CORE3001 Pilgrimage Elective

Encounters with Mary and Peter: Pilgrimage to Rome 2025

In early December 2025, the School of Philosophy and Theology will offer an immersion in Rome, with a day trip to Assisi. Join us and experience an unforgettable and transformative pilgrimage guided by two experts in the field of sacred art and architecture!

You will navigate the cobblestoned and atmospheric streets of Rome to encounter Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Peter, the rock upon which the Catholic Church was built, via Byzantine, Renaissance and Baroque art and architecture. It will be a transformative experience that will resonate in your life for years to come.

The pilgrimage

Coursework will commence in the first week of November 2025. You will attend online classes with students from all campuses to learn about how Mary and Peter have inspired the Catholic intellectual tradition. In a series of workshops throughout the month of November, you will become familiar with some philosophers, theologians, artists, architects, and writers whose work you will discover in Rome.

Travel will commence on Sunday 30 November to Saturday 13 December. We will travel together and make our way to the Domus Australia in Rome, which was established for Australian pilgrims to visit the Eternal City. Once there, we will spend our days together exploring. The city will be our classroom as we explore the ancient catacombs, the major basilicas, including Santa Maria Maggiore—where we will see relics of Christ’s crib—the magnificent St Peter’s Basilica, as well as the Trastevere area that includes the church of Santa Maria in Trastevere. We will visit the Christian catacombs, the Vatican Museum and experience a day trip to Assisi. Each day, we will participate in daily mass, shared meals, prayer and journal our reflections. On the last day of class, you will have time to write and submit your final assessment.

Learn more about the application process and how to apply.

View pilgrimage gallery
Colosseum from a distance

Scholarships

International Core Grant

The International Core Grant aims to support students who have experienced financial or educational difficulties in participating in study abroad programs at the university. This grant is specifically designed for those enrolled in the International Core Curriculum. The grant covers the necessary travel expenses, such as international flights, accommodations, mandatory activities, and provided meals for the program. International Core Grant recipients will have all their travel booked for them by the travel agency used by the University.

  • How do I apply for the International Core Grant?

    Simply fill out the International Core Grant section as part of your application for the International Core Curriculum Pilgrimage.

    You are asked to provide the following supporting documents:

    • A personal statement (up to 500 words) explaining your situation and how receiving the International Core Grant would enable you to participate in the pilgrimage. Due by Friday 9 May 2025 when applications close.
    • Other applicable evidence to support your application, including:
      • Proof of receipt of Centrelink payments.
      • Proof of regional address.
      • Evidence of disability or ongoing medical condition.
      • Evidence of responsibilities of caring for another person who needs ongoing support due to a long-term medical condition, a mental illness, a disability, frailty, or the need for palliative care.
      • Proof of humanitarian visa.
      • Any other supporting documents.

    Successful Grant applicants will be notified at the same as pilgrimage applicants are advised of the outcome of their application to participate in the trip.

  • Who can receive the Grant?

    To be eligible to be considered to receive the Grant, you will need to demonstrate financial hardship and/or that you have experienced challenging circumstances that have impacted your education, such as:

    • Being the first person in your immediate family to attend university
    • Relocating from a regional or remote area to attend university
    • Experiencing a disability or ongoing medical condition
    • Being an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person
    • Having caring or sole parenting responsibilities
    • Experiencing displacement, such as out of home care, refugee or asylum seeker background

  • What does the International Core Grant cover?

    The Internation Core Grant covers

    • Return airfares
    • Transfers to and from accommodation
    • Accommodation
    • Meals: breakfast, specified dinners at accommodation
    • Day trips

    Individual expenses are not included:

    • Per diem expenses / spending money for additional activities or experiences while on the trip
    • Travel insurance

OS-HELP Loan

The University receives several OS-HELP loans from the Commonwealth Government each year. These loans are intended to provide financial assistance to Commonwealth Supported Students who wish to pursue a portion of their studies overseas.

Each student is eligible to apply for a maximum of two OS-HELP loans and is only available for students who have completed one year of study. If you're interested in applying, please check out the eligibility criteria and application process. Don't forget to submit your OS-HELP application no later than 4 June, 2025.

Find out more about OS-HELP

Application process and timeline

Eligibility

To be eligible for the pilgrimage, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Completion of the Foundations of Wisdom course, as indicated by CORE1000 (or equivalent). In other words, this course is available to any undergraduate student who is seeking to fulfil their CORE Elective requirements for their program and is worth 25 units of Credit.
  • A minimum of one year of study at The University of Notre Dame, Australia
  • At least 18 years of age
  • Possession of a valid passport that covers both the duration of the pilgrimage and three months after your return from Rome

Prepare for your application

  • The cost of the immersion is expected to be approximately $6000, not including flights (note: this figure will change depending on the exchange rate).
  • Please do not book your flight until we have confirmed that we have sufficient student numbers to run this course. We will confirm this via email on Friday 30 May, when students will be notified of the outcome of their application and interview process. (Note: it is not guaranteed that all applicants will be interviewed.)
  • Students will need to send a copy of their valid passport as part of their application process. If you do not have a passport, you may still apply for this immersion, but you must provide a photocopy of your valid passport, including document number and expiry date, no later than 27 June (email to corecurriculum@nd.edu.au).
  • You must provide any medical or dietary requirements in your application. In the event you have a serious allergy or medical condition, you may be asked to provide a management plan in the event an emergency occurs while overseas.
  • The Code of Conduct must be consulted before the interview process.

Application

  • Submit your application through our CORE3001 Pilgrimage Application form.
  • Applications close 9 May 2025.
  • As part of the application process you may be contacted for an interview.
    • Interviews will be conducted in Sydney in the week beginning Monday 19 May (times TBA).
    • Interviews will be conducted in Fremantle in the week beginning Monday 19 May (times TBA).

Acceptance

  • When numbers have been confirmed, you will be provided with a permission code to enrol in this course for your home campus. Permission codes will be provided as soon as students receive confirmation of acceptance (and/or the network allows). Please see the below class numbers (you will need the permission code to enrol in these classes):
    • Fremantle: 1493
    • Sydney: 1494
  • You will be emailed an invoice showing all fees, due dates for payment, and containing a payment gateway link. You will be able to pay using a card of your choice.
  • Please note that we require a deposit of $1000 to secure your place in the course by 13 June. This fee will include accommodation, transport, entry tickets, and meals (excluding lunches). Note: Should you be accepted and are experiencing financial difficulties, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can organise a plan for the payment of your deposit:corecurriculum@nd.edu.au.
  • For OS-Help and self-funding students, evidence of purchase of plane tickets must be provided to the school no later than Friday 1 August (email to corecurriculum@nd.edu.au). The earlier you purchase your tickets after you are notified of the success of your application and interview process, the cheaper they will be!
  • A copy of personal travel insurance that covers hospitalisation/evacuation for the duration of your travel must be provided to the school no later than Friday 1 August (email to corecurriculum@nd.edu.au).

Apply now

Applications close Friday 9 May 2025.

Contact us

If you have any questions about this pilgrimage, please don’t hesitate to contact us:

Core Curriculum
Email: corecurriculum@nd.edu.au

School of Philosophy & Theology
Email: philosophytheology@nd.edu.au
Fremantle: 08 9433 0137
Sydney: 02 8204 4175

View CORE3001 flyer