Study Abroad in Florence: Academics

This program is designed for students who wish to study art history, studio art, Italian language and Italian studies. Courses are also available for students interested in business, economics and sociology. Although a minimum 2.5 GPA is required, previous knowledge of Italian is not.

Students are required to enroll in the language orientation program prior to study in Florence (full-year students do not repeat orientation or trips in the spring semester). In addition, students are required to take at least one Italian language course in Florence.

Transcripts and credits for program courses are issued by Richmond, The American International University in London, a U.S.-accredited University.

Attendance and participation in classes are required. For each course students cannot accumulate more than four absences regardless of the reason. Failure to account for absences will automatically result in an F grade for the course.

Classes meet Monday to Saturday for two weeks in orientation plus Monday to Friday for 12 weeks in Florence. Final exams are generally held during the last week. One class hour equals 50 minutes. All course-related required field trips are held on Fridays.

Credits for each course are equal to American credits based on one credit for a minimum of 25 studio hours or 15 classroom hours plus home study or the equivalent in independent research or tutorials. Students should register for a minimum of nine and a maximum of 13 credits each term in Florence. The three credits received during orientation are extra. A formal exam is given at the end of each semester in all courses.

A calendar of dates for final exams will be posted at the beginning of each semester. Exams will not be rescheduled for any reason.

Grades For each course a mid-term, research paper, quizzes or oral reports, and a final test are required. In the Richmond system, grades are numerically calculated on a grade point average (GPA) scale. No AIFS participant is permitted to take a course without receiving a letter grade. Pass/Fail grade options are not available.

  Excellent work   A, 4.0 A-, 3.7  
  Above satisfactory work   B+, 3.3 B, 3.0 B-, 2.7
  Satisfactory work   C+, 2.3 C, 2.0 C-, 1.7
  Below satisfactory work   D+, 1.3 D, 1.0 D-, 0.7
  Fail   F, 0    

Student advising Students meet with the Resident Director during orientation and in Florence before the academic semester begins. The Resident Director provides academic advising and serves as liaison between the students, Richmond and the Florence instructors.

Transcripts are prepared by the Richmond Registrar's Office, Richmond, The American International University in London, Queen's Road, Richmond, Surrey TW10 6JP. One official copy of the transcript will be mailed to you free of charge.

Additional official transcript copies may be obtained from the Richmond Registrar's Office by using the Transcript Request Form, located on the Richmond website. This form should be printed, signed and mailed or faxed to the Registrar's Office. There is a fee of approximately $15 per transcript, plus an additional fee if courier service is requested. Address, fax number, and fee details are on the request form.

One end-of-term grade report will be sent free of charge to the home address on your application.

Please visit www.richmond.ac.uk/content/academic-programs/registrar/request-a-transcript.aspx for more information about transcript requests.