Study health sciences in Rome

Study health sciences at the ACU Rome Campus while you immerse yourself in Italian life.

Take the opportunity to study a unit intensively as an intensive program over two to three weeks - in April, or from June to July, or December to January - or an immersion semester over six to eight weeks, while still having plenty of time to explore Rome.

Units are offered across most health sciences disciplines, including applied public health, dietetic practice, exercise science, biomedical science, midwifery, nursing, nutrition science, occupational therapy, paramedicine, physiotherapy, social work, psychology and speech pathology.

Explore our programs

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). 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.

Two programs will be offered in December and January.

NUTR308 Food and Culture Study Tour

NUTR603 Engaging with Communities

NUTR609 Food and Culture Study Experience

In 2025 this unit will run over 10 days during the Easter break and is available to undergraduate and postgraduate students eligible to enrol in any of the above units. This offering includes pre-departure preparation and learning, and for students undertaking NUTR603 additional online placement days upon return. Students typically come from multiple disciplines including, nutrition science, dietetic practice, culinary nutrition science, applied public health, business, social work, and others.

Biomedical Science

BMSC301 Industry Immersion 1

Third year biomedical science students can apply to study this unit over a two-week period during the mid-year semester break. The Rome delivery offers a great opportunity for students to conduct site visits and establish bilateral relationships with universities in Rome and biomedical research institutions. Students will reflect on their biomedicine-related experience in Rome and make meaningful comparisons between the Italian/European and Australian biomedical job markets.

Exercise Science

EXSC230 Motor Control and Learning

EXSC230 Motor Control and Learning 'Circus Maximus' - Available to students enrolled in the Exercise and Sport Sciences and related degrees over two-weeks during the mid-semester break. The unit is unique in presenting ageing well (or healthy ageing) as 'the greatest show on earth' - or 'Circus Maximus' -the first and largest stadium in ancient Rome. The unit in Rome has a specific focus on the Italian vs Australian context and environmental influences on health ageing. You will be presented with contrasting views on ageing, health and performance and the environments in which they take place.

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 require students to undertake clinical practice and community engagement at UPMC Salvator Mundi International Hospital whilst in Rome.

Occupational therapy, social work and speech pathology

ALTH420 Global Perspectives in Community Centred Practice

This two-week intensive undergraduate unit is offered over the mid-year 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

PSYC212 Mental Health and Psychological Disorders

Over a two-week period, this unit focus on understanding the cultural differences in the contributors to mental health and wellbeing as well as the cultural differences in how psychological disorders are perceived, particularly in the Italian culture/context.

PSYC225 Applied Positive Psychology

This unit 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 mid-year 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, some or most 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.

Find out more about studying in Rome