The Siena Art Institute (SART) offers semester, summer and winter programs for undergraduate students, recent graduates and professionals.
Living in Siena
Siena is a charming medieval city with a lively calendar of events throughout the year offering a wide range of opportunities for sightseeing and socializing. Although Siena is a university city with plenty to do and see, most places in the city are within walking distance. If you want to go further afield the strategic location in Tuscany means it’s well-placed for exploring other parts of the region and Italy in general. We believe it is a great place to live and study and we hope you will consider it for your semester abroad!
How to apply
Undergraduate applicants must be in good academic standing (no less than 2.5 GPA or equivalent). Admissions are made on the basis of a holistic appraisal of the entire application packet with particular attention to the portfolio and artist’s statement, so please take the time to thoughtfully assemble these materials.
To guarantee consideration for the semester please respect deadlines. If you miss the deadline please contact studyabroad@sienaart.org, it is sometimes possible to consider late applications.
Deadlines:
- April 30 for the Fall semester
- Nov 1 for the Spring semester
Applicants must complete the online application at this link.
For further guidance on the application process click here
Academic calendar
Fall 2025
September 8, 2025 – December 5, 2025
- September 8 – Arrival and orientation week.
- September 15 – Elective courses begin.
- October 20-22 – Mid-Term exams and critiques.
- October 23-26 – Long weekend break.
- December 1-3 – Final exams and critiques.
Spring 2026
January 27, 2026 – April 25, 2026
- January 27 – Arrival and orientation week.
- February 3 – Elective courses begin.
- March 10-12 – Mid-Term exams and critiques.
- March 13-16 – Long weekend break.
- April 21-23 – Final exams and critiques.
For a more detailed calendar click here.
Accommodation
SART offers a range of accommodation depending on the type of course you are enrolled for. All accommodation is close to the centre of Siena and walking distance from the school. For specific details consult the web page of the programs or contact us for more information.
A cornerstone of the Siena Art Institute semester programs is the homestays we organize with local Italian families. We encourage all Siena Art Institute undergraduates to participate in home-stays as we believe that it facilitates language acquisition and cultural exchange. Students consistently have overwhelmingly positive feedback about their experience with their host families!
The homestay includes linens & towels, weekly laundry, and daily breakfast and dinner with the family (lunch is not included – but students may have access to the kitchenette at the Siena Art Institute).
For alternative accommodation solutions contact studyabroad@sienaart.org
Tuition costs
Basic costs per semester programs are €15000, and include Tuition, homestay accommodation, program fees. Some courses incur additional costs, check course descriptions for more details. For an itemised list of costs, please contact studyabroad@sienaart.org
For special and deaf studies programs you can find more information about the cost of such programs on the site, or contact us directly at studyabroad@sienaart.org
Scholarships
The Siena Art Institute is proud to say that 40% of its past students have been scholarship students. We offer a range of scholarships to help students with the cost of their studies.
- US based students: to apply for the scholarship students should complete all required application materials, including the Scholarship Essay section of the Application Form and the Financial Statement from your home institution’s Financial Aid Office (downloadable during the application process).
- Italy, EU and rest of the world: We frequently publish open calls for applications for scholarship funding, please watch our news section and social media to keep up-to-date about funding opportunities.
For any enquiries about scholarships please contact: studyabroad@sienaart.org
Visa Information / Pre-departure Info
Our semester at the Siena Art Institute and our partner program the Siena School for Liberal Arts is structured with 89 days of intensive on-site activities in Siena. As students stay in Italy for less than 90 days, it is not necessary for American students to request a study visa (which is only required for stays in Italy of more than 90 days). Students of other nationalities should confirm with the Italian embassy in their home country to confirm their visa requirements.
Before their in-person arrival, students will be scheduled with on-line introductory and orientation sessions as well as online language evaluations, to help prepare students for their arrival in Siena and to make the most of our in-person time.
For students wishing to extend their stay in Europe by pursuing our Greek Arts Today program – a visa may well be necessary. It is an excellent opportunity to explore another culture and broaden your horizons during your stay in Europe. Given the visa requirements it is important to communicate your desire to participate well in advance.
More detailed information in the guidance document.
For any enquiries about visas please contact: studyabroad@sienaart.org