Summer in Rome - Public Health (in English) - ISEP Direct
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
• Study public health in Rome — the Eternal City — at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, home to the internationally- ranked Agostino Gemelli University Hospital. Learn in a city where medicine, policy, and global health intersect daily.
• Earn 3-6 credits taking unique courses in health sciences that integrate site visits across Rome’s medical and research institutions. With topics from epidemiology to applied bioethics, you’ll learn about healthcare from the Italian perspective, in a country with a nationalized system that offers universal coverage.
• Choose between a two- or four-week program that pairs engaging health sciences coursework with site visits to Policlinico Gemelli Hospital, the Santo Spirito Museum of Medicine, and Sapienza University.
LIFE ABROAD
Study at the internationally acclaimed School of Medicine and Surgery at Università Cattolica, anchored by the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital — ranked #2 in Italy and among the top 50 worldwide — and learn from faculty that include 43 of Italy’s Top Scientists. With cutting-edge academics defining your experience, you’ll appreciate your free time in Rome admiring the art, food, and sunset views over the Tiber.
Experience & Cultural Engagement
Spend your weekdays immersed in intensive public health coursework five days per week, typically with one integrated site visit across Rome’s medical landscape each week. Step inside the Santo Spirito Medicine Museum, explore Sapienza University, or observe operations at Policlinico Gemelli University Hospital to see epidemiology, health policy, bioethics, and translational medicine unfold beyond theory.
The university also fosters opportunities for you to connect with your peers and your host culture beyond the classroom. Through the SpazioVivo Cultural Centre, attend concerts, art exhibitions, literary events, and guided cultural tours, or join ESN Rome for language exchanges, aperitivos, soccer tournaments, and movie nights that bring together local and international students.
Live & Dine
Settle into shared apartments in Rome’s Trastevere neighborhood, where cobblestone streets and late-night piazzas shape daily life.. Apartments are located within 40 minutes of campus via public transportation, typically house 4–6 students in double or triple bedrooms, and include shared kitchen facilities.
Shop at nearby grocery stores to cook with fresh market ingredients, or try authentic Italian cuisine like cacio e pepe, carbonara, supplì, and pizza al taglio in neighborhood trattorias. On campus, use your university badge for discounted meals at the Policlinico Gemelli dining hall and other student eateries.
Explore Rome
On weekends, navigate the Roman Forum, toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain, enjoy some refreshing gelato after climbing the Spanish Steps, or wander the Vatican Museums before picnicking in Villa Borghese. From Roma Centrale, high-speed trains connect you to Naples, Florence, Bologna, and Milan in just a few hours, making Rome a central base for exploring Italy.
What We Love About This Program
Studying alongside one of Italy’s top-ranked university hospitals in a capital city layered with history — from art to architecture — creates a summer that feels focused, inspiring, and grounded in real-world context.
See ISEP Direct budget and estimated expenses
Course Description
The summer program in Rome is divided into two sessions, each lasting two weeks. Students may enroll in one course per session. Each two-week course is worth 6 ECTS (3 U.S. credits) and grants 44 contact hours. Students will have classes five days per week including participation in site visites related to course content. All courses are taught entirely in English.
Summer 2026 courses and syllabi:
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Session A |
Session B |
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Weeks of Course Instruction |
June 8-12 |
June 15-19 |
June 22-26 |
June 29-July 3 |
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Health Sciences Courses |
Global Health and Epidemiology (Limited Capacity*) |
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From molecules to cells: a translational path towards novel therapeutics (Limited Capacity*) |
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*Course assignments will be allocated based on course preference and submission timeline.
Academics
Other Academic Conditions
IMPORTANT SESSION INFORMATION:
- Please select the session(s) you plan to attend from the options below.
- Pay close attention to the course names and the session they are offered in the chart above. Students can only register for ONE course per session. It is NOT POSSIBLE to register for two courses from the same session. If you wish to take two, you must select the program term that indicates both courses.
- It is not possible to change the course or session (from Session A to Session B) or program length (from 2 weeks to 4 weeks or 4 weeks to 2 weeks) after you receive your placement from ISEP or by March 15th, whichever comes first.
- All students will complete an internal application with UNICATT after they have been placed with ISEP. You must select the same session in the UNICATT application as you selected with the ISEP application.
- It is not possible to take exams early or remotely.
COURSE REGISTRATION INFORMATION
As indicated above, some classes in this program have limited capacity. We’ll do our best to help you register for your preferred classes. In order for ISEP to accomplish this, please indicate your preference of enrollment by selecting the appropriate term under 'Semester & Prices'. Your session/course selections will be finalized after placement when completing your ISEP Course Request List.
ACADEMIC CALENDAR
The official arrival date will be the Sunday before classes start. The official end date will be the Saturday after classes end. Please keep in mind which session your course(s) are offered, A, B, or A & B.
Semester & Prices (based on your filters)
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