Rome City Institute
Study where history was written. Train where legends walked.
What if continuing your sport could also mean studying and living in Rome?
For student-athletes who want to continue competing while pursuing their education in Italy, Rome City Institute offers the chance to do both.
Viaita is an official recruiting partner for Rome City Institute and may receive compensation if a student enrolls through Viaita. This does not affect tuition costs for the student.
Why Rome City Institute
Rome City Institute is for students who are serious about both sides of being a student-athlete.
At RCI, academics and athletics are both central to the experience. The programs are structured so students can continue making academic progress while training and competing in their sport.
Academics
Your Education Doesn’t Take a Back Seat
Built for Student-Athletes
RCI’s academic programs are designed to help students balance their studies with athletic commitments, with tutors and academic coaches available for additional guidance and support.
English-Taught Courses
Courses are taught in English while students live, study, and train in Rome.
Recognized Academic Pathways
Undergraduate students can pursue U.S.-accredited bachelor’s degrees with Jacksonville University as the school of record. RCI’s master’s programs are awarded by Link Campus University and recognized by the Italian Ministry of University and Research.
Athletics
Neither Does Your Sport
Athletics are a central part of the RCI experience, with students training, competing, and continuing to develop in their sport while they study.
RCI offers 13 varsity sports, with programs led by coaches with professional and Olympic-level experience. Competition follows the Italian sports calendar, generally running from August through May, and student-athletes train at professional-grade facilities throughout Rome.
Students also have access to an on-campus gym, personal training, and an in-house physiotherapy center for injury prevention, treatment, and recovery.
Sports Offered:
Soccer • Volleyball • Basketball • Swimming • Tennis • Lacrosse • Field Hockey • Beach Volleyball • American Football • Rugby • Track & Field • Rowing • Golf
PROGRAM OPTIONS
Choose Your Path
A semester. A full year. A bachelor’s degree. A master’s. There’s more than one way to make Rome part of your education.
Not sure which path fits? Viaita can help you compare the options and understand what RCI requires before you move forward.
EXPERIENCE
The Rome Advantage
Few cities put you this close to history, culture, sports, food, and the rest of Europe all at once.
RCI’s campus is inside historic Villa Caproni, steps from Piazza del Popolo and Villa Borghese, with Flaminio Metro A nearby. From there, the city opens up around you: ancient roads, Renaissance palaces, Bernini fountains, neighborhood markets, calcio culture, and the rhythms of modern Roman life.
HISTORY IS EVERYWHERE
The Colosseum, Pantheon, Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Appian Way. And then there are the places you discover more slowly: the Aventine keyhole, quiet churches, hidden courtyards, ancient walls, and neighborhoods tourists often rush past.
In Rome, thousands of years of history are not tucked away in a museum. They are built into the streets, fountains, churches, ruins, and public spaces around you.
YOU START TO KNOW ROME LIKE A ROMAN
You learn your neighborhood, meet friends in a piazza, grab pizza al taglio, figure out where your team is playing, and discover why Romans take carbonara, amatriciana, gricia, and cacio e pepe very seriously.
Eventually, Rome starts to feel less like somewhere you came to study and more like your city.
CITY, COAST, AND THE REST OF ITALY
Rome gives students access to much more than the capital itself. The coast at Ostia is connected to the city by rail, while Roma Termini links directly to Florence, Bologna, Milan, Venice, Naples, and other cities throughout Italy.
Living in Rome makes it much easier to experience how different one part of Italy can feel from another.
EUROPE IS CLOSER THAN IT FEELS
From central Rome, students can hop on a train at Roma Termini and be at Fiumicino Airport in about half an hour. From there, flights connect Rome with cities throughout Europe and around the world.
For students who want to explore when their academic and athletic schedules allow, Rome makes the rest of Europe feel surprisingly accessible.
Program Details
Each option has its own timeline, purpose, and academic structure. Here’s a closer look at what each one could mean for you.
TIME:
One semester or a full academic year
BEST IF:
You’re not ready to commit to a four-year degree but don’t want to step away from your sport.
WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT:
You can take college courses, earn credit, and continue competing during a semester or full academic year abroad.
TIME:
One summer or semester
BEST IF:
You’re already in college and want to study abroad without stepping away from your sport.
ACADEMIC FIT:
RCI may be especially worth considering if the courses offered complement your major or can help fulfill requirements toward your degree at home.
WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT:
You can earn college credit, keep training, and experience life in Rome for a semester or summer without committing to a full degree there.
Your home university determines how RCI credits apply toward your degree.
Undergraduate (Bachelor’s Degree)
TIME:
Multi-year degree program
MAJORS:
-
Exercise Science
-
Sports in Society
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Global Business & Marketing
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International Relations & Sociological Sciences
-
Human Behavior
BEST IF:
You want to earn your bachelor’s degree without giving up the chance to keep training and competing.
WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT:
This is the full college experience at RCI: working toward your degree, developing as an athlete, and making Rome home for more than just a semester.
TRANSFER STUDENTS:
Already started college somewhere else? RCI welcomes transfer students. How your previous credits apply will depend on your academic record and program, so transfer options should be reviewed individually.
Graduate (1-Year Master’s)
TIME:
One year
PROGRAMS:
-
MBA – Master in Business Administration
-
Master in Sports Management & Coaching
BEST IF:
You already have a bachelor’s degree and want to earn your master’s in Rome through a focused, one-year program.
WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT:
Choose a graduate path focused on business or the sports industry, with full-time study in Rome and an international student community. If continuing your sport is part of your plans, athletic opportunities are also available to graduate students.
Our role may include:
Viaita's Role
A Personal Approach to Rome City Institute
Rome City Institute has its own admissions team and application process. Viaita’s role is to give students and families a more personal point of contact as they consider RCI and move through the process toward an admissions decision.
We take the time to understand what you are looking for, help you identify the questions worth asking, and communicate with RCI on your behalf when needed. You are not simply sent to an application page and left to figure out the rest.
01
WE START WITH YOU
We want to know more than your GPA and your sport. We talk about what you want from college, how important continuing to compete is to you, which academic option interests you, and what you and your family want to understand before making a decision.
02
WE HELP GET YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Questions about admissions, scholarships, academic requirements, eligibility, athletic placement, and RCI programs belong with Rome City Institute.
We help identify what needs to be clarified and, when needed, bring those questions directly to the appropriate people at RCI so you and your family can make decisions with accurate information.
03
WE STAY INVOLVED THROUGH ACCEPTANCE
If you decide to apply, Viaita remains a point of contact through the admissions process. We can assist with communication and follow-up with RCI and help you keep track of what still needs attention through the admissions decision.
Admissions, scholarship decisions, academic requirements, athletic placement, eligibility, and program delivery are determined by Rome City Institute and its academic partners.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Financial aid options and scholarships depend on the student and program path.
Contact us and we’ll link you to the appropriate official resources and confirm the right next step.
AFTER ACCEPTANCE
Want More Help Preparing for Italy?
Getting accepted is one thing. Actually moving to another country is another.
For families who want additional help, Viaita offers separate services to prepare for living in Rome. We can talk through the things students and families may not know to ask about yet, from housing expectations, luggage, and sports gear to phones, transportation, arrival, and the realities of everyday life in Italy.
Additional services can also include visa and documentation guidance, housing assistance, arrival preparation, and settling-in support depending on what your family needs.
Visiting your student? Viaita can also help plan a more personal experience for your family while you’re in Italy.
Post-acceptance services are separate from Viaita’s RCI recruiting role and are provided under an agreed scope and fee.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Financial aid and scholarship opportunities vary by program and student.
Rome City Institute manages its own scholarship and financial-aid process, including eligibility, applications, awards, and official guidance.
If you have questions, you can bring them to Viaita and we’ll make sure they are directed to the appropriate person at RCI for an official answer.
