Housing

Study Abroad Italy aims to create a comfortable living environment for each student by providing safe, well-maintained, student-level housing in quality apartments. Our staff will be on hand to greet and help orient you to your new apartment and city, and they will remain available to answer questions and assist with maintenance needs that may arise.

SAI, with our rental agency partners, offers shared student apartments, however students are also free to arrange their own accommodations privately.

Shared student apartments

  • Students are placed with other SAI students in apartments that are privately owned and located in buildings shared by Italian residents.
  • The program cost includes housing in a double room (sharing a room with another student).
  • A typical residence will house 2-6 students, and contains a combination of single (1 student per room), double (2 students per room) and large triple (3 students per room) bedrooms and shared kitchen, bathroom and living areas. Requests are filled on a first come first served basis.
Single Rooms
Students may choose to pay an additional fee to be placed in a single room (one student per room). Having a single room means that you will have your own private space in an apartment shared with other SAI students.  Since every apartment is different in shape and size, the single room can also vary.  Single rooms can be quite small so please do not expect a double size room for single use.  Please note that a single room will always consist of at least one single bed and your own closet space.

Apartments Include

  • Furnishings
  • Basic kitchen supplies
  • Bed linens
  • Washing machine
  • Towels

Apartments do not include

  • Land line telephones
  • Clothes dryers

Health, Wellness and Sustainable Living Communities

Beginning in Fall 2011, SAI will offer the Health, Wellness and Sustainable Living Community in Rome and Florence.

In the Health, Wellness & Sustainable Living Community, students will:

  • share a commitment to personal and community health, wellness and sustainability;
  • work together to create and maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle as it applies to academic and personal experiences while abroad;
  • participate in activities that focus on sustainability and the environment;
  • develop low impact living habits that reduce their environmental footprints;
  • establish meaningful connections both within the SAI program and in the greater community.

Elements of the Health, Wellness & Sustainable Living Community include:

  • On-Site Orientation: During orientation, the students living in this community will meet to develop and sign their own agreement that will define the mission, goals, and policies of their apartment.
  • Group Meetings: During orientation and then once per month SAI staff will meet with the living community students to discuss issues related to health, wellness and sustainability.
  • Group Activity: Students will  develop and organize one  group activity during the term, with the assistance and approval of the on-site SAI staff.

Application Procedure

1) Complete the SAI Housing Request form (part of the SAI application) checking the box for “Health, Wellness & Sustainability Living Community”.

2) In about 500 words on a separate sheet (mailed with your application) or e-mail (sent to mail@saiprograms.com), tell us about yourself and what you hope to gain from participating in the Health, Wellness and Sustainable Living Community program with SAI. Include how you would contribute as a member of this living-learning community.

Housing Requests

  • Housing requests are made by submitting a “housing request form” with your application.
  • Applications are processed when payment of your confirmation deposit has been made to SAI.
  • Single room requests must be accompanied by payment of the single room supplement fee
  • We are happy to honor roommate requests. Roommate requests must be mutual; both you and your roommate must clearly write each other’s name on the housing request form.

SAI student apartments are assigned as single gender housing, (all male or all female). Students seeking male/female shared housing options have two choices:

  • SAI may be able to assign a one-bedroom apartment to a male/female roommate request, however this cannot be guaranteed available or,
  • Students should contact our partner rental agencies to arrange a private apartment rental in order to accommodate male/female roommates.

Housing Assignment Confirmation

  • Students will receive housing and roommate assignments via email at least one week prior to the start of the term.

Arrival

  • Students will receive written arrival instructions in their housing assignment letter.
  • Please plan to arrive on housing move-in day. Apartments/home stays  will not be available for early check-in. Any students arriving early should make prior arrangements to stay at a local hotel until check-in day.

Short Term, Weekly, Apartment Rentals

  • Visiting SAI student family or guests receive an 8-10% discount on weekly/short term rentals when reserving with our partner, Windows on Italy. They offer a range of accommodations from luxury countryside villas to lovely central apartments.Instead of completing their online booking form, you must email them directly first, letting them know you are referred by SAI, in order to benefit from the discount.Adult students seeking a luxury apartment in Italy will find an exceptional selection with this agency.