Politecnico di Milano

Overview

Politecnico di Milano was founded in 1863 and is a public university focused on engineering, architecture and industrial design. Its two main Milan campuses are Leonardo, in the Città Studi district, and Bovisa in the northwest of the city, where design and much of engineering are taught. Regional campuses include Lecco, Cremona, Mantua and Piacenza. Admission works by area: engineering, architecture, urban planning and design each have their own routes.

Language of instruction

Most Polimi bachelor programs are taught in Italian. Some engineering bachelor programs are taught in English, and the admissions pages mention scholarships for the English-taught Process Engineering program in Cremona and Industrial Engineering in Piacenza. To enter an English-taught program you must prove English: citizens of a country where English is an official language and students whose secondary school was taught in English qualify, as do holders of an accepted certificate. You must also reach B2 in Italian before completing the degree; a score of at least 30/100 on TOL or TOLC-I counts as proof.

Admission tests

Engineering admission is based on a test. Polimi’s own TOL is administered in Italian only, so international applicants usually use one of the English alternatives: the SAT or the CEnT-S. Polimi publishes converters that compare these scores with TOL results. Architecture, urban planning and design have their own tests and calendars. The details above come from the engineering admission page for 2026/27; check the 2027/28 page for dates and score thresholds when it is published.

A US student who already has a solid SAT score, especially in mathematics, may be able to use it. Canadian students who have not taken the SAT should plan a test date well before the application window.

Foreign diplomas and visas

Polimi has a separate section for students with a foreign qualification, which explains how your diploma is assessed and what documents you need. Non-EU students living abroad also go through the Italian pre-application on the Universitaly portal and then apply for a study visa at the Italian consulate. Leave several months for this, since the steps run in sequence.

Costs

Italian public universities generally set fees by family income bands. Polimi explains its fees and scholarships on its cost page; read it with your own circumstances in mind rather than relying on averages.

Study tips

Polimi engineering is demanding in mathematics and physics from the first semester. Prepare with calculus readiness, physics mechanics and the university calculus course. Our Italy guide covers Universitaly and visa steps.