Study in Florence, Italy
- January 31, 2026 through May 1, 2026
- Florence, Italy
- $8,745: shared apartment and AIFS administrative fee
- Additional:
- $552: Tuition ($0 if California College Promise Grant eligible)
- Varies: Textbooks
- $700 to $1,000 per month: Estimated meals and personal expenses
- $625: Optional meal plan
- $65: Optional medical insurance upgrade
- $TBD: Group flight (or purchase your own)
- $550: Optional Rome excursion
- $550: Optional Venice Excursion
- $675: Optional Sorrento Excursion

About the Program
Florence is an inspiring place in which to live and study. Students will spend 12-weeks in this Italian city, the birthplace of the Renaissance, studying courses in Astronomy, Art, Psychology, and English and Literature. The city will become your classroom when on a given afternoon you will stroll with faculty and classmates through the streets of Florence to admire the architecture of Giotto and the Baroque sculptures adorning the fountains of the city, explore the Uffizi Gallery with its vast collection of painting and sculpture, view the magnificent Santa Croce where Galileo, Michelangelo and Machiavelli are buried, discuss art with Florentine painters in their studios, explore the book shops near Via Cavour, and visit one of the most traditional spots in Florence, the Ponte Vecchio, a 14th century bridge spanning the River Arno.
The Florence program is administered in partnership with the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS).
Minimum participation requirements and general Los Rios study abroad information can be found on the Los Rios study abroad website.
Upcoming Informational Meetings (Zoom)
TBD
Important Dates
- $450 Deposit Due: at the time of application
- Application Priority Deadline: Friday, September 19, 2025
- Application Deadline: Friday, October 31, 2025
- All Program Fees Due: Friday, December 5, 2025
- Depart U.S.: Saturday, January 31, 2026
- Arrive in Florence: Sunday, February 1, 2026
- Classes Begin: Wednesday, February 4, 2026
- Mid-Semester Break: March 14 to March 22, 2026
- Depart Florence: Friday May 1, 2026
- Application Checklist (coming soon)
- Course Packet (class schedule, transferability, faculty bios)
- Program Brochure
- Program Flyer (coming soon)
- Program Presentation (coming soon)
- Program Information Sheet
- Financial Aid Checklist (coming soon)
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Student housing in apartments within the historical center of Florence and a 30-minute walking radius of the AIFS Study Center in twin-bedded rooms with typically four to six students sharing a two- or three-bedroom apartment including a set amount of utilities, wireless Internet access and a change of linen.
- Adequate utilities will be provided up to a normal consumption for the duration of the program. Students will be expected to pay for anything above this amount directly to the Florence office before leaving the program.
- Meals: self-catering facilities at student accommodation and a welcome reception. Meal vouchers are available for an additional fee .
- An orientation program in Florence consisting of a meeting with experienced AIFS staff, covering topics such as general acclimation to Florence, safety and security issues, cultural differences, travel, money and cultural activities.
- Local area walking tour covering housing and classroom location and local amenities.
- A walking-tour of Florence with the services of a professional English-speaking guide.
- Workshops with local staff about life in Florence and the differences the students will encounter.
- Weekly program of subsidized cultural activities such as walking tours, cooking classes, wine appreciation lectures or olive oil tasting, soccer matches, day trips to Pisa and other nearby locations, concerts, and film nights.
- Italian Life and Culture course taught by local faculty, with lectures focusing on historical, political, economic and cultural aspects of Italy and Florence, and related activities and excursions (course still subject to college tuition fees).
- Full-day excursion to the Chianti wine region including transportation by private bus, a visit to a winery and a typical Tuscan lunch.
- Full-day excursion to Siena and San Gimignano including round-trip transportation by private bus, the services of a professional, English-speaking guide in Siena and an AIFS representative throughout.
- Access to the wireless-enabled AIFS Student Center and a team of experienced Student Services staff for the smooth running of the program, providing information and advice to students, organizing excursions and supervising housing, and 24-hour emergency contact service.
- Mandatory police registration fees and local insurances.
- Medical Insurance policy insurance policies.
- Student medical insurance policy.
Scholarships are available through the Gilman International Scholarship Program (due October 9, 2025), AIFS (due November 7, 2025). Other scholarship resources include Fund for Education Abroad and Institute of International Education.
Remember, Financial aid, scholarships, and other funding opportunities are available to help with program expenses.
Contact

Study Abroad Assistant, Los Rios Community College District
Email: studyabroad@losrios.edu
Phone: (916) 484-8967