High School Immersion in Italy
Enroll in a local high school and improve your Italian fluency while exploring the birthplace of the Renaissance.
Immerse yourself in Italian culture for a semester or full academic year. Live with a host family, attend a local high school, and live life like an Italian teen while you improve your language skills.
In your free time, you’ll make yourself at home in Florence, exploring historic architecture, marveling at world-famous masterpieces, and sipping perfectly pulled espresso. From daily life to planned activities, excursions to cultural events, you’ll find countless opportunities to immerse yourself in the local community and make memories that last a lifetime.
Why Choose This Program?
Language Proficiency
Our program provides students with 150 language contact hours in just a few weeks.
College Readiness
Studying abroad builds real-world skills and helps you stand out on college applications.
Global Citizenship
After immersing yourself in new cultural experiences, you'll develop skills to engage confidently at school, work, and beyond.
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 a CIEE Immersion in Italy program, 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. Practice 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. No matter where you choose to study abroad with CIEE, our staff will be on hand throughout your program to provide advice, resources, and support.
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Sample Itinerary
Top Rated Activities
Join your peers on group excursions to legendary landmarks in a range of popular Italian cities.
Turin
Discover the first capital of Italy during an overnight trip to Turin. Let the baroque and royal palaces mesmerize you and learn about Fellini and the magic of the film productions at the Cinema Museum. 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
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.
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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 Fall 2025 16 weeks | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date | End Date | Costs $17,000 |
| Program Fall Trimester 2025 12 weeks | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date | End Date | Costs $14,750 |
| Program Spring 2026 19 weeks | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date | End Date | Costs $17,000 |
| Program Spring Trimester 2026 12 weeks | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date | End Date | Costs $14,750 |
| Program Academic Year 2025 40 weeks | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date | End Date | Costs $28,000 |
| Program Academic Year 2026 40 weeks | Start Date * | End Date * | Costs $19,500 | |
| Program Fall 2026 16 weeks | Start Date * | End Date * | Costs $15,500 | |
| Program Fall Trimester 2026 12 weeks | Start Date * | End Date * | Costs $13,500 | |
| Program Spring 2027 19 weeks | Start Date * | End Date * | Costs $15,500 | |
| Program Spring Trimester 2027 12 weeks | Start Date * | End Date * | Costs $13,500 |
*Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.
Ready to change your life?
Our Staff
Tina Marisa Rocchio
Center Director
Tina grew up between the mountains of Vermont and the coastline of Rhode Island and has spent her adult life between Tuscany and Rome. Mastering Italian in high school, she...