Things to know about studying abroad in Milan

Planning to study in Milan? Learn everything you should know about Italian universities, the cost of living, and how to fit in!

Sofia

7 minute read

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Updated on 20 May 2024

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Studying

If you’re here, it’s probably because you’re considering packing your stuff and studying in Milan. Well, this is a great choice that will turn your life around!

However exciting the move can seem, it’s essential that you’re aware of what to expect from studying abroad in Milan.

Keep reading to get your hotfix of information on:

• Whether or not Milan is a good city to study in
• The universities in the city, their top programs and their cost
• The relative monthly student expenses you should be able to cover
• How to fit in with the locals

If Rome is the historical capital of Italy, Milan is the international hub of Italy which makes it the perfect destination for international students. The city is home to over 350.000 expats and offers students a multinational, modern, and broad cultural environment.

Milan is where you’ll find some of the best universities in Italy and Europe and a vibrant social environment. The nightlife is amazing, there are several green parks, live performances, and cuisines from all over the world. The festivals and cultural events in the design, theatre, and music sectors seem to be endless and take place year-round.

You definitely don’t want to miss Fuorisalone, Fiera Dell’artigianato and Milan Fashion Week as those are the most unique events Milan has to offer.

Each year, thousands of students move to Milan from abroad, all with the aim of getting a quality higher education and kicking their careers off.

Do I need to know Italian to study in Italy?

Do you want to study at the university in Milan, but you’re scared because you don’t speak Italian? Don’t! Although knowing Italian is beneficial, every university in Milan offers courses taught in English.

You must present either an IELTS or TOEFL certificate with a sufficient score to be eligible for an English-taught program in any Italian university. The score requirements vary from university to university and even from program to program, so it’s best that you check the requirements for the specific program that you’re interested in.

A rule of thumb regarding the minimum viable score you must have is that it has to equate to at least level B2 proficiency.

Likewise, you must present an Italian proficiency certificate if you want to pursue a program taught in Italian. The CELI certification is the most common certificate and your final result must reflect B2 language proficiency at the least. The proficiency level that some programs require is C1. So it’s best to confirm the requirements of the program of your choice before applying.

The universities in Milan

Milan has the reputation of being the fashion capital of Europe. It's home to the offices and shops of the vast majority of the luxurious and popular brands.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that one of the best fashion universities in Italy is in Milan. NABA - Accademia di Brera has its campus in Via Brera and ranks among the world’s top 100 universities in the field of fashion, design, art, and graphic design.

Accademia di Brera is notoriously difficult to get into since there’s an influx of applicants every year. Of course, “difficult” doesn’t mean impossible, so you must be ready to put in the extra effort to increase your chances as much as possible!

Those of you looking to study engineering will certainly be interested in Politecnico di Milano. This is the top university to study engineering in Italy and it also ranks 20th for the discipline worldwide.

Besides engineering, Politecnico di Milano also offers a renowned architecture program. Regardless of the program you choose to pursue here, statistics show that you’ll find a stable well paying job in your field within a year of graduating.

If you’d like to study law, university Statale di Milano is your best choice! It has many different campuses located around Milan, but the one for Law is behind the Duomo, in the heart of the city.

The Law program doesn’t have a limited number of places so you only need to take a general admission test. Its purpose is to test your level of general culture, Italian or English language, civics, and math.

University Bicocca is one of the best Italian universities for research, psychology, and scientific degrees. The university offers 34 specialist degrees in medicine and has been the winner of many research competitions across Italy. Students of Bicocca often organise events and scientific exhibitions in Milan on weekends. The entry is free and people can admire the scientific projects of the students, such as the ocean pollution.

If you are interested in studying at a private university, Bocconi and Cattolica are the best private institutions in Milan so the fees are generally high.

Bocconi has the reputation of being an excellent university for all the disciplines that it offers. The quality of the education here, however, comes with a hefty price tag.

Cattolica is more affordable and, as the name suggests, it’s a Catholic university. Despite being a catholic university, the institution welcomes students from every religion.

Something to keep in mind is that there're 3 compulsory theology exams that students have to pass before graduation. The university is good for banking, finance, and political programs.

Full-time education

Most students choose to apply for full-time education, which allows them to graduate in the shortest possible time. Yet, students with special personal circumstances such as work, family, or health reasons, have the opportunity to pursue part-time education. This allows them to graduate in a longer period of time without any additional cost.

There are no fixed fees for Italian universities since they differ from program to program and they’re calculated on the family income of each student.

Here're the average prices for an academic year at each university:

• NABA- Accademia di Brera: fees vary on the basis of the level of the degree and the citizenship of students. Fees for EU-Students and residents in EFTA countries go from €7,600 to €18,600. Non-EU students pay a fixed fee of €18,600.
• Statale di Milano: The fee here is broken down into 2 installments. The first installment amounts to €140-€156 and applies to both local and international students. Students coming from abroad have to pay an additional amount between €200 and €3,000.__ The second payment amount is determined by the student's citizenship.
• Bicocca: A fixed first installment of €156 and a second installment that varies on the basis of the income of your family.
• Politecnico di Milano: the total tuition fee here is broken down in two installments. The first installment is fixed at €895 and the second one varies on the basis of the income of your family. Whatever the income of your family the sum of the first and second installment won’t exceed €3,890.
• Bocconi: the average fee for an academic year goes from €12,880 to €16,000 depending on the course you study.
• Cattolica: EU students’ fees range from €3,600 (for lower family incomes and cheaper courses) to a maximum of €9,300. The amount for Non-EU students is fixed at €8,690 per year.

Italy doesn’t provide student loans. However, foreign students can apply for a scholarship and receive partial or full tuition fees depending on their educational merit.

During the second or last academic year, students can take part in Erasmus +. You can choose to study or do traineeships for a semester or a full academic year in another partner university in Europe or outside Europe.

To be able to participate in the Erasmus program, students have to complete their first academic year and be either European citizens, or from Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Turkey. The eligibility criteria also includes having an above-average level of English and a good academic record.

Everyone knows that living in Milan is expensive, but this isn’t a surprise for a city with such a high quality of life and opportunities.

Students often choose to live in a share-house during their time at the university to minimise the expenses and make new friends.

Finding affordable student housing in Milan depends on things like the type of accommodation, size, furnished or not. On average, the rental price can range from €670 to €1,700 per month.

Here is the estimated monthly cost of living in Milan for students for one student as of 2024:

With regards to the rental expenses, you can expect something in the lines of:

In terms of location, Città Studi is the best Milanese neighbourhood for students who are looking to stretch their budget. The neighbourhood is close to the city center and well-connected to the rest of the city by public transport.

Luckily for you, Italians are friendly, and the best way to meet new people is before and after classes, at cafeterias or parks at the university.

During the academic year, students organize events and parties at the university or around the city. These are opportunities for freshers and international students to get to know each other, so make sure to attend them.

One of the best aspects of being a student in Milan is the diverse nightlife the city offers! If you like clubbing, one of the coolest areas you should have on your radar is Corso Como. Clubs here are generally a bit fancy and expensive, but there’s always something to do and people to meet!

You can try Clubroom Eleven, a club with a rooftop with house music and cocktails for around €10. Other local nightspots are Alcatraz and Play Club, which have a more chill atmosphere and are always packed with students and young people!

If clubs don’t satisfy you, Milan’s got you covered! The best areas for pubs or fancy cocktails are Brera, Moscova, Arco della Pace, Marghera, Porta Venezia, and Navigli, a special district of Milan surrounded by canals.

If you like beer, definitely try La Fontanella,__ a hip place serving beers of all shapes and sizes, and Nottingham Forest, where drinks are served in weird and aesthetic glasses!

By now you should know what to expect from studying abroad in Milan and how to make the most out of it. Milan is definitely one of the best places in Italy to study, enjoy your youth, and have limitless opportunities! If you are still trying to find rental apartments in Milan, you'll have many options, from studios to furnished apartments or even student residences.

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