Student life in Italy

Bon Giorno! Enjoying your student life in Italy will bring you a lifetime experience.
Europe’s favorite nation, Italy is a country of diverse beauty, culture, and history. From the Alps in the North to coastal beaches in the South and everything in between, choosing to study abroad in Italy will give you access to an incredible array of cultural, historic and touristic heritage. It’s a real experience you will never forget! This ultimate guide will give you a bit more information about being a student in this amazing country

Education in Italy is highly esteemed with a wide range of excellent academic institutions spread across the country where international students are warmly welcomed. Italy has played an important role in academia, fostering the reform of European higher education through the Bologna Process. Students pursuing an education in Italy will gain valuable knowledge in the classroom, and important cultural competency in one of Europe’s youngest republics.

Where to study in Italy

Regions play a major role in Italy’s student life. The North, Center and Southern parts of the country are further divided into 20 smaller regions. Italian history significantly inspires contemporary Italian culture, as before Italy became a nation state in 1861 the peninsula was grouped into diverse kingdoms including the Papal States (later to become modern day Vatican City). Given the complexity of its regional history, Italian culture is highly diversified, and the different regions all have distinct academic and popular traditions, linguistic dialects and world-famous delectable cuisines.

All this regional diversity combines to make studying abroad in Italy an experience of a lifetime. No matter the city or town you choose to study in, in one fell swoop you’ll experience incredible food, vibrant culture, countless opportunities to immerse yourself in Italian arts, and the famous Mediterranean lifestyle. From the ancient history of Rome to the winding waterways of Venice, the idyllic beaches of Bari and the iconic fashions coming out of Milan and Florence, there is no shortage of Italian destinations that will give you the real Italian study abroad experience. There are innumerable benefits to studying abroad, and by participating in Italy’s 932 year old academic tradition as an international student, you’ll be taking advantage of them all!

Find a student room in Italy

Italy has a lot of bureaucracy and Italian people will always try to make money. The country is economically not that strong and you need to be aware of this. This way try to stick to the major student cities and always hang around other students. Have a look at student rooms Rome and student rooms Milan to have the best value for money options. Also Florence is an amazing city to be as a student! Always make sure you have signed a contract directly with the landlord to avoid any miscommunications.

The food in Italy for a student

The food in Italy can be described with three simple words: simple, fresh, and amazing. Every dish you will have in Italy will pleasantly surprise you. You will always looking forward to the next meal, and feeling sad if you have to cook for myself. You will love eating out in Italy and trying all of their specialties from the different regions. Each part of Italy is known for a different food product; varying from different types of pasta, meats, cheeses, fish, grains, olives, pastries, and of course, wine. Eating pizza in Napoli is one of the favorite food moments in Italy. Napoli’s pizza is special because people in Napoli use sea water to make their famous pizza, which contains an extra dash of Mediterranean salt that cannot be recreated easily. In Rome, the favorite local dishes are suppli, carbonara, croissants, lasagna, and of course, gelato. Finding these local fresh foods is especially easy in Italy, because there are open air food markets in piazzas all around the country. It is also easy to eat healthy in Italy as they do not use preservatives. There is fresh food everywhere, and one of the best fresh produce markets is a five-minute walk from your student accommodation in Italy. If you’re ever in Rome, you must visit the Testaccio market, which is famous for putting a modern twist on the old-style open-air markets

Study “La Dolce Vita” in Sunny Italy

Italy has a staggering amount to offer for students…and residents. Romantic cities, timeless hill towns, snowy mountains, idyllic islands, vineyard-covered countryside, and a rivetingly beautiful coastline.

Students in Italy say they love not only the art, culture, impressive architecture, world-renowned food, and easy access to the rest of Europe, but also the slower pace of life and the culture that prioritizes family and friends over work and to-do lists.
This is the very definition of the sweet life. It’s about surrounding yourself with people you love, taking the time to enjoy even the simplest things—a delicate zucchini blossom, a well-made cup of coffee, the feeling of sand between your toes—and prioritizing the important things in life.

A Slower, Simpler Italian Way of Life

Students from western Europe and the US report that this cultural attitude means the pace of life is slower in Italy, especially outside the main cities. They talk about long coffee breaks with Italian friends and passeggiata (strolls) through the town in the evening. For residents, one couple says that they no longer have alarm clocks in their home. Another couple adds that happiness just seems more important to the Italians.

A Surprisingly Affordable Lifestyle

These same expats report that their simpler lives in Italy come with a lower price tag than they would have expected.

In lesser-known, beautiful countryside Le Marche, one couple says their expenses are 80% cheaper than their previous life in New York. In sunny southern Calabria, another expat says a cup of coffee costs just 90 cents, a multi-course meal runs about € 20 per person, and health insurance for the entire year is covered by about €195. And in Umbria—Tuscany’s pretty neighbor—one of our correspondents spent less than € 1000,- in total living expenses per month. So being a student, Italy is really affordable and an amazing choice!