Erasmus is one of the best things that will ever happen to you. It is also one of the most logistically chaotic. Italian bureaucracy, a different language, finding an apartment from abroad, paperwork in three different offices, and somewhere in the middle, lectures you actually need to attend. Here is the honest survival guide we wish someone had given us.
Step 1 — Lock in Accommodation Before You Arrive
This is the single most stressful piece of Erasmus and the easiest to underestimate. Italian student housing is supply-constrained. By September the good apartments are gone. Do not arrive without a place.
Two approaches that work:
- University-affiliated dorms — apply as soon as your acceptance arrives; the university publishes the deadlines and the prices.
- Private long-term apartments via property managers like Cosmica Rentals. We rent furnished rooms and studios on transitorio per studenti contracts (the legally correct format for Erasmus). Ask us for the terms of a stay for the academic year.
Avoid: classifieds-only listings on Facebook or unofficial WhatsApp groups. Scams targeting incoming students happen every year.
Step 2 — Get Your Codice Fiscale on Day 2
The codice fiscale is Italy tax code. You need it for: opening a bank account, signing a phone contract, registering with the university, sometimes even getting a gym membership.
Go to any Agenzia delle Entrate office with your passport and your university acceptance letter. It is free, and they give you a paper code on the spot. The plastic card arrives by mail.
Step 3 — Open a Bank Account (Or Skip It)
For 6-month Erasmus stays, you do not strictly need an Italian bank account. Revolut, Wise, or your home bank with Apple Pay covers most cases. For longer than 12 months, open one (Intesa Sanpaolo and UniCredit are the most expat-friendly).
Step 4 — Get an Italian SIM
You need an Italian number for: doctor visits, taxi apps, building intercoms, food delivery, basically everything. Italian operators such as Iliad and Ho Mobile offer prepaid plans; compare the current offers.
Step 5 — Get Used to the Public Transport
Both cities have monthly student passes. Get one immediately.
- Naples: check the ANM website for the student pass and the current price.
- Milan: check the ATM website for the student pass and the current price.
Step 6 — Learn These Italian Phrases in Week One
- Un caffè, per favore — an espresso, please
- Vorrei la tessera mensile — I would like the monthly card
- Sono studente Erasmus — I am an Erasmus student (unlocks discounts and patience)
- Mi può aiutare? — Can you help me?
- Conto, grazie — Bill, please
How to Meet People (Other Than Erasmus Parties)
Erasmus parties are fine. They are also a bubble where everyone speaks English and you never improve your Italian. To meet locals:
- Join university sport clubs (CUS Napoli, CUS Statale Milano)
- Take a free Italian class at your faculty — the conversation classes are the best
- Use Tandem or HelloTalk apps
- Go to neighborhood bars not on Erasmus radar
Budget Reality Check
We do not publish a monthly budget: rents, food and transport vary by neighborhood and by person, and we have no dated data to quote. Price your own list: room or studio, food, transport pass, phone and social life.
Common Mistakes Erasmus Students Make
- Renting blind from a Facebook ad — leads to scams
- Not registering at the comune (residenza) for stays over 90 days
- Skipping the codice fiscale and then needing it urgently
- Living in Erasmus-only flats and missing the actual Italian experience
- Treating the semester as a 4-month vacation — you still have exams
Cosmica Student Housing
Cosmica Student Housing is a project in development and has no rooms to book yet; read what exists today and what is planned. In the meantime, browse our current apartments in both cities.
The Most Important Advice
Say yes to everything in the first month. Take the long bus rides. Get lost in Spaccanapoli. Eat at the trattoria that looks too local. Italian Erasmus is the best Erasmus precisely because the culture demands you slow down. Embrace it.