High School in Italy
Get an inside look at the Italian language and lifestyle by staying with a host family and attending a local school in Italy.
Starting date: September, 2027
Yearly Program
Spots available
Spots available
Spots available
Italian art, music, gastronomy, and architecture provide the perfect backdrop for a passeggiata (short stroll) with friends and family. Drawing on its rich history, Italy has established itself as a modern European country and a pioneer in fashion and style. The world's best gelato, delicious home-cooked meals, Roman ruins, snow-covered Alps, and picturesque seaside villages allow Italians to truly experience la dolce vita.
Admission requirements
Participants must be between 15.3 and 17.9 years old on the day of departure.
The AFS program
You'll be leaving for a year, a semester, or even a trimester. You'll attend high school in the community where you'll be living. You'll have the opportunity to be hosted by a family carefully selected by AFS so you can enjoy an immersive stay that will leave you with unforgettable memories.
AFS offers training, orientation, and activities before, during, and after your stay. You'll meet young people from all over the world.
General information
Italian is spoken throughout the country, including in Sicily and Sardinia, where many families offer hospitality.
The school system
The Italian system has several types of schools:
– The Classical School: Italian literature, Latin, Greek, history, geography, biology, mathematics, physics, religion, art history, and philosophy. Latin and Greek are compulsory.
– The Scientific and Technological School: science, mathematics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, physics, Italian literature, foreign languages, art, art history, philosophy, and Latin.
– The School of Humanities: Italian literature, Latin, art history, history, geography, science, mathematics, foreign languages, philosophy, and psychology.
– The Linguistic School: Italian literature, Latin, art history, English, French, German, Spanish (depending on the school: Arabic, Russian, and Chinese), mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics.
– The Artistic and Arts School (schools with an artistic focus): decorative drawing, the use of different drawing perspectives, mathematics, and science.
– Technical or Vocational Institutes.
The school year begins in mid-September and ends in June. Classes are held Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Italian schools require a lot of hard work, rigor, and dedication.
What’s included in your experience
Learning paths that evolve with the world
AFS helps people of all ages and backgrounds develop the knowledge, skills, and understanding needed to connect with diverse people, succeed in a global environment, and contribute to a positive impact on the world.
