GENERAL CONDITIONS
1. Formal admission to FCAS (Florence Culinary Arts School) and payment of tuition and fees are prerequisites to registration. All students, by virtue of registering, agree to comply with the regulations of the school and to pay all applicable tuition and registration fees before the course start date. Payments can be made exclusively by wire transfer to the bank account indicated by the Office of Admissions. FCAS will provide the student with a certificate of payment confirmation. The certificate of enrollment will be issued only after receiving confirmation of the wire transfer by the Office of Admissions. FCAS may, at its sole discretion, exclude from any course and/or examinations any registered student who fails to pay the applicable Tuition Fee within the period stated above or any other period as may be agreed with FCAS. FCAS reserves the right to claim back from any such student any reasonable expenses incurred in reliance upon his/her registration on the course.
2. The Enrollment Fee, Deposit, and any Tuition paid to FCAS are NON-REFUNDABLE, except where FCAS decides not to grant the student a place on the relevant course. However, fees already paid remain VALID FOR ONE-YEAR from the date of payment and are TRANSFERABLE: the student may allocate them toward a future course at no extra fee, or transfer them to another person. Changing a course (subject or start date) is NOT permitted once a student is enrolled, except where FCAS exceptionally agrees to the change.
3. Tuition includes a Certificate of Attendance or a Diploma, issued upon completion of the course.
4. FCAS is responsible for preparing essential equipment for student use.
5. Transportation costs to commute to the school or off-campus facilities are NOT included in the tuition fee. Students must purchase a bus pass at their own expense.
6. Specific information about the course, such as the detailed timetable, will be communicated to the student upon course start. Examinations must be taken at the end of the relevant course. No student shall be permitted to take examinations after the end of the relevant course. If a student does not take the examinations at the end of the course, or does not achieve the required pass mark, FCAS shall not issue a final certificate of completion or official diploma.
7. Class attendance is MANDATORY. No student will be admitted to the final examinations unless they have attended at least 80% of the lessons. No certificate of attendance will be issued unless the student maintains the required attendance record until the end of the course. Tuition and fees will not be refunded for missed lessons.
8. By enrolling in any course offered by FCAS, students agree to comply fully with the disciplinary rules of FCAS, as this represents a condition of the agreement between students and FCAS. Compliance with the disciplinary rules requires a good attendance record, strict adherence to the lesson schedule, and a responsible attitude toward the staff of FCAS. Failure to fully adhere to these rules may result in disciplinary measures against the offending student (which, for the avoidance of doubt, may include expulsion from the relevant course). To the fullest extent permitted by Italian law, FCAS reserves the right to claim damages for any loss caused by the student.
9. Courses are organized according to the schedules, dates, and programs established by the teachers appointed by FCAS, which reserves the right, at any time, to amend any aspect of the course as necessary.
10. Examination papers, together with any material produced by students during classes, shall be deemed the property of FCAS. Students hereby assign all copyrights arising from any material they produce to FCAS, and in particular authorize FCAS to exhibit, reproduce, and/or publish such material.
11. FCAS reserves the right to cancel a course due to low enrollment or other circumstances beyond the school’s control. Students registered in a canceled course will be notified, and course fees will be fully refunded.
12. FCAS assumes no responsibility for damaged, lost, or stolen personal items. Students who damage or vandalize school property will be responsible for its repair and/or replacement.
13. FCAS is closed on Italian public and school holidays.
14. No variation of this agreement shall be effective unless made in writing and signed by or on behalf of each party.
15. For all programs held by FCAS, including those held off-campus, the agreement between FCAS and students shall be governed by Italian law, and the parties agree that the Italian courts in Florence shall have sole jurisdiction over any dispute arising from this agreement.
FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM:
16. Italian language lessons are included during the first two months of the program, before the internship begins. If a student’s Italian language level is judged insufficient for the internship, the language course may need to be extended.
17. Students will be assigned to the appropriate restaurant based on an interview with the school’s internship coordinator and the restaurant staff, taking into account each student’s preferences (submitted via questionnaire) and experience. Students cannot choose their internship placement. This interview takes place toward the end of the Italian language course, and students must pass it in order to begin their internship. Except for a few companies where English is the primary working language, students must have sufficient Italian language proficiency to work as an intern.
18. Once assigned to a restaurant or company, students must follow the host’s schedule and calendar. Some hosts have longer working hours and fewer holidays than others, so we recommend reviewing the terms and conditions in advance. Any special requests should be discussed with your internship coordinator; keep in mind that submitting multiple requests reduces the likelihood they’ll all be met and can extend the time needed to find a suitable host.
19. Students are registered with the provincial government through a professional agency to obtain internship certification, in compliance with Italian law. The maximum internship duration at a single host is limited to the student’s residence permit period in Italy, up to 12 months under Italian law. Students are not permitted to change host restaurant/company before the end of this registered period.
That said, if a student experiences difficulties or other issues with their host, they must report this to the internship coordinator. A change of host is only possible if unavoidable, and requires approval from the provincial government. Re-registration carries a fee of €400.00 each time it occurs. Students may extend the registered internship duration by up to one additional year.
20. Restaurant internships often include staff meals during workdays. Some hosts may also provide accommodation or an allowance to help cover expenses, though this is entirely at the discretion of each individual restaurant.
By submitting the application form for any FCAS course, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to these General Conditions.
[ Revised as of September 1, 2026 ]
