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High school exchange program in Italy
Immerse yourself in the Italian culture, language and lifestyle, living with a host family and studying at a local high school.
Experience the authentic dolce vita in Italy
Student exchange program in Italy
Italian people are truly one of a kind – warm, chatty, animated, always ready to discuss a topic in front of an espresso, and keen to meet new people. Thanks to their natural gift of conviviality, they make their country an ideal destination for exchange students looking for a lively, authentic experience. As someone once said, “Love and understand the Italians, for the people are more marvelous than the land.”
In addition to a warm welcome, Italy has a lot in store for you – incredible history, a rich cultural and artistic patrimony, and of course, don't forget Italian food... are you ready to experience the dolce vita and learn to speak with your hands? Throw yourself in the most genuine Italian experience!
Living the Italian way
Food: the real deal
In Italy, every day will be an opportunity to taste your favourite dishes and discover new, typical specialties: not only pasta and pizza, but authentic gelato, gnocchi, arancini, tiramisu... Y-U-M.
What’s high school like in Italy?
Content-focused
You will soon discover that in Italy, school is largely content-focused, with teachers being afforded a great deal of respect and classes often delivered in a lecture style. Students take notes, ask questions and later review and memorise the content.
Shorter days
A typical school day starts around 8:00-8:30 am and finishes around 1:30 pm, allowing Italian students to eat lunch at home every day and spend afternoons doing homework, sports, and other activities. However, school attendance is generally Monday to Saturday.
A different system
Students remain in the same classroom all day, while teachers rotate between the rooms. Your classmates will soon feel like family, as you’ll spend every day with them and share every class together!
New friendships
Family plays a big role in Italy, but so does friendship. A true friendship is for life – you will quickly discover how nice it is to have Italian friends to share your days with.
A small country of great beauty – let it surprise with an exchange experience!
Choose authenticity – trust WEP and prepare to be amazed.
On a WEP Classic program, you will experience the true Italy. You may be placed anywhere in the country, depending on the location of the host family who has chosen you to share this incredible adventure with.
Volunteer host family
Public school
Placement anywhere in Italy
Short-term, semester or year programs available
Your host family during your exchange year
Gain a second family – they can’t wait to welcome you into their lives!
Here is why:
Italian families tend to be warm and welcoming, and they are often very open to share their daily life, traditions and culinary habits with their exchange students, making them feel right at home! Ready for lots of homemade meals and your very own Italian mamma, nonno or cousin?
Italian families are often large, as besides the parents and children, they include grandparents (sometimes living under the same roof, or nearby!), uncles, aunties, and cousins! Prepare for frequent and joyful extended family reunions, and your very own Italian mamma, nonno or nonna.
Your host family will be at your side during your Italian adventure. Whether it’s to help you with homework, guide you in your choice of activities, or give you a hug if you’re feeling homesick, they are there to help you integrate. Don’t hesitate to lean on them!
Your school in Italy
Find out more about your Italian school experience
The Italian education system
Education in Italy begins at 5 or 6 years old with scuola primaria (primary school), for five years. After that, students go to scuola media (middle school) for three years and conclude with five years of superiori (high school), for a total of 13 years of schooling. Education is compulsory until the end of the second year of high school.
The Italian education system
Subjects in Italy
High schools in Italy are divided into different types. Italian students approaching the end of middle school can choose if they wish to continue their studies at a liceo (comprising of different streams, such as: humanities and classical studies, sciences, arts, foreign languages...), a technical school (either centred on the business or technology sectors), or again a vocational school (more hands-on and aimed at learning a trade).
Once a school and a ‘stream’ has been chosen, subjects are more or less compulsory. All schools teach core subjects such as mathematics, Italian, PE, history and one foreign language.
Subjects in Italy
Italian high school
Secondary education in Italy consists of five years, organised as follows:
- Prima superiore – 1st year of high school – year 9 (students aged 14-15)
- Seconda superiore – 2nd year - year 10 (students aged 15-16)
- Terza superiore – 3rd year - year 11 (students aged 16-17)
- Quarta superiore - 4th year - year 12 (students aged 17-18)
- Quinta superiora - 5th year - year 13 (students aged 18-19)
Students graduate high school by sitting a state exam called Maturità, which includes a series of written tests, plus an oral exam in front of a panel of teachers.
Italian high school
Extra-curricular activities
Italian schools don’t offer many extra-curricular activities. If you wish to play a sport or get involved in a recreational activity, ask your host family or coordinator to help you look for opportunities available locally – clubs, sports centre, youth groups or associations, etc.
School in Italy is quite demanding; to extend your networks and make friends outside of school as well, get involved in the community and try new activities and past-times.
Extra-curricular activities
The school calendar
The academic year in Italy starts in mid-September and ends in mid-June, with a long break in the summer. You will also enjoy a few breaks and holiday periods during the year, including:
- New Year's Day: 1st January, to spend with family and friends.
- Epiphany: 6th January, with interesting traditions including a witch flying on a broomstick and bringing children lollies or coal...
- Good Friday and Easter Monday: usually in April, get ready for chocolate eggs.
- Liberation Day 25 April, to commemorate the victory of the Italian resistance movement and the liberation from German occupation at the end of World War II.
- Labour Day: 1st May, all workers rest for a day.
- Republic Day: 2nd June, a patriotic day to celebrate the country.
- Ferragosto: 15th August, a popular time to enjoy a day off work and take a summer vacation. This day is also a religious holiday, marking the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
- Ognissanti: 1st November, a common Christian holiday to honour all Saints and remember the deceased.
- Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary: 8th December, another religious holiday observed in many countries.
- Christmas Day 25th December, with a big family meal and traditional panettone for dessert.
- Saint Stephen's Day: 26th December, a day to rest after so many celebrations and food.
The school calendar
Grades in Italy
Academic grading in Italy is usually based on a numerical scale from 1 to 10. Students sit several written and oral tests during the year, and an average of 6 is the minimum to pass.
Grades in Italy
Stories from students and parents who have been there
Here are the testimonials of families who have chosen WEP for their exchange experience.
High School Exchange WELCOME CAMP
Three unforgettable days in Rome or Milan
Kick off your exchange program in Italy with a 3-night Welcome Camp in one of Italy's most popular destinations, Rome or Milan! During this optional arrival camp, students will get to participate in cultural workshops, sightsee the city and get take part in fun activities with exchange students from all over the globe!
"I made lots of friends from around the world. We walked around Rome and saw everything (Colosseum, Trevi Fountain...). My new friends and I got matching bracelets and gelato!" - Olivia, January 2023
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Going with WEP is best
Since 1988, a wide choice of destinations and comprehensive assistance before, during and after your overseas program. WEP is the ideal partner for your adventure.
We also get to choose who we travel with: our schools, host families and overseas partner organisations are carefully selected.
We offer a custom-made insurance policy, specifically designed for our participants, and we have a solid network behind us.
Emergency assistance, overseas and from Australia, is available 7 days out of 7, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Allowing all our participants to live their desired overseas experience is a mission, a challenge we're thrilled to accept.
FAQ
Your host family, local coordinator and your host organisation will provide you with support while you are overseas. WEP Australia will remain in contact with the host organisation and your parents to coordinate and support your experience. In case of an emergency, both you and your family will be able to call an emergency phone number that is answered 24/7.
You will be advised of your placement location, host family and host school as soon as feasible. This can range from a few months prior to departure, right up until departure, as a lot needs to happen behind the scenes before each student's placement process is complete and can be communicated to you with certainty. The placement process doesn't only include sourcing a suitable host family, but also finding availability at a local school, and completing all red tape (including, for example, lenghty criminal history checks in some countries). Prior to departure from Australia, all students will receive host family, host school and local coordinator details.
Independent travel is not permissible while on exchange. However, you will be able to travel with your host family, school, host organisation and other community groups such as sporting teams or scouts. Again, the foremost aim of the program is educational, and your priority for any holiday periods must be your host family, who will be investing a lot of time, energy and money into this experience - simply in return for your frienship and positive contribution to their household.
Generally speaking, overseas schools won't issue a diploma to exchange students who are only there for a short time and don't graduate at that school. You may however be provided with a honorary certificate, as well as a WEP certificate of completion, which however don't count towards credit or graduation in Australia.
Language experience is desirable, but not necessary, for most countries. However, some countries have mandatory language requirements. You'll find the specific requirements for each country listed on its page. Intensive language courses may, in some circumstances, meet language pre-requisites. WEP strongly recommends language preparation prior to departure as language knowledge is of enormous benefit in assisting you to quickly adapt to your new family, school and life.
Of course, there are English-speaking destinations available if you are not interested in learning another language.
No, it's the host families who choose the student they wish to invite into their home. Based on the documents you will submit as part of your WEP application, one lucky family will choose to open their home and hearts to you, which is why for all Exchange Classic programs, and many Flex programs as well, there is no avenue for students to choose a specific location.
It may be possible to live with an overseas family that you already know (excluding relatives of the student). However, the family will have to be screened and approved, prepared and supported by our partner organisation in the same manner as any other host family. School enrolment must also be available.
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