Abstract

The studentification process refers to the social, cultural, economic and financial transformations of urban spaces resulting from the increasing presence of off-site students in university cities. This process is usually associated with negative consequences: its main outcome would be a concentration of the university student population in separate enclaves within the urban context. While this concentration may depend on a number of factors, including the affordability of rents, the presence of halls of residence, both public and private, plays a role: their proliferation has implications both in terms of the relationship between students and the city, and in terms of the broader housing market. If, on the one hand, halls of residence can be integrated harmoniously into the urban context in order to promote social integration between students and residents, on the other hand, their concentration could contribute to the segregation of the student population. What role do urban policies and private investment play in the location of halls of residence? In order to answer this question, the case study of the city of Bologna is examined: starting from the availability and location of public and private halls of residence, the paper questions their impact on the sustainability of the city.