Studying in Milan: universities, costs, housing and student life

Universities in Milan

Milan is Italy's business and design capital, and its universities reflect that. Politecnico di Milano is the country's top technical university, covering engineering, architecture and design, with its main campus in the Città Studi district. Università Statale di Milano is one of Italy's largest public universities, with a broad range of humanities, science and medicine programs. Bocconi University, private and highly selective, focuses on economics, management, finance and law, and draws students from across Europe and beyond. Beyond these three, Milan also hosts IULM for media and communication studies and Università Cattolica, one of Italy's largest private universities, which broadens the subject range well past business, engineering and general humanities.

Politecnico di Milano reports 9,940 international students, split between 2,632 in bachelor's programs, 6,608 in master's and single-cycle programs, and 700 in doctoral programs, according to Politecnico di Milano's own figures . Bocconi runs a highly competitive admissions process, and international applicants make up a large share of each intake, reflecting the school's international reputation in business education.

Tuition fees and DSU grants

Italian public universities set tuition fees on a sliding scale tied to your ISEE, a national indicator of household economic situation. Students with an ISEE at or below 22,000 EUR qualify for a full tuition exemption at public universities, according to a national student guide summarizing the current right-to-study rules. Students with an ISEE between 22,000 and 30,000 EUR pay partial fees on a tiered scale (roughly 80% reduction up to 24,000, 50% up to 26,000, 25% up to 28,000, 10% up to 30,000 EUR), though some universities set their own higher thresholds. Above that range, fees rise toward the standard rate set by each university and program.

Bocconi, as a private university, does not follow this public scale. It sets its own tuition bands tied to family income and assets, so check the current fee table on Bocconi's admissions site before you apply. DSU Lombardia, the regional right-to-study agency, administers scholarships and subsidized housing for eligible students at both public and some private institutions based on ISEE and merit, applied for through your university's annual bando (call for applications).

Cost of living in Milan

Milan has the highest cost of living of any Italian city. Politecnico di Milano's own guidance for incoming students estimates accommodation at 400-700 EUR a month depending on location and room type, food at 150-200 EUR, social activities including dining out and a gym membership at 100-200 EUR, transport at 20-30 EUR, and phone and internet together at 10-30 EUR, according to Politecnico di Milano's arrival guide . Total monthly costs, excluding tuition and study materials, land around 680-1,160 EUR.

Housing in Milan

Student housing sits in high demand around all three main universities, and the city's dorms cover only a fraction of the student population, so most students end up in shared flats. Search early, use verified listing platforms, and budget for a deposit plus the first month's rent upfront, standard practice across the private rental market here.

DSU Lombardia also manages a limited number of subsidized dorm beds for students who qualify under the regional ISEE thresholds, allocated through the same annual scholarship application. Apply as soon as the yearly bando opens, since places go to the highest-ranked eligible applicants first.

Getting around Milan

ATM, Milan's public transport operator, runs the metro, trams and buses across the city. Students under 27 qualify for a discounted annual pass priced at 200 EUR a year, or a monthly option at 22 EUR, regardless of income, broadly matching the transport figure in Politecnico's own budget guidance above. The metro network makes it easy to reach any of the three main universities without a car, and Milan's compact center means most daily errands stay within walking or tram distance.

Student life in Milan

Milan runs at a faster pace than most Italian cities, with a strong professional and internship culture that pairs well with business, design and engineering studies. The Navigli district anchors much of the student nightlife, with canal-side bars and restaurants that stay busy through the week, not only weekends.

The city also works as a base for weekend trips, with fast trains to Turin, Bologna, Venice and the Italian lakes. Living costs run higher than in most of Italy, driven mainly by rent, so factor that into your budget from the start, and look into the ISEE-based grant system early if your family income qualifies.

Health insurance and application basics

EU students can use their European Health Insurance Card for basic care while studying in Italy, though many also register with the national health service for full local coverage. Non-EU students must arrange health insurance, either through national insurance registration or a private policy, before they can apply for their residence permit (permesso di soggiorno), a step every non-EU student must complete shortly after arrival.

Admission to Italian public universities runs partly through the national Universitaly portal for non-EU applicants, who also need a pre-enrollment check at the Italian embassy or consulate in their home country before travel. Bocconi, as a private university, runs its own separate admissions process and entrance test. Deadlines vary by program and by nationality, so check the specific course page and your local Italian consulate for the current timeline well before the intake you are targeting, and apply for the ISEE-based DSU Lombardia scholarship separately once you have your enrollment confirmed.

Tips for keeping costs down in Milan

• Look outside the center, in areas like Bovisa near Politecnico's second campus or along the northern metro lines, where rent runs below Brera or the center.

• Eat at a university canteen (mensa) for lunch, a cheaper option than restaurants and common practice among Italian students.

• Apply for the DSU Lombardia scholarship even if you are unsure you qualify, since the ISEE bands cover a wide income range.

• Get the ATM under-27 annual pass at 200 EUR rather than paying monthly, since it works out cheaper over a full academic year.

• Buy secondhand textbooks from senior students or university marketplaces instead of new, standard practice at Italian universities.