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Study in Italy in English: Polytechnic University of Milan (Politecnico di Milano) Guide
English-taught programs in Italy: What makes Politecnico di Milano exceptional
Founded in 1863, the Polytechnic University of Milan (Politecnico di Milano) is Italy’s oldest engineering school and one of Europe’s most respected public Italian universities. With nearly forty English-taught programs in Italy across architecture, design, engineering, and computer science, it gives international learners a clear route to study in Italy in English without language barriers.
The university consistently ranks among the global top 20 for architecture and civil engineering, and within the worldwide top 150 overall. These positions confirm its reputation for rigorous teaching, cutting-edge labs, and close industry ties. Faculties are split across two main Milan campuses (Leonardo and Bovisa) and five regional hubs. Key departments include:
- School of Architecture Urban Planning Construction Engineering – famous for pioneering sustainable design.
- School of Industrial and Information Engineering – home to aerospace, mechanical, biomedical, and AI research clusters.
- School of Design – Italy’s first public school entirely devoted to design disciplines.
Programmes follow the European Bologna framework, so credits transfer easily across borders. Because the university is a public Italian university, standard tuition is already low. Through regional aid schemes it can become effectively free, turning Politecnico di Milano into one of the most attractive tuition-free universities Italy offers. ApplyAZ supports applicants with the DSU grant (regional need-based scholarship) and other scholarships for international students in Italy that can erase remaining fees and cover living costs.
Beyond academics, the university nurtures innovation culture. Its PoliHub incubator ranks second in Europe for start-up acceleration. Students with entrepreneurial dreams find mentors, seed funding, and co-working space on campus. This practical ecosystem boosts employability and ensures classroom theory meets real-world demands.
Milan: a dynamic, affordable, and welcoming city for students
Studying at Politecnico di Milano also means living in Milan, the beating heart of Italy’s economy and a cosmopolitan hub of 1.4 million residents. Despite its global fame for fashion and finance, Milan remains student-friendly:
- Cost of living – Monthly budgets start from €800–€1,000 if you share flats, cook at home, and use student discounts. Those receiving the DSU grant access subsidised housing and meals that cut costs further, bringing total spend closer to €650.
- Public transport – The ATM travel network unites metro, trams, and buses. A yearly student pass costs about €200 and gives unlimited rides. Night buses run every hour, so late study sessions or social events are easy to reach.
- Climate – Milan enjoys warm summers (average 29 °C) and cool winters (about 5 °C). Snowfall is rare, and central heating is standard in dorms and rentals. You can reach ski slopes in under two hours or Mediterranean beaches in 90 minutes.
- Culture and entertainment – The city hosts over 90 museums, hundreds of live-music venues, and Europe’s most prestigious opera house, La Scala. Many galleries run “free first Sunday” schemes. Student bars in the Navigli canals district offer aperitivo buffets where one drink buys unlimited snacks.
- Safety and diversity – Milan scores high on safety indexes and welcomes over 200 nationalities. English is widely understood in shops and transport, easing daily life for newcomers.
The city’s walkable centre, plentiful bike lanes, and connected train network also make weekend trips affordable. Fast trains reach Florence in 1 hour 40 minutes, Rome in 3 hours, and the Swiss Alps in under 4 hours. This accessibility lets you explore Italy’s cultural heritage while you study in Italy in English.
Internship and work horizons in the capital of design and tech
Milan accounts for roughly 10 percent of Italy’s GDP and hosts headquarters for global firms such as Armani, Pirelli, Luxottica, and UniCredit. For STEM and creative majors alike, it is an employment goldmine:
- Engineering and manufacturing – Lombardy is Europe’s second-largest manufacturing region. Companies like Siemens, ABB, STMicroelectronics, and Leonardo recruit interns directly from Politecnico di Milano career fairs.
- Digital innovation – The Porta Nuova and Isola districts house Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and many scale-ups. Students in computer science or data science secure part-time roles while finishing degrees.
- Design and fashion – With Milan Fashion Week and Salone del Mobile furniture fair, product design and industrial design students collaborate on real collections. Brands provide studio projects, turning coursework into portfolio pieces.
- Finance and consulting – Piazza Gae Aulenti is the home of Italy’s stock exchange and several consulting giants (BCG, Accenture, Deloitte). Knowledge of modelling software and fluent English are valued, making international students competitive.
- Green tech – The city’s push for a low-carbon economy fuels demand for expertise in renewable energy, smart mobility, and circular economy. Politecnico di Milano’s Energy Department partners with ENEL and Eni for research placements.
Tuition-free universities Italy: funding tips for public Italian universities
Although living in Milan costs more than smaller Italian towns, study costs at Politecnico di Milano remain modest thanks to Italy’s unique public financing. Here is how you can keep your degree affordable:
- Regional DSU grant – A need-based scholarship for international students in Italy that covers tuition, housing, meals, and a small monthly stipend. Eligibility depends on family income and assets, evaluated through an official “ISEE parificato” form.
- Merit scholarships – Politecnico di Milano awards Platinum, Gold, and Silver scholarships that waive fees and provide up to €10,000 per year. Requirements include high GPA and a strong motivational letter.
- Fee flexibility – As a public Italian university, Politecnico di Milano ties fees to income brackets. If your household income is below €23,000, tuition can drop to zero.
- Part-time student jobs – Italian law lets non-EU students work up to 20 hours per week during term and full-time during breaks. Campus offices hire library assistants, lab technicians, or peer tutors.
- European mobility grants – Through the Erasmus+ scheme you can spend a semester abroad while receiving a stipend of €330–€550 per month, yet remain enrolled at a tuition-free rate.
Together, these options turn Politecnico di Milano into one of the most attainable tuition-free universities Italy lists for high-achieving applicants. ApplyAZ’s finance team guides you step by step: assessing eligibility, collecting documents, and submitting forms before deadlines.
Public Italian universities and the DSU grant: your pathway with ApplyAZ
Politecnico di Milano embodies why public Italian universities are a smart choice for global talent: quality teaching, worldwide recognition, and manageable costs. With ApplyAZ you do not navigate the process alone. Our counsellors explain each English-taught program in Italy, clarify entry tests, and schedule online interviews. We also track DSU grant criteria and ensure applications are error-free.
Why choose ApplyAZ for Politecnico di Milano?
- Personalised programme matching across 40 bachelor’s and master’s tracks.
- Free pre-assessment of grades and portfolio within 24 hours.
- Direct communication with admission officers to fast-track offers.
- Scholarship dossier preparation, including merit awards and regional grants.
- Visa document checks, insurance advice, and accommodation search.
Studying in Milan means joining more than 45,000 students already enjoying a vibrant campus and a city where design meets industry. Whether you dream of building sustainable skyscrapers, launching apps, or designing carbon-neutral fashion, the Polytechnic University of Milan delivers the networks and resources you need.
Your next step
Picture yourself cycling through the leafy Bovisa campus, attending a robotics lab in the morning and sharing aperitivo with classmates beside the canals at sunset. Imagine weekend trips to Florence or Zurich, mid-week hackathons, and a CV packed with internships at world-class firms. That future starts with a single decision: apply.
In two minutes we’ll confirm whether you meet the basic entry rules for tuition-free, English-taught degrees in Italy. We’ll then quickly see if we still have space for you this month. If so, you’ll get a personalised offer. Accept it, and our experts hand-craft a shortlist of majors that fit your grades, goals, and career plans. Upload your documents once; we submit every university and scholarship application, line up multiple admission letters, and guide you through the visa process—backed by our admission-and-scholarship guarantee.
Electrical Engineering LM-28 – Study in Italy in English
Choosing a master in Electrical Engineering LM-28 opens doors to areas like renewable energy, smart grids, and automation. Among English-taught programs in Italy, this degree stands out for its blend of theory and hands-on labs. When you study in Italy in English at a public Italian university, you learn from professors who lead European research projects. Fees stay low compared to private schools. With DSU grant and merit aid, many students reach costs like tuition-free universities Italy. This guide covers course details, funding paths, and student support.
English-taught programs in Italy: Why LM-28 Stands Out
Electrical Engineering LM-28 at Polytechnic University of Milan (Politecnico di Milano) ranks among the best English-taught programs in Italy. Its strengths include strong research, modern labs, and industry ties. The department publishes in top journals on power systems, photonics, and embedded electronics. Faculty lead European projects on smart grids, low-carbon power supply, and electric mobility.
The course welcomes students from varied backgrounds, from classic electrical engineering to computer science. This mix creates lively debates in seminars and project teams. You learn to work with professionals from different fields. Guest lectures by industry experts show real-world challenges in energy markets, aerospace, and automation.
Major lab facilities include:
- High-voltage test benches to validate insulation systems.
- Photonics laboratories for fibre-optic communication experiments.
- Power electronics workshops with programmable converters and motor drives.
- Embedded systems rooms equipped with microcontroller kits and robotics platforms.
These spaces let you test designs, debug prototypes, and run performance trials. Safety rules match international standards, so you gain experience in regulated environments.
LM-28 also offers short courses on EU standards—for example, grid codes that govern how power plants connect to the transmission network. Understanding these rules is key when you advise utilities or renewable developers.
Small class sizes (around 30 per year) ensure personal feedback. Professors hold weekly office hours where you discuss assignments, research ideas, or career plans. This shape-your-own path approach means top students can move into PhD projects early.
Study in Italy in English: How the Course Works
The LM-28 pathway uses the two-year, 120-ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) framework of public Italian universities. Each credit equals about 25–30 hours of work, mixing lectures, labs, and study time.
Year 1 – Core Foundations
You start with modules that refresh and extend core knowledge:
- Advanced Circuit Theory (12 ECTS): Analyse linear and non-linear networks. Learn state-space methods (tools to model dynamic systems).
- Electromagnetic Fields (8 ECTS): Study Maxwell’s equations, wave propagation, and antenna basics.
- Power Systems Analysis (10 ECTS): Examine generation, transmission, and distribution. Simulate load flows and short-circuit events.
- Digital Signal Processing (8 ECTS): Explore filters, Fourier transforms, and real-time DSP hardware applications.
- Control Systems Engineering (10 ECTS): Design feedback loops for stability. Use MATLAB/Simulink to model automatic controllers.
Workshops follow each module. In the power systems lab, you build a miniature grid and test how adding a solar inverter affects voltage stability. In control labs, you tune a robot arm’s controller to follow set trajectories.
Year 2 – Specialisation and Thesis
Second-year work lets you tailor studies. Core modules include:
- Power Electronics for Renewable Energy (8 ECTS): Learn converter topologies for wind and solar integration.
- Embedded Systems for IoT (8 ECTS): Use microcontrollers and sensors to prototype smart devices.
- Machine Learning for Signal and Image Processing (6 ECTS): Apply basic neural networks to pattern recognition tasks.
You then choose two electives (8 ECTS each) such as:
- Electric Vehicle Technologies
- Optical Fibre Communications
- Smart Grid Optimisation
- Industrial Automation and Robots
The final 30 ECTS come from your thesis project. You work six months on a research or industry case. Recent topics include:
- Designing a bidirectional converter for vehicle-to-grid applications.
- Developing a low-power wireless sensor network for structural health monitoring.
- Simulating quantum-dot photonic devices for future communication systems.
Thesis work often involves co-supervision by a company. You test prototypes or run simulations on high-performance clusters. At the end, you defend your work to a mixed panel of professors and industry partners.
Teaching Style and Assessment
Lectures run in English, but interactive formats dominate:
- Flipped classrooms: You watch short videos before class. In-person time goes to problem solving.
- Team projects: You form small groups to tackle real challenges, from optimising microgrids to programming industrial robots.
- Guest seminars: Professionals from Siemens, Enel, and Thales present case studies and hiring tips.
Assessment uses continuous evaluation:
- Weekly quizzes check understanding of key concepts.
- Lab reports document methods, data, and conclusions.
- Oral presentations improve your technical English and defence skills.
- Final exams test both theory and practical know-how.
Funding and tuition-free universities Italy: Reducing Your Costs
Fees at public Italian universities depend on family income. The top bracket approaches €3,900 per year, but many pay far less. Combining regional aid and merit awards can push real costs toward those at tuition-free universities Italy.
DSU grant
The DSU grant (Diritto allo Studio Universitario) is regional financial support. It may cover:
- Tuition waiver (full or partial).
- Meal vouchers in campus refectories.
- Housing allowance for student residences or private rental.
- A modest stipend for books and transport.
To apply:
- Gather income certificates for the previous year.
- Translate documents into Italian and legalise with an apostille.
- Upload scans via the DSU portal by late June.
- Review provisional ranking in August; final confirmation follows enrolment.
Many students begin document work months in advance to avoid last-minute rejections due to missing stamps.
Scholarships for international students in Italy
Polytechnic University of Milan offers additional awards:
- Excellence Scholarships: Waive tuition and grant €10,000 per year to top candidates.
- Department Fellowships: Paid research assistant positions on EU-funded projects.
- Country-specific bursaries: Some governments sponsor students in strategic fields like electrical engineering.
It is wise to apply for all relevant calls. Deadlines often fall close together but portal systems usually allow multiple simultaneous applications.
Cost of living
After fees, plan for about €800–1,000 per month. Public transport passes, student rates for health insurance, and subsidised campus meals keep budgets tight. Many LM-28 students share flats in student zones to split rent and utility expenses.
Student Life at Public Italian Universities: Support and Resources
Life as an LM-28 student means more than classes. Public Italian universities offer services to help you thrive.
Laboratories and equipment
- High-voltage test facility: Validate insulation systems up to hundreds of kilovolts.
- Photonics lab: Use lasers and spectrometers to study light–matter interaction.
- Embedded systems workshops: Program microcontrollers and interface sensors.
- Robotics area: Test industrial and collaborative robots under safe conditions.
Access is granted via safety training sessions. After passing basic courses, you book time slots online and work independently or in small teams.
Software and computing resources
Every student gets licences for:
- MATLAB/Simulink for modelling.
- PLECS or PSCAD for power-electronics simulation.
- LabVIEW for data acquisition in labs.
- Open-source Python libraries for machine learning and data analysis.
High-performance clusters run more demanding simulations, such as electromagnetic field solvers or optimisation routines.
Academic and career support
- Tutoring: You meet a dedicated tutor each semester to plan electives and monitor progress.
- Language services: Free Italian courses help daily life. Writing clinics refine technical reports in English.
- Careers office: Hosts talent days where companies interview students for internships and jobs.
LinkedIn workshops train you to build profiles and approach recruiters. Alumni panels discuss interview strategies and contract types.
Well-being and community
Student unions and clubs organise sports, cultural events, and hackathons. From dragon-boat racing to coding competitions, you find like-minded peers. Counselling services offer support for stress or culture shock. Time-management seminars teach you to break major tasks into weekly goals, reducing last-minute pressure.
Career Prospects after LM-28
Graduates enter fields where demand outpaces supply. Typical roles include:
- Power systems engineer in utility companies.
- Research engineer in photonics and telecom firms.
- Control systems designer for industrial automation.
- Embedded systems developer for IoT (Internet of Things) devices.
- Data analyst for energy-market forecasting.
Thanks to the Laurea Magistrale title, you can register as a professional engineer in Italy and gain recognition across Europe under mutual-recognition rules. Many alumni secure positions before graduation through network events and thesis collaborations.
Ready for this programme?
If you qualify and we still have a spot this month, we’ll reserve your place with ApplyAZ. Our team will tailor a set of best-fit majors—including this course—and handle every form and deadline for you. One upload, many applications, guaranteed offers, DSU grant support, and visa coaching: that’s the ApplyAZ promise. Start now and secure your spot before this month’s intake fills up.
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