SESSION | COST | START | END |
---|---|---|---|
Fall 2023 | US$7,283 | 18 Sep '23 | 15 Dec '23 |
Winter 2024 | US$4,875 | 8 Jan '24 | 10 Mar '24 |
Spring 2024 | US$5,577 | 11 Mar '24 | 4 Jun '24 |
See a summary of Dates & Prices for all programs
The Italian Adventist University Villa Aurora is located on a 14th Century Renaissance Villa in suburban Florence, the main city of the Province of Tuscany. Students enjoy the birthplace of the renaissance which changed the course of the world’s history. Only a 15-minute ride to the Center of Florence, its location gives optimal access to Italy’s rich historical, musical, and artistic culture and resources. The villa, itself, is of great architectural value and beauty. The garden surrounding it contains many indigenous and exotic species of plants and flowers, and many trees dating back several hundred years. The surroundings provide a serene environment ideal for study and the various cultural and recreational activities offered by the school.
*Students attending the program will receive a tram/bus pass that will have unlimited use (value of approximately €300). Students attending the program for the entire school year will also receive €100 during the 3rd quarter for their personal expenses.
Taking advantage of their location in the center of the Italy’s artistic culture, Villa Aurora students will focus on the significance of the Etruscan, Roman, Medieval and Renaissance eras to Italian and Western culture and make numerous visits to local and national art treasures.
During the year students will tour such sites as Tuscany, including Siena, Pisa and the surrounding areas (Chianti), 2 days in Rome & the Vatican, Venice, Assisi, Cinque Terre (the Italian Riviera), a 5-day tour of Naples, Capri, Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast and Pompeii, and a week-long trip to Sicily.
Founded in 1940, the university also offers governmentally-recognized university-level studies in theology. A coeducational institution with an average class size of 15. The school family consists of approximately 100 members during the regular academic year.
A new large classroom building was opened during the 1995-96 academic year. Students attend most of their classes in the morning from Monday to Friday, while in the afternoon Monday through Thursday students get the opportunity to experience hands-on courses geared towards art.
Three residence halls provide separate housing for men and women. In recent years the residence halls have been remodeled while a new kitchen, cafeteria, and library have been built to better serve students. Depending on enrollment, there will be 2-4 students per room.
The 15,000-volume library is under constant development and it offers easy access to various works of Italian/foreign literature, history, sciences, ecology, and works dealing with theology. A moderate amount of outside educational subsidies is dedicated to the further development of the multi-media department. Beyond the library, the greater resources of Florence’s museums, palaces and churches provide extended opportunities for students to learn about the culture of Italy and the city that was so vital in initiating the Renaissance and Western civilization.
Students will find the school library and the multi-media lab a user-friendly environment for studying, word processing, and surfing the internet. The campus has a multipurpose athletic field (tennis, basketball, soccer, and volleyball), a TV room, a game room, and a student cafeteria. These, along with the many other resources available on campus, compliment the first-class instruction provided by the Institute’s qualified faculty and staff.
The cafeteria features a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet in the best of Italian culinary traditions. Known for its good food, the University notes that there is an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables in the cuisine offered and that no pre-cooked food is served. Everything is prepared in the clean, modern kitchen of the cafeteria and results in abundant breakfasts, hearty lunches, and light dinners. Food allergies are always taken into consideration. Students are advised to inform the school of their food allergies so that special arrangements can be made for meals. Also, students may choose to learn to cook many Italian recipes as part of their program.
Important Info: Students enrolled in the ACA program are permitted to stay at the campus no earlier than two days before the published arrival date and stay no later than two days after the published departure date (at no extra charge). Arrangements must be made with the administration Ahead of time if students need to stay more than the two days allowed (upon the arrival and departure dates) an additional charge will be required. Students who need to stay at Villa Aurora University during Christmas and Spring breaks may do so at no additional charge but should be aware that the cafeteria closes for a few days (dates will be posted) and the students will be responsible for their own food.
*Villa Aurora will provide free transportation only from the Florence airport and train station to students attending the ACA program when arriving for the first time and when departing at the end of their stay.
For Students to benefit from this service, it is necessary to send their “Notice of Arrival” form ahead of time. Students can find the Notice of Arrival Form online. After logging in to the ACA web page you can fill out your Arrival Form. You can also email your arrival information directly to the international program director if you have trouble filling the information online.
*Although it is strongly discouraged to purchase tickets to any airport other than the Florence airport a student may choose to use a different one, but they will need to take a bus or train to the Florence train station (Santa Maria Novella). Tickets can be purchased online or at the connecting train station.
If visiting Villa Aurora independently these are the instructions to follow:
By Air: Everyone is advised to fly directly to the Florence airport (the best option) because it is much easier and safer. From the Florence airport you can take a shuttle that will take you to the Florence train station Santa Maria Novella (SMN).
directions from SMN train station to Villa Aurora are as follows:
To get to the school from the train station the easiest way is by tram and it runs from 5:00 A.M. till 12:30 A.M. There are 2 options to get on the tram once you get to the station. You can either turn right on the platform and go down the stairs to get to the tram stop “Almanni” but if you go left you will find the tram stop called “Valfonda” and both to the same destination. To make sure you’re going the right way, ensure that the stop says “Careggi Ospedale” on the destination where the times are located. You can take the Tram towards the Careggi Hospital from the train station. There are machines on both sides of the Tram stop that allow you to purchase tickets for the tram that are also valid for the city buses or you can purchase tickets at any newsstand. Please make sure to get your ticket “time stamped” inside the Tram car by inserting the ticket into any of the machines inside, failure to do so could result in a fine of up to €200. The stop you get off on is called “Careggi Ospedale” and is the very last stop on the tramway. The tram ride should only last about 20 minutes at the most. You will see a large glass building across the street. When you arrive, cross the road on the right side of the tram stop and follow the road as it curves to the right about 300 yards. Then turn left across the roundabout when you see the Centro Traumatologico Ortopedico (CTO). You will pass the CTO on your right and the SDA church will be up the hill on your left. When you reach the fork on the road, stay to the right on Viuzzo del Pergolino. The school is on your left and you can enter the school gates from there.
By taxi:
Villa Aurora University address: Via del Pergolino 12 (University dorms)
University Main entrance
Viuzzo del Pergolino 8 (cafeteria and university/office building)
By Road: Toll road (autostrada) exit (uscita): Firenze Nord. Follow signs to Careggi Hospital (Careggi). Once you reach the main entrance of Careggi Hospital, turn right. About 100 meters later, Via del Pergolino starts winding up the Hill (The Hospital ”C.T.O” will be on your right). Follow the road up the hill and about 300 meters further and on the right-hand side you will find the entrance to the Villa Aurora University dorms. If you want to stop by the School Building or the cafeteria, instead of following the road up the Hill, follow the narrow street to the right. You will find an open gate on the left during work hours. If arriving later than 6:00 P.M. please make arrangements with the school by contacting us at info@villaaurora.it or dip.lingue@villaaurora.it. Parking is available on campus.
The aims of the Italian Language and Culture Department are:
The program at the Department of Italian Language and Culture is open to college and university level students. Admission and participation in the course are subordinate to the conditions of the college or university members of the North American Consortium of ACA. Conditions of general character include the following:
Students can obtain a Minor in Art or Italian by taking courses offered by ACA Villa Aurora University to complete many of the requirements of their own home colleges/universities. Some Universities may also offer a Major in International studies with an Italian Emphasis. For this purpose, prior advice must be obtained from their respective colleges/universities as to what courses to take in Italy.
The following certificates are provided:
ITLN 397: INTERNSHIP – 1qh – 7.5 hours per week (75 hours total per quarter)
Tours/trips are a fundamental part of learning by allowing students to fully immerse oneself in the Italian Culture. All students are given information about each trip and location during school hours so that they may enjoy each trip to the fullest. All students are required to participate in the planned activities.
For summer programs or applications for just ONE quarter, a visa is NOT required for students staying no longer than 90 days. Please wait for the ACA official admittance email, before purchasing airfare.
For more than one quarter or those exceeding 90 days a visa IS required, and necessary documentation will be issued by the ACA office. All information and instructions will be provided in the ACA official Admittance email.
*Although uncommon, Italian consulates can take up to 90 days to process a visa application. To ensure that a student receives the visa on time, it is strongly advised to start the process 90 days prior to the departure date (including the visa appointment date).
Scheduled outings may include the following: