STUDENT HOUSING

Temple Rome students have the option to live in university-facilitated apartments, reside with an Italian family in a homestay, or find their own independent housing in Rome.

When considering your options, it is important to recognize the cultural context of housing in Italy. Although some of these differences may take some getting used to, remember that cultural differences extend to all aspects of your experience abroad. Having realistic expectations for your term in Rome will help you approach the study abroad experience with a positive attitude.

Read on for more information regarding the variety of student housing options at Temple University Rome.

UNIVERSITY RESIDENCE | HOMESTAY | INDEPENDENT HOUSING

UNIVERSITY-FACILITATED APARTMENTS

Temple Rome places students in apartments located in the lively residential area of Prati. The neighborhood is well serviced with shops, eateries, and public transit options.

The apartments are in a variety of buildings and complexes; all apartments are in the Prati neighborhood in Rome, within 2.5 kilometers of Temple Rome’s campus. Many students walk to school from their apartments. Temple Rome is also easily accessible via public transportation from Prati.

The apartments are privately owned residences rented by Temple University for use by students. They are neither uniform nor in the same main building. In addition to Temple Rome participants, Italians, and students from other U.S. study abroad programs live in these apartment buildings.

In the lively Prati neighborhood, students will find local food markets, a 24-hour supermarket, and the Vatican Museums. Prati is serviced by multiple metro stops including Cipro, Ottaviano, and Lepanto. There are many local shops and places to eat. It is considered an upscale location, similar to the Rittenhouse neighborhood for students familiar with Philadelphia.

As these apartments are not U.S.-style student residences where rooms and configurations are uniform, each apartment can vary in size and layout, as well as in the number of students it can accommodate. Apartments house between four and six students, with no more than two students per bedroom. All apartments are spacious enough to accommodate a full two meters of personal space between beds in each bedroom. The apartments have been vetted by the Temple Rome staff to ensure that students have a comfortable living space. However, some aspects of the apartments may feel different from U.S. standards, so flexibility is important.

All apartments are non-smoking and are equipped with:

Telephone (free for outgoing local calls and charges for connections to a U.S. calling card service; incoming international calls are also free)
WiFi
Washing machines and drying racks
Fans
Two sets of basic bed linens and 2 towels
Kitchens with basic utensils, cookware, and gas stoves
Bathroom: if the apartment has more than 4 residents, there will be a second bathroom
Fire extinguishers and smoke alarms
First aid kits
Cleaning supplies, including bleach
First aid kits

All of the apartments are clean and well-managed, providing many of the amenities of a hotel, including:

Weekly cleaning service
Hot water
Television
Maintenance

While the apartments are not owned by Temple University, there is good communication between Temple staff and the apartment management if problems arise.

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HOMESTAY

A homestay is your chance to experience life as it is lived by modern Romans, and to immerse yourself in local neighborhoods that the casual tourist never sees.

Each homestay student is provided a private room in an Italian house or apartment. Since Italian apartments tend to be smaller than what you may be used to in the U.S., students who select this option should be open to living with somewhat less privacy and space. You must be willing to adapt to the household’s diet and customs (within reason), to participate in the host family’s life and daily routines. Your time, however, remains your own. You are given a key to the building and the home so that you can come and go as you please.

Our Italian hosts are located throughout the city, most often outside the historic center of Rome. Using buses or the metro you can expect, on average, a 45-minute commute to campus.

Homestay students are expected to speak some Italian with their hosts daily. For this reason, priority will be given to students who have already studied Italian language at the university level, though we encourage even those without previous Italian language experience to consider this option, as the cultural and personal connections derived from a homestay can add greatly to one’s Roman experience.

EATING DURING YOUR HOMESTAY

Each homestay student will be provided ingredients for an Italian breakfast five days a week, Monday through Friday, as well as a home-cooked dinner Monday through Thursday. Your homestay family may introduce you to a way of eating to which you are not accustomed. The less selective you are and the more you are willing to adapt, the more you will enrich your study abroad experience.

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INDEPENDENT HOUSING

Temple students and non-Temple students whose home universities do not require their students to live in university-arranged housing may elect to find their own accommodations. If you opt for independent housing, you will be required to provide your confirmed housing address (the same address for the entire semester) to Education Abroad at least one month prior to the start of your program.

NOTE: Rome Entry Year Students are not currently eligible to request independent housing.

STUDENT HOUSING CONTACTS

Still have questions about housing in Rome after looking through the information above? The contacts below can help you find the answers you’re looking for.

ROME STAFF

Francesca Cuccovillo, Associate Director for Student Life
Benedicta Djumpah, Student Life Assistant

EDUCATION ABROAD OFFICE

Write to study.abroad@temple.edu.