St. Stephen’s
Programs and prices, tuition fees in St. Stephen’s
9-10 class
The program provides the opportunity to select priority subjects from the recommended school list. Students study mathematics, computer science, art (painting, drawing, sculpture, dancing, modern and classical music), Latin, Roman culture, natural sciences, history, English as the main and foreign languages, modern languages (French, Italian).
Since 16 years, students have been studying one of the selected pre-university programs.
The two-year educational program provides for the study of 6 compulsory subjects. After completing the course exams are passed. Students study at least 2 languages, social sciences (culture, economics, history - to choose from), natural sciences, mathematics. Also additional subjects are included in the course program. Students choose independently the academic direction.
The special program allows you to effectively prepare for admission to American universities and for further studying at the bachelor's degree. In the framework of the AR students study English and literature, French, history (Europe, USA), art history.
Description of St. Stephen’s
- Location: Rome, Italy,
- Founded: 1964,
- School type: coeducational,
- Status: nonprofit school.
Locating at the foot of the Aventine, the most exclusive of Rome’s seven hills, and a stone’s throw from the city’s great imperial sites, our international non-denominational high school for Boarding and Day students has built its academic program and reputation on the classical heritage of our host country, Italy, and the rigor of two prestigious educational models: the American, independent college-preparatory curriculum, and the IB Diploma. A distinctive faculty of accomplished scholars bring the highest level of instruction to a diverse student cohort. Our emphasis on the School's core values of care, independence, scholarship, integrity, and creativity guides St. Stephen's students to become architects of their futures, and engaged, motivated, global citizens.
Academic preparation
Teaching and learning are integral to the School’s mission, and its charge to develop the character and potential of each student. As we maintain the highest standards in all areas, both in and out of the classroom, we use the past to inform our learning, we encourage a passion for thorough knowledge, and we provide challenging intellectual opportunities to offer an enriching scholastic experience. Students come to St. Stephen’s because they are high achievers looking to make their academic marks and distinguish themselves in their individual scholarly pursuits. The International Baccalaureate and liberal arts foundation at the core of the academic experience promotes learner autonomy, allowing students to assume full ownership of their educational choices. A 13:1 student-teacher ratio and an academic program uniquely tailored to the interests and strengths of each student create a learning environment that allows each student to achieve his or her personal best.
Educational process
The IB Diploma Program spans the final two years of school. Students must complete both years, and the school offers no supplementary exams for this program.
Students take part in hands-on learning beyond the classroom. The school's projects have included Aventinus Minor, an archaeological excavation in partnership with The American University of Rome and the Italian state agency Beni Culturali. The annual Science Day includes practical scientific activities. The school also offers a semester-long Molecular Biology elective.
A learning support teacher, school counselors, and tutors provide student support.
Students receive individual college admissions counseling and opportunities to speak with university representatives and admissions professionals from Italy and other countries. The Alumni Community Hub helps current students and graduates connect with mentors.
Scientific achievements
Students in the Engineering course successfully launched ICARUS, a CanSat model satellite they built themselves. The project was a collaboration with the Sapienza Aerospace Student Association.
Things to know about
The school welcomes boarding students from independent and international schools in the United States, Europe, Central and South America, Russia, and Asia each year. Through Year Abroad, students in their sophomore, junior, or senior year can spend a semester or a full academic year at the school. Subjects include ancient Greek and Roman civilizations, art history, photography, painting, coding, and robotics. Participants have included students from Choate Rosemary Hall, Buckingham Browne & Nichols, and Phillips Exeter Academy.
The school holds an annual Senior Dinner for the graduating class, while the boarding community gathers for the Boarding Holiday Dinner. Other traditions include weekly bonfires.
The alumni community has forums for job openings and people seeking work, and for graduates' stories.
University destinations
- Bocconi: 16 St. Stephen’s graduates went on to study at the university in a single year.
Accommodation, meals, prices
In St. Stephen's, students find a positive, safe, and stimulating environment that values all of its members. We promote personal and academic excellence, fully supporting students as they seek their individual best and develop independence in all facets of their lives. The Boarding community is a tight-knit family of 58 foreign students and the school offers accommodation in a comfortable in-campus residence, as well as extra living spaces in buildings adjacent and parallel to the main campus. 10 teachers and staff comprise the Boarding Faculty, In the residence, students are generally placed in double rooms with a roommate, but single accommodation can be arranged on an individual basis. Rooms in the residence are furnished, spacious, and with Internet access. Girls' dormitories and Boys' dormitories are in separate hallways. In common use, there is a laundry, a lounge, and a kitchen; but truly the whole school becomes an extension of a student's living space. Boarding students can have access to the sports courts, music room, art rooms, and classrooms. The residence is guarded around the clock. To promptly solve the organizational and everyday issues that students face in the building, there are curators. Meals in Boarding are organized according to the boarding principle. Boarding students have three meals a day on campus: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The cafeteria serves mainly Italian dishes and can cater to any dietary/allergic/food restrictions. Vegetarian options can also be accommodated. Students mature through daily choices and decisions, and through a collaborative effort involving students, faculty, and parents, we sustain a healthy, supportive community that values each individual during his or her transformative time here. We cultivate relationships based on warmth, mutual respect and genuine concern, essential qualities for living together harmoniously in a small community. The culturally rich and vibrant setting of Rome affords us endless opportunities for exploration and discovery and figures prominently in the lives of St. Stephen's students.
Subjects and sports
Activities St. Stephen’s
St. Stephen's School offers the following sports and activities:
- Soccer, basketball, and volleyball,
- Running and tennis,
- Yoga and Pilates.
Students can participate in tournaments at St. Stephen's School and other local private schools, as well as international sporting events in Milan, Spain, Portugal, and Scotland. The boys' and girls' basketball teams have competed in a tournament at AOSR and Centro Sportivo Tellene.
Boarding students in the Year Abroad program take part in community service. Group trips for boarding students include destinations in Italy and abroad. Past off-campus learning activities have taken students along the Appian Way and to Fregene and Subiaco.
The school has held Senior Week to celebrate its graduating class, International Day, and International Evening, a celebration of cultural diversity. The community has also celebrated the Spring Festival and Lunar New Year.
Advantages
- St. Stephen's School is an IB World School.
Facilities and equipment at St. Stephen’s
The St. Stephen's School campus is in Rome's historic city center. The school has a library.
Contributions to the 2024-25 Annual Fund supported campus improvements.
Admission dates and extra charges
Application fees and deposits:
- Nonrefundable application fee: 200 euros,
- Nonrefundable enrollment deposit for day students: 7,500 euros,
- Nonrefundable enrollment deposit for boarding students: 10,000 euros,
- Nonrefundable re-enrollment deposit for all students: 2,500 euros,
- Damage deposit for boarding students, due at registration: 100 euros. It is refunded at the end of the academic year after deductions for any damage to the room and its contents.
Other charges include:
- Boarding,
- Capital assessment fee: 2,500 euros for new students and 800 euros for returning students,
- IB administration fee: 1,000 euros, billed in November of each of the program's two years,
- Senior fee: 500 euros, covering graduation, final transcripts, and college admissions procedures,
- IB examination fees, calculated in early November according to the number of individual examinations taken in the relevant session.
Credit card payments incur a 2% processing fee.
For students taking exams for individual IB certificates only, the administration fee is prorated based on the number of examinations. It is nonrefundable for diploma candidates who change their registration category after the initial deadline.
In exceptional circumstances, the school may require advance payment of tuition, boarding, and incidental costs before the next academic year or at enrollment or re-enrollment.
Extras:
- Registration fee (for a programme/course) 500 EUR
- Deposit for a course/programme 2000 EUR
- One-time entrance fee 1000 EUR
Enrolment process
Smapse specialists support you at every stage of the admissions process.
The admissions committee reviews each application once all required documents have been received and makes the final decision. Review times depend on the grade the student is applying for and the volume of applications. Completing the admissions process does not guarantee enrollment.
Perspectives
Thanks to the quality education provided by the school, graduates achieve excellent results in final exams - about 96% of high school students receive high scores: from A * to B in the IB program.
Some of the universities that accept graduates of St. Stephen's School are:
- Boston University,
- Case Western Reserve University,
- Columbia University New York City,
- Cornell University,
- Georgetown University,
- Harvard University,
- Haverford College,
- Illinois Institute of Technology,
- North Carolina Wesleyan College,
- Parsons (The New School),
- Pepperdine University,
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute,
- Santa Monica College and others.
A community of more than 4,000 alumni over 50 years has many professionals who have made careers both in Switzerland and abroad.
Entry requirements, how to apply, what is required to enrol
To confirm enrollment, students must provide:
- A final school transcript showing successful completion of the current academic year,
- A completed student health form,
- Proof of health insurance for boarding students,
- The original enrollment contract.
Applicants take an admissions test and attend an interview. The test assesses cognitive potential rather than previously acquired knowledge, so no preparation is required. For applicants outside Italy, an alternative testing date can be arranged with their current school. Boarding candidates interview with a member of the residential staff.
Selection for the Year Abroad program takes into account applicants' readiness for a challenging curriculum and active participation in cultural activities, travel, and the school community.
Scholarships St. Stephen’s
Each year, the school awards grants covering part to nearly all of tuition. In 2022-2023, it allocated more than 500,000 euros in financial aid, supporting 15% of students.
Partial or full scholarships may be awarded based on:
- Consistently strong academic performance demonstrated through grades, standardized test scores, and teacher recommendations,
- Documented family financial need,
- Leadership, participation in extracurricular activities, and contributions to the school or local community,
- Talents, interests, and achievements that enrich the school's international cultural environment.
Families of prospective and current students seeking financial aid must apply each year, no later than the admissions application deadline. Assessments consider household income, assets, debts, housing and other essential expenses, and the number of children attending tuition-charging schools. Financial information and aid decisions are confidential.
The school offers payment plans that spread tuition payments over a set period.
Institution on the map
Residence permits, citizenship and other services
- Guardianship services during the studies
- Student supervision
Review about St. Stephen’s
Loved the summer course! The most beautiful Italian language - I always dreamed of learning - a lot of interesting excursions (mainly architecture inspections + shopping), games in the camp, I liked it very much! There were relatively few children, surprisingly many students came from the Baltic states! :))). Rome is an amazing city, even better than I imagined, really want to come back again!
Daughters attend the private school of St.Stephen's School, Rome.
My husband is a businessman, and his work is closely related to the Italy. He has always admired this country: the climate, people and even cuisine. And we decided to start studying in Italy.
On the advice of Smart Products and Services consultants, our daughters studied in St.Stephen's School. Attracted by its universal methods of teaching, high rating, a guarantee of admission to universities in Europe and the world. The girls studied for a year, living in a double room, with comfortable furniture, a modern computer and Internet access.
The big plus is that there is a round-the-clock guard. Ann and Helena spoke almost freely in English (besides the practice of Italian), the eldest chose the International Baccalaureate program. They became friends with girls from Latvia and France. In the school there are unlimited opportunities for learning and rest!
Recommendations on when to apply
| Language courses, schools and children's language camps | Primary and secondary education - private schools | Preparation programmes for entering universities - higher education | Higher education (after completing accredited programs A-level, IB, High School) - Bachelor, Master, MBA |
| - we recommend to apply 6-9 months before the start of the course (some camps and schools offer discounts for early booking or for lengthy study programs) - there are some very popular and high demand children's camps, where the applications need to be submitted 1 year in advance (in particular Switzerland , Great Britain , USA , Canada , Austria) | - we recommend to apply one year before the start of the training program, - some schools have a specific time frame (September-November - please specify an individual school) - some schools require tests in several stages (UKISET, internal tests of the school: English, mathematics, logics, subjects, interview, some require a personal visit) | - we recommend to apply one year before the start of the program, - for Foundation and Pathway programs, IELTS and TOEFL certificates are usually required, respectively | - recommended submission one year before the start of the program, - the deadline normally closes in January, for TOP HEIs and, as a rule, in March in other universities - for a bachelor, a Foundation or Pathway preparatory program a completed A-level, IB, High School + IELTS / TOEFL are required - for Masters you need a graduated higher education, in some cases you need a pre-Masters program - MBA requires completed higher education, work experience preferably at least 2-3 years, etc. |
