How to Study in Milan for International Students

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Milan, one of the beautiful cities in Italy, is a city that needs to be considered when planning on studying abroad. Here, you can immerse yourself in a rich local culture and learn about its history and the factors that make it unique.

When it comes to the choices that are available, Milan currently has 13 universities, from which 5 universities are a part of the public sector and 8 universities are private institutions.

Suppose you’re not just looking for any school but a well-performing school. In that case, the top universities in Milan you should definitely check out are SDA Bocconi School of Management, Istituto Europeo di Design, and Istituto Marangoni.

Being able to study in Milan as an international student starts with planning ahead of time, as the process of researching your institution, filling out forms, and completing your paperwork can take a vast amount of time. In this article, you will find out the application process to study in Milan, along with information on tuition, language requirements, and visa applications. So, let’s dig in!

1. Cost of Studying in Milan

When choosing a university, you also need to consider the tuition fees and your budget. Before applying to a university in Milan, it’s best to have a general knowledge of the tuition fees there. The annual tuition fees for international undergraduate students range from 200 Euros to 25,400 Euros, while for master’s degree studies, the yearly tuition fees are between 200 Euros and 82,000 Euros.

Cost of Studying in Public Universities in Milan

To give you an idea of how much it costs to study in Milan, here are the tuition fees in these public and private universities:

Institution Bachelor’s International Tuition Fee Master’s International Tuition Fee
Brera Academy 1,535 Euros - 2,644 Euros
IULM University of Milan 3,500 Euros - 8,400 Euros 4,400 Euros - 9,800 Euros
Polytechnic University of Milan 890 Euros - 3,893 Euros 890 Euros - 3,893 Euros
University of Milano-Bicocca 200 Euros - 3,600 Euros 200 Euros - 3,600 Euros
University of Milan 200 Euros - 3,840 Euros 200 Euros - 3,840 Euros

Cost of Studying in Private Universities in Milan

Institution Bachelor’s International Tuition Fee Master’s International Tuition Fee
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore 3,800 Euros - 10,400 Euros 3,800 Euros - 10,400 Euros
Istituto Europeo di Design 17,900 Euros 14,300 Euros - 20,300 Euros
Istituto Marangoni 19,500 Euros - 25,400 Euros 20,200 Euros - 30,200 Euros
SDA Bocconi School of Management 82,000 Euros
Humanitas University 3,500 Euros - 8,000 Euros
Catholic University of the Sacred Heart 8,800 Euros 9,370 Euros
Bocconi University 16,700 Euros 18,200 Euros

If you’re looking for the most affordable universities in Milan, check out the Cheap Universities in Milan!

Besides tuition fees, you also need to consider other expenses like books, accommodation, and living expenses.

2. Requirements to Study in Milan for International Students

Once you have an idea of how much tuition fees are to study in Milan, it’s time to consider preparing the paperwork to apply to those universities. Academic institutions have varying admission requirements, but the ones you should always prepare in advance are your academic records, such as a transcript of records or diploma from a previous academic level, and travel documents, such as your passport and visa.

Some institutions that offer master’s programs might also ask for a statement of purpose, a curriculum vitae or résumé, and letters of recommendation. There are also degree programs where you need to take an admissions test before you can apply. Besides these, universities might also require you to submit proof of language proficiency.

In Milan, English and Italian are the languages of instruction. If you’re looking to study in any of the academic institutions here, you might need to prove language proficiency by taking standardized tests, such as TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo for English. Depending on the institution and the language of instruction for your program, you might also have to prove your language proficiency by submitting CEFR for Italian.

To give you an idea, here are some universities in Milan and their required minimum scores for each program level.

Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Istituto Europeo di Design

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Istituto Marangoni

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Typically, you can find information about language requirements on the admissions requirements page of the university. You can also check out if the university has a dedicated language requirements page for international students.

Application Procedure to Study in Milan

The specific admission process may vary depending on the university. The good news is that most institutions in Milan have online applications available on their websites, like SDA Bocconi School of Management and Istituto Europeo di Design. To help you with this, we also compiled the official websites and admission pages of some of the top institutions in Milan.

SDA Bocconi School of Management

Istituto Europeo di Design

Istituto Marangoni

Make sure to gather all the information you need for the admission process. As you apply to these institutions, expect that they may ask for additional requirements depending on your nationality, degree, or program. So, it’s best to keep your lines active.

After completing your academic and language requirements, it’s time to apply!

The admission process in Milan differs from one university to another, so it’s best to contact your chosen school beforehand. Please note that the admission process for international students may take some time, so be sure to know the application dates and apply early.

The application process may take weeks or months, depending on your timing, nationality, degree, and other factors. To make the most of your application, make sure to completely follow the admission steps and submit the necessary requirements to ensure that you’ll be accepted to your chosen university in Milan.

The key to being admitted to your chosen school will depend on your punctuality and the quality of your application. So make sure to complete the requirements beforehand and follow the steps in applying. After this, you’ll wait for a week or a month for the results.

4. Visa Application for International Students in Milan

If you’re going to study in Milan, you will need to apply for a student visa in Italy

In this section, let’s briefly discuss the requirements needed and how you can apply for a student visa in Italy. If you’re going to stay here for your studies, you will need to obtain a D-visa.

To start your student visa application in Milan, you will need to present the following:

  1. Entry visa application form
  2. Recent passport-sized photograph
  3. Valid travel document
  4. Proof of accommodation
  5. Proof of funds to support stay in Italy
  6. Health insurance
  7. Enrollment or pre-enrollment of a course in Italy

Kindly take note that these requirements may vary depending on your nationality. So, please expect that may ask for additional requirements. Moreover, you will be required to pay a student visa application fee. The visa application fee in Italy is 60 EUR.

After preparing your requirements and application fees, it’s time to apply for a student visa! The first steps in getting your student visa are:

  1. Prepare all your requirements
  2. Locate an Italian Consulate office near you.
  3. Submit your visa application form and all the supporting documents at the office.

For more information regarding the specific steps in applying for a student visa, visit or contact the nearest embassy or consulate in your home country. They are the ones responsible for processing your student visa application.

That’s it! After getting your student visa, you can now officially study in Milan. Make sure to book a flight early, before your classes start, so that you’ll have ample time to explore and familiarize yourself in your new place!