The Rome Start Program is a unique opportunity for incoming Freshmen where students spend their first year of study at the John Felice Rome Center in Italy. After that, students will complete the last three years of their undergraduate degree in Chicago. This form is for students in the process of their application as new, first time university students to Loyola University Chicago so they may be considered for admission to the Rome Start program specifically.You must submit a personal statement of 500 words or less regarding yourself and your international experience/s and/or interest and how you feel that has prepared you for the Rome Start program. You may upload this essay to your student portal or you may email it to internationaladmission@luc.edu. Any other documents previously submitted in support of your application to Loyola will available in your Rome Start application file. While Rome Start supports many diverse academic interests and plans, not every undergraduate program is supported at the JFRC. If your application plans indicate you are interested in an area where it would not be possible for you to complete your degree in four years, you will receive more information from the Undergraduate Admission Office.All participants in the Rome Start program who are not Italian citizens, or citizens of another Schengen area country must secure the Italian Long Term Study visa following any offer of admission. In order to be eligible for a student visa issued by the Italian consulate, you will need a passport that is valid for at least six months after the end of the academic year you are applying to participate in Rome Start. This means students must have a valid passport through November 2024.
