F.A.Q.

We recommend that you bring your laptop for the semester program, while it is not absolutely necessary for the summer program. In case you don’t own a laptop or have problems taking it with you, you will have the option to use a computer at one of the many internet cafés in Rome for a small fee.
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No, you don’t. The dorms are completely furnished, including linens, towels, and kitchen utensils.
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Winter in Rome is generally cold and humid, with temperatures in February ranging from 38F to 48F. Spring is usually warm and sunny, the best time to be in Italy, with temperatures averaging in the upper 50s in March, in the mid and upper 60s in April, and upper 60s and low 70s in May. Bring warm to mid-season comfortable clothes. A rain jacket and a hat are recommended for the first part of the semester program. Flat, comfortable shoes are a must at all times on Rome’s sampietrini (the traditional stone pavement that you can find everywhere in the historic center).

Summer in Rome is generally pretty warm, and at times can get hot. Bring light, comfortable clothes. During tours, you may spend a lot of time walking in the sun, so make sure you bring with you comfortable shoes and a hat. Some churches require modest dress, and may require women to cover their shoulders. Such churches, usually, but not always, offer shawls at the entrance for tourists. One solution is to keep a light scarf or shawl in a handbag for visiting churches.
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Yes, you will.  You will need a simple adapter to plug in your electronic device, as long as it has its own transformer. Laptops, cell phones, and many tablets have their own transformer, so you won’t need one. You may need a transformer and an adapter for other electric items you bring with you (i.e.; hair dryer, electric razor, etc.). You can easily buy one at Radio Shack or any other similar store. You will not need a printer in Rome; electronic submission of essays will be acceptable.
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For your American cell phone to work in Italy, it must meet these three requirements:

1. Your phone must use GSM technology. Some American phone companies, like T-Mobile and AT&T use it, while others, like Verizon and Sprint use a different technology, called CDMA. If your telephone works with CDMA, it won’t work in Italy, no matter what SIM card you put in it;
2. Your telephone must be a quad-band. Many American cell phones are quad-band, bust some are three-band. If your telephone is a three band, it won’t work in Italy;
3. Your telephone must be unlocked. Most American cell phones are locked, which means they only work with a SIM card from the telephone company that sold you the telephone. If your cell phone meets the first two criteria above, you can bring your telephone to any of your phone company’s stores, and ask to have it unlocked.

Please check the “Cell phone” paragraph on our Student Life page for more info about cell phone use in Italy.
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Yes, there is. Dorms have free WI-FI service. While on the go, you can also easily access the Internet for a fee from one of the many “Internet cafés” around Rome.
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Yes, you do. Although we encourage you to complete as much of your readings as possible before you leave, you will still need to read during the program. Electronic versions of the readings are permitted for use in class.
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You will be required to complete some or all of the readings for the first week of class, before coming to Rome. We also encourage you to complete as much of your readings as possible before you leave the U.S. That will allow you to do quick re-readings in Rome, and have more free time to explore the city.
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American citizens do not need a VISA to enter Italy if they stay for up to 90 days. You will not need a VISA for RILA summer program, while you might need one for the semester program, depending on the lenghth of your stay.
International students as well as all American students planning to be in Italy for over 90 days should check VISA requirements on the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affair’s official website at: http://www.esteri.it/visti/index_eng.asp
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Yes, you do. If you don’t have a passport yet, please make sure you apply for it as soon as possible. Passport applications may take up to six weeks to process. If you are starting your application less than two months before your trip, we encourage you to pay an additional fee for expedited processing. If you already have a passport, please be sure to check that it is still valid, and remember that upon your arrival in Italy you may be required to have a passport valid for at least three months after the program end date. If you need to renew your passport, you may have the option to do so by mail. Even in the case of renewal, we strongly encourage expedited processing.
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You are required to be in Rome the Saturday before the beginning of class, arriving at your residence any time between 9am and 8pm. You are required to leave the dorms by 10am on the Saturday after the end of classes.
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Students are required to participate in the program for its full length, and to attend all classes as well as all mandatory excursions. If you feel that you have extraordinary reasons that require you to delay your arrival or to anticipate your departure, please contact our office before the beginning of the program.
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Unfortunately student dorms are not available before or after the program. Rome offers a variety of hotels and B&B’s for every budget; we recommend that you find an alternative accommodation for your stay beyond your time at RILA. Please understand that RILA will not be able to help you finding an alternative accommodation for days beyond the program’s official dates, and that you will be solely responsible for yourself and your housing before or after the RILA program.
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For your convenience, RILA offers a car service from the airport to your apartment. You will be asked whether you want to book it during registration to the program. If you prefer to get to your apartment in Rome on your own using public transportation, you can find detailed directions on how to get there from the airport on the “Student Life” page on this website.
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We strongly recommend that you bring with you any prescription drugs that you are currently taking or which you might need in the time you are in Rome. Please make sure to bring a supply large enough to cover (or better still, to exceed) your maximum need for the period you will be in Italy. Some American drugs are not available in Italy in the same forms as in the U.S. Thus it could be very difficult, and certainly pretty expensive, for you to purchase such medicines while there.
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For your safety, RILA requires that you have health insurance during your stay in Rome. And for your convenience, we established group coverage with an insurance company for a very small individual fee as part of our registration process.
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No, you don’t. All classes will be in English, taught by professors from major American universities. RILA offers an Italian language class, which, although recommended, is completely optional.
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You don’t need to bring a big amount of cash with you. If you choose to book the car service through RILA, you won’t need any cash at your arrival in Rome. If you choose to get to your apartment using public transportation, you might want to have a small amount of cash with you to purchase the train and bus tickets. Generally speaking, the easiest way to obtain cash in Rome is to use your debit or credit card at any of the many ATMs throughout the city. Please check with your bank or credit card company for fees.
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