Politecnico di Milano
Milan, ITALY

University Info   |   Exchange Student Info

Introduction

The Politecnico di Milano is one of the most outstanding universities in Europe, ranked 48th in the world and 14th in Europe among technical universities, according to The QS World University Ranking – Engineering & Technology 2012. Founded in 1863, it is the largest school of architecture, design and engineering in Italy, with three main campuses located in Milan, the heart of fashion and design industries and the future venue of Expo 2015, and five more premises around the Lombardy region. Many important scientists and architects studied and taught here, among them Achille Castiglioni, Gio Ponti, Renzo Piano and Aldo Rossi, both Pritzker Prize in 1990 and 1998 respectively, and Giulio Natta, Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1963.

The Politecnico di Milano is organized into 12 departments, responsible for planning of the research strategies, and 6 schools, responsible for the organization of education. Among these, 3 schools cater for the different fields of engineering and 3 schools the fields of architecture and industrial design. Thanks to a strong internationalization policy, many programmes are taught entirely in English, attracting an ever-increasing number of talented foreign students, which now form a diverse community from more than 100 different countries. In the academic year 2010/2011, 22% of the total students enrolled on Master of Science programmes were foreign.

Inter and multidisciplinarity is fostered throughout the academic path, and it is the methodological approach of the Phd School and the ASP (Alta Scuola Politecnica), a school for young talents from all over the world, who develop their skills in a team work context to pursue complex innovation projects. Students are offered also focused and personalized career services, from in-class and online meetings with companies, to workshops on soft skills and the job market, along with announcements and guidance for international careers.

Teaching is increasingly related to research, a key commitment that enables to achieve results of high international standards, while creating connections with the business world. Strategic research is carried out mainly in the fields of energy, transport, planning, management, design, mathematics and natural and applied sciences, ICT, built environment, cultural heritage, with more than 130 laboratories, among these also a Wind Tunnel and a Crash Test centre.

Terms of Exchange

Study Level

• Undergraduate students: Accepted 
• Graduate students: Accepted
• Computer Science majors: Accepted

Language of Instruction

Italian, English

Courses in English are taught at the Master's level. Politecnico di Milano offers 3 year undergraduate programs and 2 year Master's programs. Advanced undergraduates (3rd and 4th year students) may be able to take the Master's level courses provided they have the necessary pre-requisites.

Study Period

Fall, Spring, or Academic Year

Academic Calendar   |   Semester Dates (including exam period)

• Fall: late September to late February
• Spring: late February to late July

At the end of the classes each semester, a period of examinations is scheduled, usually lasting about a month.

Academic Information

Disciplines Available

The following programs in Engineering are currently offered in English at the Master of Science level:

• Aeronautical Engineering
• Automation and Control Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering
• Building and Architectural Engineering
• Civil Engineering for Environmental Risks Mitigation
• Computer Science and Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Electronics Engineering
• Energy Engineering
• Energy Engineering for an Environmentally Sustainable World
• Environmental & Geomatic Engineering
• Management Engineering
• Management of Built Environment
• Materials Engineering & Nanotechnology
• Mathematical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Nuclear Engineering
• Space Engineering
• Telecommunications Engineering

NOTE: Non degree seeking students can be admitted to attend our courses in English at the Master of Science (“Laurea Magistrale”) level, provided they can show they possess the necessary prerequisites.

Here are some suggested study plan options available to Global E3 students in specific areas for the academic year 2014/2015. The necessary pre-requisites are also indicated.

MSc in Architecture - Bovisa Campus
MSc in Automation Engineering
MSc in Biomedical Engineering
MSc in Civil Engineering – Milano Leonardo Campus
MSc in Civil Engineering for Risk Mitigation - Lecco Campus
MSc in Electronics Engineering
MSc in Energy Engineering
MSc in Engineering for Computer Systems
MSc in Environmental and Geomatic Engineering - Como Campus
MSc in Management Engineering – Como Campus
MSc in Telecommunications Engineering

Course Contents

Course Descriptions   |   Schedule of Classes

Workload per Semester

The European Credit Transfer System is used by Italian universities to evaluate and measure the workload teaching hours and the higher education effort of every single course. Credits also measure the student workload which is required to pass the examination and include class attendance, classwork, laboratory work and individual study. It is also possible to obtain credits for other training courses, or project works or theses, internships, foreign languages, basic computing skills, training in communication and public relations and group work.

One credit corresponds to a workload of about 25 hours and the yearly workload for an average study course corresponds to about 60 credits.

Additional Application Materials

Students nominated by IIE to PoliMi are invited to register on-line in order to get a username and password needed to get access to the Application Form. Registration will open twice a year. 

The candidate will also have the possibility to prepare a preliminary Learning Agreement. Only applications from students that have been officially nominated by home university officials will be considered.

A confirmation message of will be sent to all accepted exchange students.

An acceptance letter will be sent to accepted exchange students applying for visa.

In some cases, the following documents could be required:

• A Transcript of Records of previous study results 
• A Portfolio, Letter of motivation and/or CV to be written in English or Italian

Please note that pre-registered students may log-in even after deadline (using their username and password) in order to

• check how their application proceeds (accepted as an exchange student) 
• modify the Learning agreement (the first weeks in Milan students will prepare their definitive Study Plan/Learning agreement) 

Housing

Politecnico di Milano has recently introduced a new accommodation policy which fixes as main object providing beds to the largest number of students, without forgetting all the other aspects connected to their integration into university life and into the urban context of the town where they are studying. Accepting this challenge means that it is necessary to plan different activities in order to develop and diversify accommodation services, especially for those students who don’t reside in the town where they study.

Nonetheless, the Politecnico di Milano cannot guarantee all students a place in residences and in fact some students choose to live in privately rented housing.

Estimated Cost of Living

Estimated Living Expenses

Contact

Office Responsible for International Exchange Students 

International Exchange Office   |   Contacts

City Info

The Politecnico di Milano has seven campuses: the two main ones are in Milano and four are spread around the Lombardia region, while Piacenza campus is in Emilia Romagna.

Lombardia is one of the largest regions in northern Italy and, thanks to its geographical position, it is close to some of the most characteristic panoramic countryside for the tourist who wants to get to know our country better: the mountains of the Alps and the renown ski resorts, the beaches of Liguria or the Venetian coast, always full of life in the summer months.

Thanks to the public transportation available in Milano, cities of art like Venezia, Verona, Bologna and Firenze are easily within reach for those who want to admire a small piece of Italian history and architecture.

Lombardia offers mountain landscapes perfect for winter sports, beautiful natural parks and characteristic villages, mostly around the areas of Lake Maggiore, Lake Garda and Lake Como. One particularity of the area is the Oltrepo Pavese, a land of rolling hills and medieval hamlets, that gives its name to a famous type of wine.

The Lombardia Region brings you the opportunity to discover a treasure made of history and arts, nature, entertainment, and gastronomy, just enjoy it!