How to find student housing in Rome
Are you an EU or non-EU student coming to Rome for study and looking for accommodation? In this article we will explain the main housing solutions available in the capital and the economic supports offered by the Lazio Region.
What kind of student housing to look for?
There are different types of student housing you can choose for your years of study at university in Italy. Certainly the most common option is to rent a room in a shared apartment, but some students decide to have a homestay experience with a family, or to live in the accommodation provided by the university.
If you choose to rent a room or apartment in Rome make sure that the contract you enter into with the landlord is regular and registered.
As a rule, college students can enter into a particular lease agreement of shorter duration than the classic 4+4 contracts. This is a rental contract for transient use, with a minimum duration of 6 months and a maximum of 36 months. This solution offers greater flexibility to both property owners and students, who can rent a room only for the duration of their studies.
Student housing in Rome offered by public institutions
The Lazio region, through DiSCo (regional body for the Right to Study and Promotion of Knowledge) reserves housing for students on the basis of merit and family economic situation (ISEE calculation).
DiSCo provides housing for students through two modes: university residences or rental subsidies.
University residences are awarded to students who have won a scholarship. The accommodations can be single or double rooms and have different prices depending on the type (which are deducted from the scholarship). University residence accommodation is completely free of charge for students who have won housing.
On the other hand, to apply for rent payment subsidies, it is necessary to apply by participating in the special call for applications held each year (call for applications 2024/2025 here).
The requirements to enter the rankings are:
- Have an ISEE of less than 30,000 euros;
- Be enrolled in a university based in the Lazio Region;
- Have a registered lease in a Lazio municipality.
University accommodations
Rome’s public universities, such as La Sapienza or Roma Tre, provide various services to help students achieve accommodations for their studies.
For example, La Sapienza University offers a real estate brokerage service that connects various private residential facilities under agreement with the University to students seeking housing. These accommodations are reserved for:
- students enrolled at La Sapienza;
- students who have to take entrance tests for courses at the University;
- Foreign students participating in academic exchanges with the University.
Another free service offered by La Sapienza is the STURENT housing search desk. The help desk is located on the university campus and provides services such as accompaniment during interest visits to apartments, which is very useful for first-time renters and/or those who are not fluent in the language.
Platforms for searching student housing
In addition to the services mentioned above, you can search for apartments on your own through online real estate platforms. Here is a list of the most reliable ones:
- Uniplaces
- Bakeca.com
- Roomtastic.com
- Realty.co.uk.
- Idealist.com
- Spotahome
Get support for your move to Italy
Looking for housing in Italy as a student is not always easy, especially in cities where demand is very high, such as Milan and Bologna. The good news is that you don’t have to go it alone. Welcome Association Italy offers you the support you need during the various stages of your move to Italy. Whether you are an EU or non-EU citizen, WAI assists you with:
- Assistance in completing paperwork to regularize the
permanence in Italy;
- Information on banking and insurance conventions;
- News about health benefits offered by partner medical centers;
- Tax and legal assistance for individuals and businesses.
For more information you can also check out our complete guide to studying in Italy.
In conclusion, Rome offers numerous housing opportunities for Italian and international students. Plan ahead, learn about regional calls for applications and take advantage of the services made available by universities: with the right tools, finding housing in Rome can be much easier than you think.
