Program Reviews

Embarking on the AIFS Florence Study Abroad Program was one of the most transformative experiences of my academic journey. From the breathtaking landscapes to the rich cultural heritage, Florence served as an unparalleled backdrop for an unforgettable adventure.

One of the most commendable aspects of the program was its seamless integration of academics and cultural immersion. The curriculum, designed offered a diverse range of courses taught by knowledgeable professors who were passionate about their subjects. My personal favorite course was Marketing of Italian luxury fashion. Whether delving into Italian fashion or mastering the nuances of the Italian language, each class was an opportunity for intellectual growth and exploration.

Beyond the classroom, AIFS provided a plethora of experiential learning opportunities that allowed students to engage directly with Italian culture. From guided tours of renowned museums to cooking classes led by local chefs, every activity was thoughtfully curated to deepen our understanding of Italian traditions and customs.

Living in Florence for a semester provided a unique opportunity for personal growth and self-discovery. Immersing myself in the vibrant local community allowed me to develop many intercultural skills and forge lifelong friendships with fellow students from around the world. Overall, AIFS provides students with an amazing program,an ideal housing situation, and engaging courses and excursions that will contribute to lifelong memories.

I really enjoyed my internship and this program! I had an amazing internship experience and got to meet life long friends along the way. I would definitely recommend this program to someone who want to have a work experience and study abroad! Especially, to someone who wants to build their resume. I know that’s what attracted me to this program. The housing accommodation was great good size rooms, kitchen and living room. Amazing support by advisors Amanda and Antonella. You are able to reach them at any point during experience and they will get back to you as soon as they can. Overall, I had a great experience and will cherish this period of my life forever.

Hi! I was apart of the Spring 2024 intern abroad program in Florence. I had the best time ever! I will be honest though, the experience is not easy. As an intern abroad you have to balance time very well with social life and work life. I worked 40 hours weeks most weeks and traveled on the weekends. It is exhausting. Luckily I had a great group of girls I was living with and we really bonded over our experience in the program and helped each other vent and get through the hard parts. The placement I had was the perfect type of internship, which is great because I needed the experience. Although, working in a different countries does have some hardships. I am a pretty personable person and the language barrier made it very hard for me to make connections with the people in the office with me, a lot of the time they would speak in Italian and I knew very little. It felt a little lonely and I have never been in a work environment where I wasn’t friends with those who I was working with. It definitely became a really tiresome feeling and I dreaded going to the internship towards the end. I also did not need credit and was doing this for experience so working as much as I did burnt me out kind of fast. I had hoped there was a part time position or option but that was not possible. But in all I had a really great time, the experience was once in a lifetime and I would definitely recommend!

I had a great experience while interning abroad in Milan, Italy. I felt very supported while abroad by both AISF advisors, Amanda and Antonella. They went above and beyond to make my stay as comfortable as possible and catered to our needs. My internship placement was fantastic, I was often tasked with projects that can be used in my portfolio and I was fortunate enough to experience Milan Fashion Week and attend some of the events. Overall, I definitely enjoyed my experience and I will continue to remember this trip for years to come.

Overall, I had a great experience in Milan and am very grateful for the support and guidance offered by our program advisors. Although my internship was not the professional experience I had hoped for, living abroad and immersing myself in a new culture made the program worth it. If there had been clearer expectations about my role as an intern I think this could have helped me have a more valuable work experience. I would highly recommend this program to anyone looking for the opportunity to live abroad in a major city.

Overall, this experience abroad was eye opening and amazing! I couldn't have asked for better program advisors, Antonella and Amanda. They were super welcoming and responsive. During my time, I was able to travel outside of Italy and explore Milan which was one of my favorite parts about being here. However, my internship was not something I got to excel in professionally. I think the employer should be more honest on what the job entails to the intern and to AIFS because my responsibilities did not align with what I actually did during my internship.

I was working abroad with 5 other girls. Our advisors, Amanda and Antonella, were the glue of our program and had the solution to every problem. They are extremely supportive and could not have asked for better advisors. I loved the people in my program and was able to travel on the weekends to different countries. On the other hand, my internship was busy work consisted of getting clients coffee and sending emails 9-5 every day. I didn't grow professionally but the friends and travel opportunities made the program worth it.

Great time with my host company and program coordinator, I am happy with the people I was assigned. I appreciate helphousing and Lourdes a lot, they made my experience worthwhile.

Only things that I wish were different were the small housing issues we had to deal with during the entire time here, but I appreciate all of the efforts of the staff to fix things as much as possible.

Great time with my host company and program coordinator, I am happy with the people I was assigned. I appreciate helphousing and Lourdes a lot, they made my experience worthwhile.

Only things that I wish were different were the small housing issues we had to deal with during the entire time here, but I appreciate all of the efforts of the staff to fix things as much as possible.

My experience was unique because I was the only person on my program who had a remote internship. I feel as though I got off on the wrong foot because I was the only person who had Italian experience, so I was in a different class than the rest of the people in my program. This was no one’s fault, but I wasn’t able to get to know them as we were all on different schedules. The on-site staff, Antonella and Amanda, were so helpful in making all of us feel included and planning great events for us.

This was one of the best opportunities I have ever participated in. I was a bit nervous because it was my first time traveling abroad alone, but since I opted into AIFS booking my travel, the AIFS program did a super job coordinating everything. The orientation set up expectations and helped me get over my second anxiety, public transport. Getting around independently becomes a breeze once it is explained to you and they give you the resources.

The class I took while I was there was very engaging, and the teacher took a real interest in our interests and learning. She wanted to make sure we had the best opportunity in Berlin while getting the most out of our learning experience.