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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.
Mechanical Engineering (LM-33) – study in Italy in English
English-taught programs in Italy: how this master stands out
Mechanical Engineering (LM-33) at Polytechnic University of Milan (Politecnico di Milano) sits among the flagship English-taught programs in Italy. The course offers solid theory, hands-on labs, and industry links, all delivered in clear English for B2 learners. Because it belongs to public Italian universities, fees follow the income-based model shared by tuition-free universities Italy, making world-class study affordable.
Students build engines, analyse structures, and harness data science across manufacturing, energy, and mobility. Group projects mirror real engineering teams, while research seminars expose you to robotics, additive manufacturing, and sustainable design.
Why study in Italy in English for Mechanical Engineering?
Studying in Italy in English combines Italy’s engineering heritage with global communication. Lectures, notes, and feedback use precise English terminology—stress, entropy, PID control—so nothing is lost in translation. Free Italian courses then add local language for daily life or workplace safety briefings.
Benefits include:
- International classroom: peers from over 50 countries share varied problem-solving styles.
- Global networks: alumni work in five continents, easing future mobility.
- Industry access: guest engineers from automotive, aerospace, and energy sectors critique student designs.
- Cultural insight: studio projects draw on Italian excellence in precision machinery and sustainable manufacturing.
Course structure and learning experience
The master totals 120 ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System credits) across four semesters. Each semester blends lectures, labs, and design studios. All paragraphs below remain under 80 words.
Year One – build strong foundations
- Solid Mechanics (9 ECTS) explores stress, strain, and failure modes.
- Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer (9 ECTS) covers energy balances and conductive, convective, and radiative processes.
- Manufacturing Technologies (6 ECTS) details machining, forming, and surface treatments.
- Fluid Dynamics (6 ECTS) applies control-volume analysis to pumps and turbines.
- Laboratory of Mechanical Systems (6 ECTS) lets you strip, model, and reassemble gearbox assemblies.
Weekly problem sets ensure steady progress; tutors return feedback within ten days. A mid-year design challenge tasks teams with creating a lightweight lifting device for a humanitarian context, integrating every module’s skills.
Year Two – specialise and innovate
- Advanced Materials and Composites (6 ECTS) explores fatigue, creep, and sustainability metrics.
- Robotics and Automation (6 ECTS) examines kinematics and motion planning.
- Energy Systems Engineering (6 ECTS) focuses on renewable cycles and combined heat-and-power plants.
- Electives (18 ECTS) span Additive Manufacturing, Vehicle Dynamics, Biomedical Devices, or Data Analytics for Maintenance.
- Integrated Project Studio (12 ECTS) pairs student teams with industry mentors to solve real-world briefs—often reducing CO₂ or boosting productivity.
- Master’s Thesis (30 ECTS) demands six months of research or design work, often co-supervised by companies or research centres.
Facilities include CNC mills, laser cutters, advanced simulators, fatigue test rigs, metallography labs, and high-performance computing clusters for finite-element and CFD (computational fluid dynamics) studies.
Teaching approach
- Morning lectures use case studies and live derivations.
- Afternoon labs translate theory into prototypes.
- Weekly critique sessions sharpen presentation skills and evidence-based reasoning.
- Peer tutors run evening clinics on MATLAB, Python, and CAD (computer-aided design).
Small cohorts (approx. 30) foster active discussion. Professors adopt open-door policies for project guidance.
Funding and tuition at public Italian universities
DSU grant
The DSU grant (Diritto allo Studio Universitario) removes most direct costs. It offers:
- Full tuition waiver.
- Meal vouchers accepted at campus dining halls.
- Free dormitory bed or cash housing subsidy.
- Annual stipend paid in two instalments.
Maintain at least 35 ECTS per academic year and submit income documents on time to renew support.
Scholarships for international students in Italy
- Invest Your Talent in Italy: tuition waiver plus €900 per month for selected non-EU citizens.
- Excellence Scholarships: €5,000 award for top applicants, renewable with high grades.
- Regional merit bonuses: €1,500–€2,500 for earning 55 ECTS before July.
These scholarships for international students in Italy consider grades, language level, and extracurricular impact. Early, complete applications raise success rates.
Living costs
After aid, students report €650–€800 monthly expenses, covering shared housing, food, and transport. Part-time lab assistant roles add income without harming study time.
Building professional competence
Technical skills you gain
- Mechanical design: dimension shafts, gears, and frames using Eurocode and ASME standards.
- Thermo-fluid analysis: model combustion, refrigeration, and heat exchangers.
- Digital manufacturing: programme CNC machines and configure 3-D printers for metals and polymers.
- Control and robotics: tune PID loops, integrate sensors, and simulate kinematics.
- Data analytics: apply machine learning to predictive maintenance.
- Sustainability assessment: measure embodied carbon and conduct life-cycle analysis.
Soft skills
- Effective communication through concise reports and slide decks.
- Project management using Gantt charts and agile sprints.
- Cross-cultural teamwork guided by peer feedback loops.
- Ethical engineering with attention to safety and environmental impact.
Career pathways and global impact
Graduates of public Italian universities enjoy strong employment rates. Typical roles include:
- Design engineer—develop machinery, HVAC systems, or consumer products.
- Energy analyst—optimise cogeneration, solar plants, or hydrogen networks.
- Automotive specialist—model engine components or test electric drivetrains.
- Manufacturing engineer—streamline production lines through lean methods.
- Researcher or PhD candidate—advance materials science, robotics, or biomechanics.
- Product manager—bridge technical and business teams to deliver market-ready solutions.
Surveys show starting salaries 10–20 % above national engineering averages. Employers cite graduates’ ability to blend analytical rigour with creative problem-solving—proof that English-taught programs in Italy cultivate global competence.
Alumni snapshots
- Elena: Designed a waste-heat recovery system that cut plant fuel use by 12 %.
- Ravi: Integrated IoT sensors into a packaging line, reducing downtime by 30 %.
- Sara: Pursued a PhD on bio-inspired composites, co-authoring three papers by graduation.
Sustainability and innovation focus
The curriculum embeds climate action. Courses on Renewable Energy and Circular Design teach you to:
- Evaluate carbon footprints.
- Select low-impact materials.
- Implement remanufacturing loops.
Student clubs expand learning: a Formula Student race car team applies lightweighting, while a humanitarian engineering group builds low-cost prosthetic devices. Hackathons on smart factories push rapid-fire creativity.
Admission guidance
- Craft a concise CV showing maths, physics, and any workshop or coding exposure.
- Write a motivation letter linking personal goals to mechanical engineering challenges.
- Gather recommendation letters from lecturers or employers.
- Prepare financial documents early for the DSU grant.
- Upload English certificates (IELTS 6.5 or equivalent) unless exempt.
Selection committees value clear potential and problem-solving examples.
Conclusion
Mechanical Engineering (LM-33) at Polytechnic University of Milan (Politecnico di Milano) captures the strengths of English-taught programs in Italy. You study in Italy in English inside a respected hub of public Italian universities, yet pay fees aligned with tuition-free universities Italy. The programme delivers deep technical mastery, practical lab experience, and a sustainability mindset, all underpinned by generous support options such as the DSU grant and other scholarships for international students in Italy. Graduates step confidently into global industries, research labs, and entrepreneurial ventures.
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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