Summer camps in Italy for international students 2026: complete guide
Every summer, thousands of families worldwide face the same decision: what kind of international experience will genuinely move the needle for a teenager? Not just a trip, but something that builds a real skill, opens a real door, and stays with a young person long after the flight home. Italy in 2026 has become one of the most compelling answers to that question.
From football training at AC Milan's official facilities to rocket-building labs in Rome, from medical simulations in Milan to automotive design studios in the Motor Valley, the summer programs available to international students in Italy this year are unlike anything most families expect. This guide covers every major program type, what each involves, who it is for, and what families need to know before committing.
What makes Italy one of the top destinations for summer camps in 2026?
Italy combines academic and professional prestige with a cultural richness that is hard to replicate. For high school students aged 15 to 18, the country offers something genuinely rare: access to world-class institutions and industry environments in fields ranging from aerospace to haute couture, all within a two-week residential format that is structured, supervised, and designed to produce measurable results.
Beyond the programs themselves, Italy's appeal lies in context. Students attending a business program in Milan are not just sitting in a classroom; they are steps away from the stock exchange, the fashion district, and the headquarters of globally recognized brands. Students in Rome building rocket prototypes are doing so at one of Europe's oldest aerospace engineering schools, surrounded by the history of the field. That combination of rigor and environment is what distinguishes Italy's summer camps from those available in other countries.
A few data points worth noting:
- Italy hosts the European Space Agency's ESRIN facility in Frascati, near Rome, and ASI (Agenzia Spaziale Italiana) has its headquarters there as well.
- Milan is one of the largest financial centers in Europe, hosting the stock exchange and the headquarters of numerous multinational companies.
- The San Raffaele Research Hospital, affiliated with Universita Vita-Salute San Raffaele (UNISR), is consistently ranked among the top medical research institutions in Europe.
These are not incidental facts. They are the infrastructure that makes the programs described below credible and consequential.
What types of summer camps are available in Italy for international students?
The 2026 programs available through Be Easy cover five distinct fields. Each one targets high school students aged 15 to 18 (with AC Milan accepting from age 8), requires at least a B1 level of English, and combines academic instruction with hands-on lab work, industry visits, and cultural excursions. All programs are residential.
Is the AC Milan football camp suitable for international students?
Yes, and it is one of the most sought-after youth football programs in the world. The AC Milan Academy Experience Elite takes place at AC Milan's official Vismara Sports Center in Milan, a facility used by the club's own youth teams. It is open to boys and girls aged 8 to 16, making it the only program in this group accessible to younger students.
The structure is built around 30 hours of coaching per week delivered by official AC Milan Academy coaches. Students receive:
- Individualized coaching with camera recordings
- Specialist goalkeeper training sessions
- Tournaments and friendly matches against other program participants
- A performance certificate upon completion
- AC Milan's official kit
The training model goes beyond technical drills. It incorporates mental coaching for resilience and leadership, nutrition and recovery science, and video analysis with GPS tracking to measure athletic performance. These are the same performance technologies used at elite professional academies.
Cultural excursions are included: a visit to Casa Milan Museum, sightseeing in the city, and a trip to Lake Como. Accommodation is at Quark Hotel.
For students who are serious about football and want to experience it at the highest youth training level in Europe, this program provides access that simply cannot be replicated elsewhere.
What does the medicine summer program in Milan involve?
The Medicine Summer Program is coordinated in partnership with Universita Vita-Salute San Raffaele (UNISR), a university ranked in the top 40 worldwide and home to the San Raffaele Research Hospital, a leader in cutting-edge medical and scientific research. It is designed for motivated students aged 15 to 18 who are seriously considering medicine or healthcare as a future career.
The program delivers 50 hours of academic content across two weeks (July 5 to July 18), including:
- Medical simulations in a professional simulator lab
- Specialist workshops with doctors and researchers
- Doctor-patient interaction exercises
- Introduction to medical research methodology
- Preparation for the IMAT (International Medical Admissions Test) for Italian medical universities
A sample day from week one illustrates the pace. Monday begins with an introduction to the Italian healthcare system and an orientation tour. By Tuesday, students are in IMAT logical reasoning sessions and cell biology labs. By Wednesday, they are in a trauma and basic life support simulation. By Friday, they are practicing communication skills in doctor-patient interaction role plays.
This is not an overview course. It is an early immersion into what studying and practicing medicine actually involves, which is exactly what it needs to be for students making serious university decisions.
Accommodation is at Aparto Residence in Milan. A Lake Como excursion and Milan sightseeing are included on the weekends.
What happens at the aerospace engineering summer camp in Rome?
The Aerospace Engineering and Space Tech program is one of the most technically demanding summer experiences available to high school students anywhere in Europe. It takes place in Rome at the School of Aerospace Engineering of Sapienza University, one of Europe's oldest and most respected aerospace institutions, founded in 1926.
The program runs from July 19 to August 1 and includes 30 hours of classes and labs. The core outcome is concrete: students design, build, and launch their own rocket prototype. The path to that outcome involves:
- Foundations of aerospace engineering and rocket propulsion
- Space mission simulation using professional software
- OpenRocket trajectory modeling and flight dynamics analysis
- Arduino-based embedded systems programming for rocket electronics
- A full rocket prototype build, culminating in an actual rocket launch in Rovigo
The partnerships behind this program include Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI) and the European Space Agency (ESA). Students will also visit a leading aerospace company as part of the excursion program, alongside Rome sightseeing that includes the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the Fontana di Trevi.
Accommodation is in a university residence in the city centre, with individual studio rooms, en-suite bathrooms, a gym, TV rooms, and 24/7 house parent supervision.
For students with a genuine interest in engineering, space, or aviation, this is the type of formative experience that distinguishes a university application and confirms a career direction.
Is the automotive design program relevant for students interested in the industry?
Absolutely. The Automotive Design and Future Mobility program is based primarily in Milan and runs from July 5 to July 18. It delivers 30 hours of studio instruction in a professional environment equipped with industry-grade software. The curriculum is built around actual design competencies:
- Car design foundations and technical sketching
- Clay modelling and volume development
- Digital rendering and basic 3D exploration
- Interior and UX design principles
- Future mobility concepts, including smart and sustainable vehicle design
The program culminates in each student developing a complete automotive concept, including refined sketches, a digital render, and a 1:10 scale clay model. That is a real portfolio deliverable.
The experience extends beyond the studio. The program includes visits to:
- Italdesign in Turin, one of the world's most important automotive design studios
- Pagani Automobili, the hypercar manufacturer known for handcrafted precision engineering
- The National Automotive Museum in Turin
- The ADI Museum in Milan (Compasso d'Oro design award collection)
For students interested in product design, industrial design, or the automotive industry, the combination of hands-on studio work and direct industry exposure is genuinely exceptional.
What is the business program and who benefits from it?
The Italian Business Excellence Management (IBEM) program runs from July 4 to July 18 in Milan. It delivers 30 hours of theoretical learning and 30 hours of practical laboratories, making it the most balanced academic and applied program in the group.
The IBEM is designed for students who want to understand how Italian companies achieve global excellence. The curriculum covers:
- Leadership, strategy, and entrepreneurial mindset
- Internationalization and finance fundamentals
- Supply chain, sustainability, and operations
- Direct industry immersion in luxury, fashion, automotive, yachting, jewelry, and watchmaking sectors
Students interact with CEOs, entrepreneurs, and managers through guided company visits. They work on a final group project based on a real business challenge, applying everything from the course in a structured presentation.
The Lombardy region, where Milan is located, accounts for a significant share of Italy's GDP and is home to a disproportionate number of the country's globally recognized brands. Having students study the "Made in Italy" model in that context, rather than from a textbook, is a fundamentally different educational proposition.
Who is eligible for summer camps in Italy in 2026?
Most programs target students aged 15 to 18. The AC Milan football camp extends that range down to age 8. The general eligibility criteria across all programs are:
- Minimum age: 8 (AC Milan) or 15 (all others)
- Maximum age: 16 (AC Milan) or 18 (all others)
- English level: B1 or higher
- Programs run in July 2026
- Residential format, with full board (3 meals per day) and 24/7 staff supervision
Students do not need to be Italian citizens or have Italian language skills. All instruction is delivered in English.
What do international students need to prepare before arriving in Italy?
The programs handle logistics extensively, which reduces the preparation burden on families. What students need to take care of independently includes:
- Valid travel documents: passport or national ID card (depending on nationality and Schengen area status)
- Travel insurance covering the duration of the program (the programs include insurance for activities and accidents, but families should verify their own travel and health coverage)
- Flight arrangements to Milan or Rome, depending on the program
- Health information forms submitted in advance
For students from outside the Schengen Area, Italy is a signatory to the Schengen Convention. A short-stay visa (Schengen Type C) covers stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Summer camp participants attending a 2-week program fall well within that limit. The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides current visa guidance for each nationality at vistoperitalia.esteri.it.
For students from EU/EEA countries or countries with Schengen visa-free access, including most of Latin America, the United States, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, no advance visa is required for stays of this duration.
What are the living conditions like during the programs?
All programs are residential with full board. Two accommodation setups are in use across the programs.
Aparto Residence (Milan): Used by the Medicine, Automotive Design, and Business programs. Individual studio rooms with en-suite bathrooms and fully equipped kitchenettes. Facilities include TV rooms, game areas, a gym, common rooms, terraces, and study spaces. House parents are present at night. Social activities are organized jointly for participants from all programs sharing the residence.
University residence, Rome (Aerospace Engineering): Located in the city centre. Individual studio rooms with en-suite bathrooms and kitchenettes. The same range of common facilities applies. Joint social activities are organized for participants from all programs.
Quark Hotel (AC Milan): Hotel accommodation for football camp participants.
All programs include 24/7 staff supervision during the day and house parent or staff presence at night.
What do these programs do for a student's university application?
This is one of the most practical questions parents ask, and it deserves a direct answer.
University admission processes at competitive institutions, both in Italy and internationally, are increasingly looking for evidence of genuine interest in a chosen field. A statement of purpose that says a student is passionate about medicine is weaker than one that describes specific experiences in a medical simulator, a conversation with a specialist doctor, and a week of IMAT preparation at a recognized medical school. The summer camp provides the raw material for that narrative.
For each of the five programs, here is what a student can legitimately claim upon completion:
AC Milan Academy Experience Elite: Completed a residential football training program at AC Milan's official youth training facility, coached by Academy staff. Performance certificate received.
Medicine Summer Program: Completed 50 hours of pre-medical academic work at a university ranked in the global top 40, including hospital simulations, specialist workshops, and IMAT preparation.
Aerospace Engineering and Space Tech: Completed 30 hours of aerospace engineering instruction in partnership with ASI and ESA, designed and built a rocket prototype, and participated in an actual rocket launch.
Automotive Design and Future Mobility: Completed 30 hours of studio-based automotive design training in Milan, produced a 1:10 scale clay model and digital render, and visited Italdesign and Pagani Automobili.
Italian Business Excellence Management: Completed 60 hours of business coursework and practical labs at the heart of Italy's industrial and creative ecosystem, and delivered a final group project based on a real business challenge.
Each of these is a demonstrable experience, not a self-reported interest. For students aged 15 to 17 who are still two to three years away from university applications, these summer camps create a documented track record.
There is also a language and cultural dimension. Time spent living and learning abroad, even for two weeks in a structured residential setting, develops adaptability and cross-cultural competence. These are qualities that universities value and that students who have only studied domestically often struggle to demonstrate convincingly.
How to choose the right summer camp for your child
Choosing the right program requires aligning the student's genuine interests with the program's actual content and expectations. Here is a practical framework.
If the student's interest is medicine or life sciences:The Medicine Summer Program is the clear choice. It is the most academically intensive option, with 50 hours of content. Students who complete it should be comfortable with biology at a secondary school level and genuinely curious about how healthcare systems work. It is not a program for students who are vaguely interested in "something medical." The IMAT preparation component, in particular, requires focus and intellectual rigor.
If the student's interest is engineering, physics, or space:The Aerospace Engineering program is the right fit. Students who enjoy building things, who have experimented with electronics or coding, or who follow the space industry will find the environment natural and stimulating. The Arduino programming component benefits students who have some prior exposure to coding or electronics, though it is not a prerequisite.
If the student's interest is design, creativity, or the automotive industry:The Automotive Design program suits students who draw, who follow car design, or who are interested in industrial and product design more broadly. It is also appropriate for students who are not yet sure whether their interest lies more in the artistic or technical dimension of design, since the program covers both.
If the student's interest is business, strategy, or entrepreneurship:The IBEM program is well suited for students who want to understand how successful companies are built and managed. It is also the most relevant program for students considering future studies in business, economics, or management. The company visits and final group project are particularly strong for students who learn by doing rather than by listening.
If the student is a dedicated football player aged 8 to 16:The AC Milan program stands apart from the academic programs. It is the right choice for students who are committed to football as a sport and whose families want them to experience coaching at a genuine elite level. It does not require an academic profile or career interest; the sole criterion is passion for the game and physical readiness to train intensively.
One practical consideration: for families considering Italy as a future long-term destination for study or work, reading our article on gives a concrete sense of what academic programs in Italy look like. A student who spends two weeks in Milan or Rome will return with a very different relationship to the country than one who has only read about it.
How do these programs compare to a traditional high school exchange?
Families often raise this question, and the answer depends on the student's goals. A traditional high school exchange, like the programs Be Easy coordinates through the , is a full academic year or semester experience oriented around language immersion, cultural integration, and completing a full secondary curriculum abroad.
Summer camps serve a different purpose. They are short, intensive, and field-specific. They are the right choice when a student:
- Wants to explore a specific career field before committing to a university direction
- Needs a portfolio piece or a concrete experience to support a university application
- Has a specific skill they want to develop at a high level in a short time
- Is not yet at the age or academic stage for a full exchange year
The two formats complement each other rather than compete. Many students do both: a summer camp at 15 or 16, followed by a high school or sports exchange at 17 or 18. For students whose primary goal is athletic development alongside academic progression, the offers longer-term routes with scholarship options of up to 70%.
You can also read about on the Be Easy website for a broader overview of the options available at this age.
Frequently asked questions about summer camps in Italy for international students 2026
What English level is required for the summer camps in Italy?All programs require a minimum B1 level of English. Instruction is delivered entirely in English, and students do not need any knowledge of Italian.
Can a student attend more than one program in the same summer?Some programs run in consecutive periods. The Business and Automotive Design programs both end on July 18, and the Aerospace Engineering program starts on July 19. A student could in theory attend one of those programs followed immediately by the Aerospace program. Families should confirm availability with Be Easy.
Are the summer camps only for students planning to study in Italy afterward?No. The programs are designed for international students from any country. Participants gain exposure to Italian institutions and industries, which may inform future university decisions, but there is no requirement or expectation to continue studies in Italy.
Is a B1 English level sufficient for technical programs like medicine or aerospace?The programs are designed for high school students at B1 and above. Technical vocabulary is introduced progressively within the curriculum. A stronger English level (B2 or above) does make the experience more comfortable, but B1 students with a strong interest in the field have successfully completed these programs.
What support is available if a student becomes ill during the program?All programs include insurance and 24/7 staff supervision. The Medicine program takes place at a medical university affiliated with a major research hospital. For all other programs, staff are trained to handle medical situations and coordinate with local healthcare services as needed.
How Be Easy can help
Be Easy works directly with the partner institutions running these summer camps and supports families at every stage, from selecting the right program for a student's profile to managing travel logistics. If your child is interested in attending one of these programs in Italy in 2026, get in touch with us.
