Maryland-in-Florence (Italy)

With its several thousand years of civilization woven into its legendary urban texture, Florence embodies all that the Renaissance sought to bring back to life. Bordered by its famous countryside of pine- and cypress-dotted hills, lush vineyards, and olive groves, the Florence of today is an innovative European cultural center as well as a university city. Maryland-in-Florence program offers the opportunity to spend a semester or year learning in this culturally rich environment.

Maryland-in-Florence is hosted at the International Studies Institute (ISI Florence), where you will have access to a wide variety of courses in art history, architecture, fine and studio arts, Italian language & cultural studies, history, literature, philosophy, political science, and more. You will also be provided with unique community-engagement opportunities that will allow you to make the most of your semester abroad.

Applying for Spring 2024? Please sign up for a Maryland-in-Italy Group Advising Session. 
 

You must be in good academic and judicial standing and you must not have any registration blocks to participate in this program. 

All UMD sophomores, juniors, and seniors are eligible to apply to this program. There is no language pre-requisite. Non-UMD students are not permitted to apply.

If you are interested in this program but do not meet the eligibility requirements, make an appointment with your EA advisor to discuss program options.

Visit the Academics & Study Abroad page which outlines key considerations for your academic planning as you navigate different phases of study abroad:

• Pre-Departure Course Selection & Approval
• Finalizing Course Enrollment Abroad
• Transcripts and Credits on your UMD Record

Browse UMD course evaluations in the Study Abroad Course Database:
 

Maryland-in-Florence offers courses in a wide range of subjects, including studio arts and art history, history and political science, Italian language and literature, and interdisciplinary studies in the humanities. Courses are designed to integrate the local resources and immerse students into the Florentine environment through on-site learning. A variety of co-curricular activities such as field trips, museum visits, academic tours, and artistic performances complement the rich cultural offerings of Florence.

A flexible and robust academic plan
Maryland-in-Florence students will follow ISI's General Studies Program, which provides students with maximum flexibility to create the study abroad academic plan that best meets their interests and needs. All students studying in Florence for a semester are required to take one 4-credit Italian language course and may select any other approved course in a variety of subjects; current course lists are available on ISI's website.

Review the Florence Academic Overview for additional information. Summer students should review the Florence Summer Academic Overview for details on the summer program. 
 

Students share apartments with other program participants. All apartments are within walking distance of ISI facilities and come with a fully equipped kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms, and communal living space. All apartments have wireless internet connection.

See the Maryland-in-Florence Housing Overview for more details and view the Welcome to ISI Florence video.

You can use the cost of attendance comparison worksheet to view how study abroad programs compare to each other and the amount you pay on campus at UMD. As always, your EA advisor is available help you complete this worksheet and find affordable programs that fit your study abroad goals.

Please refer to the following resources for more information on funding study abroad:

• Financial Aid
• Scholarships
• Financial Commitment, Withdrawals & Refunds

PLEASE NOTE: All University of Maryland study abroad programs are financially self-supporting and, therefore, subject to cancellation due to low enrollment.

Sally Roberts coordinates all logistical aspects of the Maryland-in-Florence program and is available to meet with both prospective and accepted students. To learn more about the program and complete the required advising meeting, schedule an appointment with Sally.

Community Engagement

As part of ISI’s initiative to help students gain valuable cross-cultural experience in an international environment, they promote many opportunities for community engagement, including volunteer work and service learning activities in Florence. Past opportunities have included coaching children’s baseball teams, assistant teaching in elementary schools, and volunteering at local churches and synagogues. Participating in such projects will give you invaluable hands-on experience and an extraordinary out-of-classroom exposure to the culture, language, and people of Italy. See the ISI website for more details.

Cultural Activities
The Maryland-in-Florence program also provides a variety of cultural activities around Florence and Italy such as cooking lessons, language aperitivi with Italian students, citywide soccer tournament, operas, 5k and 10k charity runs, local festivals and fairs, food tastings, and more. Course field trips are also an integral part of academic life. Professors organize course-specific trips in order to supplement in-class activities and engage students in the practical application of their studies.

Social Identity and Culture
Florence is a popular study abroad destination for students across the world- because of this we want all of our students to come prepared to think critically of their social identities, the culture of Florence, and the impact on this city. When in Florence, students are encouraged to live like the locals and find ways to learn from and engage with the local culture. This can include the volunteer opportunities above, getting to know their neighbors, or finding other activities or ways to engage. Students are encouraged to speak to their education abroad advisor if they have any questions about their role in Florence’s culture- and to think critically of this role prior to arrival!