Study health sciences at ACU Rome while you immerse yourself in Italian life.
Take the opportunity to study one unit as an intensive program over two to three weeks - from June to July, or December to February - or an immersion semester over six to eight weeks, while enjoying plenty of time to explore Rome.
Units are offered across most health sciences disciplines, including applied public health, dietetic practice, midwifery, nursing, nutrition science, occupational therapy, paramedicine, physiotherapy, social work, psychology and speech pathology.
See what's on offer in 2024
Interdisciplinary
HLSC220 Health Care Ethics
This two-week intensive undergraduate unit is offered during the December to January summer break.
It is available to students studying a Bachelor of Nursing, Bachelor of Nursing/Business Administration, Bachelor of Midwifery, Bachelor of Paramedicine, Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Paramedicine, Bachelor of Physiotherapy or Bachelor of Nutrition Science.
You will study this unit with students from the Loyola University of Chicago (LUC) and VIA University College, sharing lectures, tutorials and community engagement experiences.
You will be taught by staff from ACU and LUC, who will guide you through theoretical learning on the Rome Campus over two weeks.
Group 1 dates: 30 December 2023 - 13 January 2024
Group 2 dates: 13 - 27 January 2024
Nursing
Rome nursing immersion semester
This is a six-week undergraduate program offered in Semester 2.
In this program, you will be studying four subjects concurrently: NRSG265 Principles of Nursing Medical, NRSG266 Principles of Nursing: Context of Ageing, NRSG267 Integration Practice 4 (partial), and HLSC220 Health Care Ethics.
Three of the units have a theoretical basis and include recorded lectures, face-to-face and online tutorials, self-directed learning and assessments. One unit (NRSG267) is a clinical unit and will include community engagement experiences.
Nutrition science and applied public health
This is a two-to-three-week program for undergraduate and postgraduate students.
It's available to undergraduate Bachelor of Nutrition Science or Bachelor of Applied Public Health students enrolled in NUTR308 Food and Culture Study Tour.
It's also available to postgraduate students enrolled in the Graduate Certificate in Culinary Nutrition Science undertaking NUTR609 Food and Culture Study Experience or NUTR603 Engaging with Communities, and Master of Dietetic Practice students undertaking unit NUTR603 Engaging with Communities.
The Rome Campus will be your base for formal and informal activities including language classes, visits to market and museums, classes on Italian and European food classification systems, and food, cooking and wine appreciation. You will gain an understanding of how cities approach food sustainability, food recovery and the integration of new cultures and cuisines, while also developing a deep understanding of local food traditions.
Occupational therapy, social work and speech pathology
ALTH420 Global Perspectives in Community Centred Practice
This two-week intensive undergraduate unit is offered over the June to July semester break.
It's available to fourth-year Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, fourth-year Bachelor of Social Work and third-year Bachelor of Speech Pathology students.
The unit is unique in bringing together students from different disciplines to explore topics such as: What contributes to the development and maintenance of communities? What is the role of allied health professionals in working with communities? How does working with communities contribute to the common good?
You will work with interprofessional groups and undertake experiences of engaging with local communities while in Rome so you can apply your learning to your local communities upon return to Australia.
Psychology
PSYC225 Applied Positive Psychology
This program is part of the ACU semester in Rome available to Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) and Bachelor of Psychological Science students in Block 4 (November-December).
PSYC624 Evidence-Based Practice for Psychologists
This is a one-week intensive program available to Master of Psychology (Clinical), Master of Psychology (Educational & Developmental), and Master of Professional Psychology students during the June to July semester break.
ACU is the only university in Australia that offers international study as part of their professional postgraduate training in psychology. This is an exciting opportunity for students who are interested in becoming global citizens who are community-minded, compassionate and skilled scientist-practitioners, and who want to understand how psychology can contribute to real-world impacts at both local and international levels.
This intensive program will involve lectures, workshops and community engagement activities over a one-week period with both ACU staff and international experts.
Disclaimer: Programs are subject to change.
Costs and funding
Most programs include accommodation, meals at the Rome Campus and group site visits within the community, which can vary depending on program duration and structure.
Approximate costs: from $2,000 - $4,500 (short-term intensives) to $6,500 - $7,000 (semester immersion).
Financial support to study overseas is available to eligible ACU students, including an OS-HELP Loan and the ACU Vice-Chancellor and President's Learning Abroad Grant.
Current ACU students can find more information about funding on the Student Portal.
Disclaimer: Costs are subject to change.