Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to apply for the study abroad program?
Anyone currently enrolled in a university-level degree program is eligible to apply. It is not necessary to have prior involvement with the Thomistic Institute to apply.
Will program credits count towards my degree?
Generally, yes! While the decision as to whether or not the study abroad program will count towards your degree ultimately rests with your home university, almost all students find that the credits earned through study abroad will apply towards their degree program at home.
To find out if credits earned in the TI Study Abroad Program will transfer towards your degree, consult your academic advisor, department chair, and/or university registrar.
The TI Study Abroad Program offers courses in the humanities, but I am pursuing a degree outside of the humanities. Am I still eligible to participate?
Yes! We invite students from all academic backgrounds to participate. In fact, many of our students are enrolled in degree programs outside of the humanities, including computer science, neuroscience, finance, economics, physics, engineering, mathematics, nursing, and more. Students in the humanities find that our courses transfer towards their degree requirements, while students outside the humanities have success in applying courses towards their general requirements.
Where will I study? / Who issues the academic credits for the program?
You will study at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (also known as the “Angelicum”) in Rome, Italy. The Angelicum is accredited by the Vatican’s accrediting agency, AVEPRO, which was created in 2007 following the Vatican’s participation in the European Union’s Bologna Process with respect to higher education. The Holy See has been a full member of the Bologna Process / the European Higher Education Area since 2003, which means that the university adheres to the same measures of academic quality as any institution in the other 48 signatory states (which includes virtually all European countries). AVEPRO is likewise a member of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education, which is the designated stakeholder organization of quality assurance agencies in the EHEA and is supported by the European Union.
Proceeding from the Bologna Declaration of 1999, the purpose of the Bologna Process is to facilitate the mobility of students, faculty, and academic recognition between member states. As a full member institution, the Angelicum adheres to the Bologna Process’ standardized framework for higher education qualifications and issues credits according to the standardized European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS). UNESCO is a consultative member of the Bologna Process.
Institutions that have accepted transfer credit from the program include, but are not limited to, Harvard, Yale, Texas A&M University College Station, University of Notre Dame, University of South Carolina, Drew University, Loyola University, St. Louis University, University of Rochester, Carroll College, and Benedictine College.
For course descriptions, click here.
Where will I live? What are the accommodations like?
You will live on the grounds of the Irish College, a gated campus located mere steps from the Colosseum. Students live in comfortable, double-occupancy rooms in a guest house on the campus. For more information, click here.
Will the financial aid that I receive from my home university apply to the study abroad program?
Generally, yes! While this determination will ultimately be made by your home university’s financial aid office, almost all of our students have successfully applied their financial aid to our program.
You should consult your financial aid office to see if your aid will transfer to the program. If aid will transfer, you will be responsible for working with your institution's financial aid office to initiate an individual consortium agreement that will be forwarded to and reviewed by the Thomistic Institute.
Are scholarships available?
Yes! The Thomistic Institute offers need- and merit- based scholarships to study abroad students. The scholarship application is due the same day as the general application.
What is covered in the program cost?
Our program cost covers tuition and fees; accommodations; all meals; program excursions; retreats and pilgrimages around Rome; 24/7 Emergency/Medical/Travel Assistance; Emergency Medical, Accident, and Sickness Insurance that covers hospitalization, emergencies, evacuations, and repatriations in full with direct payments to the medical providers in Italy; and welcome and farewell dinners at a local restaurant.
What is not covered in the program cost?
Our program cost does not include the flight to and from Rome, textbooks, costs associated with visa processing, or international cell phone coverage (cell coverage is required of students in the program).
Is the Rome Program offered in the summer or fall?
Currently, the program is only offered during the spring semester.
Do you have further questions? Contact the Program Administrator, Dr. Rebecca Marisseau at rmarisseau@dhs.edu