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Universities in Florence, Italy

Florence's higher-education scene is unusually international. Besides the city's Italian state university, it hosts study abroad programmes for foreign students, several of them American, plus a European research university and private schools that teach entirely in English. The schools listed on this page are mostly of that international kind: they suit students who want to study in English for a semester, a degree or a doctorate, with Florence's art, design and history as the backdrop.

What the universities in Florence offer

The five institutions in our directory are very different from one another, so it pays to look closely at what each one awards.

  • European University Institute (EUI): Europe's postgraduate and postdoctoral research university in the social sciences and humanities, established in 1972 by the founding member states of the European Union and open to researchers since 1976. It has 24 member states and runs four PhD programmes, in economics, history, law, and political and social sciences. Its campus spreads over the hills around Florence and into the city centre.
  • FUA, Florence University of the Arts: study abroad programmes since 1997, with a US-style curriculum and nine academic divisions, from the liberal arts to design and health sciences.
  • ISI Florence: founded in 2001 as an American centre for higher education, it offers semester programmes in subjects such as architecture and interior design, studio arts and art history, communications, international business and Italian studies. It hosts the University of Connecticut and Pennsylvania State University programmes in Florence, registered with the Italian Ministry of Education, and collaborates with the Università di Firenze on academic initiatives.
  • The Florence Institute of Design International (FIDI): a design school in the city centre where all classes are taught in English, with one- or two-year diplomas, three-year bachelor's programmes and one-year master's programmes in interior, furniture and graphic design.
  • ESE (European School of Economics): a private business school founded in 1994, with its Florence centre in a palazzo near the Ponte Vecchio. It offers BSc (Hons) programmes in business administration and MSc and MBA programmes; on validated programmes, the UK award is issued by Richmond American University London.

Most of these programmes lead to American credits, a UK award or the school's own qualification rather than an Italian state degree. If you need a qualification recognised in your country, check this before you apply.

Costs

Fees vary widely. As an example, FIDI charges €9,900 per year for a one-year master's, €11,900 per year for its three-year bachelor's programmes, and from €4,500 for a 15-week semester. Housing is extra: according to FIDI, rooms in shared flats outside the centre start at €500 a month and single rooms in the centre cost about €650-750, plus at least €200 a month for utilities. Landlords usually ask for a deposit of one month's rent. Local transport is cheap: an Autolinee Toscane urban ticket costs €2.00 and is valid for 90 minutes in Florence.

Practical tips

  • Non-EU students on longer programmes need a study visa. For degree courses at Italian higher-education institutions, the pre-enrolment request goes through the Universitaly portal of the Italian Ministry of University and Research. Some consulates will not accept applications more than three months before the start date.
  • Within eight days of arrival, non-EU students must apply for a residence permit (permesso di soggiorno). Health insurance is required for both the visa and the permit.
  • Start looking for housing well before the semester begins; prices in Florence rise as the start date approaches.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study at university level in English in Florence?

Yes. FIDI teaches all its classes in English, and FUA and ISI Florence run study abroad programmes designed mainly for students from American and other English-speaking universities. Check the language of each programme with the school.

Do these schools award Italian state degrees?

Mostly not. They award American credits, UK-validated degrees, their own diplomas or, at the EUI, doctorates. Check what each programme awards before you enrol.

How much does a room cost in Florence?

According to FIDI, a room in a shared flat outside the centre starts at about €500 a month and a single room in the centre costs about €650-750, plus utilities.