ECU Tuscany: Summer 2025

The Summer 2025 application is now open!

(Scroll down to find Application link with instructions and deadlines.)

Join us on a breathtaking educational adventure through Italy with the unique opportunity to explore Venice, Florence, Siena, Cinque Terre, Rome and the Amalfi Coast – all while earning up to 7 hours of general college credits. Immerse yourself in the history, culture and stunning landscapes of Italy, while living in beautiful apartments and studying on ECU’s year round campus in Certaldo Alto.

We begin our journey flying into the magical city of Venice where you will spend three days exploring its romantic canals, lined with centuries old architecture and picturesque gondolas. The weather is lovely in May, gently warming while still cool in the evenings. In addition to a tour of the San Marco Basilica, students will have free time to enjoy the colorful islands of Burano and Murano.

Leaving Venice, we travel by charter bus to Tuscany, where our spacious apartments are very near the ECU classrooms. In this safe and cozy village our students experience authentic Italian culture, discovering Certaldo’s rich history, while surrounded by the stunning landscapes of the Chianti region.

Sprinkled throughout our Certaldo days, we will take day trips to Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, and Volterra, with 3 days spent in the colorful beach towns of  the Italian Riviera. On all trips and on each class day, we will enjoy our evening meals together at local Italian restaurants (included in the program cost!)

Nearing the end of the term, we travel south to Rome, where we discover the ancient ruins of the Coliseum, the grandeur of the Vatican and the timeless art of the Sistine Chapel.

We conclude our journey on the stunning Amalfi coast, where we stay 3 days in an elegant hotel on the bay of Naples, enjoying the beaches, a boat ride to Amalfi, and a visit to Pompeii.

To take advantage of direct transatlantic flights, we will return to Rome for our departure back to the states.

Cost for our summer session is $7,100

+ $75 study abroad administrative fee.

This is an amazing value for this travel packed program- cost includes:

• Tuition for 3-7 credits
• Transportation to and from the arrival and departure airports in Italy
• Lodgings and utilities in beautiful furnished apartments in Certaldo
• Dinners on all class days in Certaldo
• Lodgings, breakfasts and dinners on all overnight trips
• Museum entrances and guided tours
• Health insurance on the program (no copay-it covers 100%)
• Transportation on all school trips in Italy (boats, trains, buses, metros)
• 3 days in Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast
• 3 days on the Italian Riviera and a visit to Cinque Terre
• 3 days in Venice
• 2 days in Rome
• Day trips to San Gimignano, Volterra, Siena, and Florence

Students budget for their own breakfasts and lunches in Certaldo and lunches on overnight trips. This cost is minimal because our apartments have full furnished kitchens for cooking, and groceries are generally less expensive than in the states. Apartments are completely furnished, with necessities, washing machines and bed linens. A conservative estimate of out-of-pocket costs would be $400 – $800 (depending on purchases of souvenirs).

Airfare is not included in the program cost. Flights will be recommended by the program director and should not be booked until she has sent these suggestions. It is important that we arrive and depart at similar times to take advantage of provided transportation to and from the airports in Italy. Airfare is usually $1,400-$1,800 during this season. Once the program fills, students will be sent information about flights to book. Please do not book flights until you hear from the director!

IMPORTANT: OUR ECU TUSCANY programs are NOT on Rolling Admissions. On each program page, note applications dates, notification and commitment deadlines.

Summer 2025

There will be TWO application review cycles, on dates listed below. If the program fills after the first review date, applications will close. If the program is still not full after the second cycle, applications may remain open until filled. We often have long wait-lists for this program.

Priority Application Review:

• APPLICATION DEADLINE: September 13, 2024
• NOTIFICATION DEADLINE: On or around September 23, 2024
• COMMITMENT DEADLINE: October 2, 2024 (within 2 weeks of acceptance)
• If the program fills during this application period, further applications will be closed.

Standard Application Review

• APPLICATION DEADLINE: October 14, 2024
• NOTIFICATION DEADLINE: On or around October 24, 2024
• COMMITMENT DEADLINE: November 6, 2024 (within 2 weeks of acceptance)
• If the program is not filled, the application deadline may be extended.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

• Fill out the application
• Be sure you have answered all questions and that your application is
• Applications will be reviewed, and you will be notified of your application status by the dates listed above.
• If you are accepted, you will be emailed a letter explaining how to confirm your spot with an online payment of the $75.00 application fee and the $200.00 housing deposit. These payments must be paid within the two weeks of acceptance, or you will be moved to the waiting list.
• While you are waiting for your application to be reviewed, you should be preparing to make the $application fee and the $200.00 housing deposit that will confirm your spot – you will have only 2 weeks after acceptance to make that payment before being moved to the waitlist.

Summer 2025 Payment Schedule $75.00 non-refundable study abroad administrative fee and $200 non-refundable housing deposit due within 2 weeks of acceptance.

February 28, 2025: $3,450

March 31, 2025: $3,450

It is very important to make payments on time because the funds are used to book your lodgings and transportation. If you are planning to use financial aid, please let the study abroad office know so your payment schedule can be modified based on dates that your financial aid award can be received.

2025 Summer Session Itinerary

(Do not book flights until you hear from the Director! )

Course Offerings

All classes are taught by veteran ECU Tuscany teachers, who are passionate about Italian culture and history. The course offerings integrate Italy’s rich heritage in the subject matter, designed to take advantage of our location and the travel itinerary.

Detailed syllabi will be sent to accepted students, and drop and add is possible, once classes meet in Italy. Final class offerings are subject to change, depending on student interest.

You will be registered for your classes in the spring by the Study Abroad office after you have sent the program director your final class choices. You will not register yourself for classes through the ECU website, as you normally do for on campus classes.  Our classes are not listed on that site. Click on the link for a longer description of class offerings.

ART 1910 – Art Appreciation (fine arts general education) (3 credit hours) this class introduces students to art works they will see during their travels.

ART 1250 and ART 2200 – Digital Photography (fine arts general education) (3 credit hours) This is digital photography with a cell phone. Lightroom software and computer required.

KINE 1000 – Health and Fitness: focus on Yoga  (1 credit hour)

KINE 1070 – Yoga – (if you have already had the required KINE 1000 and want to take yoga, use this number.  You cannot take KINE 1000 more than once.)

ENGL 1000 or INTL 2120 Literature (humanities general education credits-discussion based seminar-read  stories written by travelers to Italy, and at the end of the term, write your own!

If you have questions about the application process contact the ECU Tuscany Program director, Linda Darty at DARTYL@ecu.edu. If you would like to inquire about the status of your application at any time, please contact the Education Abroad Office at studyabroad@ecu.edu