Politecnico di Milano

Founded in 1863, Politecnico di Milano is Italy’s leading technical university and one of the country’s oldest institutions in the field of engineering, architecture, and design. It is based in Milan and operates across six campuses in Milano, Lecco, Cremona, Mantova, Piacenza, and a joint design and innovation centre in Xi’an. The university reports 49,395 enrolled students, including 9,940 international students, and a staff of 1,853 full professors plus 1,492 technical and administrative collaborators. Politecnico di Milano is organized around architecture, design, and engineering, and offers more than 70 programmes across undergraduate and postgraduate study. Its first-cycle Laurea normally lasts three years, while Laurea Magistrale programmes last two years and PhD studies last three years. Many postgraduate programmes, and some undergraduate programmes, are available in English. The university states that its international student body spans Laurea, Laurea Magistrale, and PhD levels. In QS 2027, it is ranked first in Italy and 87th in the world, with especially strong subject standing in Data Science & AI, Chemical Engineering, Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Materials Science, and Mathematics. The institution also emphasizes strong international alliances and participation in major teaching-and-research networks. The student residences and merit-based aid system are part of a broader scholarship and financial-aid landscape that also includes DSU support and additional merit scholarships for international master’s candidates.