Thinking about studying abroad in Florence, but wondering whether it works for your major?
Florence may be famous for Renaissance art, but art majors aren’t the only students who can make this Italian city part of their academic journey. Just as the Renaissance brought together art, science, commerce, and culture, students studying abroad in Florence today can explore a wide range of academic interests.
Depending on your program and term, you can explore subjects across fashion, art, photography, business, marketing, communications, psychology, social sciences, Italian culture, and more.
You can even add professional experience through internship opportunities (but more on that later!).
Wondering what majors can study abroad in Florence? Here are some of the academic paths you can explore in the birthplace of the Renaissance.
Art, Art History, & Studio Art
If you’re an art student, a study abroad program in Florence is truly hard to beat.
Widely considered to be the art capital of Italy, Florence played a central role in the Renaissance, and works by artists including Michelangelo, Botticelli, and Leonardo da Vinci are part of the city’s cultural landscape. In famous galleries and museums like Uffizi and Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze, you’ll find world-renowned masterpieces on display. In the classroom, you’ll gain deeper insight into art and art history while studying in a city that continues to inspire artists and scholars today.
Depending on your program, you can find courses in areas like:
- Art
- Art history
- Drawing
- Painting
- Studio art
- Museum and cultural studies
What makes studying art in Florence so unique is that many of the famous works, buildings, and places you’ll be studying can be found just outside your classroom door. And with the experiential coursework offered through the AIFS Abroad Global Education Center in Florence, you’ll have opportunities to visit many of these same sites and see real-life representations of your classroom learning.
Fashion, Photography, & Creative Fields
Florence can also be a strong fit for students interested in a wide range of creative industries.
Depending on the term and program, academic options can include areas like:
- Fashion
- Fashion marketing
- Photography
- Film studies
- Creative industries
- Visual and creative subjects
Florence’s relationship with Italian fashion, craftsmanship, art, and design gives these subjects a setting that can add another layer to what you’re learning. The city is home to everything from global fashion houses like Gucci and Salvatore Ferragamo to smaller brands that craft jewelry, accessories, and clothing.
For photographers and film students, the city itself isn’t a bad place to practice, either.
Between historic architecture, busy markets, quiet side streets, and local life—you’ll discover that creative inspiration can be found just about anywhere in Florence.
Business, Marketing, & Entrepreneurship
While art and creative industries may be what first comes to mind, they’re far from the only subjects you can study abroad in Florence. As the capital of Tuscany and a major center for commerce, tourism, fashion, creative industries, and luxury, Florence offers students valuable insight into local industries that contribute to both the regional and global economy.
Business-focused students can find courses in areas such as:
- Business
- Marketing
- Entrepreneurship
- Management
- International business
- Wine marketing
Taking business courses abroad can introduce you to different ways of thinking about consumers, brands, industries, and entrepreneurship. And in Florence, you’ll discover a unique mix of global brands and family-owned businesses spanning tourism, food, wine, and hospitality sectors—providing real-world context for many of the concepts you’ll encounter in the classroom.
Communications, Psychology, & Social Sciences
Interested in people, communication, or society?
Depending on your program and term, Florence also offers opportunities across subjects such as:
- Communications
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Religion
- Other humanities and social sciences
Studying these subjects abroad gives you the chance to see how different cultures, communities, and institutions approach familiar challenges and questions.
How does culture affect communication? How do communities and social norms differ? How does the place you’re living change the way you think about what you’re studying?
Sometimes a new environment is all it takes to gain a new perspective.
Italian Language, Culture, & Humanities
You don’t have to be an Italian major to deepen your understanding of Italian society and culture.
Depending on your program, you can explore Italian language and culture alongside subjects related to history, art, society, and the humanities. As a city with a deep and fascinating history, and a long-standing role in shaping Italian culture, Florence offers an ideal setting to connect your coursework to the people, places, and traditions that have influenced Italy for centuries.
And if you’re studying Italian, Florence gives you something your classroom at home can’t: opportunities to hear and use the language as part of everyday life.
Your language practice doesn’t have to end when class does. You’ll find that everyday trips to the store or your favorite café introduce opportunities to practice the language with locals. If you’re looking for Italian language immersion, Florence is an excellent place to study abroad.
Food, Wine, Hospitality, & Tourism
Florence’s location in Tuscany creates another compelling academic angle. Tuscany is recognized throughout the world for its food, wine, and culinary traditions, and Florence’s thriving tourism and hospitality sectors play a major role in the city’s economy.
Students interested in food, wine, hospitality, tourism, or marketing may find unique opportunities to explore how these industries intersect with Italian culture and business.
For example, specialized short-term offerings can focus on areas such as wine marketing, giving students the chance to connect academic study with an industry closely associated with the region.
It’s one thing to learn about these industries in a classroom; it’s another to study them in a region where food, wine, hospitality, and tourism are deeply connected to the local culture and identity.
Don’t See Your Major on the List?
Florence may still be a great option for you!
Your study abroad program in Florence doesn’t necessarily need to have your exact major in its name.
You may be able to take a course toward your major or minor, complete electives or general education requirements, study Italian, or finally take a class you’ve been interested in but haven’t had room for at home. Remember, there are many ways to study abroad and stay on track for graduation at the same time.
Start by looking at your degree plan. Determine what requirements you need to complete, where you might have some flexibility, and which courses could potentially transfer. To be sure about the best plan of action, talk with your academic or study abroad advisor. They can help you match study abroad programs to your major and provide additional clarity on how studying abroad fits into your graduation timeline.
You may have more room to study abroad than you think.
Want Professional Experience, Too?
Your time in Florence doesn’t have to be focused solely on coursework.
Depending on the program and term, you may also be able to combine a traditional study abroad experience and a part-time internship through a Study + Internship program. Or, if you’re interested in a more career-focused program, AIFS Abroad offers full-time internships in Florence as well.
An internship abroad gives you the chance to build professional skills while learning how workplaces and industries can operate in another cultural environment. An internship in Florence also offers you the chance to gain experience in industries that play a significant role in both the regional economy and the global stage.
Plus, doing an international internship with AIFS Abroad helps you explore potential career avenues before you enter the workforce and decide what you want to do after graduation—all while gaining hands-on experience that looks great on your resume.
How Do You Choose the Right Florence Program?
Just like with any big decision, you should start with your priorities. Take a look at:
- Your academics: What courses or credits do you need?
- Your interests: Do you want to focus on your major, explore Italian culture, or try something completely different?
- Your career goals: Would adding an internship make sense for you?
- Your timeline: Do you want a full semester abroad or something shorter and outside the traditional school year during summer, January Term, or May?
Once you know what you need from your experience, it’s much easier to figure out which Florence study abroad program fits.
FAQs About Studying Abroad in Florence
What majors can study abroad in Florence?
Students from a wide range of majors can study abroad in Florence. Depending on the program and term, AIFS Abroad offers courses across areas including art, art history, fashion, photography, film studies, business, marketing, communications, psychology, sociology, Italian language and culture, health sciences, history, humanities, and more.
Can art majors study abroad in Florence?
Yes! Florence is an exceptional place for art and art history students to study abroad because of its role in the Renaissance and its world-renowned museums, architecture, artistic heritage, and thriving creative industries. Depending on the program, students can find coursework in art history, studio art, and other creative subjects.
Can business majors study abroad in Florence?
Yes. Depending on the term, students can find study abroad courses in Florence related to business, marketing, entrepreneurship, management, and other business-focused subjects.
Do I need to study Italian to study abroad in Florence?
No. AIFS Abroad courses in Florence are taught in English at our Global Education Center, so you don’t need to be an Italian major or already speak Italian. However, Italian language courses are available in Florence, should you prefer to study the language while you’re abroad.
Can I intern while studying abroad in Florence?
Depending on the term, Study + Internship programs may be available. These programs combine the best of both options: allowing you to build professional skills while you take courses in Florence. AIFS Abroad also offers career-focused full-time internship programs in Florence for students who want professional experience to play a bigger role in their time abroad.
Can I earn academic credit in Florence?
Yes. AIFS Abroad study abroad programs in Florence offer academic credit. Your home institution determines how courses and credits transfer and apply toward your degree, so work with your academic or study abroad advisor when planning your program.
Your Major. Your Goals. Your Florence.
Study Renaissance art where it all began. Explore fashion in one of the world’s fashion capitals. Take your business or marketing coursework to a thriving economic center. Immerse yourself in the Italian language. Add international experience to your resume. Or simply complete general education requirements while experiencing la dolce vita. Florence offers a rewarding academic and cultural environment that allows students across majors and interests to advance their degrees and make unforgettable memories while they do it.
There’s so much more to the city than just art. Chances are, Florence offers an academic pathway that will let you advance your degree, too. With AIFS Abroad, you can easily search for a study or intern program that matches your interests in one of Italy’s most beloved cities.
