Costs of living and studying in Bozen-Bolzano 2011
Eating and drinking in Bozen-Bolzano
In Italy we are real foodies, but that doesn’t mean you need to spend a lot here to eat out! A typical Italian breakfast (consisting of a sweet pastry and a coffee) costs around 2 to euro 3 in a bar. The Unibar in Bozen-Bolzano gives you a 20% discount when you pay with your student card. The university canteen offers you four different menus at a very modest price. You can choose between a first course with two side dishes or two first courses (euro 2,07), a second course with two side dishes (euro 2,58), a first and second course with two side dishes (euro 3,10), with small salad and dessert/fruit. You have also the possibility to choose the “Pizza Menu” consisting of a pizza with salad and a dessert/fruit (euro 3,10). Drinks and bread are included in the price. Some bars in Bozen-Bolzano offer student discounts.
Accommodation
Bozen-Bolzano is the home of the main premises of the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano which includes the School of Economics and Management (except for the Bachelor in Tourism, Sport and Event Management) the Faculty of Computer Science, the Faculty of Design and Arts and the Faculty of Science and Technology. The Free University of Bozen-Bolzano has a limited number of rooms available in different, centrally located structures in the city. The monthly rent for a single room is euro 260 including expenses. The deposit amounts to euro 520. On the first floor of the main University premises, there is also a notice board which contains lots of information detailing rooms and flats for rent to university students in and around the city. This information is also available online. Usually, the rent varies from euro 250 to euro 500 per month for a room. Other lodgings for short periods can be found on the following websites: www.bolzano-bozen.it (Hotels in Bolzano) and www.jugendherberge.it (Youth hostel in Bolzano).
For our exchange students of the Faculty of Education, located in Brixen-Bressanone, we offer the opportunity to reserve a room in Bozen-Bolzano. The city of Bozen-Bolzano provides a good opportunity to experience the social and cultural life of South Tyrol. By staying in Bozen-Bolzano you will also be able to experience the community life of students of other faculties. The trip to Brixen-Bressanone is relatively short (half an hour by train), but if you prefer to stay in Brixen-Bressanone you can look for a room through our blog.
If you are going to attend the Bachelor in Tourism, Sport and Event Management, you will be living and studying in Bruneck-Brunico, which is about 1 ½ hours by train from Bozen-Bolzano. For a room in Bruneck-Brunico you can take a look at our blog or you can contact the administration office at tourism@unibz.it.
Transport
Using the orange city buses (SASA) you pay euro 1 for one single ride. The price is the same for the entire city area except if you are going outside the city (Bus 2). The tickets can be bought before in some authorised sales points. You can also buy the ticket on board for the same price, you should only remember to have coins with you because the machine doesn´t accept paper money. It’s cheaper to buy a euro 5 or euro 10 ticket instead of a single trip ticket. For use of the train in the region of South Tyrol you can use the same ticket you use for the buses, which is cheaper than buying the ticket at the train station. Students under 26 years have the possibility to buy a season ticket called “ABO+” for euro 100. You will receive a card that allows you to use every type of public transport in the region of South Tyrol, and to use the train from Brenner to Trento. The season ticket is valid for an entire academic year. Please note that you can apply for the season ticket only until December.
Culture and Leisure
Even if Bozen-Bolzano is a small city, it is well-known for its cultural diversity. Moreover, student reductions are available whether you go to theatres, concerts, museums or cinemas. The Filmclub Bolzano for example, offers you student discount. Students can go to the cinema for only euro 6. The new multiplex in Bolzano offers tickets for student under 25 for euro 7 (euro 9 for 3D films). Students under 26 receive a discount at the “Teatro Stabile di Bolzano” (prices vary from 8 to euro 11) or they can visit the brand new Museion (Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art) for only euro 3,50.
[last update: 25/07/2011]