Italy
Study abroad in Italy, famous for pizza, pasta, and the leaning tower of Pisa.
Why study in Italy?
If you love pizza, pasta, and all things delicious, you’ll love studying in Italy. The people are as warm and welcoming as the food, and the cities and countryside are beautiful. With a population of 60 million people, it’s a large country with a fascinating history. A student exchange to Italy is a great way to learn Italian and experience a world-famous culture.
Study the language as much as you can before you go. It will make a huge difference to your experience!
Tegan, Raglan
Placements
You can choose to study in Italy for as little as eight weeks or as long as one academic year. Our short programmes are flexible and available throughout most of the year – please email exchange@nziiu.co.nz to check if your preferred start date is possible. Gap year students are welcome to apply but must be no older than 18.5 years upon departure.
Placements can be anywhere in the country but are most likely to be in rural or lowly-populated areas. On the map below you can see some of the areas our past students have been placed. All of our host families are carefully vetted. We conduct home interviews, inspections, and police checks to ensure our students are placed in a secure and supportive environment.
We aren’t currently offering exchanges to Italy. Please check back again later.
Duration
Departs
Returns
Application deadline
Price
Covered expenses
Included in the fee:
- School and family documents for your student visa application
- Placement in a suitable host family and school
- Full board and lodging with a host family, excluding school lunches
- Pre-departure orientation in NZ and arrival orientation in Italy
- Meet and greet at the airport in NZ and at the airport in Italy
- Monthly progress reports to your parents
- Transfer to your host community from Rome (transfer back to Rome not included)
- Ongoing pastoral care by the exchange providers
- 24/7 emergency assistance in Italy and NZ
- Certificate of completion upon return
Other costs
Not included in the fee:
Flights
You are responsible for paying all domestic and international airfares between your home and Rome.
Insurance
You will be required to purchase comprehensive travel and medical insurance prior to your departure.
Visas
If a visa is required, you will be responsible for paying the necessary fees to the Italian Embassy in Wellington.
School setup
Depending on your school and subject choices, you may be required to pay for expenses such as basic school fees, books, and equipment.
Spending money
We recommend allocating approximately $450 NZD spending money per month to cover things like transport, school lunches, and weekend activities.
Optional trips
It’s a good idea to save some money for optional trips organised by your host family or your host organisation in Italy.
Eligibility
Students must be:
- Aged between 15 and 18 years prior to the programme start date
- A New Zealand Citizen or hold Permanent Residency
- Enrolled in a high school
- Fit, well, and have a suitable personality profile
- Academically motivated
Visas
If you are going to be in Italy for more than 90 days, you will need to apply for a visa. Some documents will need to be endorsed by a JP or Notary Public. After all the required documents are collected, you will need to post them to the Italian Embassy in Wellington.
Language
Students are expected to have knowledge of basic Italian (oral and written) prior to departure. They will need to complete an online Italian language course before arrival.
Financing and scholarships
We know that financing your exchange might be a bit of a challenge, but don’t let that hold you back from pursuing the experience of a lifetime! NZIIU offers a select number of scholarships each year to exceptional students who require some financial assistance, as well as fundraising kits.
Explore now »NZIIU fundraising kit »
Meet our past students
Meet our NZIIU Student Ambassadors at one of our information day events! These students who have recently been on exchange have done it all, and are here to share their knowledge, experiences, and stories from exchange.
Learn More »