Explore the dynamic realm of student living in Italy on the 13th June 2024, live from Milan—a country adorned with over 250 esteemed higher education institutions. Rome and Milan stand as prominent educational centres, each housing over 30 and 20 universities, respectively. Among the 1.8 million students, a modest 5.6% hail from international backgrounds, a figure steadily growing due to the rising acclaim of Italian academia.

Italy's student housing market is poised for significant expansion, particularly in its top university cities—Milan, Rome, Florence, Torino, and Bologna. In these key locations, half of the 65,000 Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) beds are either available or in development. However, global investors face hurdles due to insufficient data, limited research tools, and a bias favouring local stakeholders. Nevertheless, this landscape offers promise, especially for those leaning towards sustainable investment practices.

Discussions revolve around the influential role of cities like Milan in pioneering collaborations between public and private entities, potentially benefiting regions like Rome. Furthermore, attention is directed towards leveraging the student housing sector to shape policies promoting sustainability.

Enhancing data accessibility is crucial for informed decision-making and proactive engagement with cities, while local operators and investors adapt to evolving student needs, transforming services and amenities as the sector matures.

Beyond the primary university cities, interest lies in emerging educational areas and Italy's strides in aligning with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, showcasing its commitment to the ESG agenda.