University of Southern California Spring Admits - Fall Semester in Rome

John Cabot University is USC’s partner for the Fall Semester in Rome program. Established in 1972, JCU is an American liberal arts university accredited in the United States by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (www.msche.org) and awards Bachelor of Arts degrees in the fields of business, communications, humanities, and the social sciences. All courses are taught in English, and the academic environment and support is typical of that of a university in the U.S. The University values the quality of its academic programs as well as its student support services and its extensive range of extracurricular and co-curricular activities.

JCU’s diverse student body of over 1,800 students from about 75 countries and 47 U.S. states and its outstanding and dedicated faculty come together in Rome to learn and explore following the American liberal arts tradition of critical thinking and communication of knowledge. Class sizes average about 18 students, allowing for an exchange of ideas and opinions within the context of Rome as a global city of cultural heritage, diplomacy, and modernity.

About JCU

Student Enrollment Profile

Academic Calendar
Admissions: Online application
Housing: Online application

 If you have questions, please contact our Study Abroad Office at [email protected]. 

During the fall semester at JCU, you may take courses across a wide range of subjects. Your JCU courses fulfill USC requirements and transfer for credit when you continue at USC beginning in the spring. Most JCU classes are 3-credit courses. A normal semester course load would be 5 courses for 15 credits.

USC – JCU Course Transfer Articulations | JCU’s Fall semester schedule of classes 

Visiting USC Transfer Applicant students will be housed in one of the JCU residences. All JCU residences have 24/7 security, on-call JCU staff, a staff Resident Director, and a community of Resident Assistants to provide support for students during their stay at JCU. All apartments have WiFi, fully equipped kitchens, bed and bath linens, and a washing machine. There will be at least two USC students in each apartment. Students may request up to 2 roommates in the housing application. To learn more about JCU Housing options and pricing, please visit our website at JCU Housing

JCU’s Office of Housing and Residential Life upholds the American belief that students living in a community of their peers benefit both academically and socially. However, JCU differs from a typical dorm-style experience and challenges students to take on the responsibilities that come with living in a fully equipped, independent apartment.  

Beginning with the fall semester in Rome, you will register as a full-time study abroad student at John Cabot University, paying JCU tuition and fees. Once you confirm your participation, you will begin to receive important pre-arrival information to help prepare for your year in Italy: how to confirm your enrollment, obtain your study visa, reserve your housing preferences, and pay your tuition and fees.

Students who are United States citizens or permanent residents may apply for a private Sallie Mae Smart Option Loan for educational expenses. This is the most common option, although some students may find private loans from other organizations. 

Additionally, students may explore the John Cabot University Study Abroad Scholarship. Italian-American students may also consider the Pietro Secchia Scholarship.

In order to study at JCU, you will need to obtain a study visa. Once you are officially enrolled, the University will provide the needed documents and explain the process required to obtain your student visa. Citizens of the European Union do not require a visa to study in Italy. Please book your visa appointment up to 180 days prior to August 25th, 2025, through your local Italian Consulate, as appointments book well in advance.

You will enroll in five 3-credit courses during the fall semester at John Cabot University, earning 15 or 16 semester credits. USC has transfer articulations with selected JCU courses, so you are assured that your JCU credits will transfer and fulfill requirements in the USC Core Curriculum such as writing, foreign language, and General Education.

In the Fall Semester in Rome program, you may select from a variety of courses that allow you to study onsite at some of the most important cultural heritage sites in the world. Or, you can select classes that provide greater insights into the social, cultural, and political environment of Italy and Europe. Studying with students from all over the world provides you with a rich and unique opportunity to question, learn, and discover international perspectives. USC Fall Semester in Rome program students will register online for USC pre-selected transfer courses before arriving at JCU.

Once your enrollment in JCU is confirmed, you will receive information about online registration. Online registration will start on Wednesday, June 4th, 2025, at 6:30 pm EST (USA).