fees Due: March 1, 2027
• Tuition: Check your campus calendar
• Mandatory Pre-Departure Orientation:  August 28, 2027

Location

LIVE AND STUDY in Florence, Italy, where the Renaissance was born and everyday life unfolds among centuries of art and innovation. Learn alongside WCCCSA faculty while Florence becomes your classroom—through academically rich courses, field-based learning, and a weekly Italian Language and Culture experience integrated into the program.

Beyond campus, walk through Medici palaces and historic quarters, explore layers of ancient, Renaissance, and modern Florence, and engage with the city as locals do. Sip an afternoon espresso, enjoy a gelato in a Florentine piazza, build lasting memories, and earn college credit from your WCCCSA home campus.

Housing

Students will stay in self-catered apartments near the study center. Typically, each two-to-four-bedroom apartment is shared by four-to-six WCCCSA students on a twin-bedded basis. Students will have a shared kitchen and living space. Bed linen and wireless internet are provided. Apartments are within a short 10–20-minute walk to the Study Center.

Transportation

Transportation subscription (valid for one month on all public transportation in Florence; the pass can be recharged as needed). UniCollege will provide instructions and support with ground transportation from the airport in Florence to students’ apartments upon arrival.

Faculty & Courses

Courses and faculty information are TBD. Students will register for three 5-credit courses at their home campus.

Italian Life & Culture Class

This course will be taught by local qualified guest lecturers from Unicollege, focusing on historical, political, economic, and cultural aspects of Florence and Italy. Local faculty will assign work and grades for the course.

Reminder: This is an academic program, and students are required to enroll in a full-time course load (15 credits). Failure to participate in the academic coursework may result in dismissal from the program. Students are encouraged to make the most of their classroom learning as it will enhance understanding of all the local area has to offer.

Portuguese Life & Culture

Make the most of your time in Florence and really get emersed in your new home with this required course which will explore a different theme of Italian Life and Culture each week, from Florence history and politics to Italian language, sports, music, dance, food and drink, and much more! This course is taught by local qualified professor focusing on historical, political, economic and cultural aspects of Florence and Italy. Local faculty will assign work and grades for the course.

Excursions/Activities

9 STUDENT LIFE ACTIVITIES: 1 per week (2 hours each) held by the local professor of Italian life and culture course, see the previous section for further details.

Cultural activities: ticket-free walking tours in Florence and its surroundings, enriched with historical and cultural context. Examples include visits to Palazzo Vecchio, Palazzo Strozzi, Santa Maria del Fiore, and the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella.

Student life activities: to foster social and cultural exchange through events such as language tandems, karaoke nights (in Italian and English), lasagna or pizza night, and more.

Optional day excursions to Siena and Pisa, each for an additional fee of €200 (each option needs at least 12 participants).

Independent Travel

You may use your free time on weekends & holidays to explore Florence, travel throughout Italy, or beyond to some of Europe’s great cities including London, Amsterdam, Rome, and Paris.

Costs: $7050 or €6000

This cost includes the €1500 deposit which is due at the time of application.

After a deposit or final payment is collected, this money will not be refunded. If a student or faculty member should decide not to participate in an activity or excursion, no money will be refunded.

Included

• Accommodation in a shared, self-catered apartment (centrally located)
• Remote- and in-country 24-hour emergency contact service for duration of program
• Welcome event (Italiano aperitivo style)
• Comprehensive Health Insurance
• Online pre-departure cultural induction, jointly delivered by WCCCSA and Unicollege
• Onsite orientation program with Unicollege staff, covering safety and security, cultural differences, and daily life in Italy
• Full access to Unicollege campus facilities, including Wi-Fi, cafeteria, and university common areas – and with assistance of English-speaking front-desk personnel
• Public transportation card valid for the city of Florence for the first month and rechargeable beyond that

Not Included

• Round-trip airfare and in-country transfers
• Tuition & fees for 15 credits at your campus
• Course books/materials
• Passport & visa fees, if apply
• Meals not mentioned above
• Personal expenses
• Additional excursions and fieldtrips to those listed
• Anything not specified as included in the program
• Optional personal effects coverage and medical insurance upgrade