In November 2000, the City of Bologna, Italy, welcomed a conference entitled “Living as Students”. The event was part of the European Capital of Culture project which examined the major role Bologna has played and continues to play as a university city. It also looked at the role of cities that host major universities, in and outside of Europe, as centres for the development and dissemination of culture and advanced professional training. In parallel with the conference, an international competition on student housing was organised