Study Abroad in Florence: Academics

This program is designed for students who wish to study art history, studio art, Italian language and Italian studies. Courses are also available for students interested in business, economics and sociology. Although a minimum 2.5 GPA is required, previous knowledge of Italian is not.

Students are required to enroll in the language orientation program prior to study in Florence (full-year students do not repeat orientation or trips in the spring semester). In addition, students are required to take at least one Italian language course in Florence.

Admissions Guidelines A 2.5 cumulative GPA is necessary for admission. Students registered at U.S. schools and colleges should apply through AIFS, which compiles their dossier. Once complete, applications are sent to the Richmond Admissions Office. AIFS will advise you of your acceptance on behalf of Richmond.

Course load Classes meet Monday to Saturday for two weeks in orientation plus Monday to Friday for 12 weeks in Florence. Final exams are generally held during the last week. One class hour equals 50 minutes. All course-related required field trips are held on Fridays.

Credits for each course are equal to American credits based on one credit for a minimum of 25 studio hours or 15 classroom hours plus home study or the equivalent in independent research or tutorials. Students should register for a minimum of 9 and a maximum of 13 credits each term in Florence. The 3 or 4 credits received during orientation are extra. A formal exam is given at the end of each semester in all courses.

A calendar of dates for final exams will be posted at the beginning of each semester. Exams will not be rescheduled for any reason.

Student advising Students meet with the Resident Director during orientation and in Florence before the academic semester begins. The Resident Director provides academic advising and serves as liaison between the students, Richmond and the Florence instructors.

Attendance and participation in classes are required. For each course students cannot accumulate more than four absences regardless of the reason. Failure to account for absences will automatically result in an F grade for the course.

Grades For each course, a mid-term, research paper, quizzes or oral reports, and a final test are required. In the Richmond system, grades are numerically calculated on a grade point average (GPA) scale. No AIFS participant is permitted to take a course without receiving a letter grade. Pass/Fail grade options are not available.

  Excellent work   A, 4.0 A-, 3.7  
  Above satisfactory work   B+, 3.3 B, 3.0 B-, 2.7
  Satisfactory work   C+, 2.3 C, 2.0 C-, 1.7
  Below satisfactory work   D+, 1.3 D, 1.0 D-, 0.7
  Fail   F, 0    

Libraries The Richmond Study Center has a reading room with a selected library containing texts relevant to research paper topics. Students may also use the extensive collections available to them in Florence. The British Institute Library has more than 60,000 volumes—the largest English language library in continental Europe. Its comfortable reading room overlooks the Arno River. The Italian National Library at the Piazza dei Cavalleggeri also has an extensive collection.

Richmond Study Center Located in the Palazzo Michelozzi, a 16th century palace between the Arno River and the Pitti Palace, the Richmond Study Center is a few minutes walk from the Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, the Uffizi Gallery, the Duomo and many of the great Florentine museums. Via Maggio is a famous street for antique shops in the historic center of town. The Center occupies the piano nobile or first floor above ground level. With its elegant, gracious rooms, the Center serves as a convenient, attractive, welcoming environment for students and teachers. The Center in Florence is equipped with classrooms, offices, a library, a computer lab and a student lounge. Wireless internet is also available during office hours.

Transcripts and credits for program courses are issued by Richmond, The American International University in London, a U.S. accredited University.

Please visit www.richmond.ac.uk/content/academic-programs/registrar/request-a-transcript.aspx for information about transcript requests.