Loyola Students

Due to the popularity of the JFRC program, students are encouraged to apply as early as possible. The application availability and deadlines are as follows:

*Note: All admission to the JFRC is decided on a rolling basis. Applications are accepted until the deadline or until capacity is reached, whichever comes first.

In order to apply, students must:

• Complete the online Program Application.
• Upload a copy of their passport. Students should upload a scan of the basic information/photo page and signature page of their passport. These are facing pages in U.S. passports, and may be the same page in passports issued by other countries.

Note: To be valid, a passport must be signed by the bearer. The passport must also be valid through at least six months after the end date of the term of application. Students who need to renew their passport or apply for a new passport may upload a copy of the passport renewal documentation or application receipt in order to obtain an admission decision. Once accepted, those students must upload a copy of their renewed (or new) passport once it has been received.

• Obtain your academic advisor's approval. In completing the online application, students will provide the name and email address of their academic advisor. A form will be sent to the student's academic advisor requesting a recommendation, which the advisor will submit directly with the student's online application. Submitted applications are not considered complete until the academic advisor's recommendation form has been received.
• If applicable, submit a personal statement. Any student whose GPA falls below the minimum 2.75 GPA requirement must email an appeal directly to rome@luc.edu or upload it to their application Status Page (visible upon submission of the application), indicating that they are submitting this personal statement as a supplement to their online application.

The following requirements must be met before an application will be considered eligible for review. All applicants must:

• Have earned at least 12 semester hours of credit at LUC (transfer students who have not yet earned 12 semester hours at the time of application will be considered on a case-by-case basis)
• Have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale*
• Be in good academic and disciplinary standing at their home institution**
• Be in possession of a valid passport, or a receipt verifying application for a passport (copy uploaded at time of application)***

*Applicants with a GPA that falls below the minimum requirement must submit, along with their application, a personal statement explaining:

1) Why their GPA is below the minimum requirement;
2) Their reasons for wanting to study abroad;
3) How they feel they will benefit academically and personally from the JFRC program.

Preference is given to those students who show an upward trend in their GPA or whose GPA was negatively affected by one or two particularly difficult courses. Students who apply with a GPA below the 2.75 minimum are considered on a case-by-case basis and admission is not guaranteed.

If you are accepted to a term at the JFRC, your e-bill for that semester will include a $200 study abroad administrative fee from the Study Abroad Office.

**Once admitted, students must remain in good standing (academic and disciplinary) in order to participate in the program.

***While a receipt verifying application for, or renewal of, a passport may be used to issue a decision about admission to the program, a copy of the actual valid passport must later be uploaded to an accepted student's online application in order for the student to be eligible to register for classes.

Once you have submitted your application and all necessary materials, we will review it for a decision.

If you are admitted to the program, you will receive an acceptance letter on your application portal. Make sure to read it carefully! Remember that if you are accepted, your e-bill for your semester abroad will include the $200 study abroad administrative fee.

Once you have been admitted, you will need to complete a registration for the GoGlobal portal utilized by our study abroad office. Instructions on how to do this are present on your acceptance letter as well as your application portal. This is registration is necessary so you can access your study abroad portal and begin complete pre-departure checklist items.

Within two weeks of receiving a notification of acceptance via email, a student must submit a non-refundable deposit of $500.00* online by credit card; this deposit will confirm the student's "Intent to Enroll" and secure the student's spot in the JFRC.

Instructions for submitting this deposit will be included in the acceptance email and on each admitted student's Status Page. Should a student fail to submit their deposit within the allotted two-week time frame, they may forfeit their spot in the program.

*This deposit will be deducted from the student's total program cost, and will be reflected in LOCUS.

All U.S. nationals who will reside in Italy longer than 90 days must have a visa from an Italian consulate in the U.S. Consequently, every semester or academic year student with a U.S. passport is required to obtain a study visa (unless he or she is also a European Union citizen with a valid passport). A visa is not necessary for U.S. students who attend a summer session for less than 90 days. Non-U.S., non-E.U. citizens should check with the Italian consulate to determine if a visa will be required for stays of any length.

Our Study Abroad office will provide resources for applying for an Italian student visa, including a pre-departure session and visa workshop. Although we will provide resources, documents, and guidance on the student visa process, it is the responsibility of the student to acquire their own visa. The visa process is handled by the Italian Consulate network, over which we have no oversight or authority. All questions or concerns during your visa application process should be directed to Alana Carroll (acarroll8@luc.edu) in the Study Abroad Office.

Questions regarding the visa process should be addressed to rome@luc.edu.

Note: Visas for other countries that require them may be obtained either in Rome or in the United States, although it may be easier to obtain such visas before departure from the U.S.

Under Italian law, students who are staying between 90 and 150 days must complete a "declaration of presence" for the local police station within eight days of arrival, including a copy of the page of their passport with the visa stamp. The John Felice Rome Center staff will assist students in the application process upon their arrival at the Rome Center.

Students who are staying for more than 150 days, must obtain permission to live in Rome (the permesso di soggiorno) within eight days of arrival. The John Felice Rome Center staff will assist students in the application process upon their arrival at the Rome Center. Upon arrival at the JFRC, be sure to have this documentation with you in order to apply for your permesso di soggiorno:

• Three (3) legible copies of the data (photo) page of your passport. Be sure to include the page above with your signature.
• Three (3) copies of the page of your passport with the visa stamp.
• Three (3) copies of the entry stamp in your passport issued by Passport Control upon entry into Europe (these you will make at the JFRC after your arrival).
• Three (3) copies of the official letter of enrollment (lettera d'iscrizione); this is written in Italian, imprinted with the seal, and notarized by the Italian Consulate. Two copies of the official letter are initially provided to each student to submit with the visa application (Students who apply for their visa through the Italian Consulate of Boston will receive this letter in both English and Italian and should bring copies of both). The Italian Consulate will notarize one and return it with the student's passport and visa stamp. Make photocopies of this notarized letter. Failure to bring this notarized letter may result in dismissal from the program.
• Four (4) passport-sized photos.
• Three (3) copies of your LUC CISI study abroad insurance proof of enrollment.