High School Abroad in Italy
Become fluent in Italian in the birthplace of the Renaissance.
The birthplace of the Renaissance is known for its beautiful language, exquisite architecture, and world-famous art and cuisine. Spend your free time discovering museums and cathedrals, attending local festivals, and eating to your heart’s content. Immerse yourself in Italian culture by participating in class and connecting with new friends at your local school. During the first three weeks of the program, you'll attend a dedicated Italian language immersion program to make great leaps in your language proficiency. Then, you will continue to participate in a bi-weekly language program to continue to develop your skills coupled with classes at a local high school.
The Take-Aways
Language Proficiency
Our program provides students with 150 language contact hours in just a few weeks.
Global Citizenship
After immersing yourself in unfamiliar practices and customs, you’ll become better equipped to interact with people from other cultures — in school, on the job, or in your personal life
Independence & Resilience
Come home better prepared to make transitions, take control of new situations, and appreciate challenging experiences for what they are: opportunities to learn and grow.
93%
said their experience made them more aware of global issues.
79%
said their experience with CIEE helped shape their college applications.
96%
said they regularly use the knowledge and skills they acquired while abroad with CIEE.
The Destination
Discover a world of unparalleled art, architecture, history, and cuisine in spectacular Italy.
With CIEE High School Semester Abroad in Italy, you’ll explore more than 3,000 years of rich history, both in class at the local high school and through your own personal explorations. Meet up with friends after a day of classes to share real pizza margherita and gelato. Explore the Italian countryside during a school field trip. Practicing your Italian while cheering on the local fútbol team during an exciting match.
Advance your Italian proficiency each day — through chats with teachers and classmates, and dinnertime conversations with your homestay — and gain important international experience that can help get you into your first-choice college. If you’re ready, Italy awaits.
CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Italy.
Orientation
After being greeted at the airport by CIEE staff, your Italian adventure begins with a 3-day orientation. This orientation combines an essential language skills workshop with city exploration, helping you feel prepared and confident. You will also learn about local life, how to navigate cultural differences, and connect with your fellow participants. The orientation is designed to help prepare you for a fully immersive experience for the duration of your program.
Sample Activities
Join your peers on group excursions to legendary landmarks in a range of favorite Italian cities. Possible destinations include:
Turin
Discover the first capital of Italy during an overnight trip to Turin. Torino offers a variety of fun and engaging activities. Let the baroque and royal palaces mesmerize you and learn about Fellini and the magic of the film productions at the Cinema museum. Next, explore the wonders of ancient history at the Egyptian Museum, home to one of the largest collections of Egyptian artifacts. Finally, visit the Car Museum to marvel at the evolution of FIAT automotive design. Top it off by enjoying authentic Agnolotti pasta!
Lucca and Pisa
Students will discover two absolute gems of the region: Lucca and Pisa. You will start the morning with a scenic bike tour along Lucca's historic city walls, offering breathtaking views and a glimpse into the city's rich past. In the afternoon, head to Pisa to visit the iconic Leaning Tower and the stunning Baptistery, experiencing the mesmerizing Gregorian chants that fill the air.
Please note this list of activities is based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to both adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback.
Eligibility
- Be between the ages of 15 and 17 when the program starts and cannot turn 18 while on program.
- Be in the 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th year of schooling.
- Have a minimum GPA of 2.5.
- Demonstrate, through the application process, their flexibility, maturity, adaptability, and readiness to face the challenges of living in a new culture.
- Students are not required to have taken Italian language classes prior to participating in this program. However, it's highly recommended that students have previous language experience as all classes will be taught in Italian.
High school abroad participants are NOT authorized to volunteer, take jobs, or seek employment during their stay.
For more information, refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria.
Dates & Fees
Application Fee
$50
Priority deadline discount: Apply to a fall semester or academic year by February 15 and get a $400 discount. Apply to a spring semester by July 15 and get a $400 discount. Discounts are deducted from final balance.
Additional information about insurance can be found on the FAQ page.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Academic Year 2025 41 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Costs $28,000 | |
| Program Spring 2026 21 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Costs $17,000 | |
| Program Spring Trimester 2026 12 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Costs $14,750 | |
| Program Fall 2025 19 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Costs $17,000 | |
| Program Fall Trimester 2025 14 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Costs $14,750 |