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Lay Community at the Irish College

In collaboration with the Consortium Catholic Studies and the Thomistic Institute, the Irish College hosts lay students from both Ireland and the USA over the course academic year. The Pontifical Irish College is now accepting applications from young people of faith in Ireland aged between 18-30 to join the Lay Formation programme. Students from the USA must apply though the US organisations linked above.

Choosing to spend a year on the Lay Formation Programme means stepping into something truly unique: a vibrant international community where you live, learn, and grow alongside others who are also exploring their path in life. It’s an experience that shapes you both personally and spiritually, inviting you to mature as an individual while being supported by a community that becomes like family. Through the four dimensions of formation – human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral – you’ll develop confidence, clarity, and a deeper sense of purpose. All of this unfolds in the heart of the Eternal City at the Pontifical Irish College: a historic hub of Irish cultural and ecclesial life in Europe, home to an archive stretching back nearly 400 years and a living tradition that continues to educate and form future generations. 

Explore below to find out more about the programme and how to apply!  

What does the Programme Offer?

• Daily Mass available at the college
• Opportunities to animate the liturgy as a choir member, lector & altar server
• Weekly Holy Hour with prayer & music
• Spiritual direction opportunities
• Liturgy of the Hours celebrated daily in the college chapel
• Two chapels on campus for private prayer
• Walking distance from St. John Lateran Basilica with daily confessions
• Walking distance to pilgrimage sites including the Holy Steps, Santa Croce & the Lateran Baptistry

Grow as an individual cultivating Christian virtues by:
• Partaking in a tailored Formation programme promoting self-awareness, emotional resilience, and interpersonal skills
• Engaging in formation seminars with guest speakers & opportunities for Q&A
• Participate in weekly Men and Women's fraternity group meetings

• Qualify with a 30 ECTs credited Certificate in Catholic Studies

• Students take two courses at the Pontifical Irish College with a resident professor and three courses at the Pontifical Gregorian University, the principal Roman university of the Jesuit order. Known as “the Greg,” the University is about a 25 minute walk or a short bus ride from the Irish College. Courses often emphasise the culture and history of Rome and include site visits when appropriate. The September 2026 class schedule includes:

• The Humanum in the Age of AI

• Ethics and the Common Good

• Sacred Spaces

• Christian Discipleship

• The New Testament in the City of Rome

• Build meaningful connections with like-minded people
• Live on campus with a wider community of clergy, seminarians and laity from over 20 nationalities
• Actively partake in weekly community formation events
• Engage in the ministry of hospitality by welcoming pilgrims, tourists & visitors to the Irish College for Sunday Mass

• Opportunities for hands-on learning through field trips to historic and religious sites deepening both faith and understanding of the cultural heritage of Rome
• Participate in two guided overnight excursion weekends to Florence and Assisi
• Live in walking distance to St. John Lateran Basilica, the Holy Steps, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Basilica of San Clemente and so much more!
• Connect with an international body of students at the Irish College and the Gregorian University

Frequently Asked Questions

Applications are open to Young Adults in Ireland between the ages of 18-30 who wish to deepen their faith and embark on a journey of intentional Christian discipleship. Previous theological or philosophical studies are not required.

Students from the US must apply through the Catholic Studies Consortium (semester 1) or the Thomistic Institute (semester 2) linked in the description above.

For Students from Ireland, the Lay Formation Programme offers both semester-long and year-long options for applicants.

The semester-long option begins in mid-September and concludes in mid-December. The year-long option spans the academic year beginning in mid-September and concluding at the end of May.

In both semesters, students come from both Ireland and the USA.

In the first semester, USA students are recruited through a consortium of Catholic Studies departments in participating universities. Find out more here: https://catholicstudiesconsortium.com/catholic-studies-in-rome

In the second semester, USA students come from the Thomistic Institute. Find out more here: https://thomisticinstitute.org/rome

Irish participants have the opportunity to join with both sets of students from the USA and undergo a year-long formation programme.

For applicants from Ireland, the cost of participating in the programme which includes accommodation, food, retreats, excursions, academic & programme fees and a public transport card is:

• €6,000 for the semester-option
• €9,000 for the year-long option

This does not cover the travel expenses to and from Rome which the student is asked to organise separately. The student is also asked to budget for any additional costs for personal expenses while in Rome.

Financial Assistance:

In the past, students have received financial assistance from their parish, diocese or various religious organisations. The College is happy to direct a successful applicant to potential sources of funding and to provide supporting documentation where required.

Programme costs differ for applicants from the USA, please visit the US sites linked above for further information.

To make an application, students are asked to prepare a short written statement on their motivations and suitability for the programme.

Both an ecclesial and a character reference are required for the application process. An ecclesial reference can be acquired from a bishop, priest, deacon, religious sister/brother, chaplain or pastoral worker. A character refence can be from a present or former employer, teacher, principal, professor or a voluntary organisation leader.

All applications will undergo an interview process. Final admission decisions will be made by the Lay Director and the Rector of the College based on the candidate’s suitability for the programme and the availability of places. Successful applicants will be notified within two weeks after the closing date of applications.

The submission of an application and participation in the interview process shall not create any entitlement to admission. Offers of places will be made solely at the discretion of the College and will be subject to suitability, institutional capacity, and any other relevant considerations of the management team.

To make an initial enquiry or schedule a zoom call with the programme director, please contact Mr. Eoin McCormack via email on eoin.mccormack@irishcollege.org

Testimonials Lay Students

For me, the moments we shared together as a community were the thread that ran through the fabric of this programme and what sets it apart from other study abroad programmes. These moments helped us, little by little, grow that bit deeper in our faith and take one step closer to the eternal.
Eoin Gormley
Dublin Diocese, Ireland
I highly recommend this program because of the unique and vibrant community at the Pontifical Irish College. Sure, anyone can book a trip to Rome any day of the week, but there is only one way to be a lay person living and learning in a tight-knit community of religious from all around the world. To find a place that can truly be called “home” in such a faraway place was valuable and unforgettable. To be in Rome is easy; to find a home is rare.
Hannah DePuydt
Providence College, USA
My time in Rome as part of the Catholic Studies programme has been an unforgettable and transformative experience. Living at the Irish College and studying in the nearby Gregorian University provided an amazing opportunity to become immersed in the heart of the Church's rich history and vibrant culture.
Siobhán McSweeney
Kerry Diocese, Ireland
I would recommend this program for the authentic feeling of community based on shared values. The experience of living together and working together to support the common good of the community was transformative for me in so many ways. I have hope the friendships I've made here will last a lifetime because they are built on something greater than just fun.
Dylan Sitterley
Duquesne University, USA