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Affordable housing for students

Università IULM provides affordable housing for students, combining university-managed residences with a robust network of housing partners to ensure accessible, safe, and cost-effective accommodation. This multi-layered approach helps mitigate the burden of housing costs and supports sustainable student life in Milan.

University residences and subsidized housing
IULM directly offers student housing in its two university residences, Santander and Cascina Moncucco, equipped with essential amenities such as Wi-Fi, common kitchens, laundry facilities, 24-hour reception, and regular linen and cleaning services. Rental rates are significantly lower than Milan’s average. Moreover, IULM ensures free accommodation for low-income and refugee students, ensuring no one is excluded for financial reasons.

Network of housing partners
To expand options and reach more students, IULM promotes a selected network of housing providers and platforms, making available a variety of housing offers verified and often discounted for the IULM community. These include:

  • Milan Housing: a portal tailored to IULM students, offering verified offers, support from check-in to check-out, and emergency assistance.
  • Spacest: medium-to-long term furnished rooms and apartments, with verified listings and a guarantee system; IULM students can access a 20% discount via a promotional code.
  • Cerco Alloggio: a platform matching student demand and supply; IULM students receive a 10% discount on service fees by presenting their enrollment certification.
  • Collegio di Milano: a multi-university residence offering student housing with a cultural program and strong community life, in partnership with Milanese institutions.
  • Collegiate: a high-standard student housing provider; IULM students receive a discount of €200 under certain conditions (e.g. booking ≥ 12 months) at the “Milan North” residence.
  • Dotstay: platform that proposes up to 5 homes and supports students with a personal assistant (“Angel”) from arrival to check-in; IULM students receive a 10% discount via code IULM10.
  • Zappyrent: verified property rentals, with “virtual visits”; IULM students can apply a 25% discount on booking fees using code IULM25.
  • Erasmusu: European student housing community platform, offering over 1,900 listings in Milan; students enjoy a 30% discount on commission via code IULM30.
  • HousingAnywhere: international booking platform for student housing; IULM students access a 30% discount on the booking fee and priority in listings.
  • Italianway: short-to-medium term furnished apartments and homes; IULM students get a 10% discount on stays (1 to 18 months) using code IULM10.
  • Residenza Chiaralba Milano: apartments in Via Pomponazzi, with a reduction of 19%–24% off the standard regional rent rate for IULM students, depending on availability.
  • Progetto “Prendi in casa uno studente” (MeglioMilano): an intergenerational housing program where students live with elderly homeowners who have spare rooms. Students pay modest expenses and often help with household tasks; this reduces rental burdens and strengthens social inclusion.

IULM also maintains a bacheca alloggi (housing bulletin board) available in the university (in IULM 1, corpo C) and online, where students and private landlords or sublessors can post or consult housing offers.

Institutional collaboration and strategic engagement
To address systemic housing challenges in Milan, IULM engages in periodic meetings with the Municipality of Milan and other universities, advocating for increasing the supply of student residences and improving regulatory frameworks for affordable housing in the city. This strategic dialogue complements IULM’s internal measures and partner network.

Strategic impact
By combining university-managed residences, free housing for vulnerable students, an expanding partner network with verified discounts, and institutional engagement, IULM ensures a comprehensive and scalable housing system for its student body. These efforts provide access to safe, affordable, and inclusive housing, reducing the financial and geographic barriers to education and supporting sustainable student life in urban contexts.