High School in Italy
Italy presents visitors with unique treasures such as the Vatican, the ancient ruins of Rome, the canals of Venice, as well as amazing food! Want to learn more about this amazing country first hand? You can with our high school study abroad programs!
Overview
We are proud to offer two High School Exchange Programs in Italy that will enable you to immerse yourself in Italian culture while living with an Italian host family and sharing in their daily life. While on the program, you’ll attend classes at a local liceo (high school) from Monday to Friday from 8:30am-1:30pm, taking classes such as Italian, Mathematics, Physics, Geography, and History. Some Saturday morning classes may be allocated.
Option 1: No Area Preference
Students choosing this option can be placed anywhere in Italy. There is no guarantee of location in the placement process. The emphasis is placed on finding the ideal host family based on common interests.
Option 2: Area Preference + Program Add-ons
Students choosing this option will have the ability to select from a variety of placement options, as well as additional program add-ons. You can view the available locations on our Location tab. In addtiion to selecting your lcoation, we offer additional program options for students interested in specific topics.
- Art Program: Guaranteed placement in a Liceo Artistico. Your classes will include design, fine arts, architecture and sculpture.
- Cambridge Program: Students will attend a school with a Cambridge Certification.
- Catering Program: Guaranteed placement in a Liceo Alberghiero. This program is designed for students interested in Italian cooking and hospitality management.
- Dance Program: Guaranteed placement in a Liceo Coreutico. Subjects include dance theory, dance practicing and history of dance. There will be dance lessons during the week and school performances at midyear and end of the year.
- Music Program: Guaranteed placement in a Liceo Musicale. The classes are typically devoted to music theory or training. Playing at least one instrument and the ability to read musical notes is required.
About Italy
La Bella Italia! Italy, home of much of the world’s greatest art, best food and happiest people, will host you with pleasure! Your Italian family and school might be anywhere in Italy, from the northern Swiss border to the sunny tip of its “boot.” Share everyday life with a warm, loving family. Visit cities and little villages with rich history, museums, churches… Learn to speak Italian both with words and with your hands! Fabulous pasta, crusty bread, snowy peaks for skiing, sunny beaches for swimming, Roman ruins and the best of 21st century design – Italy offers a sensational student exchange opportunity!
Area Choice Program Options

Italy - High School Area Choice
Program Dates & Deadlines
Apply early and get a discount! Submit your application 45 days before the deadline to receive an Early Bird Discount.
These are the approximate start dates. Exact start dates will be provided closer to your arrival.
Spring
2 Month Program: Late January – Early March
Academic Trimester: Late January – Late April
Academic Semester: Late January – Mid-June
Full Year: Late January – Mid-December
Final Deadline to Apply: September 1st
Fall
2 Month Program: Early September – Early November
Academic Trimester: Early September – Mid-December
Academic Semester: Early September – Late January
Academic Year: Early September – Mid-June
Final Deadline to Apply: April 1st
Program Costs
2 Months
Trimester
Semester
Academic Year
Full Year
No Choice
$7,480
$7,910
$9,420
$11,460
$12,090
Area Choice
$8,370
$8,800
$10,310
$12,350
$12,970
Area Choice Program
Below are the areas available for our Area Choice Program. You will have the ability to guarantee your placement in the area of your choosing.
Northwest: Torino (first capital of Italy), FIAT and Nutella, Juventus, Cinque Terre and Italian Riviera, Alps and skiing
Lombardia: Milano and fashion, amazing lakes
Northeast: Venezia with its gondolas and Carnival, Verona, city of Romeo and Juliet, skiing in the Dolomites, bilingual Italian-German
Central North: Tuscany and Florence, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Palio of Siena
Central: Rome with its Colosseum and thousands of monuments, St. Peter’s, Vatican city, sunny beaches, delicious traditional food.
South: sun, Naples and the Amalfi Coast, Salento, history and culture, olive oil, beaches and sea
Islands: sea and beaches, gelato & granita, ancient Greek temples
Discounts, Scholarships & Fundraising
Early Bird Discount – $250 discount if you apply 45 days prior to the application deadline
Host Family Discount – Discount of up to $1000 for families that hosted an inbound student
Area Representative Discount – Discount of up to $500 for children of ISE Area Representatives
ISE Ambassador Scholarship – Designed for students who would like to engage deeply with their host community and reflect on their experience via blog/video contributions.
Additional Scholarships – We gathered a list of some additional scholarships that can help finance your dream exchange
ISE Fundraising Guide – Check out our tips and tricks for planning your very own study abroad fundraiser.
What's Included In The Program
- Arrival Orientation
- Comprehensive medical insurance
- Support and supervision by local representative
- Host family accommodation including 2 meals a day during the week, and 3 meals a day on the weekends.
- School tuition and fees
- Progress reports sent directly to parents
- 24/7 emergency support
- ISE Tote bag, luggage tag & lanyard
Additional Expenses You Might Incur
- Personal Expenses – cell phone bills, personal spending money, travel expenses
- Transportation to airport at conclusion of program
- Extra School Fees – Uniform, class trips, extra curricular activities
Eligibility
- Participants should be minimum 14 years old and maximum 18 years old upon arrival
- Have good academics
- Have a minimum of one year of Italian lessons
Academic Info
Italian school is quite difficult and the expectations are high. Participants will be enrolled in the 3rd or 4th year of the five years of the scuola superiore program. They will follow classes in a local liceo from Monday to Saturday morning. Classes include Italian, Mathematics, Sciences, Physics, Foreign Language (German or French), Geography, History, Physical Education. The school year runs from September to June.
School Day:
Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 1:30 pm. Some Saturday classes may be allocated.
Orientation
Upon arrival in Italy, you will receive a full cultural orientation in Rome. You will also receive a pre-arrival Italian online course.
Application Process
- Explore our programs, options and countries to find your best match.
- Complete our interest form and, if applicable, let us know who referred you to us.
- You can submit the interest form here: Travel & Study Abroad Interest Form
- Schedule a meeting with one of our Travel & Study Abroad experts.
- Submit your application and a $200 application fee. This non-refundable fee will be applied to your overall program costs.
- Upon acceptance, you will be required to pay a deposit of 50% of the total program costs, up to $1500. The final payment is due several weeks before your departure.
Parent FAQs
- Severe anxiety
- Depression
- Eating Disorders
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

High School Program FAQs
- Watch Netflix in your countries language
- Find a language buddy
- Study online
General FAQs
- Stand out during the college admissions process
- Develop new language skills in an immersive environment
- Develop problem-solving skills
- Identify interests to better select academic & career paths
- Establish cross-cultural skills
- Improve academic scores
- Improve personal organization and time management skills
- Develop a sense of adaptability, independence, and self-reliance
- Boost self-confidence
- Learn about new lifestyles
- Experience new cuisines
- Make lifelong friends
- Gain life experience
- Short Term Option (1-2 months)
- Trimester and Semester Options
- Full Year Options
- Program options from 1-8 weeks
- 12-month program option
- Explore our programs, options, and countries to find your best match.
- Complete our interest form and, if applicable, let us know who referred you to us.
- Schedule a meeting with one of our Travel & Study Abroad experts.
- Submit your application and a $200 application fee. This non-refundable fee will be applied to your overall program costs.
- Upon acceptance, you will be required to pay a deposit of 50% of the total program cost, up to $1500. The final payment is due several weeks before your departure.