Art History Schools and Programs in Italy

Art History Studies in Italy

Florence, Italy, Source

Italy is one of the few places where students of art history can study the works on their syllabus in the buildings and cities they were made for. There are two quite different ways to do it: a full degree in the Italian university system, mostly taught in Italian, or an English-language programme at an American institution or a short culture course alongside Italian lessons. Our directory lists six schools in Italy for this subject, five in Florence and one in Rome.

How the degree is organised

Italian universities count study in CFU credits, and 1 CFU corresponds to 1 ECTS credit. The first cycle is the laurea, a three-year bachelor's degree worth 180 credits. Art history is usually studied within the degree class L-1, Beni culturali (cultural heritage): the Università di Bologna, for example, teaches its Beni culturali bachelor's in Italian at its Ravenna campus. The second cycle is the laurea magistrale, a two-year master's degree worth 120 credits, and the class for art history is LM-89, Storia dell'arte. A research doctorate follows and lasts at least three years.

Two related routes are worth knowing. Conservation and restoration is a single-cycle programme of five years and 300 credits. The state academies of fine arts (Accademie di Belle Arti) belong to the separate AFAM system and teach the visual arts, art teaching and restoration with their own academic diplomas.

Admission and language

According to Universitaly, the Ministry of University and Research portal, most undergraduate programmes in Italy are taught in Italian and several graduate programmes in English. Each institution tests the Italian of students who choose a course in Italian, and some bachelor's degrees require the TOLC-SU online test: Bologna's Beni culturali degree, for example, has open access with the TOLC-SU. At master's level the choice is wider: Bologna's Arti visive master's (class LM-89) is taught in English, French and Italian and has a curriculum in Arts, Museology and Curatorship. The academic year starts in the autumn.

Students from outside the EU pre-enrol through the Universitaly portal, which is the only route to the letter needed for a study visa. For the 2026-27 academic year, visa applications for bachelor's and master's programmes must reach the Italian embassy or consulate by 30 November 2026 at the latest. After arrival on a study visa you have eight working days to apply for a residence permit. EU citizens do not need a visa.

Where to study art history in Italy

Rome. John Cabot University is an American university in the centre of Rome that teaches in English. Its BA in Art History totals 120 credits: four foundation courses lead to mid- and upper-level courses, many of them taught on site in museums, archaeological sites and monuments, and the degree ends with a senior thesis. John Cabot also runs an MA in Art History, which it describes as the first graduate art history programme based entirely in Rome offered by a US-accredited university. It takes about 15 months of full-time study or two academic years, and students must show a second language besides English at CEFR level B2 or higher.

Florence. ISI Florence, established in 2001 as an American centre for higher education, has a Studio Arts and Art History programme for study abroad semesters; students take 12 to 17 credits per semester, including one Italian language course. Istituto Galilei, an Italian language school in Florence since 1985, adds culture courses such as art history and guided visits of the city to its Italian lessons. These short courses suit students who want to combine language learning with art, not a degree.

Recognition and careers

A degree from an Italian university in class L-1 or LM-89 is a state qualification. Degrees from American institutions in Italy are American degrees, and study abroad credits count towards the student's home university, so check how your home country or employer will treat them before you choose. John Cabot names careers in museums, galleries, schools, art consultancies and publishing houses, as well as cultural heritage management, conservation and library and information science; a master's degree can also lead to doctoral study.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study art history in Italy in English?

Yes. John Cabot University in Rome teaches its BA and MA in Art History in English, ISI Florence runs English-language study abroad courses, and some Italian master's degrees, such as Bologna's Arti visive, are taught partly in English.

Which Italian degree classes cover art history?

Usually L-1 (Beni culturali) for the three-year bachelor's degree and LM-89 (Storia dell'arte) for the two-year master's degree.

Do I need Italian to study art history at an Italian university?

For most bachelor's degrees, yes: they are taught in Italian and universities test applicants' Italian. Several master's programmes are taught in English.

Can I take a short art history course in Italy?

Yes. Language schools such as Istituto Galilei in Florence offer art history and culture courses alongside Italian lessons, and American study abroad institutes offer semester courses.