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Study abroad in
Italy
Discover all the options available for you to study in Italy and improve your level of Italian!
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.
Why study in Italy?
Choosing to study in Italy means giving yourself the opportunity to be immersed in a rich culture, marvelling at the Italian fine art and enjoying some of the most delicious food while improving your Italian language skills.
In this cradle of Mediterranean culture, you'll be blown away by world-famous works of art, soak in the Renaissance architecture so typical of Italy, and discover what the Italian lifestyle is all about. Your experience wouldn't be complete without putting some 'effort' into discovering the much-celbrated Italian cuisine. Each region has its own gastronomic specialties, from Neapolitan pizza to pasta carbonara from Rome, passing through the mouth-watering typical dishes of Tuscany or Sicily - get your taste buds ready to experience the most authentic flavours of Italy.
Regardless of which type of program you end up choosing in Italy, you'll come back with memories to last for a lifetime.
Study in Italy with WEP
With WEP, you have the opportunity to live different kinds of experiences in Italy. From a high school exchange program, to volunteering as a language assistant, it's you who chooses the adventure of your lifetime.
A high school exchange program is a 360-degree immersion in all aspects of Italian culture. You will attend a local high school like if you were an Italian teenager and you will live with a host family who will take you in as one of their own, for a 100% authentic Italian experience.
If you have completed high school and are looking for a professional challenge, you can head to Italy on our teacher assistant program. It's your chance to live an enriching experience through cultural exchange, as you teach your native language to Italian students, learn from experienced teachers, and get close to the Italian culture while living with a local family.
The Italian education system
Schooling in Italy begins with scuola dell'infanzia (kindergarten) at 3 years old, followed by scuola primaria from 6 to 10 years of age. Secondary education (scuola secondaria) starts around age 11 with three years of middle school, and continues with upper secondary school which lasts for 5 years. Italian students are often 19 by the time they sit their Maturità, their final high school exam, coordinated at a national level.
Students who wish to access higher education can choose between four different options: universities, Higher Schools specialised in arts and music, Higher Schools specialised in languages and mediation, and Higher Technical Institutes which are designed to respond to the needs of the economy.
Education in Italy is highly cultural and content-focused, the ideal setting for those interested in pursuing their studies in the areas of art, history or literature.
FAQ
To participante in a high school exchange program to Italy, you need to be between 15 and 18 years old on departure, have a C grade average, be a non-smoker, and have positive personal traits, such as being motivated, curious, tolerant, open and adaptable. You also need to be physically and emotionally healthy - please discuss any specific conditions or requirements with WEP in advance.
Volunteering in an Italian school as a Language Assistant is also possible through our Global PALS program, for which you need to be 18 years old minimum. You also need to be an English native or native-like speaker, have graduated from high school (tertiary qualifications are a bonus), and have an interest in the field of education/languages.
Our High School Exchange programs in Italy can be of different durations: short-term (under 90 days), an academic semester, an academic year, or a calendar year. The exact duration depends on the departure period - please contact WEP for more information.
Our Teacher Assistant program to Italy is either 2 or 3 months in duration.
To decide which program duration is best for you, you should reflect on what you would like to achieve through the program, and discuss your preferences with your family to make sure they are on board. For High School Exchange programs, you should also speak to your school, to ensure that you understand their policy regarding re-integrating into Australian schooling and any requirements to repeat school back home.
It's always best to check our website and/on obtain an online quote to see updated program prices.
We know an overseas program is a significant financial investment. We do our best to offer the best possible prices, which vary depending on the destination and chosen program, and provide discounts and special promotions to help towards the cost.
Whether you are participating in a High School Exchange program or a Teacher Assistant program, you will live with a volunteer Italian host family.