Academic Year Abroad

Complete immersion in art, culture, and Renaissance tradition

A Year of Study at FSFA

A full academic year at FSFA offers the rare opportunity to slow down and learn within continuity rather than interruption. Living and studying in Florence over time allows students to move beyond first impressions and into deeper forms of understanding—of place, practice, and self.

This extended experience encourages students to inhabit the rhythms of daily life, to return to sites and ideas repeatedly, and to recognize how learning evolves through duration. A year abroad at FSFA is not about accumulation, but about attention: to history, material, language, and lived experience.

Through this immersion, students develop academic focus, cultural awareness, and intellectual independence—qualities essential to thoughtful global citizenship.

Semesters and Courses

Two semesters of complete immersion

1
Fall Semester
Sept – Dec
12–15 Credits
2
Spring Semester
Jan – April
12–15 Credits
Total Academic Year
24–30 Credits

Studio Arts & Design

Painting Drawing Printmedia Photography Letterpress BookArts Game Design

The Full Florence Experience

Complete immersion. Italian fluency, extensive portfolio, graduate school preparation. Live through all seasons, build deep connections with local artists, master traditional and contemporary techniques, and create a comprehensive body of work that demonstrates significant artistic growth.

Liberal Arts

Art History Italian Culture Italian Language Italian Studies Literature Writing

Together, these courses encourage students to situate their work within broader cultural, historical, and intellectual frameworks.

Classroom Structure & Instruction

Academic Lecture Classes

Lecture courses meet twice weekly and combine seminar-style discussion with on-site instruction throughout the city. Coursework emphasizes close reading, analytical writing, and critical engagement, asking students to consider how ideas emerge from specific historical and cultural contexts.

Studio Classes

Studio courses meet twice weekly and focus on sustained making and inquiry. Instruction includes demonstrations, guided practice, and visual analysis, as well as site visits connected to each discipline. Regular critiques—both individual and group-based—reinforce the value of reflection, dialogue, and iterative learning.

Academic Year Experience

Experience Florence

Immerse yourself in the Renaissance city

Art Studio
Studio Life

Create in Renaissance Studios

Work in professional art studios located in historic Florentine buildings. Access traditional techniques alongside contemporary practices in painting, drawing, printmaking, and photography.

Florence Architecture
Cultural Immersion

Museums as Your Classroom

Study masterpieces firsthand at the Uffizi, Accademia, and Bargello. Weekly field studies bring art history to life as you stand before works by Michelangelo, Botticelli, and Caravaggio.

Florence Street Life
Daily Life

Live Like a Florentine

Shop at neighborhood markets, discover hidden trattorias, and build relationships with local artisans. Your Italian improves naturally through daily conversation and authentic experiences.

Apply Now

Start your journey to Florence. Application opens the door to transformation.

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