The American Academy in Florence, Italy - Study Abroad in Italy

Application Deadline

• March 15, 2025

Program Dates

• (Estimated) Mid-June – early-July 2025

Program dates are tentative and subject to change. Students should not make arrangements or purchase any airfare until they have been formally instructed to do so by the Office of Global Education.

Application Process

American Academy Students: You will need to complete a Kent State Education Abroad application. These quick steps will help walk you through the process. For more information, please contact Sara Morato (smoratoq@kent.edu).

Apply for the Florence program by clicking the "Apply Now" button on this application.  You will be prompted to log in using your KSU FlashLine credentials.

1. Start an Education Abroad Application

When you click the "Apply Now" button (located towards the top and bottom of this page), you will be brought to the Education Abroad application system where you can view program costs and start an application. Be sure to submit your application before the deadline!

2. Guest Application (If applicable)

Are you a student at another university? To apply for a Kent State education abroad program, you will first need to apply for admission to Kent State University as a “Guest Student”. Review the Florence Guest Student Page for more information, including application instructions.

3. Wait for Acceptance

Once you have submitted your application, it will be reviewed by an Education Abroad Advisor. Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis.

4. Commit to the Program

If you are accepted, you need to log back into your application by going to educationabroad.kent.edu and clicking LOGIN. Once you see the name of your program, you need to click on it and commit (i.e., accept your offer of admission).

Academic Offerings

Summer 2024 American Academy Course – PHY 21430 Frontiers in Astronomy

The course offered as part of the American Academy in Florence varies annually.

Airport

The city of Florence is served by the International Airport, Florence Airport, Petrola (FLR).

Local Transit

While traveling throughout the city of Florence, walking will be the main mode of transportation used for most students. However, there are various transit options for students to use to travel throughout Italy or Europe and even within the city center of Florence itself.

Train: Traveling throughout Italy by train is very accessible as Florence is a central hub for the train system.  Tickets may be purchased in advance online or at a kiosk in the train station.

The main train station in Florence is the Santa Maria Novella (SMN) train station. Other train stations in Florence include the Campo di Marte train station and the Rifredi train station.

Tram Line: The Florence Tramway is located just outside of the Florence Airport, Petrola and takes passengers from the airport to the city center, connecting at the Santa Maria Novela (SMN) train station.

Buses: Outside of the historic city center, local buses run throughout the city operated by ATAF. 

Taxis: There are many taxi services available. Taxis must be ordered ahead of your departure by phone or arranged at an official taxi stand. 

Florence, Italy

Walk along historic streets and explore some of the world’s finest art in the city where Italian gelato was invented. Located in central Italy, Florence is a highlight for all travelers. It is the capital of the region of Tuscany and contains many iconic landmarks such as the Duomo, the Uffizi Gallery, and the Ponte Vecchio bridge. The city is known as the birthplace of the Renaissance and is widely known for its advancements in art, science, literature, architecture, and politics. Split by a river and surrounded by rolling hills, Florence offers an idyllic countryside view while also providing a bustling city life.

Located in the center of the country, Florence is just a couple of hours from Italy’s other world-renowned cities, like Rome and Venice. You can also get a taste of rural Italian life as the vineyard-covered hills of Tuscany are just miles from the city’s center. Many people speak English in Florence, but it is not difficult to pick up the native Italian language and even try your hand at speaking it. In Florence, you can find a combination of history and culture in an urban center that is just a bus ride away from picturesque Tuscan views.

Housing

Students stay in apartments throughout the heart of Florence, allowing for an immersive experience.  Apartments are fully furnished with bed linens, a kitchen, washing machine, tv, and wifi. Students will need to bring their own towels. Apartments are shared with other students in the program.

Campus Information

Home to the KSU Florence program is Palazzo Vettori. Palazzo Vettori is a prestigious and ancient building located in the heart of Florence, at the corner of Via Cavour and Via Alfani, next to Piazza del Duomo. According to historian Guido Carocci, the fabric of the building started at the beginning of the 15th century. Its façade proclaims the new ideas of Renaissance architecture based on the use of rustication.