CET Florence Study Abroad

CET Florence: At-A-Glance

Electives for many different majors
Italian language classes for all levels
Out-of-classroom learning and assignments
Live in an apartment with peers or a homestay with a local family
Classes as engaging as those of your home university
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Fall

SPRING

Fall

SPring

CET Florence study abroad students are motivated learners looking for a study abroad experience with challenging academic content and enriching extra-curricular activities that make the most of your time in the city. You take one Italian language course and after that, it’s up to you—check required classes off your list or try something new and uniquely Italian. 

Academics in Florence

Semester
Snapshot

Curriculum & Syllabi

You take 3 credits of Italian language and three or four electives to meet a total of 12 to 15 recommended credits. 

Electives

You are placed into one of these 3-credit courses, according to a placement test or previous coursework you have completed.

professor holding paper talking to students

Choose your adventure in Florence

Electives for everyone. Take classes that fulfill major requirements back home. Try Corporate Finance or International Management for business majors. Interested in something uniquely Italian? Try Florence Sketchbook or Food and Culture in Italy. And you won’t just be in the classroom—many classes have field-based components in the city. Take an art history class and have at least half of your sessions in a museum, church, or piazza. This is what study abroad is all about.

Work that’s rewarding. Florence is known for easy living, but that doesn’t mean easy A’s. CET Florence is known for academics as rigorous as what you’re used to in the US. Your courses challenge you. Your professors push you during in-class discussions. Your assignments ask you to think critically. All of this work ensures you leave Florence with a global perspective that will serve you for a lifetime.

Housing and Meals

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Living Like a Local

Connecting locally. Engage in some friendly competition during a basketball or soccer tournament with classmates and some locals. Not into sports? Befriend a University of Florence student at one of CET’s aperitivi (a happy hour with appetizers). Or have dinner with a local family for a night of cultural exchange. Our Florence-based team makes it so there’s no shortage of opportunities to connect meaningfully with the community around you.

Eating in Florence. Have your fill of some of the most famous cuisine in the world. You’ll love the pastas, the sauces, the hors-d’oeuvres. Fan of steak? Try bistecca alla Fiorentina—a beautifully charred steak meant for sharing with friends. Feeling adventurous? Grab a tripe sandwich topped with salsa verde from a street vendor…a Florentine classic. And don’t forget the gelato after dinner. Learn more about accommodating your dietary needs in Italy.

"CET Florence has hands down been one of the best experiences of my life. When envisioning my study abroad experience, I expected that the best moments would be traveling during the weekends. However, I found that the weekdays with the CET staff and professors has made my overall study abroad experience all the better. The staff members were so accessible and friendly; I felt like I can go to them with any problem or concern comfortably and I knew that I would get help immediately."

— Samantha Han,
Vanderbilt University | Spring student

Life in Florence

Not only is Florence one of the world’s most walkable cities, it’s also one of the most beautiful. And because you live in the historic city center, you have easy access to everything. Walk along the Arno River, chat with locals over a cappuccino… even grabbing groceries at an open-air market is an adventure. And the rest of Italy and all of Europe are at your doorstep, too. Each Friday morning, head to a new destination—check out the art scene in Berlin, have a croissant in Paris, explore the Italian coast, from Cinque Terre to Amalfi. The Italian train system couldn’t be easier, and the airport is just 30 minutes away.

Experience Italy with CET

Around the city. We offer different activities that help you explore Florence and Italian culture the way you want to. Climb the Duomo. Dress up for opera night. Learn to distinguish the real from the fake at a leather school. Take a boat ride down the Arno River. Share a meal with local Italian family. And there’s even more to see on your own.

Explore Italy like a local. Let us help you go beyond the surface of a typical Italy travel itinerary. Each term is different, but you might spend the day in the medieval city of Volterra, learn to make chocolate in Perugia, or dine as the locals do in Rome.

Volunteer in Florence. Give back to the community by opting to volunteer 2 to 4 hours each week with a local organization. Become a tour guide at some of Florence’s oldest churches, help distribute food and other goods to those in need, or tutor high schoolers new to Italy in English. 

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Student Resources

"Learning through experience is a huge reason I wanted to study abroad, and I have been so happy with the curriculum of my classes. I have loved getting out and exploring with my professors, who are so knowledgeable in their fields. I also love all of these site visits because they allow me to feel even more engulfed in Florentine history and culture."

— Presley Privitera
Colby College | Spring student

READ PRESLEY'S BLOG
"With some of my free time I’ve explored the areas by the CET center on the opposite side of the river from where I live. These streets feel much more residential and full of hole-in-the-wall local shops. I’m excited to go back and check out some of the spots I found, like a guitar bar (Chiodo Fisso) and an art cafe (L’Arte di Diory)."

— Tessa Beazley,
George Washington University | Fall student
"Being a student at CET means taking classes that will help you with your major and immerse you in Italian culture. In Food and Culture in Italy, we have tasting labs quite often. My classmates and I have tried various cheeses from across Italy these last few weeks, including pecorino, asiago, and fontina."

— Asher Savel
Bowdoin College | Fall student

READ ASHER'S BLOG
"I initially tried La Carraia at a gelato tasting arranged by CET, and at first, I complained about having to trek far across the river to get there. However, as soon as I tasted their lemon-cookie flavor I realized that the longer walk was 100% worth it."

— Isabella Verga
George Washington University | Fall student
"There is a tendency to see Italy as a spot for vacation as opposed to a country filled with working people. I have certainly been guilty of this, and the reading [from a class] helped me to reshape my ideas about Italy as a country. Recently, I have been thinking more about how to change my view of Florence as a spot for vacation to a place where I live."

— Eden Comer
University of Wisconsin-Madison | Spring student

READ EDEN'S BLOG
"All I can say is that CET Florence has exceeded every expectation and truly clarified what it means when people say that studying abroad changed their lives. While taking long weekends to travel throughout Europe is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, at the end of every travel experience, I am beyond excited to return to Florence, a place that I consider both a dream vacation destination and my home away from home."

— Jenna Landy
Cornell University | Spring student
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On-the-ground support

Navigating a new city, country, and culture is a big challenge worth taking—and we’re here to help you along on this adventure. Our on-site team is bilingual, provides round-the-clock support, and is passionate about sharing their love of Florence (and Italy!) with you.

group of students and staff

Program Fees

Fall/Spring

$22,990

What's Included

All of your classes and program-related learning are included with your tuition.

If you choose to live with a local roommate in an apartment, your housing is covered. If you opt for a homestay, there is an additional fee to help cover the costs of an extra member in the household.

We guide you step-by-step through the visa process. You do the legwork, but we’ll make sure you have the documentation and information you need, when you need it.

From pre-departure to orientation, from on site to re-entry, CET provides you with the support you need every step of the way. 

You’re provided with a comprehensive insurance plan through GeoBlue that even includes medical evacuation coverage.

The activities and excursions that we arrange are included in your program fee. All you need to do is remember to bring your camera!

Your textbooks and course supplies are covered and waiting for you on site.

At the end of your term, you’ll receive academic documentation as proof of all you’ve accomplished abroad. Depending on your home institution, you will either get a CET grade report or a School of Record transcript from the University of Minnesota.

More on finances

Program Fee Breakdown. Of the total program fee, $18,590 goes to tuition and fees, and $4,400 goes to housing and other student life fees.

Local Cost of Living. The cost of living in Florence is similar to other major American cities. Some things might be cheaper (e.g. groceries, coffee, bus tickets), but other things can be much more expensive (e.g. utilities, taxi rides). 

Estimated out-of-pocket expenses: 

How to Apply

  • •  Pre-requisites: None.
  • •  Must be 18 or older at the time of program participation.
  • •  Open to students from any US college or university
  • GPA: 3.0 or higher is recommended, students with lower GPAs will be asked for a faculty recommendation to supplement their application

This is a brief form that asks for basic information and has a few short answer questions about why you want to study abroad.

Upload a scan of your passport to your CET Compass account. This should be a single scan that includes the signed signature page and the photo/personal details page. Don’t have a passport yet? Let us know and we can help advise you.

This is an online form that your study abroad office completes to let us know you meet the requirements to study abroad. To send the electronic form request,  simply enter the name and email address of your study abroad advisor in the designated fields of your CET Compass account.

Your online CET account has specific instructions for submitting an official transcript.

Application
Deadlines

Fall Semester:

May 1

Spring Semester:

October 1

Have a question? Get in touch!

Karen "K" Olivas

Student Services Coordinator
202.349.7321
[email protected]

Price Subject to Change:

CET reserves the right to increase quoted charges at any time without prior notification, based on increased instruction costs, exchange rate fluctuation or other cost increases beyond CET’s control.

Course Availability

Our goal is to offer every course every term, but sometimes factors like faculty availability and program enrollment keep us from reaching that goal. If you’re concerned about needing to enroll in one particular course, please contact us
 

CET Jordan: Academic Consultation Board

Over the years, we’ve built a strong network of locally-based faculty that we’re proud to call our peers. These faculty make up our Academic Consultation Board—a select group of local voices and thought leaders that help advise and shape components of the CET Jordan program. 

Board members support the program in many ways, including but not limited to:

Academic Consultation Board Members

Learn more about studying abroad with CET

Learn more about studying abroad with CET