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Rome - Full-Time Semester Internship
$6+ Million in Scholarships & Aid
Academics
Before you go, we work with you to fine-tune your résumé, perfect your cover letter, and hone your communication and interview skills as we prepare you for working in a new cultural environment. You’ll be guaranteed a placement at a local business or organization that fits your professional interests.
Academic Seminar
While working in Rome, you’ll also enroll in a required 3-credit internship seminar with other IES interns where you’ll gain context for your internship placement by examining cultural issues in the workplace. Topics covered include:
- Understanding workplace culture
- Improving communication
- Strengthening work attitude and aptitude
- Resolving conflicts
- Navigating issues, challenges, and opportunities so you can succeed on the job in Rome and when you return home
Personalized Placements
Your internship coordinator will work with you to find a placement in the field of your choice, where you will work for 25 hours per week. We’ve placed past interns at companies and organizations in the following fields:
- Archaeology
- Arts, Art History & Humanities
- Business
- Environment & Community Service
- Entrepreneurship
- Immigration & Social Inclusion
- International Development
- International Relations & Politics
- IT
- Marketing
- Media & Journalism
- Social Action
- Travel & Tourism
- Visual Arts
Don’t see your field listed here? Just talk to your IES Internships Representative—new internships in Rome are always being added!
Italian Language Courses
You will also have the opportunity to take a 4-credit Italian language course.
Courses
This is a list of planned course offerings. After you are accepted, you will see a list of tentative course offerings in your MyIESabroad account.
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| IN 395 - Internship Seminar | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| SL/SO 395 - Social Action Seminar | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| SL/SO 395 - Social Action Seminar | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
Field Trips & Events
Even though your adventure starts in Rome, our field trips take you outside the city to discover the culture and traditions of your host country and beyond. These optional field trips require an additional cost. Here are a few possible destinations.
Pompeii & The Amalfi Coast
2 Days | Fall & Spring
From a guided tour of the archaeological site of Pompeii—which many consider to be the most important archaeological site in the world!—to stunning views of the Amalfi coast, this trip provides fascinating insights into the lives of the ancient Romans and the beauty of modern day Italy.
Tuscany
2 Days | Fall & Spring
Tour the countryside of one of Italy’s most unique regions, with its gorgeous landscapes and rich artistic legacy. One possible location on this trip is Siena, a city steeped in medieval tradition and the picturesque valleys and vineyards of the Val d’Orcia.
Daily Life
Part of making you feel at home in Rome is doing our best to help you feel safe and cared for. Whether it is an orientation program that makes you feel prepared, housing that is well located and comfortable, or the field trips that take you to places off the beaten path—we’re all about our student services.
Orientation
Your program begins at home with our virtual orientation to help you prepare for your IES Abroad experience. Orientation continues once you arrive abroad and introduces you to the IES Abroad Rome staff, your fellow interns, and the city of Rome. Orientation will also include information sessions on professional and cultural expectations and commuting.
You will also be able to opt into a non-credit-bearing, 10-hour Survival Italian Language course so you can confidently explore Rome!
Housing
We want to make sure that your greatest challenge is deciding which landmarks to see first or discovering the best café—not finding a place to live where you feel comfortable. We do our best to locate housing that is reflective of how the local students are living. Our goal is that when you leave Rome, it will feel like home.
Apartments – Apartments are furnished, single-sex, and generally accommodate four to seven students, with two to three IES Abroad students sharing a bedroom. Internet access is available in every apartment. Meals are not included, but apartments offer fully equipped kitchens. Apartments may also have an Italian Student Companion (ISC), a local Italian student who provides opportunities to engage in cultural activities.
Extracurricular Activities & Cultural Events
Spend your free time exploring Rome, one of the most photogenic cities in the world, with its beautiful piazzas; breathtaking statues, parks, cathedrals, and fountains and winding historic streets.
Get to Know Your New City
Discover the Ins and Outs of World-Famous Landmarks
The Pantheon, Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Vatican…the list of historic sites in Rome is endless. Our programs take you beyond the tourist visits and inside the cultural and historic significance of these landmarks.
Watch Roma Game
Soccer is more than a sport in Italy. Soak in the passion and pride at an A.S. Roma game in the Stadio Olimpico.
Shop at Local Farmer's Market
Spend the morning picking up produce, cured meats, freshly baked bread, and Rome’s famous mozzarella di bufala. Pro tip: Make it a picnic with your local friends and head to a park or piazza to enjoy!
Take in a Panoramic View of the City
While founded on seven hills, Rome is actually surrounded by 10. Take your pick and climb to the top for the best views of the city.
Take a Cooking Class
There’s no denying the mouthwatering food of Rome. Partake in the Center-sponsored cooking class, where you’ll learn the techniques and traditions of Roman cooking first-hand.
Program Cost
Consider these prices as a starting point. We encourage you to contact your study abroad office to determine the actual cost to you when factoring in financial aid, scholarships, your home school policies, and other factors.
Scholarships & Aid
Use our budget worksheet to calculate your costs
$6+ Million in Scholarships & Aid
Our Center
While in Rome, we want to ensure you have every opportunity to immerse yourself in new experiences. That’s why our IES Abroad Rome Center staff is committed to providing outstanding academic and student support services. We take care of the details, so you can soak up every moment of your Rome experience.
The IES Abroad Rome Center is situated in the heart of Rome along the Tiber River across from the Castel Sant’ Angelo. The Center is a newly renovated 1920s-era building within walking distance of the Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, and the Vatican. Our Center is your connection point for all things IES Abroad.
- Take your IES Abroad courses in the Center's multi-media classrooms
- Meet up with friends or hang out between class on the Center's rooftop terrace with an incredible city view
- Meet with staff in their offices
- Study in the reading room, complete with a library and computer lab
- Take your classes to the next level with music practice rooms, a digital photo facility, and a video editing lab
Other features include: WiFi and printing facilities.
Our Staff
Dott. Gianni Ponti
Center Director
Dott. Ponti is an archaeologist specialized in Imperial Roman architecture. After earning a BA in Classics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Dott. Ponti obtained a Laurea in archaeology from the University of Rome. He has worked on a number of archaeological excavations in the Mediterranean, including Troy, Aphrodisias and Leptis Magna. His studies and research focus on the use of marble in Roman construction, the ancient marble trade, quarrying and carving techniques. Dott. Ponti has worked on a number of excavations in Rome, including the Palatine Hill and the Imperial Fora. He has done research for the Department of Antiquities on a number of conservation projects including the Ara Pacis, the Column of Trajan and the Arch of Constantine. He is currently directing an excavation at the Villa of Maxentius on the Via Appia, as well as conducting architectural studies at Leptis Magna, Libya, with the Università di Rome Tre. Dott. Ponti has taught at the Istituto Centrale del Restauro of the Department of Antiquities and is currently Archaeology Advisor of the American Academy in Rome. He has been teaching archaeology courses at IES Abroad Rome since 2004.
IES Abroad Rome Staff
Monica Bandella
Italian Language Coordinator
Sara Coppolella
Student Affairs Assistant
Simona Di Giustino
Academic & Internship Coordinator
Valeria De Mori
Academic Assistant and Moodle Project Manager
Arianna Gaffi
Student Affairs & Housing Coordinator
Luisa Taffara
Center Manager & Administrator
Elisa Bellitto
Administrative Assistant
Caterina Rossi
Customized Programs Manager
Health & Safety
With 70 years of experience, we are proud to set the standard for health and safety in study abroad. Our Chicago-based and on-site staff are all highly trained and experienced in the matters of health, safety, and crisis management. We are here for you from predeparture to your return, and are ready to support you—no matter what time zone you’re in.
In response to COVID-19, enhanced safety guidelines will be implemented this year—such as social distancing and personal protective equipment (PPE) in on-site classes, in-country field trips and travel only, and apartment or residence hall housing (no homestays) that ensures proper space should self-quarantining be necessary.
How We Support You
We plan for "what if" so that you don't have to. From international health insurance included in the cost of your program to highly-trained local staff who can connect you to English-speaking healthcare providers, we are working around the clock to ensure your health and safety while abroad.
Learn more about the support you can expect to receive on our programs, including:
- International health insurance through CISI in the case you need to see a doctor or mental health professional
- 24/7 emergency support whether you encounter an issue while traveling or in your host city
- Location-specific health and safety information presented at orienation by on-site staff
- TripTracker system allowing you to share independent travel plans in case you need to be contacted swiftly in a crisis
- A mandatory cell phone policy so that you can be contacted locally and receive any emergency updates via call or text
- Crisis drills so that you feel prepared to respond to an emergency should one arise
- And more!
Health & Safety Resources
You safety begins with being accurately informed from the moment you're considering study abroad through to the day you return home.
Take note of ways you can maintain your health and stay safe abroad while reviewing our resources, including:
- IES Abroad MAP for Student Health, Safety & Crisis Management
- Study Abroad Safety Tips for Traveling
- IES Abroad Student Blogs on Safety and Mental Health
- And more!
Fall 2021
We all know that Fall 2021 is going to look a bit different from other study abroad terms, but that doesn’t mean it still won’t be the most incredible semester of your life!
We’re working hard to keep you safe and well, so you can focus on what you came to do—live and learn abroad (and have some fun along the way!). Below is a summary of the main tweaks to the program this semester, which may be updated as more details become known. You can learn even more about our measures for all programs on our Fall 2021 Health & Safety page.
Academics & Partner Universities:
You'll get to further cultivate your skills gained as an intern in Rome through participating in our IN395 Internship Seminar course. You will also have the opportunity to pursue Service Learning, or Italian Language course options. For more details, please see the "Program Details" tab.
Health & Safety Protocols
We’re making sure that your learning experience is a safe one so you can focus on the topic at hand. So, to enhance effective social/physical distancing, IES Abroad is taking proactive measures in the classroom, including:
- limiting class enrollment sizes limitations
- adjusting space layout and room choice
- and promoting student/faculty use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Learn more about our health and safety measures for Fall 2021.
Housing
You’ll stay in a clean, comfortable apartment where we’ve taken the utmost safety measures, including single-occupancy rooms. Italian Student Companions will not be available this semester, in our single-occupancy setting. At this time, homestays will also not be offered through IES Abroad program this fall. Learn more about the overarching housing policies for Fall 2021.
Field Trips
Across all IES Abroad programs, field trips will stay local and regional this fall. Your fields trips will all take place in Italy, which means you’ll get fully immersed in the culture(s) you came for! Possible trips include:
- Pompei
- Florence
- Assisi
- Siena
Internships
Our optional, part-time internships have always been designed to give you experience in what it's really like to work in Rome. For Fall 2021, part-time internships will be offered online. That said, we’re working hard to be able to offer in-person opportunities that align with our health and safety standards. You can count on having a part-time internship this fall—definitely virtually and potentially in-person—to help you gain a professional edge this semester.
Our Center
Our Center in Rome is your go-to spot for classes, student services, and information. Serving as your campus away from campus, you can feel safe going to class or checking in with an IES Abroad staff member because, at a minimum, IES Abroad Centers will undergo daily cleaning and disinfection by professional cleaning services.
Cost
Cost details for Fall 2021 can be found on the Cost tab. Be sure to click through the linked total to view a thorough cost breakdown PDF. Consider those prices as a starting point. We encourage you to contact your study abroad office to determine the actual cost to you when factoring in financial aid, scholarships, your home school policies, and other factors.
Go Ahead & Get Started…With a Refund Policy that has your Back
As a mission-driven, not-for-profit, we are guided by two priorities as we navigate Fall 2021: to leave the door open for your opportunity to study abroad, and to strive to keep you safe and healthy. So, what’s our advice? Give yourself the chance to have an incredible adventure—even if it’s a bit different than planned!—and know we’re right alongside you as the details unfold.
And thanks to our Fall 2021 Refund Policy, there’s no commitment just yet. What’s more, once you start an application, you’ll be in the loop and hear directly from us if any changes are made to your program.
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