You could have the opportunity to study in Italy and live with a host family for an academic year! Students become fully immersed in the culture first-hand as they enjoy the cuisine, learn the language, and build friendships that will last a lifetime. Students will be enrolled in a standard public high school or a particular interest school where they will take courses focused on a specific interest.
| PROGRAM | DEPARTURE | RETURN | FULL TUITION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Fall Year | Mid- September | Mid-June | $17,995 |
| 2026 Fall Year Area Select | Mid- September | Mid-June | $18,995 |
- Placement with a host family
- Enrollment in a local Italian high school
- Airport transfers
- Domestic and international travel
- All pre-departure and post-arrival orientations
- Pre-program support by trained YFU staff
- Support from an Italy Area Representative while on program
- Welcome camp in Milan
- Comprehensive insurance
Students in Italy can study in one of four different education tracks: Liceo Scientifico, Liceo Classico, Liceo Linguistico, or Istituto Tecnico e Commerciale. These high schools focus on subjects such as Sciences, the Classics, Languages, or Business. All education tracks include Italian, English, Math, History and Philosophy, Physics, History of Art, Biology or Chemistry, and Physical Education. The Scientifico track includes all three sciences in addition to Computer Science, the Classico track includes Greek and Latin, the Linquistico track includes three other foreign languages, and the Tecnico E Commericale track includes Economy, Law, and Accounting.
All students applying for the year program must be available for a mandatory 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation*, which usually takes place in mid-July. This orientation is a required part of the program aimed at preparing students for their experience overseas.
Students will attend a 3-day Welcome Camp in Milan upon arrival. Camp includes accommodations in a youth hostel, breakfasts, dinners, program info sessions, and cultural tours and sightseeing around Milan and other nearby cities.
- 2026 Fall Departures: Students born September 13, 2008 – September 13, 2011
- Students who do not meet this age requirement will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis
Italian. Previous language study is not required.
Host families may be located anywhere throughout Italy. Rural areas and mid-sized cities are most common and generally have excellent public transportation. Students are rarely placed in large cities such as Rome. Most placements for students can occur in the following counties in Italy: Lombardy, Lazio, Sardinia, Sicily, Marche, Tuscany, Emilia Romagna, and Veneto. While these counties include major cities such as Rome, Milan, Bologne, Pisa, Caligari, Catania, etc., placement in the county could be anywhere, not necessarily in the cities themselves.
Students have the opportunity to specify which region of Italy where they would like to be placed (North Italy, Central Italy, or South Italy and Italian Islands). This selection is optional and comes at an additional cost. For more information on how to apply with a specific placement request, please email info@yfu.org.
Area Select: For an additional fee, students may choose to select the area in Italy they will have their exchange year in. Students may choose from Northern Italy, Central Italy, and Southern Italy and Islands.
