Rome, Italy
Luiss University Partnership
Program Overview
UNIQUE CHANCE TO ATTEND A PRESTIGIOUS UNIVERSITY IN ROME
Make Rome your home and study at Rome’s prestigious Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali (Luiss University)—an opportunity you’ll only find at IFSA. With classes across four departments and Italy’s top ranking for international studies and politics, this program is ideal for students of business, economics, finance, political science/government, international studies, and more.
Learn alongside students from Italy and other nations. Boost your language skills and cultural knowledge at the university’s Language Cafe. Take advantage of a central Rome location that makes it easy to explore the city’s vast treasures—starting with beautiful architecture right on campus.
Plus, take advantage of a slate of excursions and events designed to help you connect with the people of Italy and explore beyond the Eternal City.
Details at a Glance
Application deadline
Minimum GPA
2.70
Credit load
12–16
Housing
Apartment/Flat, Single Room Option
Instruction language
English, Italian
Language prerequisites
None
Visa required?
Yes. Learn More.
Academics
A distinguished private institution, Luiss University boasts the top-ranked political science program in Italy, as well an impressive economics program. For business and finance major, Luiss holds both AMBA and EQUIS accreditation and consistently ranks among the top 100 European business schools. Select law classes are open to you if you are interested in a legal or political career.
Students may only take undergraduate-level classes.
Credit Conversions
The standard conversion rate from Luiss to U.S. semester credits hours is 2:1.
- 6 Luiss credits = 3 U.S. semester credit hours
- 8 Luiss credits = 4 U.S. semester credit hours
Luiss Featured Classes
- Behavioral Economics
- Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies
- Competition Law and Antitrust Regulation
- Corporate Finance
- Databases and Big Data
- Digital Economy and Innovation
- Energy Markets and Industrial Organization
- European Union Law
- Financial Market Analytics
- Gambling: Probability and Decision
- Global Governance Through Interreligious Dialogue
- History of Political Thought
- Legal System in the Digital Age
- Money and Banking
- Public Economics
- Sociology of Terrorism
Visit the Luiss complete class listing for classes available to study abroad students. Only undergraduate classes are available to study abroad students.
CHART Your Course
Find the classes you need fast with CHART. Our easy-to-use tool shows you classes recently taken by IFSA students.
Lab & Field Trip Fees
Please review syllabi and class materials when registering for direct-enroll classes. Certain classes may have a one-off lab or field trip fee disclosed in the syllabus or during the first meeting of the class. These fees are not included in your IFSA program fee. You will be responsible for these fees, whether they are billed and paid by IFSA or billed to you.
Classes Taught in Italian
Classes taught in Italian may be available for students who have at least four semesters of Italian language background or the equivalent. For more information, contact your IFSA Enrollment Counselor.
Other Restrictions
Students may only take undergraduate-level classes.
Classes in the following programs are not open to study abroad students:
- School of Government programs
- School of Journalism programs
- School of Law programs
- Language courses other than Italian
- School of European Political Economy programs
- All one year master’s programs
- Post-graduate and PhD courses
- Luiss Business School and MBA programs
- Workshops and Seminars
- Digital Program: Marketing
- Digital Program: Strategic Management
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Eligibility
- You must be at least 18 years of age. Students under 18 may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
- You must be currently attending or recently graduated from a U.S. or Canadian community college, technical college, two-year college, four-year college, or four-year university.
- You must have completed at least one (1) full-time semester of study at your home institution before the beginning of the term.
Recommendation Letter
Not required.
TRANSCRIPT
Upon completion of your program, IFSA will send an official Butler University transcript to your home university with your coursework converted to the U.S. semester credit hour system. You will also have access to an unofficial transcript in your IFSA Student Portal. The transcript reflects classes taken, credits attempted, and grades earned during your term abroad. This service is included in your study abroad program at no additional cost. See our Transcripts page for more information.
Excursions
Activities and excursions are designed to pull you into the communities you visit and encourage cultural connections of every kind. There’s no extra fee to participate in these optional outings—everything is included in your program fee.
Below are examples from previous terms; outings may be different for your program. We’ll make every effort to run them all, but sometimes things we can’t control, such as local regulations and health protocols, get in the way. As result, we cannot guarantee activities and excursions.
Activities
- Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatino Hill Tour: During orientation, seize this chance to get to know Rome by exploring some of the most iconic monuments in world history and the heart of the city.
- Sustainability Day with Legambiente: Raise awareness of the importance of protecting the environment by volunteering with this historic Italian association at a community garden in the Garbatella neighborhood.
- Take a Seat at the Table Lecture Series: Learn about topical issues like EU immigration and Italian cultural diplomacy from local experts, then head to a nearby bistro for an aperitivo and more conversation.
- Cultural Exchange Aperitivo: Whether you’re perfecting your Italian language skills or just starting out, join local Italian university students at a local coffee bar to practice, compare cultural notes, and forge new friendships.
- Bay of Naples Trip: Your two-day excursion begins in Pompeii, where you’ll explore the archaeological remains, buried in the ash of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Next, wander the narrow alleys of Sorrento and discover the legendary beauty of the island of Capri. Finally, get to know historic Naples, a seaside city brimming with architectural treasures—and famous for introducing the world to pizza.
- Castelli Romani Day Trip: Get a change of scenery as you explore this hilly area, known for its papal palace-turned-museum, lush nature preserves, scenic lakes, and masterful production of wine and olive oil.
Housing and Meals
Housing
Apartment/Flat, Single Room OptionMeals
Self-CateringDetails
Rome students typically live in fully-furnished apartments shared by four to six students in Rome’s historic center, Prati, or Trastevere neighborhoods. Apartments vary but are generally in updated historic buildings in neighborhoods with plenty of local charm, an easy 30- to 45-minute commute from the IFSA Program Center, either on foot or using public transit.
Your apartment mates could include other study abroad students, as well as students from Italy or other countries, and could be mixed gender. Most apartments have two or more bathrooms. Bedrooms are typically shared by two IFSA, same gender students. In a few cases, depending on the specific apartment layout, triple, or single rooms are possible. In some cases, there’s an option to request a single, private room by paying an a supplemental fee. Students are responsible for meals.
Sample housing
Take a look at Via Cola di Rienzo 285 to see what your Rome home might be like:
- Location: The Prati district, close to Rome’s historic city center.
- Commute: A six-minute walk to the IFSA Program Center.
- Living space: Apartments for four to six students in older, historic buildings. Students share bedrooms with two, same gender students per room. Bedrooms include single beds and storage. All residents share the living space, kitchen, eating area, and bathroom(s). Sometimes two students share one desk. Complete bedding and towels provided. Kitchens are equipped with oven, refrigerator, and basic dishes and kitchenware.
- Meals: No meal plan. Students prepare or purchase meals, and often tell us cooking together is a fun, social part of the day. Plus, we’ll share pro grocery shopping tips when you arrive.
- Other details: Wi-Fi included. Laundry washing machine and drying rack. Vacuum cleaner. Iron and ironing board. Fans. Air conditioning is common but not guaranteed. Weekly cleaning service of shared spaces is often included.
- Nearby: Cafes, markets, shopping, public transportation. Vatican City. Castel Sant’Angelo. Tiber River. Piazza del Popolo. Villa Borghese. Spanish Steps. Piazza Navona and the Fountain of the Four Rivers.
Dates and Fees
Get Started
Eleni Katsarelas
Enrollment Counselor