Experience Italy and Europe like never before with AHA’s gap year programmes!
Choose from 6 to 12 weeks of travel and immersive study in art, history, food, literature, culture..
Explore iconic cities such as Rome, Florence, and Venice outside the beaten track; led by our young and passionate tutors that will help you the discover the hidden treasures and the true beauty of Italy.
Join us for an unforgettable journey of discovery and growth
Our Gap Year programs run year-round, with Spring and Autumn sessions lasting six weeks each from April to May and September to October.
Students immerse themselves in iconic cities like Rome, Florence, and Venice, as well as hidden gems like Bologna and Siena, all guided by our dynamic tutors who bring Italy's vibrant art and culture to life.
These ambitious programs provide a deep dive into the art world, spanning from ancient Rome to the Renaissance in Florence and contemporary art in Venice.
For an even broader adventure, our 12-week Semester program runs from September to December, expanding your journey across Europe, including the UK and France.
In the first six weeks, students explore art, architecture, and culture in the UK and France before heading to Montepulciano, a charming hilltop town in Tuscany, for a two-week intensive Italian language course.
Participants will engage with Europe’s artistic landscape while visiting significant cultural sites, gaining insight into artistic movements from ancient to contemporary times.
All programs celebrate Italy’s incredible food and wine, featuring exclusive visits to the Sistine Chapel and St. Mark’s Cathedral. Each experience is unique, filled with creativity and discovery.
Creative workshops in painting, writing, and more let students express themselves artistically in small groups, guided by friendly and knowledgeable tutors who provide personalized support.
Join us for a transformative journey that blends art, culture, and unforgettable experiences!
What is included in the fees
- Tuition in small groups
- Train travel or private coach travel between cities
- All accommodation
- Breakfast
- Transfers in Italy
- All transport in Italy when concerned with teaching
- Instructional materials
- All museum entrance fees
- Notes and reading lists
- Drawing tuition
- 2 conversational Italian lessons
Extras included in the Semester Course:
- The additional courses in Tuscany (language, cookery, literature, and film)
- All travel and air travel between cities on the tour i.e. flights from Paris to Tuscany and travel from Tuscany throughout Italy on the Autumn course
- Transport when concerned with teaching (by issuing Oyster cards, bus passes, or buying train tickets
Lunches and suppers are not included in the course price. We recommend that students bring £35 – £38 per day to cover these meals and spending money.
Coming out of high school, I felt severe academic burnout. I used to love learning but felt anxious whenever I thought about starting college classes. My gap year counselor showed me AHA, and I thought the experiential learning aspect might help me get excited again. I had taken advanced art classes, but history has always been my least favorite subject. I took a leap of faith that art history might be different for me. Art History Abroad ended up being the most amazing trip I have ever and probably will ever experience. The tutors are all incredible humans (Ed, Flo, Scarlett, and Jess, to name a few), and their lessons were more engaging than any teacher I have had. They truly cared about ensuring we were safe, happy, and engaged. I still text and visit my friends from AHA all the time and went on to travel with one of them for the rest of my gap year. I genuinely cannot recommend the semester program enough (or any AHA program). The memories you make are unforgettable. I felt energized and excited to learn when I got to university the following fall. I now minor in art history and still use the lessons I learned on my trip. If you are considering going on an AHA program, DO IT!!!