Italian academic excellence: the polytechnic institute of Milan

Prominent in the list of the best university institutions in the Bel Paese is the Politecnico di Milano, an Italian excellence in the scientific-technological field. To date, the Politecnico di Milano is widely recognized as the best Italian university for technical-scientific faculties, thanks to several international awards and a solid network of collaborations with the best universities in the world.

History and interesting facts about the Polytechnic University of Milan

The Milan Polytechnic was founded in 1863, by Francesco Brioschi, a politician and mathematician of great renown in Italian academia. Initially, the school was called Istituto Tecnico Superiore and was inspired by the polytechnics already present in Germany and Switzerland.

From 1865, the Politecnico expanded its educational offerings to include the School for Architects, thanks to interactions with the Brera Academy of Fine Arts. This marked the beginning of the institute's transformation into a reality that today trains engineers, architects and designers.

A curiosity about the Milan Polytechnic is the nickname "Asilo Brioschi," given to it by students and former students. This appellation derives from the famous strictness with which the polytechnic has always been run (compulsory attendance, absences excused by doctors or parents, classes from Monday to Saturday, and university life with a very tight schedule). This rigidity in teaching has contributed to the reputation that the polytechnic has acquired over the years, namely that of a prestigious and challenging university, but with a guarantee of excellent results.

Politecnico di Milano: international awards

Today, Politecnico di Milano is the first university in Italy according to the QS ranking (2025) and 111th university in the world; in particular, it is the 12th university in the world for Mechanical Engineering faculties, 7th in Art & Design, and 10th in Architecture & Built Environment faculties.

Obviously, these recognitions translate into an ever-increasing number of enrollments, with a total in the 2024-2025 academic year of 48,383 boys and girls, 23 percent of whom are of international origin.

What is studied at the Politecnico di Milano.

Polytechnic's educational offerings are divided into 4 areas:

• Urban planning architecture construction engineering;
• design;
• Civil, environmental and land use engineering;
• Industrial and information engineering.

The departments are distributed across the 6 campuses of the University: Milan Leonardo, Milan Bovisa, Lecco, Cremona, Mantua and Piacenza.

The university offers 89 bachelor's and master's degree programs, almost all of which are available in both Italian and English.

The international dimension and agreements with universities around the world characterize studies at the polytechnic; suffice it to say that the university also has a branch in China: the Joint School of Design and Innovation Centre in Xi'an.

How much does it cost to study at Politecnico di Milano

Politecnico di Milano (Polimi) is a public university. Tuition fees are calculated according to the student's total family income (ISEE). For Italian and European students, annual fees range from a minimum of 167.04 euros to a maximum of 3,893.04 euros, depending on declared income.

To lower the cost of tuition fees, the Politecnico di Milano offers numerous scholarships of different values and based on academic merit. Many of these are intended for international students and some are total, that is, they fully cover the cost of studies. In some cases they also go so far as to offer extra funds to support students in expenses related to housing and living in Milan.

International students who are not eligible for a scholarship are required to pay the maximum amount of tuition fees for their course of study.

The synergies between WAI and the Milan Polytechnic.

Due to its reputation and high quality teaching, the Politecnico di Milano attracts a large number of international students every year. To support non-EU students embarking on a course of study at the Politecnico, a partnership with the Welcome Association Italy (WAI) union was established. This agreement facilitates access to private health coverage, which is necessary for the issuance of a residence permit.

By joining the Welcome package for non-EU citizens, international students can apply for a residence permit without difficulty and fully focus on their academic pursuits at one of Italy's most prestigious institutions.