Academic Immersion Year

— beginner, intermediate and advanced levels welcome

Tuition fee: 185000 SEK

In this full time program, students discover the richness of figurative and realistic painting fused with academic draughtsmanship, and endeavour to discover how the masters created works of universal significance. Over the course of 40 weeks, you will be fully immersed in the education and culture of the Florence Academy of Art / Sweden.

Students of all levels are welcomed into a community of hard working students that includes the three-year Academic Program and other workshops and courses. The instructors work in studios on the school premises, allowing students to benefit not only from daily instruction but also from watching the professional artist at work. This relationship, developed over many hours spent together in the studio, is significant to the general atmosphere of the school and is considered fundamental to the student’s development.

The faculty will guide students through the techniques and materials that will improve their understanding of how to translate three-dimensional forms into two dimensions. Instruction is designed to take students of all levels through a series of exercises aimed to develop their observational skills and accuracy in drawing and painting, whilst learning a methodology to observe and translate directly from nature.

After an introduction of studying old master drawings to understand measurement, proportion, gesture and the visual impression, students progress to drawing from the plaster cast, and painting the still life, portrait and the figure while practicing the use of pencil, charcoal and oil. The program allows students to experience each part of the three year Academic Program in Drawing and Painting curriculum at The Florence Academy of Art.

Working from life is a unique and fulfilling experience, one that is fundamental to the training at The Florence Academy of Art and central to a long-standing tradition. Working from a live model, students will learn how to approach the human figure, observing proportion, body type and gesture and important anatomical points. With pencil there will be a focus on outline and shadow line to explain the form. With charcoal and oil paint, focus will be on mass and overall sense of light and atmosphere through comparison of light and shadow shapes.

At the end of each week students will be encouraged to continue to work on the exercises in the program, or work on their own projects under the guidance of instructors. Additional visits to the Museum of Natural History and Gothenburg Museum of Art to sketch from their respective collections will be scheduled.

We welcome students of all experience levels. In the beginning of the school year, and in dialogue with the Program Director, students will choose which level they will follow during the year.

Calendar

2025-2026 Fall Semester: August 4 – December 5  (18 weeks) Spring Semester​: January 5 – June 5 (22 weeks)

2026-2027 Fall Semester: August 3 – December 4  (18 weeks) Spring Semester​: January 4 – June 4 (22 weeks)

Entry Conditions

There is no application process for the Academic Immersion Year, all levels are welcome. Students are accepted on a first come first serve basis. The applicant must possess knowledge in the Swedish and/or English language.

Admission

• Five spots for Academic Immersion Year 2025-2026 were made available on Feb 1, 2025 - 1 pm CET.
• Students are registered in the program upon paying the non-refundable deposit of SEK 15,000.00.
• Tuition balance in the amount of SEK 170,000.00 will be sent out per invoice and must be paid within 30 days of paying the deposit.
• If the tuition balance is not paid within 30 days of paying the deposit, the student may lose their spot.
• If a student registers in the program less than 30 days before first day of class, the tuition fee must be paid in full before the student can attend.

Refund

Students may request refunds (less the non-refundable deposit) up until June 1st (prior to first day of class). Any period of absence during the program, whatever the motive or duration, will not be refunded.

Studio Policy

The Florence Academy of Art endeavors to provide an educational environment conducive to encouraging the artistic talents of each student. This requires that all students respect the policies of the Academy, its instructors, and the other students in the program. By enrolling in the Academy, students agree to subscribe to the Studio Policy.

The Studio Policy, as well as further info, refunds, student services, accreditation etc is available on www.florenceacademyofart.se, or upon request.