As asked by former students, here are the top five questions we receive from students considering a semester in Florence:
Do I have to know Italian before studying in Florence? Do I have to study Italian while I’m abroad?
No, you do not have to know any Italian before you go. And yes, all students in our program study Italian while in Florence – but we have classes for all language levels, so you’ll be placed in a class according to your level.
What are the housing options?
In Florence, students can choose between multiple housing options: a homestay with a family, an apartment, or residence halls. Students will indicate preference in one of these options in the Housing Form questionnaire found as a post-acceptance item on their Orange Abroad student portal.
Please note that while we will try to honor your housing preference, we cannot guarantee that you will be placed in the housing option that you prefer due to space limitations in each of the housing options. There are very limited spaces in our non-homestay housing options.
Architecture students: You are assigned apartment housing by default and may request to live in a homestay on your Housing Form. Homestay assignments may be granted based on availability. Architecture students cannot be housed in residence halls.
For more information on Florence Housing options, visit Living in Florence.
What does the Italian language university program option mean?
The intensive language option is for intermediate level Italian speakers. Generally, these students have taken three semesters of Italian before going abroad. If you choose this option, you will be taking intensive Italian language classes alongside other international students at the Centro di Cultura per Stranieri (international center at the University of Florence).
Do I need to get a visa?
Yes, unless you are an EU passport holder, you will need to get a visa for studying in Florence. Make sure that you have a passport which is valid for at least six months after your study abroad program ends. The visa process is fairly lengthy, so we encourage you to get started right after your acceptance.
How do I apply? When will I find out if I’ve been accepted?
You can apply here. Once you have completed all application requirements, your application will be reviewed for admission. Please note that there is no final submit button for your application. We have a “rolling admissions” policy, which means applications are reviewed as they are completed, prior to all deadlines. We will review applications as early as two weeks after completion for admission. You will be notified of your admissions decision via email.
Is a passport required at the time of application?
You must have a passport that is valid at least six months beyond the end date of your program to study abroad. If you do not have a passport or need to renew your passport, you can submit the application for admission and leave the passport form blank. While this section of the application will remain incomplete until you upload your new passport, your application will be reviewed for conditional acceptance without the passport information.
How do I select courses?
Prior to registration, detailed instructions will be added to your OrangeAbroad portal and will provide all necessary resources for schedule planning and registration preparations. You will be asked to complete a Course Preference Form to indicate your preferred course selections; this form does not guarantee you a space in a course but will help you with planning out your schedule. Students will register online in MySlice before departure and course availability is on a first come, first served basis. Courses are subject to change, and some popular classes do close quickly, so you will need to have alternative selections. Please note that Syracuse Abroad registration timelines and academic dates/deadlines may differ from main campus.