John Cabot University

With a location in the historic center of Rome, Italy and a student body representing 70 countries, John Cabot University is far more than the typical study abroad experience. Whether you study with us for a year, semester, or summer session, your time in the Eternal City will allow you to stay on track for graduation during the most significant academic experience of your undergraduate career. Student Life at JCU will offer you a unique, diverse and enriching environment, where you will be encouraged to seize opportunities that will challenge you to explore your limits, find new interests and make unforgettable friendships.

Program Eligibility Requirements

• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.67
• Be in good academic, disciplinary, and financial standing with SHU

Student Life

The Student Life Department takes pride in showcasing the activities and services that will enhance your experience at John Cabot University. JCU provides every student with the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities and programs designed to develop your leadership skills and guide you through a journey of self-discovery and growth. You can learn more about Student Life at JCU.

Orientation

Upon acceptance to the program, you will be required to attend a mandatory pre-departure orientation organized by Global Engagement. During this orientation, further details about the course and program details will be discussed. Pre-departure orientations for Winter and Spring programs are held in November/December. Pre-departure orientations for Summer and Fall programs are held in April.

Upon arrival at John Cabot University you will attend mandatory orientation. This is an important and informative set of sessions organized by the University. Several activities that will allow you to navigate and explore the university campuses, JCU services and Rome while getting to know your fellow classmates! During Orientation, your schedule will include important information sessions that will give you the necessary tools to prepare you to start your academic program at JCU successfully. Students are introduced not only to the University, but also to life in Italy, and to academics in a multicultural environment. You will have the opportunity to meet students from different nationalities, faculty, and staff who will become an important part of your university experience! The JCU Orientation will help you feel prepared, connect with new friends, and gain comfort navigating around the campuses and Rome.

Internship Opportunities

John Cabot University offers students the opportunity to participate in internships either for or not for credit. JCU has many long standing and mutually beneficial agreements with international profit and non-profit organizations. Learn more about internship opportunities at JCU by visiting their Career Services page here.

Volunteer Opportunities

From providing volunteer opportunities to students, to offering continuing education courses in Rome, John Cabot University prides itself on community outreach. The Community Service Program’s objective is to build a caring community that is aware and respectful of the diverse realities that surround us. The Program is based on learning from these differences, and aims to enforce a give and take process: it seeks to empower the local Community by helping out in every possible way, but also aspires for students to be empowered through the volunteering opportunities. Learn more about the opportunities available.

Italy is known as one of the birthplaces of Western culture. It is a synonym for its diverse periods of art and history spanning past a millennia. From the wine region of Tuscany and fashionable streets of Milan to the ancient Roman ruins of Pompeii and Sicily, every corner of the country is home to countless cultural diversions. In fact, Italy has more cultural UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other country. No wonder it is often nicknamed Il Bel Paese — the beautiful country.

As the third most visited city in the European Union, Rome, Italy is constantly abuzz with street cafes, savory restaurants, and mesmerizing monuments. The Eternal City — as it’s sometimes called — is home to many of the greatest artistic and historical treasures spanning western history.

Among the city’s resources are an abundance of museums, fountains, churches, and architectural monuments. Some of Rome’s most visited sites include the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Vatican, and Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. If you want to live “la vita bella” — the good life, there is no better place than “Roma.”

At John Cabot University in Rome, degree-seeking and visiting students alike will discover a distinctly American learning experience enriched by our location in Rome and our international student population and faculty. John Cabot University's classes in Rome average about 15 students so you'll get to know your professors and share your ideas in class. You'll also write analytical papers and conduct original research. Professors hold degrees from Brown University, Columbia University, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, the London School of Economics and Political Science, the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, and Yale, among many others.

Courses are taught in English. Students do not need to know Italian to apply. Undergraduate students of all majors are welcome to study abroad at John Cabot University even if their major is not offered in full at the campus. When looking for courses, be sure that you are looking at classes in the correct term of study. John Cabot University operates on a American academic calendar system. You will need to be sure that you are registered as a full time student according to John Cabot University and Sacred Heart University. That means you will take 12-15 SHU credits (4-5 courses) while studying at JCU.

View current and past course offerings

Eligibility

You must have an overall GPA of 2.67+ and be in good disciplinary and financial standing with SHU.

Course Credit

SHU approved courses taken on this program will count towards your general graduation total. Course grades will also factor into your cumulative Grade Point Average (courses are not available for Pass/Fail).

Students can reference the Course Equivalency Database to see which courses have already been approved. Approval for courses not yet approved can be requested through Global Engagement. Email studyabroad@sacredheart.edu for more information.

Housing is Not included as part of your SHU study abroad program fees. Housing is paid online through John Cabot University's website.

John Cabot University is proud to offer an American education in an international environment to every student. The Office of Housing and Residential Life functions in line with this commitment by offering university housing that provides students an opportunity to live in an international community consisting of their peers and staff from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds. The University has carefully selected locations close to the main campus buildings and in nearby residential areas that encourage students to integrate into the local community.

The Office of Housing and Residential Life supports the American belief that students living in a community of their peers benefit both academically and socially. However, JCU Housing differs from a typical dorm-style experience, and challenges students to take on the responsibilities that come along with living in a fully equipped, independent apartment. Students choosing to live in JCU Housing will gain a true understanding of how to "do as the Romans do" while studying at an American university.

Learn more about the different housing options, locations and prices.

Meals

Students have many options for meals while studying at John Cabot University. All student residences have fully functioning kitchens with the essentials needed to prepare meals on your own. A variety of meal plans are available for purchase online through JCU. The Tiber Cafe offers great food prepared and served with care in a friendly atmosphere. Whether you're interacting with faculty or meeting other students, the sense of community at Tiber Cafe is an integral part of the JCU educational experience. Tiber Cafe pays close attention to special diets and allergies and offers allergy-friendly alternatives to all guests. Additionally, the University and residences are situated among many restaurants, cafes, gelaterias, and market places.

Housing Policies

Housing assignments are made at the discretion of John Cabot University. Students placed in John Cabot University housing are responsible for reading and abiding by the policies and procedures outlined in the Housing Policies and Procedures Handbook.  More information about the housing application, processes, and policies can be found online.

John Cabot University: Fall 2025 - Spring 2026

Additional Expenses

All costs subject to change.

*Estimate

Fees Include: Program orientation, arrival airport transfer and mandatory basic international health insurance.
Fees Do Not Include: Travel to/from host country, major medical insurance, on-site course fees, visa/ resident permit fees, program materials or any personal expenses.

Additional Billing Information

All expenses are subject to change based upon currency fluctuations, flight demand, personal spending habits, etc. Actual expenses may be more or less than the listed estimates.

Program withdrawal fees, penalties and refunds are subject to the withdrawal policies of each program.

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Scholarships are a great way to support the cost of your study abroad experience. In an effort to encourage you to study abroad, and to make a study abroad experience more accessible, Global Engagement prepared a list of scholarships and financial resources. Global Engagement encourages you to apply and take advantage of as many relevant scholarship opportunities as possible.

Speak with Student Financial Assistance to determine how your aid package will apply towards studying abroad.

Please ensure applications for the Welch Tuition Waiver, Thomas More Honors Program Scholarship, and/or Matthew R. Dalling Scholarship are submitted by the specified deadline. Applications and corresponding deadlines can be found in your Study Abroad Account. Failure to submit applications by the specified deadline may cause the scholarship dispersal to be significantly delayed.

If you receive scholarships, grants, or financial aid through SHU, these awards are posted to your Student Account according to the normal disbursement schedule.

Contact Global Engagement directly for further information.

Scholarships are a great way to support the cost of your study abroad experience. In an effort to make a study abroad experience more accessible, the SHU Office of Study Abroad prepared a list of scholarships and financial resources. Global Engagement encourages you to apply and take advantage of as many relevant scholarship opportunities as possible.

The Coccia Foundation is sometimes able to extend their scholarship opportunities to SHU students who wish to attend the John Cabot University in Rome. The two scholarships students can apply for are the Salvatore Davino Memorial Sponsored Scholarship and the Mario A. Marano Memorial Sponsored Scholarship. These two opportunities are open to students who major/minor in Italian Studies. Both scholarships, up to $2,000 each, may be available to students who wish to study abroad at John Cabot University. Recipients will be selected by the Coccia Foundation’s Scholarship Committee. Any interested students should contact studyabroad@sacredheart.edu for more information/to apply.

Students in the Thomas More Honors Program are eligible to use a one-time study abroad scholarship of $500 towards the cost of their program. Students will need to apply for this scholarship post-acceptance within their study abroad accounts.

Speak with Student Financial Assistance to determine how your aid package will apply towards studying abroad.

Fall 2025

• Arrival: August 25 or 26 (departure from US the evening prior)
• On-Site Orientation: August 25 - 30
• Classes Begin: September 1
• Move Out: December 13

Spring 2026

• Arrival: January 12 or 13 (departure from US on January 11 or 12)
• On-Site Orientation: January 12-17
• Classes Begin: January 19
• Move Out: May 9

To view the current academic calendar, visit the John Cabot University Academic Calendar.

All dates are subject to change. Do not book your flight until you have been accepted by the host university and the academic dates have been confirmed.