International Studies Institute Florence (Italy)
The Program
Come to historic, picturesque Florence to study at the birth place of the Renaissance
The program offers a variety of courses in the liberal arts including Art, History, Architecture, Sustainable Agriculture and Food Science. The institute is housed in Palazzo Rucellai, a prestigious 15th century Renaissance palace well known by art historians and architects. Students walk the same medieval cobblestones as Dante, gaze upon the stunning masterpieces of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, and practice their Italian in the shadow of Brunelleschi’s dome.
Program Locations
Italy
Florence
Florence, the capital of Tuscany, is a relatively small city but one whose cultural influence on the world has been enormous. As a wealthy center of finance and commerce in medieval Europe, it was the cradle of the Renaissance. Florence was the birthplace or home, too, of such diverse figures as Dante and Gucci, Michelangelo and Galileo. In the Uffizi Gallery, you can stand and admire Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus, The Annunciation by Leonardo da Vinci, and Titian’s Venus of Urbino, to name but three. Outside, on the streets of the Renaissance city, you’ll pass Brunelleschi’s Duomo and cross the River Arno by way of the Ponte Vecchio, a famous medieval bridge. And if all that history and culture should give you an appetite, Florence also has some of the world’s most refreshing gelato—not to mention fresh seafood, handmade pasta, mouth-watering pizza, and much more.
Academics
The International Studies Institute (ISI) offers a variety of courses in Italian language, food studies & sustainability, art history, studio arts, architecture, history, international business, and Italian studies. All students are required to enroll in one course in the Italian language -- the Institute offers Italian at all levels from beginner to advance. Students may then choose freely from the wide variety of elective courses available. In order to have an idea of what classes are available, you should visit the ISI Florence website.
You will need to be sure that you are registered as a full time student according to ISI Florence and Rutgers University. That means you will need to take at least 12 credits while abroad. The credit translation system between ISI Florence and Rutgers University is 1:1, meaning a 3-credit course at ISI Florence will also be a 3-credit course on your Rutgers University transcript. You will receive 3-4 credits per class taken with ISI Florence. In some cases classes will only be worth 1-2 credits; however this is rare and usually related to art and culture electives. It is not possible to take classes as not-for-credit or pass/fail.
For information about Study Abroad credit transfer, registration, and transcripts please visit the Academics section of our website.
Housing and Meals
You will be housed in shared apartments with other students in the Palazzo Rucellai program. All apartments are within walking distance of the Institute and furnished with a fully-equipped kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms and communal living space. All apartments have wireless internet connections. Although apartments do not have fixed-line telephones, all students are required to buy or rent cellular phones. Meals are not included in the program cost.
Financial Information
Program Costs
| NJ Residents | Non-NJ Resident | |
|---|---|---|
| Program Cost | $15,500 | $19,400 |
Program Cost includes:
• Tuition
• **Housing in standard accommodations
• Administrative Fees
• Emergency Medical Access Abroad
** Should you request or be placed in housing outside of the standard placements, you will be responsible for the pricing difference. This includes, but is not limited to, placement in single rooms. In addition, please be sure you read ISI's withdrawal policy as you will be held to their policy in addition to Rutgers' Withdrawal Policy should you withdraw from the program.
Out-of-Pocket Costs
| Airfare | $1,500 |
| Meals | $3,500 |
| Visa (Estimate is for US Citizens) | $100 |
| Books and Classroom Materials | $200 |
| Local Transportation | $250 |
| Personal Expenses | $1,500 |
| Total | $7,050.00 |
Out-of-Pocket Cost includes:
The above costs are estimations and represent the known out-of-pocket costs students encounter during their time abroad.
Some of these expenses will be paid for prior to going abroad, such as an airline ticket and visa costs, while some of these expenses, such as meals and local transportation, will be paid in-country as part of your daily expenses. As you plan, you will need to budget these costs and spend wisely throughout your time abroad.
Program Costs
| NJ Residents | Non-NJ Resident | |
|---|---|---|
| Program Cost | $15,500 | $19,400 |
Program Cost includes:
• Tuition
• **Housing in standard accommodations
• Administrative Fees
• Emergency Medical Access Abroad
** Should you request or be placed in housing outside of the standard placements, you will be responsible for the pricing difference. This includes, but is not limited to, placement in single rooms. In addition, please be sure you read ISI's withdrawal policy as you will be held to their policy in addition to Rutgers' Withdrawal Policy should you withdraw from the program.
Out-of-Pocket Costs
| Airfare | $1,500 |
| Meals | $3,500 |
| Visa (Estimate is for US Citizens) | $100 |
| Books and Classroom Materials | $200 |
| Local Transportation | $250 |
| Personal Expenses | $1,500 |
| Total | $7,050.00 |
Out-of-Pocket Cost includes:
The above costs are estimations and represent the known out-of-pocket costs students encounter during their time abroad.
Some of these expenses will be paid for prior to going abroad, such as an airline ticket and visa costs, while some of these expenses, such as meals and local transportation, will be paid in-country as part of your daily expenses. As you plan, you will need to budget these costs and spend wisely throughout your time abroad.
Scholarships
Student Spotlight
Julia Grimley, Spring 2018
“My motivation for going abroad was my dream to travel. I have always wanted to travel around the world, and I thought the study abroad experience would be better than if I was traveling on my own for a short amount of time. By studying abroad, I was able to immerse myself into the culture, learn the language, and understand their way of living in Italy. Studying abroad provides a way to truly understand another part of the world and you are able to learn more about yourself in the process.
I thought meeting people from Florence, Italy would be a great experience, but I learned that even meeting people across the United States within my study abroad program was life-changing! Some of my closest friends I met this spring semester are from across the US and I have been able to learn how their way of living is different from mine on the east coast!”
"So, this one time abroad… Since the time I returned home from Florence, Italy, this is probably my most commonly used phrase. I find that not only was studying abroad one of the best things I have ever done, but it was also one of the most life changing things I’ve ever done. Some of my favorite moments abroad happened in the classroom. One of the best things that I did while abroad would have to be teaching English to Italian school kids. I was given the opportunity by my host university to volunteer at a high school in Florence and an elementary school in Prato to teach English twice a week to the students. This experience gave me the opportunity to become engaged with locals by taking the train early in the morning at the same time they were heading into school and work. This was a cool up-close way for me to see how the locals live their lives and for me to start picking up on some of their daily habits like stopping at a café on my way in to school and standing at the counter to eat a cornetto and drink a cappuccino."
"This photo was taken during a weekend spent at the Amalfi Coast, where I spent a long weekend towards the end of my stay in Italy. Before my time abroad, I wasn't a particularly adventurous or courageous person, but I've met a few people along the way here who have pushed me to experience things that are a bit out of my comfort zone - and one of these things was climbing and hiking through the mountains of the Amalfi coast. Pushing myself to navigate through steep, rocky paths that looked over the entire coast and tiny towns below, was the most rewarding thing I've done here. At one point, we even ended up hiking amongst clouds, which were what I was gazing at, fascinated that I could have carried myself so high up. After we finished hiking, we found ourselves in a little cafe overlooking the entire mountain and ocean below, and by sheer luck, it thunderstormed once we reached inside. I'll never forget laughing about how we escaped the rain, over eating the most delicious plate of caprese salad, wondering how my legs were going to work the next day."