The ISI Advantage
Quality. Experience. Opportunity.
We stand for quality, and we are proud of it.
We know that, as a study abroad or faculty advisor, you are inundated with countless brochures, websites, and promotional material advertising amazing study abroad programs for students.
Opportunities for international study are increasingly numerous, but sifting through all the data can be tedious and overwhelming.
Accreditation and Recognition
The International Studies Institute (ISI Florence) is a provider of recognized, credit-bearing courses to students of American colleges and universities. Through our partner institutions—University of Connecticut, Pennsylvania State University, Connecticut College, Roger Williams University—students may earn direct credit, or they may come independently of any of these collaborating schools and earn an accredited U.S. university transcript. The Institute is registered with the Italian Ministry of Education as an institution of higher learning in Italy.
Curriculum and Quality of Courses
The course syllabi and CVs of our instructors are routinely reviewed and monitored by our partner institutions, thereby ensuring consistently high standards.
If you are advising students to apply to the Institute or would like your school to become a collaborating institution, we will provide an updated Course Syllabi Book so that you can review our academic program in detail.
Faculty Credentials
ISI Florence has succeeded in attracting a highly qualified faculty of exceptional scholars who are passionately dedicated to teaching and providing courses of substantive content and quality.
Our Faculty CV Book documents the credentials of Institute instructors and is available for review upon request. We are proud and pleased to provide full academic transparency.
Admission Standards
Admission into ISI Florence is selective. We require that applicants be matriculated at an accredited college or university in good standing, have sophomore or higher status, a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher, and provide a personal essay.
Constituency
Institute students distinguish themselves by outstanding academic performance and a desire to be challenged, explore new paths, and delve into their surroundings. Ask us for the list of schools from which the Institute has attracted students in the past.
Location & Facilities
The city of Florence provides an extraordinary setting for study abroad in Italy, and the Institute’s locations are one of its biggest advantages. Florence is a major cultural center and one of the most stunningly beautiful urban constructs in the world; students flourish as the city becomes the familiar environment of their daily life. Tucked into the “centro storico” is the monumental Palazzo Rucellai, the fifteenth-century palace that houses the headquarters and some classrooms of the Institute. Palazzo Bargagli, the other Institute building is centrally located on the River Arno, and boasts fifteen classrooms, two conference rooms, the art studio, and two floors dedicated to architecture studios.
Library and Academic Resources
Above and beyond the local libraries, the Institute maintains its own library with over 2000 well-selected holdings, a collection that continues to expand. We also offer newspapers, journals, and a large CD and DVD collection. The Institute has two computer labs as well as wireless access at the Institute and in student apartments, allowing students to utilize online databases and journals for research purposes.
Student Services and Health & Safety
ISI Florence maintains an average 40:1 student-to-staff ratio and offers incomparable attention to students’ needs. With our 24-hour emergency hotline, there is always someone available if a situation arises. At ISI Florence, we are resolutely committed to the welfare of our students, and we’ve developed comprehensive health, safety, and emergency policies and procedures to ensure our students’ well-being at all times.
Experience
ISI Florence was established in 2001 and boasts over fifteen years as a provider of quality academic programs in Florence. The Institute has served well over 5,000 alumni.
Affordability
The Institute is priced approximately at or below the average cost for study abroad programs in Italy. The multiplicity of covetable features makes studying at ISI Florence not only affordable but of exceptional value as well. For details, see our Tuition and Fees.
We’re here for you
We invite you to explore all the various links on our website and learn more about the Institute. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions. We hope we can work with you to ensure a once-in-a-lifetime study abroad experience for your students.