Foundation Year in Design
Florence, Italy
Foundation Year
DURATION
9 months
LANGUAGES
English, Italian
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Oct 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 2,000 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* Please contact us for specific information on fees (EU, Non-EU), scholarships and payment plans
Key Summary
The Foundation Year in Design at Accademia Italiana’s Florence campus is conceived as a preparatory year to strengthen method, language, and core skills before progressing into higher studies in design. Studying in Florence means being immersed in a city that embodies art, design, and visual culture, enriching the academic journey with strong aesthetic awareness and an international outlook.
Discover our programs and meet our faculty
Culture and Language Skills
- Italian language
- History of Italian Art
- Italian Style
Art Skills
- Sketching
- Photograpy
- Painting techniques
Soft Skills
- Research and writing techniques
- Design thinking
Course Objectives
- Learning the Italian language up to B2 level CEFRL
- Acquiring background knowledge on Italian culture, history, style, and design
- Developing basic skills in drawing, painting, and photographing techniques
- Acquiring design and project development skills
- Portfolio building skills
- Preparing admission interviews for undergraduate accredited programs
- Filling the gap to meet the minimum requirements to enroll in state-accredited programs in Italy
When should you consider applying to this program?
- If you have less than 12 full years of schooling at the end of high school and have (or will shortly have) your school leaving certificate
- If you did not pass the Entrance Admission Interview for an Accademia Italiana Bachelor's of Art degree program
- If you want to improve your Italian language skills before beginning an undergraduate degree at Accademia Italiana
- If you studied in the American school system and obtained (or will obtain) a High School Diploma, but do not have the three Advanced Placement exams required to enrol in your chosen degree programme at Accademia Italiana
- If you have completed your studies within the British school system and obtained (or will obtain) a GCSE/A-levels, but do not have the three A-levels required to enrol in your chosen degree programme at Accademia Italiana
- If you have a vocational qualification