Program Overview

Biomedical Sciences and Public Health in Italy

Program Overview

The Biomedical Sciences and Public Health in Italy program offers students the opportunity to earn two hours of biology credit while gaining an inside look at practical applications of biomedical sciences in Rome and Florence. This program is offered every other year, rotating with the 3-week summer program Biomedical Research & Public Health in Western Europe.

Program Details

• Location: Rome and Florence, Italy
• Language of Instruction: English
• Term: Spring Break
• Academic Disciplines: Biology
• Program Type: Faculty-led
• Open to non-KU Students: No
• Fulfills KU Core 4.2: No
• Fulfills KU Core 5: No

Highlights

• Earn 2 biology credits towards your degree.
• Explore differences between the Italian and U.S. public health systems.
• Visit hospitals, clinics, medical centers, and labs to gain an understanding of health and disease in Italy.
• Visit the Coliseum, view world-famous Renaissance art, and explore two of Italy’s most enchanting cities: Florence and Rome.
• Next offered: Spring Break 2027. The summer version of this program will run in 2026.

Program Summary

This program offers a first-hand look at practical applications of biomedical sciences in Italy. Through visits to public and private healthcare facilities, research centers, a molecular laboratory, diagnostics company and more, students will gain an understanding of how biomedical researchers, biologists, and medical professionals tackle issues of health and disease in Italy. The visits will expose students to the Italian approach to public health to compare and contrast public health and healthcare facilities in the United States. The program also includes city tours of Rome and Florence and several cultural activities.

Location

This program takes place in two of Italy’s most iconic cities: Rome and Florence. Rome is the capital city of Italy and one of Europe’s most ancient urban centers dating back more than 3,000 years. Florence is the capital of Italy's Tuscany region and is known as the cradle of the Renaissance with an abundance of masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture.

Academic Information

Two hours of upper level undergraduate credit are granted by the University of Kansas upon successful completion of the program.

• Credit: BIOL 490 – Internship and Practical Applications (2 credit hours) This course will consist of lectures, discussion, site visits, and excursions to explore in-depth Italy’s healthcare system.

Housing

Participants will stay in conveniently located hotels in Rome (Camplus Hotel Roma Centro) and Florence (Hotel Boccaccio). Rooms are double or triple occupancy with a private bathroom and continental breakfast is included daily. Two group dinners are also included in the cost of the program. A public transportation pass for Rome, train tickets to Florence and chartered roundtrip bus transportation from the airport is also included in the program.

Life Abroad

2025 Program Itinerary

• Friday, March 14: Depart for Rome, Italy
• Saturday, March 15: Arrive in Rome and transfer to hotel; orientation at the hotel and welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
• Sunday, March 16: Guided walking tour of Rome including the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Colonna Square, Pantheon and more. The group will also enjoy a guided tour of the Coliseum and visit to the Roman Forum and Palatine.
• Monday, March 17:
  • Visit to Agenas, the Italian national agency for regional health services, to gain insight into the agency's role in managing and improving the quality and efficiency of Italy's healthcare system.
  • Visit a private clinic such as Ospedale San Pietro Fate bene Fratelli or Villa Stuart to have a firsthand look at the Italian healthcare system and its operations.
• Tuesday, March 18:
  • Visit the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), an intergovernmental organization with 80+ independent research groups in molecular biology. The Italian center specializes in the research fields of epigenetics and neurobiology.
  • Visit the Medical Center of Caritas to learn how healthcare is provided for vulnerable populations.
• Wednesday, March 19: Travel from Rome to Florence; orientation and walking tour of Florence including the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, the Basilica Santa and more.
• Thursday, March 20:
  • Visit Hospitex whose labs develop products and patents to bring innovation to the world of diagnostics.
  • Visit the Meyer Children's Hospital Florence, a leading public children's hospital in Italy renowned for its advanced medical treatments and comprehensive care for children.
• Friday, March 21:
  • Visit Santa Maria Nuova Hospital, one of Europe's oldest hospitals, rich with historical significance and architectural beauty. The hospital provides insight into the evolution of medical practices from the medieval period to modern times.
  • Free afternoon in Florence.
  • Return to Rome.
• Saturday, March 22: Guided tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica. Enjoy a free afternoon in Rome and then an Italian cooking class and farewell dinner.
• Sunday, March 23: Program ends. Transfer to airport.

Traveler Profile

All students have unique things to consider when studying abroad. A Traveler Profile is a set of personal factors, characteristics or life experiences that could impact daily life abroad. Your individual Traveler Profile may include things such as your age, foreign language proficiency, gender, medical history, medication use, mental health, mobility, piercings and tattoos, travel experience, and more.

Eligibility

Open to undergraduate and graduate students, sophomore level and above, from any accredited US college or university who have a minimum 2.5 GPA.

• No prior biology experience or knowledge is required, but priority will be given to students pursuing one of the Molecular Biosciences majors.
• Priority will be given to current KU students, but students from other colleges and universities will be accepted if space is available.

Program Cost and Funding

Program Cost

Program Cost for Biomedical Sciences and Public Health in Italy

Scholarships

• Students with financial need (a FAFSA on file for the current academic year) can apply for a scholarship.
• Students with a major/minor in the KU College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (CLAS) are eligible for the CLAS Study Abroad Scholarship.
• Pell Grant recipients are eligible to apply for the Gilman Scholarship, a nationally competitive scholarship for Pell Grant recipients.
• Students in the KU Honors Program may apply for an Honors Opportunity Award.

Program Faculty

Dr. Scott Hefty, Professor and Undergraduate Studies Director for the Department of Molecular Biosciences will lead the program. Dr. Hefty has led multiple KU study abroad programs and also directs the Biomedical Research and Public Health in Western Europe program.