Summer@SIE
Why join us?
Join Summer@SIE at Ca' Foscari University of Venice for a summer of culture, learning, and exploration! We offer a range of individual summer courses and full summer school programmes designed to expand your knowledge, build your curriculum, and earn university credits.
Tailor your schedule by mixing and matching from a range of short and innovative 1-week courses, or apply to a comprehensive summer school programme offering full-time studies in a specific area of interest. Many of our courses are deeply connected to the cultural, historical, and artistic heritage of Venice, giving you the chance to study its unique example from different perspectives. From Art History to Tourism, from Geopolitics to Artificial Intelligence, our programme is open to everyone and anyone wishing to study in the heart of this city, surrounded by its beauty, history, and world-class education.
Applications for our 2026 summer courses are now open. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience!
Ca' Foscari - Harvard Summer School
The Ca’ Foscari – Harvard Summer School (CFHSS), established in 2006, is a unique, unprecedented joint partnership between two universities passionate about providing students with an international education of excellence. The programme is interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary, offering courses taught by professors from both Ca' Foscari and Harvard to an equal number of students rigorously selected from both institutions.
Throughout the numerous summers, one after another, this unparalleled programme has not only strengthened academic and professional bonds between the two Universities and their students, but has also formed long-lasting memories and friendships across the Atlantic. The uniqueness of the CFHSS comes from its direct cross-cultural exchange, its distinguished academic schedule supported through a rich array of activities and events, and its magical location, Venice.
In addition to providing a stimulating and challenging intercultural study environment over the summer, the CFHSS also gives its participants the opportunity to take part in extra-curricular activities in various locations around Venice and its surroundings, allowing students and professors alike to learn, interact, adventure, and grow alongside their peers. Students can enroll in courses from a varied range of topics, and credits (6 ECTS per course) are recognised at both Universities.
This programme is under revision for the 2026 edition.
Contemporary Art and Curatorship: from documenta to the Biennale
During the 2026 summer session, we will once again be offering our unique summer module in Contemporary Art and Curatorship. Since 2019, the programme has brought together the expertise of scholars, artists and curators from the hosting cities Kassel (Germany), and Venice (Italy), including Silvia Burini (Programme Director), Matteo Bertelè (Executive Director), Elena Agudio, Manuela Lietti, Sara Mondini, Camilla Querin, and Maria Redaelli, offering students the chance to gain insight into the management principles of two of the world's most important contemporary art exhibitions: the Kassel documenta and La Biennale di Venezia.
The full programme in past years consisted of two modules: one in Kassel (Germany) offered by ISU Kassel, and one offered in Venice here at the Ca' Foscari School for International Education. In 2026, we will only offer the module in Venice, so students can take our module, fully immersing themselves in contemporary art and curatorship for 2 weeks, through lectures and visits to exhibition spaces in Venice.
The Venice module is implemented with targeted training activities on exhibitionary and curatorial practices from five focus areas: Sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia, Latin America, Russia, Caucasus and Central Asia, Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA region). For each focus area, a dedicated instructor with expertise in both academic lecturing and curatorial practice will lead in-class seminars and talks with artists and curators from related fields. The programme combines individual study and teamwork activities and alternates lectures and site visits with a full-time schedule.
Keep an eye on our “Courses” webpage for further information on how to apply.
Summer School in Italian Language and Culture
Running from July 6th to July 31st, 2026, this intensive four-week program is designed for international students and enthusiasts of all levels, from A1 to B2/C2. Participants will dive into a rich curriculum featuring 50 to 70 hours of classroom instruction held from Monday to Thursday, paired with exclusive guided tours of Venice every Friday. From the historic Rialto market to the hidden gems of Dorsoduro, the city becomes your classroom, offering a deep cultural immersion like no other. Join a vibrant global community in the heart of Italy, earn a dedicated Open Badge and certificate, and transform your language skills while living in one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Applications are open from April 15th to May 29th—secure your place today and live the Venetian dream.
Partner institutions
