International Foundation Year
For Parents & Families
A supported start to university life
Starting university abroad is a big step for students and families. From preparing for arrival to settling into life in Italy, our academic and Student Affairs teams provide guidance, helping students build confidence and independence.
A transition between high school and university
A Foundation Year is more than an academic preparation programme.
It represents the transition between the structured environment of high school and the greater independence expected at university.
Students develop their academic knowledge alongside Italian language skills, study methods, confidence and the practical ability to manage life in a different country.
Throughout the programme, they have access to staff who can help them understand academic requirements, navigate practical matters and prepare for their next step into university.
The objective is therefore not simply to support students during one year in Italy, but to help them become increasingly confident and independent by the time they begin university.
The student journey
From application
to arrival on campus
A clear path from the first application to settling into campus life, with guidance along the way.
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Apply for your track
Choose a Foundation Year track and submit your application to begin the admissions process.
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Enrolment & documents
Work with the Admissions team on enrolment and the documentation connected with your programme.
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Prepare for Italy
Receive guidance on pre-enrolment and visa preparation where required, and legal guardianship arrangements for minors when needed.
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Plan your arrival
Receive information about accommodation and arrival, and understand what needs to be completed before departure.
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Welcome to campus
Join orientation, learn about your programme and local services, and meet the staff you can contact for support.
Support starts before students arrive
Moving abroad involves much more than booking a flight.
Before arrival, our teams guide students through the different stages connected with enrolment and preparation for Italy, including the documentation related to their programme, accommodation and arrival.
For international students who require a study visa, our Admissions team also provides guidance throughout the relevant pre-enrolment and visa preparation process.
Students and families therefore receive information before departure about what needs to be completed and what to expect when they arrive.
The first days in Italy
The beginning of the programme is particularly important for students who may never have lived abroad before.
During their initial orientation, students are introduced to the practical aspects of living and studying in Italy and are shown where to turn for different types of assistance.
This includes information about their programme, accommodation, local services, emergency procedures and the different members of staff who can support them during the year.
Our aim is simple: students should understand from the beginning that when they have a question or a problem, there is a clear point of contact.
Practical support while living in Italy
International students often encounter procedures that are completely new to them.
For non-EU students, for example, arriving in Italy also means completing the necessary procedures connected with the Permit of Stay — Permesso di Soggiorno. Our team guides students through the initial process and helps them understand the steps they need to complete.
Language can also make everyday situations more complicated, particularly during the first months.
If a student needs assistance understanding how to access a service, arrange a medical appointment or identify where to go for a particular issue, our Student Affairs team can help them navigate the situation.
We cannot replace doctors, hospitals or public authorities, but we can help students understand who they need to contact, where they need to go and what they need to do.
Health, medical appointments and emergencies
Being unwell in another country can be stressful, particularly when a student is unfamiliar with the healthcare system or does not yet speak Italian confidently.
When appropriate, our team can help students identify local medical services and understand how to arrange an appointment or access the appropriate healthcare facility.
In the event of an emergency, students also have access to a 24/7 emergency contact number.
During orientation, students are clearly informed about how the emergency contact works, when it should be used and who they should contact in different situations.
This means that even outside normal school hours, students know what to do if they are faced with a genuine emergency.
Students under 18 and Legal Guardianship
Some Foundation Year students may begin the programme before turning 18, provided they reach the age of 18 before the programme end date.
When a student is a minor and legal guardianship in Italy is required, our team guides the family through the relevant process and documentation before the student's arrival.
The Legal Guardian acts within the responsibilities required for a minor residing in Italy until the student reaches the age of 18.
For families, this means that the requirements connected with having a minor studying abroad are addressed as part of the student's preparation rather than being left for the family to navigate independently.
Housing and everyday life
Where students live is an important part of their experience abroad.
Our Housing team provides students with information relating to their accommodation and remains a point of reference for housing-related matters during their stay.
Living with other international students is also an important part of learning how to share responsibilities, organise everyday life and become more independent before university.
At the same time, students remain connected to the Academy and to the support structure around their programme.
Living and studying
in Syracuse
For many students, Syracuse provides a particularly manageable environment for their first experience living abroad.
It is a medium-size city where everyday distances are relatively short and students can gradually become familiar with their surroundings.
Our campuses and student accommodation are located within close proximity, meaning that students can move between classes, home and many everyday services without the complexity of navigating a very large city.
This creates an environment in which students can develop independence while becoming familiar with their new surroundings at a manageable pace.
Living in Syracuse is an integral part of the Foundation Year experience. Students are not simply preparing academically for university in Italy; they are also beginning to understand how to live, communicate and manage everyday life within the country. Learning Italian is therefore not treated as an isolated classroom subject, but as a practical tool that students can gradually apply in real situations — from daily interactions to navigating local services and routines. This helps them become more familiar with Italian life, more confident in using the language, and better prepared for the independence they will need when they progress to university.
Living and studying
in Milan
For the latest information about student housing, campus services and practical arrangements for the Milan Foundation Year, please contact our team.
Supporting independence, without leaving students alone
One of the most important changes during a Foundation Year is the relationship students begin to develop with their own responsibilities.
They learn to attend classes independently, manage their schedule, communicate with staff, share accommodation with others, solve everyday problems and make decisions about their future university studies.
We encourage students to take responsibility for these things themselves.
At the same time, independence should not mean having to solve unfamiliar or complex situations without guidance.
Our teams remain available when students need direction, whether the question concerns academics, university preparation, accommodation, administrative procedures or everyday life in Italy.
It is this balance between support and independence that helps students prepare for the much more autonomous environment they will encounter at university.
FAQs
What parents
often want to know
What happens if my child has an emergency?
Students receive information about emergency procedures during orientation and have access to a 24/7 emergency contact number for genuine emergencies.
What happens if my child becomes ill?
Students can ask Student Affairs for guidance in identifying the appropriate local healthcare service and, when needed, assistance understanding how to arrange an appointment or where to go. In medical emergencies, students are directed to the appropriate emergency services.
Will you help with the Permit of Stay?
Yes. Non-EU students who need a Permesso di Soggiorno receive guidance after arrival on the steps required to begin the process.
My child does not speak Italian yet. What happens if they need help?
Learning Italian is part of the Foundation Year, but we understand that students may initially find certain situations difficult to manage in Italian. Our team can help students understand procedures and identify the appropriate services when language represents a barrier.
What happens if my child is under 18?
Where legal guardianship is required, our team guides families through the process and the necessary documentation before arrival. The guardianship arrangements remain applicable while the student is a minor.
Will someone organize everything for the student?
We organize all the essential services, welcome and orientation activities upon arrival, as well as ongoing support for cultural and extracurricular activities. At the same time, we encourage students to build personal independence.
A key part of the Foundation Year experience is learning to manage university-level responsibilities. Students are guided to gradually take ownership of their studies and daily lives within a structured, highly supportive framework.
Our goal is to ensure students have complete, organized assistance from day one, while empowering them to grow into confident, autonomous individuals prepared for university.
What is the local community like in Siracusa? Is it safe and inclusive for international students of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds?
Absolutely. Siracusa has a centuries-long history as a Mediterranean crossroads, making hospitality and openness deeply ingrained in the local culture. As a coastal city accustomed to visitors, scholars, and international residents from around the world, the environment is safe, welcoming, and relaxed
At The Italian Academy, our student body is vibrant and multi-ethnic. Beyond our campus walls, our local neighbors, shop owners, housing hosts, and community partners treat our students as part of the family. Whether you are walking through Ortigia or studying in local cafes, you will find a warm, inclusive, and supportive community that embraces cultural diversity.
More Than
Academic Preparation
By the end of the Foundation Year, students should be better prepared not only for the academic expectations of university, but also for the reality of living independently as a university student.
For many families, this is one of the most important purposes of the programme.
Students arrive needing guidance in a new country. Over the course of the year, they learn how to navigate that country, organise themselves, communicate, solve problems and make increasingly independent decisions.
And while they are learning to do so, they have a team around them to turn to when they need support.