A select number of students from the incoming first-year class are invited to participate in the FFE every year. Students are selected based on a number of criteria, including those whose academic goals might include international study, foreign language, or travel, and those whose majors are appropriate for study at the branch campus.

The FFE program is offered to selected incoming first-year students and differs in eligibility requirements from the Study Abroad Program. Students participating in programs such as the Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), the Learning Support Program or Division I Athletics are not eligible to participate in FFE and may be eligible to study abroad at another time.

First-year students live in a 17th century palazzo in the heart of Florence's historical center on Via San Gallo. This special residence is occupied almost exclusively by Marist Italy students and staff, and includes a communal terrace, common room, and unique living spaces. Students live in double and triple rooms inside of fully furnished apartments. The palazzo is in a central location to the school and major attractions in Florence.

Students will be able to get wireless phones with a local Italian number and many students use WhatsApp and Facetime to stay in close contact with home for free. 

Students will prepare their own meals in their apartments. Students will be taken to the Mercato Centrale (central market) as part of their orientation and learn the basics of shopping and food preparation. Like most European cities, Florence has a wealth of small markets - everything from cheeses to meats to pastries and vegetables. Students will find everything to meet their needs in a culturally rich environment.

This is a difficult question to answer, as students will live differently depending on background, taste, and travel goals. Most students can live comfortably on 100-200 Euro a week, including meals, pocket money, and small travels. More extravagant trips and shopping will increase that budget. Most Florence first-year students spend about as much on their meals as they would have spent on a meal plan in Poughkeepsie.

Absolutely. FFE students are guaranteed on-campus housing upon return to the Poughkeepsie campus.

Students take part in transfer orientation to renew their acquaintance with Poughkeepsie campus services and many students find the transition very easy indeed. In fact, more students miss their Italian lifestyle more! Strong relationships made as part of the FFE program will carry on when returned from abroad, and FFE students find themselves in a great position to make new friends when they return.

The Florence branch campus has a variety of clubs and organizations that are available to all students, and there are dozens of organizations operating in Florence for Americans, where you can be involved in everything from politics to gelato tasting. Marist staff also organize a number of activities throughout the year for our students.

There are a select number of student assistant positions in the branch campus office. Preference is given to students with work study, but not all work study students will find work in the branch campus.

Yes. Scholarships and loans will travel with you to the Florence branch campus and will remain in effect as they would have for the Poughkeepsie campus.

Most athletes find traveling abroad early in their career is easier, but if your NCAA Division I sport demands an immediate training or competition schedule, you should consult your coach/organizer before committing to the FFE.

Many students who have studied another romance language have found the FFE program a good place to expand their language skills, including Spanish majors. If your academic goals allow for some flexibility, studying more than one foreign language is highly desirable. 

Florence is the second most popular study abroad destination in the world for English speaking students (next to London). Thousands of American students call this city home every year - and there are hundreds of services, organizations, and even restaurants designed to cater to their needs and tastes. Florence is a very manageable, walk-able, and beautiful city in which to live. It is incredibly easy to travel to other popular European destinations from Florence as well.

Florence is a small city, and has a very low crime rate. Obviously, students should always exercise the utmost caution and respect their environment, but the branch campus has enjoyed a very low incident report over the past several years. Each year, there are a small number of thefts and minor incidents, which happens in any city-campus environment. Students have access to the Dean of Students office at Istituto Lorenzo de' Medici to assist them with any issues.

Yes. If you don't already have one, you should apply immediately at the U.S. passport webpage. 

Yes. All students need a visa, and Marist will help FFE participants apply for a visa in their jurisdiction (home state). This process should be initiated as soon as possible. Details can be found here, and students will receive complete instructions as part of their orientation to the program.
 

Besides the FFE, Marist enrolls students in four-year bachelor's degree programs in eight  majors, including Studio Art, Conservation, Communication, and Fashion Merchandising. In addition to that, approximately 60 students from the Poughkeepsie campus study abroad every semester in Florence as sophomores, juniors, or seniors. Marist also enrolls several hundred students each semester as visitors from other institutions to the branch campus. Lastly, Istituto Lorenzo de' Medici directly enrolls students from universities like the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, University of Hawaii-Manoa, and many others. At any given time, there are always fellow undergraduates in Florence from a variety of backgrounds and programs.

No previous experience with the Italian language is necessary. Florence is an incredibly friendly city, especially for English-speaking students. Students, upon arrival, find it easy to buy supplies, move about the city, arrange trips and travel, all with minimal language skills in Italian. Students will be enrolled in Italian language as part of the program and will find by the end of their second semester they have branched out into new areas of Italy with their new-found language skills - but the experience of hundreds of Marist students who have studied at the branch campus has been one of comfort in this area.

Once the FFE class is finalized staff will begin to arrange apartment assignments and roommates according to the housing survey. You will be notified of your roommate when you arrive in Florence.

The city of Florence is no stranger to students studying abroad. There are medical and pharmaceutical facilities in the city of Florence. If one of our students become ill there are English speaking doctors and pharmacists that are available to them.

The courses taught in Florence are Marist courses and taught by Istituto Lorenzo de' Medici faculty. 

Yes! Florence’s geographic location lends to incredible access to many places not just in Italy but Europe as well. Not to mention the many beautiful places to explore in Tuscany! As an FFE student there are a few planned trips included in your package. You will participate in one big overnight group trip and one day trip. There are also additional trips planned through the school that you may purchase. In the past we have had programs explore Torino, the Swiss Alps, Croatia, Pompeii, Naples, the south of France and many others.

Yes! In addition to a Director and Associate Director of Marist Italy, we will have a Residence Life Coordinator (RLC) and Resident Assistants (RA) in the residence halls. The RLC and RAs are there to program events for you and assist with your transition.

The Marist campus in Florence is very unique. Florence is an historic city along the Arno River. There are beautiful medieval and renaissance buildings throughout the quaint city. The campus housing and academic buildings are settled among the many shops, cafés, and residences that make up the capital city of Tuscany.

Of course! Family members are welcome to visit, there are many beautiful hotels to stay in close to the Marist campus. After a few weeks in Florence you will become an expert guide.

There is a small café in one of the main campus buildings where students can choose to be on a lunch plan. The apartments are equipped with kitchens for students to prepare their other meals and there are ample cafés and pasticcerie (bakeries) for the students to purchase food. Part of orientation you are taught how to bargain in the Mercato Centrale (Central Market) and how to cook by an Italian chef.

Each year is different. This year we expect approximately 30 students to participate in the FFE. This does not include the hundreds that will be studying abroad at our campus.