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Study in Italy in English: IULM University (Libera Università di Lingue e Comunicazione IULM)
Walking through Milan’s fashion district, you hear five languages in five minutes. The city’s energy explains why many students pick English-taught programs in Italy: they want global skills without leaving Europe’s cultural heart. Libera Università di Lingue e Comunicazione IULM—usually called IULM University—offers exactly that. In the next pages you will discover how this university pairs media creativity with solid business training, how Milan welcomes students with efficient transport and paid internships, and how national aids such as the DSU grant make fees resemble those at tuition-free universities Italy.
IULM at a Glance: Young, Specialised, International
Founded in 1968, IULM University began as a language school linked to the booming trade fairs of northern Italy. Over five decades it has grown into a specialised centre for communication, media, tourism, and cultural studies.
Quick facts
- Global reputation – QS Rankings list IULM among Europe’s top universities for Communication and Media Studies.
- Campus size – About 6,000 students, small enough for professors to learn your name yet large enough to run film studios, radio stations, and a start-up incubator.
- Teaching language – Core modules run in English or offer bilingual tracks, making it easy to study in Italy in English from day one.
- Research hubs – Centres focus on brand storytelling, food culture, and virtual reality in tourism.
- Exchange network – Over 150 partner institutions from Canada to South Korea.
Key Faculties and Degrees
- Communication, Media, and Advertising – Courses in content strategy, digital storytelling, and influencer marketing.
- Arts and Cultural Events Management – Training in museum curation, festival planning, and creative entrepreneurship.
- Tourism and Hospitality – Focus on sustainable tourism, destination branding, and service design.
- Languages and Intercultural Communication – Combine English, Italian, and a third language such as Spanish or Chinese.
- Corporate Communication and Public Relations – Stakeholder engagement, crisis management, and ESG reporting.
Because Milan hosts global fashion weeks and design fairs, many professors double as consultants for brands like Armani, Apple, and Accor. Lectures often feature real-time case studies straight from these networks.
Milan: A City That Turns Ideas into Internships
Milan ranks among Europe’s wealthiest metropolitan areas, yet students find it friendly thanks to discounts and youth culture.
Living Costs and Housing
- Shared apartment near campus: €450–€600 per month.
- University residence halls: from €380 with utilities and cleaning.
- Canteen meals: €4; espresso at the bar: €1.20.
Public Transport and Mobility
- Integrated ticket covers metro, tram, and bus for €22 per month.
- Bike-sharing with e-bikes costs €25 per year; many routes have dedicated lanes.
- Two main airports—Linate and Malpensa—offer budget flights to over 150 cities, ideal for weekend breaks.
Culture and Nightlife
- Students under 26 enter civic museums for €3 and La Scala rehearsals for €10.
- Free film festivals in Navigli canals each summer.
- Language-exchange meet-ups at bars every Thursday, perfect for practising Italian or Spanish.
The climate is continental: mild autumns, cool winters (rarely below 0 °C), and warm summers (up to 32 °C). Urban parks like Parco Sempione provide green study corners.
Job and Internship Hotspots: Finance, Fashion, and High-Tech
Milan hosts Italy’s stock exchange and 4,500 multinationals, turning lectures into networking sessions.
Major Sectors Linked to IULM Degrees
- Media and Communication – Sky Italia, Mediaset, TikTok EU offices.
- Fashion and Luxury – Prada, Versace, and emerging sustainable labels needing social-media managers.
- Food and Beverage – Barilla marketing labs, Eataly HQ, and dozens of Michelin-starred restaurants.
- Tourism and Events – ExpoCity, Fiera Milano congress centre, and an annual calendar of design, art, and gaming fairs.
- Tech and Start-ups – Fintech district near Porta Romana hosts accelerators like Plug and Play.
Internship Advantages
- IULM arranges over 1,200 internships per year; one third are paid, another third offer transport and meal vouchers.
- The university’s Job Placement Office hosts weekly recruiting days with agencies such as Ogilvy and Deloitte Digital.
- Students in English-taught tracks often secure roles in multinational teams where English is the work language, easing the transition.
Thanks to Italy’s “search-year” residence permit, non-EU graduates may stay 12 months after finishing studies to job-hunt.
Fees, Scholarships, and the DSU Grant
While IULM is a private institution, it still sits within Italy’s income-based aid framework.
- Annual tuition ranges from €3,200 to €9,000, depending on family income (ISEE indicator).
- DSU grant – Available to EU and non-EU students; can cover tuition, rent, and up to €5,200 pocket money each year.
- IULM merit scholarships – 50 % fee waiver for top entrance-exam scores or GPA.
- Corporate scholarships – Fashion brands and media groups sponsor selected thesis projects.
ApplyAZ experts will walk you through each application, ensuring forms and translations meet deadlines.
Language Support and Soft Skills
IULM’s Language Centre offers free Italian courses up to B2, plus optional French, German, and Mandarin. The university’s Pitching Lab trains you to present in under three minutes, while the Storytelling Clinic helps refine narratives for brand campaigns or NGO proposals. Such extras make IULM graduates attractive to global employers who value clear communication across cultures.
After Class: Labs, Clubs, and Creative Hackathons
- IULM Radio and TV – Students produce podcasts, live shows, and short documentaries.
- Debate Club – Weekly sessions sharpen argument skills for PR roles.
- Sustainability Hub – Projects include zero-waste events and urban-garden design.
- Gaming Society – Runs 48-hour hackathons to build playable prototypes for social causes.
By graduation your CV features concrete artefacts—video campaigns, PR strategies, or event blueprints—rather than just course titles.
Why IULM + Milan Makes Sense for International Students
- Creative DNA – Study storytelling two metro stops from Europe’s fashion capital.
- English-friendly – Lectures and internships keep English at the core while Italian remains a bonus, not a barrier.
- Liveable costs – With the DSU grant and student discounts, monthly budgets rival smaller Italian cities.
- Career synergy – Placement rates exceed 90 % within six months, driven by local industries hungry for bilingual talent.
- Cultural immersion – Renaissance art one day, esports tournament the next: Milan blends old and new like no other.
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.
Study in Italy in English: Strategic Communication (LM-59) at IULM University (Libera Università di Lingue e Comunicazione IULM)
The digital age moves so fast that yesterday’s message already feels old. Brands, NGOs, and governments therefore need professionals who can frame clear stories, manage crises, and read data in real time. Italy answers this demand with a growing list of English-taught programs in Italy. They let you study in Italy in English, gain EU-recognised credits, and still pay fees linked to family income—an approach that mirrors many tuition-free universities Italy. One of the strongest offers is the two-year Strategic Communication master’s (LM-59) at IULM University (Libera Università di Lingue e Comunicazione IULM) in Milan.
This guide explains how the course blends rhetoric, analytics, and cultural insight; how Milan doubles as a living lab for campaigns; and how scholarships for international students in Italy—including the DSU grant—make the degree affordable.
Why Strategic Communication—and Why IULM?
A city made for storytellers
Milan hosts Europe’s top fashion week, Italy’s biggest design fair, and the country’s stock exchange. Every week, global journalists, investors, and influencers converge here. This ecosystem feeds the classroom with live briefs and networking dinners.
A university built on language and media
Founded in 1968, IULM has always focused on communication. QS ranks its media studies among Europe’s top tiers, and the campus houses:
- A television studio and podcast suite available from week one.
- A social-listening lab monitoring 500,000 Italian tweets per hour.
- A Brand Heritage Observatory that tracks how firms convert history into trust.
- A neuromarketing unit with eye-tracking and EEG to test ad impact.
Professors publish in Journal of Communication and consult for bodies such as the European Parliament or UNICEF. Guest lecturers land from Google, Ogilvy, and Netflix headquarters—a synergy few public Italian universities match.
Course Structure: 120 ECTS in Four Focused Semesters
Semester 1: Foundations of Strategy
- Communication Theory and Persuasion – from Aristotle’s ethos to TikTok virality.
- Research Methods for Media – qualitative interviews, sentiment analysis, and basic Python scraping.
- Global Media Systems – policy, ownership, and freedom indexes across continents.
- Data-driven Storytelling – infographics, dashboards, and narrative visualisation.
- Italian Language and Culture (optional) – A1/A2 survival skills.
Semester 2: Tools and Tactics
- Brand Positioning and Identity – archetypes, tone of voice, and heritage narratives.
- Crisis Communication – simulation of airline crash, data breach, and activist pressure.
- Digital Advertising Lab – Google Ads, programmatic buying, and ROI metrics.
- Public Affairs and Lobbying – EU directive tracing, stakeholder mapping, and ethics.
- Elective 1 – choose Fashion Communication, Sport PR, or Political Campaigns.
Semester 3: Integration and Innovation
- Corporate Social Responsibility and ESG Reporting – GRI standards, SDGs, and greenwashing audits.
- Emerging Platforms – metaverse events, NFTs as loyalty tokens, and AI chatbots.
- Intercultural Negotiation – role-play Brexit trade talks and COP climate sessions.
- Elective 2 – pick Influencer Management, Storytelling for Tourism, or Health Communication.
- Industry Internship – minimum 300 hours in agency, in-house department, or NGO (credits count).
Semester 4: Master’s Thesis
A 24-ECTS project—often a full strategic plan or empirical study. Recent titles:
- “Measuring TikTok’s effect on museum footfall in post-pandemic Milan.”
- “How luxury brands pivot from China to Southeast Asia: a social-listening approach.”
- “Narrative framing and vaccine uptake among Gen-Z Italians.”
Campus Resources That Sharpen Your Skills
- IULM Radio & TV – produce live shows broadcast on DAB+ and YouTube.
- Pitching Lab – 360-degree video records your body language for feedback.
- VR Story Room – craft immersive brand tours for tourism boards.
- Debate Society – weekly Oxford-style clashes train quick thinking.
- Writing Clinic – editors help tighten press releases and LinkedIn posts.
All facilities open late; your swipe card lets you book studios until midnight during project crunches.
Milan: Live, Learn, Network
Cost snapshot
ItemMonthly averageShared flat€500Residence hall€380Transport pass€22Canteen meals€120Nightlife & culture€180
Actual spend dips if you win the DSU grant, which can offset rent and food entirely.
Transport and travel
Three metro lines serve campus; trams stop outside the gate. High-speed trains reach Florence in two hours, Rome in three, giving field-trip flexibility. You can fly low-cost to Paris on Friday, be back for Monday lab.
Climate and leisure
Milan sees warm summers (up to 32 °C) and mild winters (rarely below 0 °C). Parks like Parco Sempione host free concerts; Navigli canals buzz with vintage markets. Language-exchange nights help you pick up Italian idioms over €4 aperitivo.
Career Pipeline: From Intern to Strategist
Industries hiring IULM graduates
- Advertising and PR Agencies – Ogilvy, Wunderman Thompson, BCW.
- Fashion and Luxury – Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Moncler need brand-heritage storytellers.
- Tech Giants – Amazon and Meta manage Italy teams from Milan.
- Consultancy – Accenture Song recruits communication strategists for digital transformation.
- NGOs and IGOs – UN agencies in Rome seek bilingual media officers; IULM alumni fill those desks.
Placement surveys show 92 % of graduates employed within six months. Roles include junior strategist, corporate affairs coordinator, content lead, or CSR analyst.
Internship advantage
The Placement Office posts 1,200 positions yearly—30 % accept English-only speakers. Italian law lets non-EU graduates stay 12 months post-degree to job-hunt; many convert internships into permanent contracts within that window.
Funding Your Degree: DSU Grant and Other Support
- Income-based tuition – Ranges from €3,200 to €9,000 depending on ISEE (family income index).
- DSU grant – Covers tuition, rent, meals, and up to €5,200 cash; open to EU and non-EU students.
- Merit scholarships – 50–100 % fee waiver for top GPA or entrance-test scores.
- Corporate bursaries – Energy, fashion, and banking sponsors fund thesis projects with €3,000–€5,000 stipends.
- Erasmus+ top-ups – Extra €350 monthly if you take a semester in Barcelona, Berlin, or Helsinki.
Soft-Skill Booster Pack
- Italian for Professionals – Free up to B2 so you brief Milano clients confidently.
- Mindfulness Rooms – 20-minute guided breaks reduce screen fatigue.
- Women in Leadership Forum – Network with female CEOs every semester.
- Diversity and Inclusion Workshops – Plan campaigns that avoid tokenism and bias.
These extras ensure you graduate ready not only to craft strategies but also to lead diverse teams.
Mobility Options and Double Degrees
IULM is part of the European University Alliance for Global Media. You can:
- Spend a semester at University of Westminster (London) studying political communication.
- Join a summer school in Singapore exploring Asian media ecosystems.
- Pursue a double-degree with Haaga-Helia University (Helsinki): one year each campus, two diplomas.
All credits flow via ECTS, and Erasmus scholarships lower travel costs.
Typical Weekly Schedule, Semester Two
- Monday 09:00 – Crisis Communication lecture; dissect Boeing’s 737 Max timeline.
- Monday 14:00 – Simulation: live-tweet a mock cyber-attack on a hotel chain.
- Tuesday – Data lab: build a Power BI dashboard tracking hashtag sentiment.
- Wednesday – Field visit to Vogue Italia newsroom; Q&A about influencer partnerships.
- Thursday – Group project sprint; storyboard a metaverse launch for a sports brand.
- Friday – Italian B1 class; practise media interviews in local language.
- Weekend – Volunteer at Design Week; gather material for blog assignment.
Every week blends theory, hands-on production, and real industry touchpoints.
Admission Timeline and Tips
- January–March – Submit online pre-application (CV, transcript, statement).
- April – Remote interview; show portfolio if available.
- May – Offer letter; pay first instalment to secure seat.
- June–July – File DSU grant and visa documents; ApplyAZ supports translations.
- September – Arrive, join orientation, and set up bank account.
- October – Classes begin.
Seats are competitive; early application boosts scholarship chances.
Why This Master’s Beats a Generic Communication Degree
- Location synergy – Live campaigns unfold outside your classroom window.
- Research-meets-practice – Publish papers or pitch to Prada; you choose.
- Language leverage – English core with optional Italian; employers love bilingual strategists.
- Cost control – DSU grant plus income scaling shrinks private-school fees.
- ApplyAZ safety net – From document prep to visa, experts smooth each step.
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.
They Began right where you are
