ER.GO - Azienda Regionale per il Diritto agli Studi Superiori - Subsidised Access to Housing Service

What you get

You will be allocated a place in a subsidised student hall of residence in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna. The towns and cities include Bologna, Ferrara, Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Ravenna, Reggio Emilia, Rimini, Forlì and Cesena. The stay lasts for a full academic year, roughly from September to mid-September of the following year (approximately 12 months).

You pay a monthly fee (retta) which is significantly lower than local market rents. This includes service charges and services for the periods during which the accommodation is open. The periods over Christmas and in August are free of charge. When you move in, you pay a refundable deposit of 250 EUR as well as your first monthly fee.

There is a bonus on top: if you keep your place for at least 10 months, you automatically receive the ER.GO scholarship at the higher "Fuori Sede" (away-from-home) rate. Every city reserves barrier-free places for students with disabilities. The programme is run by ER.GO, the regional agency for the right to university study in Emilia-Romagna.

Who can apply

• You live far from your university: You are considered a ‘Fuori Sede’ (living away from home) if the journey by public transport between your home and your place of study takes longer than 90 minutes.
• Where you study: You are enrolled at a university, a college of art or music (AFAM) or a recognised institution in Emilia-Romagna, such as the language schools in Rimini or Bologna, or you are about to enrol.
• Income: Your household’s ISEE (a certified measure of family income and assets) is no more than 25,000 EUR, and your ISPE (the asset component) is no more than 50,000 EUR.
• Grades: You have achieved the minimum number of ECTS credits specified for your year of study and your degree programme. For first-year students, there is usually a reduced requirement, or none at all.
• Field of study: Any topic is fine.
• Nationality: Applicants of any nationality are welcome to apply. Students from non-EU countries must present their passport and residence permit when moving in.
• No blocks: You have no unpaid debts to ER.GO and have never had a housing place revoked.

How to apply

You apply online via the ER.GO portal and select the option ‘alloggio per reddito e merito’ on the social benefits form. Make sure you obtain your ISEE certificate at least 15 days in advance. For the academic year 2026/2027, the deadline is 6 August 2026 (16:00) for students in higher semesters, PhD students and specialist students, and on 24 August 2026 (16:00) for first-year students. Places will be allocated on the basis of the published ranking lists until all places have been filled.

How realistic are your chances?

Submitting an application does not guarantee a place at university. Places are limited and are allocated on a merit basis, meaning that a lower income (ISEE) and better academic results will move you further up the list. Places are allocated to students who are genuinely not from the region and who meet the income and grade thresholds, which limits the pool of applicants. In addition, 85% of the new places are reserved for first-year students. If you clearly meet the 90-minute distance rule and remain below the income thresholds, apply as early as possible, as places are snapped up quickly.