Erasmus in Bologna

Bologna is home to the Università di Bologna (Unibo), founded in 1088 and recognised as the oldest university in continuous operation in the world. Nicknamed Alma Mater Studiorum, it invented the European university model centuries before Erasmus and today welcomes around 90,000 students, a large share of them international. The whole city basically runs on student life.

Bologna is famous for its three nicknames: La Dotta (the learned, for its university), La Grassa (the fat, for its legendary cuisine — ragù, tortellini, mortadella) and La Rossa (the red, for its terracotta rooftops and its long-standing leftist political tradition). The capital of Emilia-Romagna is compact, walkable and entirely lined with its iconic porticoes, listed by UNESCO.

For an Erasmus stay, it's an ideal playground: a dense cultural scene, a historic centre that's alive day and night, reasonable prices for northern Italy, and a central location to reach Florence, Venice, Milan or the Adriatic coast in no time.

The Bologna rental market is extremely tight in September-October, when the university year starts. Begin your search in July and be ready to land with a temporary solution (hostel, Airbnb) so you can visit places in person. Expect to pay between €280 and €450 per month for a room in a shared flat, more for a studio (from €600).

The most-used platforms are Idealista.it, Spotahome, Erasmus Play, plus the Facebook groups Affittasi Bologna and Unibo's official bulletin board. Watch out for the classic scams (payment before visit, "landlord abroad").

Neighbourhoods: Bolognina (north of the station, affordable and rapidly gentrifying), San Donato and Via Zamboni (the Unibo student heart, lively but loud), Santo Stefano (upscale historic centre), Murri (quiet residential area south of the centre), Saragozza (a good middle ground near the city gate). Pro tip: Unibo distributes about 6,500 subsidised TPER passes to its students every year via an open call — apply as soon as you enrol.

The historic centre is easily covered on foot: Bologna is tiny, and its porticoes (almost 40 km, UNESCO-listed) shield you from rain and sun alike. The Due Torri mark the centre, and most Unibo faculties cluster around Via Zamboni.

The bus network is run by TPER. The standard monthly mensile impersonale ridotto pass costs about €30 for under-27s. Even better: Unibo offers a yearly subsidised pass at €180 (about €15/month) via an open call limited to 6,500 places — apply at the start of the academic year. Bike-sharing is available with RideMovi and Mobike, super convenient on the flat city centre.

Worth knowing: Bologna has no metro (the project was rejected by referendum). For day trips, Bologna Centrale station connects you to the whole country via Trenitalia and Italo (Modena, Parma, Rimini, Florence, Venice, Milan, Rome).

ESN Bologna is one of the most active sections in Italy: trips, parties, language tandems and welcome days from day one. The beating heart of student life is Piazza Verdi and Via Zamboni, where you'll hang out on the steps with a €2 beer. The aperitivo is sacred: a spritz or a lambrusco with a free buffet, especially in the Pratello area and around the Mercato delle Erbe.

For nightlife, head to Cassero (legendary LGBTQ+ club), Estragon (live music) and Link (electronic). On the food side, beware of one major sacrilege: "spaghetti bolognese" don't exist in Italy — ragù is served with tagliatelle. Try the tortellini in brodo, the mortadella, and wash it all down with sparkling lambrusco.

Bologna is also a perfect rail hub for weekend getaways: Florence in 1h on the Frecciarossa (€15), Venice in 1h30 (€20), Modena in 30 minutes (balsamic vinegar and the Ferrari museum in Maranello), Milan or Rome in under two hours.

Your first errand on arrival is the codice fiscale at Bologna's Agenzia delle Entrate. It's free, immediate, and required to sign a lease, open a bank account or register with the health service. Bring your passport and your Unibo admission letter.

Non-EU students must apply for the permesso di soggiorno within 8 days of arrival: pick up the Kit Giallo at any Poste Italiane branch, fill it in and book your Questura appointment. EU students only need their ID card and the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC); residenza is not required for a short Erasmus stay.

For banking, N26 or Revolut are more than enough for a semester. Staying longer? Intesa Sanpaolo and UniCredit offer student accounts. If your stay exceeds three months, also request the local Tessera Sanitaria to access Italian healthcare.

The everyday language is Italian. The local Bolognese dialect (bulgnais) mostly survives among older locals and on food menus — you'll rarely hear it in class or at home. An A2-B1 level is enough to get by, do your shopping and start making local friends.

Unibo offers a wide catalogue of English-taught masters and Erasmus tracks, especially in economics, engineering, political science and international studies. Check your department's offer before applying. Most students in the university area speak decent English.

To progress fast, the CLA (Centro Linguistico di Ateneo) runs free Italian courses for Erasmus students (limited spots, register early in the semester). Paid alternatives with a strong reputation include Scuola di Cultura Italiana and Cultura Italiana Bologna. And don't miss the language tandems organised by ESN — the easiest way to improve while making Italian friends.