LEAD Italy

Quintessential Italian Experience

Vibrant Culture

Vineyards and Renaissance

Best For

Students seeking a holistic study abroad experience in Europe

Confidence building and clarity

Students who want to easily explore iconic cities in Italy

Highlights

Four weeks

Six hours of academic credit

Travel to Rome, Florence & Tuscany

Like-minded community of students

Innovative curriculum focused on your learning and personal development

Step into rich history and vibrant culture

Dates & Prices

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June 23 - July 29, 2026
Price coming soon!

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Overview

LEAD Italy is a 4-week study abroad experience designed to balance travel, personal growth, and six credit hours focused on leadership, global citizenship, and civic engagement. Spend two weeks in Rome, living near the Vatican and exploring iconic sites, followed by two weeks in Florence. Spend your days immersing yourself in the art, culture, and culinary treasures of the Renaissance city. Between travel, cultural excursions, and opportunities for independent exploration, this program offers the perfect mix of structure and freedom to make the most of your Italian summer. Through local speakers, workshops, and cultural engagement activities, you'll discover Italy’s vibrant culture. Simultaneously, connect with your program group through daily shared experiences focused on building friendships within the program. Past students have worked on beautification projects, attended community events, and learned about sustainability from local leaders. You’ll leave Italy with countless memories, meaningful friendships, and a stronger foundation in leadership and personal vision.

Next Steps

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Hop on the phone with one of our team members to help you find your perfect program, answer your questions and walk you through the application.

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Like many universities, we have rolling admissions. The sooner you apply, the better your chances of being accepted.

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Why Now

Do not miss your chance to travel during college. Join us on an adventure to discover yourself, connect with friends and come alive this summer!

Why LeadAbroad

What's Included

Before Departure

Pre-departure support Online orientations Personal assistance Flight recommendations and/or group flights Parental communication On campus and/or virtual program meet-ups Private social media groups for introductions and roommate matching
On The Ground

Housing Welcome celebration Final celebration Leadership & personal development workshops Cape Town city tour (includes attractions like District Six Museum, Signal Hill, community gardens & historic landmarks) Table Mountain hike Cape Point tour Boulders Beach tour Community engagement & service activity International medical insurance Airport bus transfers to/from program accommodations if arriving within group window 24/7 emergency support from U.S.-based domestic team
After You Return

Resume assistance References for internships, grad school and/or jobs On-campus leadership & ambassador programs Private LinkedIn & Facebook networking groups Family (Alumni) events
Independent Costs

Roundtrip airfare Most meals (Note: Student apartments have private, fully equipped kitchens) Free time excursions and transportation to independent activities Optional high-adrenaline adventures (for example: skydiving, bungee jumping, quad biking, etc)

Let us do the planning so you can stress less and travel more. Your program fee covers many of the expenses of your time abroad.

Academic Credit

You will enroll in two courses for a total of six credits from Oglethorpe University. Typical LEAD classes are centered around leadership, global citizenship and civic engagement. To provide more flexibility in your course selection, you can choose to label these courses in a variety of disciplines on your transcript under the subjects of leadership, history, politics, sociology or philosophy. Past students say that they have learned more about themselves from our LEAD courses than any other class taken during their college career. Courses focus on who you are as an individual and where you want to go in life. They allow you to define your vision and values in a way that you may have never thought about before, and they provide you with direction after you return home.

Accommodations

All of your accommodations in Italy offer comfort and convenience in safe, centrally located neighborhoods. In your first two weeks, you will stay in Prati, a charming district of Rome, where you’ll live in dorm-style housing at Saint John’s University. All students and staff stay in the same building, with classes held onsite and shared bathrooms on each floor. The residence offers single, double, triple, and quad rooms, with laundry facilities available for easy access.

For the second half of your journey, you’ll transition to Florence, where you’ll stay in centrally located dorm-style housing just a 10-minute walk from the iconic leather market and Duomo. Your residences include 24/7 front desk support, WiFi, and air conditioning to keep you comfortable throughout your stay.