Choosing the right university matters, and the University of Milan is one of the strongest options in Italy. It has a long record, a wide catalogue of programmes and a research reputation that carries internationally. If you are looking for a well-regarded European university with reasonable fees and a broad choice of subjects, and with it a route to an Italian student visa, Milan is worth a close look.
About the University of Milan
The University of Milan, Universita degli Studi di Milano, is one of the largest universities in Italy and was founded in 1924. It ranks well internationally and is the only Italian member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU).
Because the university is research-led, teaching quality is high across its bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programmes. Its close links with industry and with the Milan job market give graduates a realistic path into work.
Alongside Milan, the University of Verona and the University of Cassino are also popular choices in Italy.
Where the university is
The main campus occupies Ca’ Granda, a historic complex in the centre of Milan. The other campuses are spread across a mix of historic buildings and modern facilities, some of them in the city centre and others in Citta Studi, the university district built in the 1920s.
Faculties at the University of Milan
The University of Milan has ten faculties and schools:
- Medicine and Surgery
- Humanities
- Law
- Exercise and Sport Sciences
- Pharmacy
- Political, Economic and Social Sciences
- Agricultural and Food Sciences
- Science and Technology
- Language Mediation and Intercultural Communication
- Veterinary Medicine
What the University of Milan offers international students
The university provides several things that matter to students coming from abroad:
- A broad catalogue
Programmes run across the humanities, law, medicine, science and economics. Many master’s and doctoral programmes are taught in English, which makes them accessible to international applicants. - Workable entry requirements
Bachelor’s admission needs a secondary school diploma, a language certificate and, for some programmes, an entrance test. Master’s and doctoral admission needs a relevant prior degree, a language certificate and, in some cases, an interview or a subject-specific test. - Fees and scholarships
Tuition is lower than in most English-speaking countries, and scholarships are available on both merit and financial-need grounds. - Student life
Milan is an international city with a strong cultural life. Students live in university halls, in private flats or in shared accommodation, and the university’s housing service helps with the search. - Work opportunities
As Italy’s economic centre, Milan offers a wide range of internships and graduate roles, and the university runs a careers service.
Scholarships at the University of Milan
The University of Milan offers a number of scholarships to international master’s students each academic year. The main ones are below. Amounts and quotas are set annually, so check the current call before you apply.
Excellence Scholarships
The university sets aside 160 Excellence Scholarships for outstanding international students admitted to master’s programmes. Candidates are assessed automatically on their academic record after they enrol in a programme, and no separate application is needed.
Of these, 60 carry an award of EUR 8,000 plus a full tuition waiver, and the remaining 100 carry a full tuition waiver.
Regional DSU scholarships
DSU regional scholarships, from the Italian right-to-study scheme, support domestic and international students at bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral level and are awarded on financial need. They include a monthly grant of roughly EUR 600 to EUR 1,000, meal vouchers, help with accommodation, reimbursement of travel costs, and access to welfare and academic services.
Financial need is assessed through the ISEE system. Part-time students and students who have already completed an equivalent course are not eligible.
Other international scholarships
Beyond the excellence and regional awards, the University of Milan runs a set of grants and scholarships aimed at international students. These include international talent awards, which combine a tuition reduction with a monthly grant, and the MUR-CRUI scholarships for students holding international protection status. Conditions differ from one scheme to another, and the official university website carries the current detail.
Recommended reading: our article on the cost of student life in Italy, on the Aval Visa site.
Courses at the University of Milan
Below is a selection of programmes at the University of Milan by level, language of instruction and subject area:
Bachelor’s programmes
The university teaches a number of bachelor’s programmes in English. They include:
- Humanities: Ancient Civilizations for the Contemporary World
- Politics and economics: International Politics, Law and Economics
- Technology and engineering: Artificial Intelligence
- Economics: Economics, Behaviour, Data and Policy
- Medicine (single-cycle): International Medical School
Master’s programmes
At master’s level the university teaches several English-language programmes focused on advanced and specialised subjects:
- Computer science: Computer Science
- Data and economics: Data Science for Economics
- Biotechnology: Molecular Biotechnology and Bioinformatics
- Environment: Environmental Change and Global Sustainability
- International relations: International Relations
- Philosophy and politics: Politics, Philosophy and Public Affairs
- Pharmacy: Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
- Agriculture and natural resources: Biotechnology for the Bioeconomy
PhD programmes
At doctoral level the university runs research programmes in English across a wide range of fields:
- Life and medical sciences: Translational Medicine
- Physics: Physics and Astrophysics
- Veterinary sciences: Veterinary and Animal Science
- Political science: Political Studies
- Economics: Economics and Finance
- Environmental science: Environmental Sciences and Technologies
- Philosophy: Analytic Philosophy and Humanities
University of Milan tuition fees
According to the official University of Milan website, fees run roughly as follows. Italian universities set tuition on a sliding scale assessed through ISEE, so the figure you pay depends on documented household income:
- Bachelor’s programmes run for three years, with annual tuition of about EUR 1,000 to EUR 4,000.
- Master’s programmes run for two years, with annual tuition of about EUR 1,500 to EUR 6,000.
- Doctoral programmes run for three to four years, with annual tuition of EUR 0 to EUR 2,000. Funded PhD positions normally carry no tuition and pay a stipend.
Applying for an Italian student visa with Aval Visa
If you plan to study in Italy, the student visa is the first step after admission. Aval Visa works on study applications and can support the Italian student visa process end to end, from reviewing your documents to advising on the application and following the administrative stages, including pre-enrolment through Universitaly. If you want an experienced team alongside you, get in touch.
Frequently asked questions
- How many University of Milan graduates are working within a year of graduating?
The university reports that 53 per cent of bachelor’s graduates, 64.1 per cent of master’s graduates and 55.4 per cent of single-cycle graduates are in work within a year of finishing. - How does the university prepare students for the job market?
Through internship placements, employer interview sessions and an online vacancy board, so students see what the market is looking for while they are still studying. - Who can apply to the University of Milan directly?
EU citizens, holders of a valid Italian residence permit and citizens of Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Other international applicants apply through the Universitaly pre-enrolment portal and then request a study visa at the Italian consulate covering their place of residence.
