IED – Istituto Europeo di Design Rome
Academic Foundation Year - Italian Creativity & Design
Rome, Italy
Foundation Year
DURATION
4 months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2027
TUITION FEES
EUR 12
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
An interdisciplinary training program designed for students who aim to develop their creative talent and acquire the skills needed to access the best academies and universities in Italy.
Through an approach that highlights Italian culture and creative heritage, the course focuses specifically on art and the creativity of Made in Italy.
Students will have the opportunity to experiment with innovative techniques and methodologies, working on individual and group projects through hands-on laboratory activities and dedicated workshops.
Why choose it
The advantages of the Academic Foundation Year – Italian Creativity in Rome:
- The Role of the Tutor: Throughout the Foundation Year, the tutor plays a crucial role in supporting students, guiding them from enrollment to the completion of the course. Acting as a bridge between students, the school, and the faculty, the tutor fosters individual communication with each participant, creating a calm and inclusive learning environment. For minor students, the tutor also plays a key role in coordinating with host families, ensuring smooth and continuous communication for a safe educational experience.
- Extracurricular Visits and Experiences: During the year, students will have the opportunity to attend key events in the fields of fashion, video and cinema, art, and design, both in Rome and in other cities. The visits, always guided by a teacher or the tutor, will offer an immersive experience in the cultural and artistic heritage, with insights into video production, film sets, fashion companies, historical and artistic places, and the rich cultural environment of Rome.
- The City of Rome: Rome, the "Eternal City," is a globally recognized capital where history and modernity blend harmoniously. Famous for its rich cinematic heritage, it is today a hub for multimedia communication, interactive entertainment, and sustainable design, perfectly balancing tradition and innovation. Fashion also reflects this duality, combining craftsmanship and sustainability. As the most visited city in Italy, Rome offers a dynamic environment where art, cinema, fashion, culture, and design thrive in a unique and captivating setting.
- Host family or legal guardian for underage students: Through our partners, we will take care of international students who come to study in Rome and facilitate their accommodation with a carefully selected Italian host family or a legal guardian, who will support them until their eighteenth birthday.
The course is aimed at students who hold a secondary school diploma or other recognised qualification, obtained after at least 11 years of schooling. Level A2 English is also recommended, verifiable by an academic certificate or during the admission interview.
The course structure includes:
- Theoretical modules on the history of art, design, and fashion.
- Practical workshops focused on project culture.
- Training on digital tools, with a focus on Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
- Italian language lessons and cultural activities.
- Personalized coaching and academic orientation.
Learning combines lectures, workshops, special meetings, and visits, with group and individual projects. Students must attend at least 80% of the lessons in order to take the exams. Tutoring and language support are available throughout the course.
Study Programme
The course is divided into three main areas of study:
- Intensive language module – An immersive program dedicated to the Italian language and culture through intensive lessons (in Italian).
- Preparatory and theoretical in-depth courses (in English) and training on digital design tools, with courses on Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign (in English).
- Experiential course – Practical and workshop activities, enriched by visits and special lectures (in Italian and English).


