Universities in Milan, Italy

Milan is one of Italy's main university cities and the country's business, fashion and design capital. Its universities reflect this: a large public technical university, private universities in economics, communication and medicine, and academies of art and design that award degrees recognised by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR). Several of them teach programmes in English.

What the universities in Milan offer

Italy has state universities and legally recognised non-state (private) universities, whose qualifications have the same value as those of state universities. Both kinds are found in Milan:

• The Politecnico di Milano, founded in 1863 by Francesco Brioschi, is a public university for engineering, architecture and design.
• Bocconi University teaches economics, management, finance, law and related subjects. It has 14,063 students, of whom 31.4% are international (2025-26).
• The Libera Università di Lingue e Comunicazione IULM was founded in 1968 as an institute of modern languages and now focuses on communication, media, fashion and the arts.
• The Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele was established in 1996 with Psychology, adding Medicine in 1998 and Philosophy in 2002. It teaches an International MD Program in English.
• NABA (Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti), a private academy founded in 1980 and accredited by the MUR in 1981, and Domus Academy teach design, fashion and visual arts, with Bachelor of Arts, master's programmes and short courses. NABA's academic degrees are recognised by the MUR as equivalent to university degrees.

Degrees follow the European structure: a three-year bachelor's degree (laurea) of 180 credits, then a two-year master's degree (laurea magistrale) of 120 credits; one Italian credit (CFU) equals one ECTS credit.

Admission for international students

Each university sets its own admission requirements and tests. Students from outside the EU who need a study visa must also submit a pre-enrolment application through the Universitaly portal. For the 2026-27 academic year, visa applications had to be lodged with the Italian embassy or consulate by 30 November 2026.

Tuition fees

Fees differ widely between public and private universities. At the Politecnico di Milano, the fee depends on the study plan and on family income (ISEE): for a standard year and an ISEE of up to €22,000 it is €157.04, rising to a maximum of €3,943.04. Some non-EU students admitted to master's programmes with a foreign degree pay the maximum. Students with limited means can apply for regional "Diritto allo Studio" grants.

Private universities charge more: for 2026-27, Bocconi's bachelor's and Law programmes cost €17,000 a year in tuition and fees, and one in three Bocconi students receives some form of financial aid.

Practical tips

• Apply early: university deadlines come first, and the visa application has a fixed deadline
• Check whether a programme is taught in Italian or English and what language certificate is required
• For transport, ATM's youth pass for students and workers under 27 costs €22 a month or €200 a year; a single contactless journey in zones Mi1-Mi3 costs €2.20
• Check whether your course is at a campus in central Milan or elsewhere: the Politecnico, for example, also has campuses outside the city

Frequently asked questions

Can I study in English at a university in Milan?

Yes. Several universities and academies teach programmes in English, for example the International MD Program at San Raffaele and NABA's degree programmes in English. Check the language of each programme before applying.

How much does a public university in Milan cost?

At the Politecnico di Milano, fees depend on family income: from €157.04 a year for an ISEE up to €22,000, to a maximum of €3,943.04.

Are private university degrees in Milan recognised?

Degrees from legally recognised non-state universities have the same value as those of state universities, according to Universitaly, the Italian ministry's portal.

How do non-EU students apply?

Apply to the university, then submit a pre-enrolment application on Universitaly and apply for a study visa at the Italian consulate. For 2026-27 the visa deadline was 30 November 2026.