Ultimate Summer in Italy: At a Glance
Itinerary (July 2022)
- Rome
- Orvieto
- Florence
- Bologna
- Milan
- Bergamo
- Lake Garda
- Verona
- Venice
- Earn 3, 6, or 9 credits
- Courses for ALL majors
- Internships available
- Free application
- Early bird discounts
- Financial aid available
Why study abroad with Forum-Nexus?
Because there’s no other program that lets you do all of this, all in one summer:
See the Best of Italy
Why study abroad in just one location when you can see more? With Forum-Nexus, you travel throughout Italy and gain a bigger and better perspective, making the most of your time abroad. See the itinerary.
Earn College Credits
Take classes taught by experienced, multilingual professors and learn about Italy and the European Union while earning 3, 6, or 9 credits transferable to your college or university. Make the world your classroom this summer! View course options.
Gain Professional Experience
All FN students attend professional visits at leading companies and international organizations during their time abroad. Take it to the next level by completing an internship with Forum-Nexus. Get information on internships.
Increase your INTL. IQ
Increase your International IQ and gain valuable international experience that will help you in future classes, jobs, and social situations. Learn about other cultures, and learn a little bit about yourself along the way.
Summer 2022 is your time to study abroad!
Apply now!Program Sessions
Session T1
9 Cities in 1 Month
July 2 - 30
- Rome
- Orvieto
- Florence
- Bologna
- Milan
- Bergamo
- Lake Garda
- Verona
- Venice
Accommodations
Forum-Nexus students, faculty, and staff stay in excellent hotels:
- All the hotels are highly rated tourist-class 4-star hotels in central locations
You will be able to enjoy breakfast every morning at each hotel.
Accomodations Details
Rome 
Florence
Milan
Riva del Garda
Venice
Courses Offered
ANY major can participate in a summer with Forum-Nexus! You can earn 3, 6, or 9 credits (for 1, 2, or 3 courses - each course is worth 3 credits). We offer a variety of courses that are interesting, relevant, and fun! There are three types of courses: Regular courses, Supervised Independent Study (SIS) courses, and Internships. You may enroll in one or two regular courses, or a combination of a regular course and an SIS course or an internship.
Regular Courses
Classes are held on weekday mornings, either at a local campus or in the conference center of the hotel. The professor for each course travels with the group from city to city. Each regular course (section 01 and section 02 courses) is worth 3 credits. All students take at least one regular course.
Supervised Independent Study (SIS) Courses
Students enrolled in a Supervised Independent Study (SIS) course pursue structured independent work, following a well-defined syllabus, under the supervision of one or two faculty members. SIS courses allow students to study a specific subject in the context of Italy and Europe. Each SIS course is worth 3 credits. Students enrolled in an SIS course are required to also enroll in a regular 3-credit course.
Internships
The Forum-Nexus Internship Program provides students with an opportunity to gain valuable academic and professional experience while earning 3 internship credits. There are a limited number of openings. There are internships available in Communication, Hospitality Management, Marketing, Management, and Photography & Videography. Students enrolled in an internship course are required to also enroll in a regular 3-credit course.
Internship ProgramSchedule of Classes
- Section 01 classes are held from 9:00 am - 10:35 am
- International IQ Seminar from 10:40 am - 11:40 am
- Section 02 classes are held from 11:45 am - 1:20 pm
Europe Today: An International IQ Seminar with Dr. H
One of the highlights of Forum-Nexus programs is the emphasis placed on acquiring a higher level of International IQ, defined as the minimum level of international knowledge a student should have in order to present themselves as a cultured and educated individual in an international setting.
All students participate in the International IQ Seminar, conducted by Dr. Hugo Hervitz, which is a daily session in which students can learn about the culture of Italy, gain an understanding of essential European geography and current events, discuss their experiences and cross-cultural interactions, get language tips, and identify ways to have an even more immersive study abroad experience.
Professional Visits
One of the things that makes Forum-Nexus unique is the emphasis placed on professional experiences and networking opportunities.
Professional visits take place throughout the program at leading companies and international organizations. Most visits include detailed discussions with executives, followed by a tour of the facilities.
All students participate in Forum-Nexus professional visits.
Professional VisitsIndependent Cultural Visits
In addition to visiting global companies and organizations, Forum-Nexus students make the most of their time in each city by participating in Independent Cultural Visits (ICVs). These visits may include experiences at historical sites and landmarks, museums, art galleries, traditional music or dance performances, and culturally relevant events.
All students participate in at least 8 ICVs.
Sponsoring Universities
Franklin University Switzerland
A prestigious liberal arts university accredited both in the U.S. (Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools) and in Switzerland (Swiss University Conference).
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
A leading Italian private university in Milan, the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart is fully accredited and a member of the ISEP network.
Course Transcripts
In summer 2022, you may elect to have your transcript issued by FUS or UCSC. We recommend that this choice be made in consultation with the study abroad and academic offices of your school.
Credit TransferProgram Language
All classes and professional visits are conducted in English.
Independent Weekend Day Trips and Excursions
On free weekend days during the program, you may elect to spend your free time exploring the FN city that we are in, or you may choose to travel to another city for a day or for the entire weekend.
An Independent Weekend Day Trip is organized by students and involves traveling to and from the base FN city in the same day, to visit a nearby destination in Italy.
An Independent Weekend Excursion (*) is an overnight trip to another city/country during a weekend. It typically involves leaving Friday evening or Saturday morning, and in most cases, returning on Sunday evening.
We will provide you with recommended itineraries and activities in each of our suggested destinations, but you may choose to enjoy the weekend however you’d prefer. Arrangements for independent weekend day trips and excursions are not covered by FN or included in the program fees. Below are our suggested destinations:
Weekend 1: Rome
- Saturday, July 2 - Opening session of the program
- Sunday, July 3 - Free day for independent sightseeing in Rome
No out-of-town trips are suggested for this weekend
Weekend 2: Rome and Florence
- Saturday, July 9 - Included day trip to Orvieto, Italy
FN students, faculty, and staff will travel from Rome to Florence with a stop in Orvieto, Italy. This day trip is included as part of the official program itinerary. Orvieto is a beautiful small town in Italy situated on a hilltop, which offers incredible views of the surrounding region.
- Sunday, July 10 - Independent Weekend Day Trip to Pisa
Departing Florence Sunday morning via train
Returning to Florence Sunday evening via train - July 8 - 10 - Independent Weekend Excursion to Amsterdam or Barcelona
Departing Rome Friday afternoon via flight
Returning to Florence Sunday evening via flight
Weekend 3: Milan
- Saturday, July 16 - Included day trip to Bologna, Italy
FN students, faculty, and staff will travel from Florence to Milan with a stop in Bologna, Italy. This day trip is included as part of the official program itinerary. Bologna is the lively capital of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy. Home to the oldest university in the western world and a major center for culinary development, there is no shortage of things to do in Bologna.
- Sunday, July 17 - Independent Weekend Day Trip to Cinque Terre
Departing Milan Sunday morning via train
Returning to Milan Sunday evening via train - July 15 - 17 - Independent Weekend Excursion to Paris
Departing Florence Friday afternoon via flight
Returning to Milan Sunday evening via flight
Weekend 4: Lake Garda and Venice
- Saturday, July 23 - Free day for independent sightseeing in Lake Garda
- Sunday, July 24 - Free day for independent sightseeing in Lake Garda
- July 23 - 25 - Independent Weekend Excursion to London or Amsterdam
Departing Verona Saturday morning via flight
Returning to Venice Monday evening via flight
Clubs
We encourage you to take maximum advantage of your free time in Europe. In many cases, this will be achieved through group activities with all Forum-Nexus students, but at other times you will enjoy the company of a smaller number of friends sharing specific interests. In order to facilitate this process, we encourage the formation of the following clubs:
- Fitness and Running Club - For active students wishing to explore each city by running before class in the mornings, hiking (where applicable), and staying fit while studying abroad.
- Photography Club - For photography majors and students who just love to take pictures, this club will meet to explore each city together to take photos of unique neighborhoods, small villages, mountains, and lakes.
- Art and History Club - This club is ideal for students who would like to spend time exploring the amazing wealth of museums, cathedrals and historical sites throughout Italy.
- Food Club - Students in the food club will enjoy visiting authentic and unique restaurants in each city, sampling the local cuisine as well as the gastronomic contribution of immigrant groups in each region.
- Soccer Club - Avid soccer fans will have the opportunity to visit San Siro Stadium in Milan and the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, as well as attend some soccer matches together, or find opportunities for playing soccer in their free time.
- Music and Dancing Club - For students who have an appreciation for music and love to dance, this club may explore each city by attending concerts, listening to live music, learning about local dances in each city, and visiting the most popular venues.
Forum-Nexus is the facilitator of the clubs, but the initiative comes from the students themselves, usually starting via our private Facebook group 1-2 months before the start of the program.
Application Process
Complete an online application for free here. Admission is on a rolling basis and you are encouraged to apply as early as possible. There is no application fee.
Within one week of receiving an official acceptance notification, a $75 confirmation deposit is due. The deposit is applied to the overall program cost.
Your remaining balance must be paid before June 1st, 2022. Payment extensions are available by request.
Apply now! More InformationProgram Cost
The information below provides the overall program cost, including tuition, for the 3 main sessions of the Forum-Nexus Ultimate Summer in Italy program. This price includes one 3-credit course. The price of each additional 3-credit course is $855.
What's Included
- Tuition for one 3-credit course
- Accommodations in top hotels
- Buffet breakfast in all hotels
- Professional visits
- All transportation within Italy between Rome and Venice by private coach
- Comprehensive health insurance
- Welcome reception
- Farewell dinner
- On-site staff support
- Official transcripts
The following items are not included:
- Round trip ticket to Italy: You are responsible for booking your flight to Rome, and your flight home from the last city of your session (Milan or Venice). From the U.S., the average cost is about $1,200.
- Meals other than breakfast: The estimated cost is $30-35 per day.
- Additional courses: The program cost includes one 3-credit course. You may add one or two additional courses, for a total of 6 or 9 credits. Each additional course is $855.
The information on this page is subject to change.
