This is a webinar recap Q&A, the recording you can view here: https://thestudyabroadportal.com/open-day/a-successful-career-starts-with-high-quality-education-find-your-masters-in-engineering-design-or-architecture-at-politecnico-di-milano/?utm_source=Blog

Considering a Master’s degree at Politecnico di Milano? During our recent webinar, prospective students asked questions about everything from admission requirements and English certificates to tuition fees, scholarships, accommodation, careers and what it is actually like to study in Milan.

We brought together Politecnico di Milano staff and current international students from Vietnam, Colombia and Lebanon to answer those questions from both the university and student perspective.

Below are the key questions and answers from the session.

1. What Master’s degrees are available at Politecnico di Milano?

Politecnico di Milano offers a broad range of Master of Science programmes across Engineering, Architecture and Design.

The webinar highlighted programmes ranging from Mathematical Engineering and Engineering disciplines to Architecture and Urban Design, Digital Interaction Design, Product Design and Management Engineering.

There are currently 42 Master of Science programmes taught entirely in English, according to the webinar. The standard duration is two years. Students can also customise elements of their study plan according to their academic interests and, depending on the programme, choose different tracks or specialisations.

Tip for prospective students: Don’t choose a university based only on its overall reputation. Look closely at the specific curriculum and track you would actually study.

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2. What are the admission requirements for a Master’s at Politecnico di Milano?

To apply for a Master of Science, you generally need:

• A Bachelor’s degree in the same or a related field, or
• To be in the final year of your Bachelor’s degree.
• The required academic background for your chosen programme.
• English-language proficiency.
• Additional documents required by the specific programme.

For some countries, Politecnico di Milano has specific GPA requirements, so applicants should check the requirements applicable to their country and programme before applying.

The application is completed online. Applicants can select up to two programmes and upload the required documents for evaluation.

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3. Do I need to attend an interview when applying?

For the Master of Science application process discussed in the webinar, there is no interview.

Applications are evaluated based on the documents submitted. These can include academic transcripts and grades, an English-language certificate and, for relevant Architecture and Design programmes, a portfolio.

That makes the application documents particularly important: your academic record and, where required, your portfolio need to communicate your suitability clearly.

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4. What English-language requirements does Politecnico di Milano have?

Applicants need to demonstrate English proficiency according to the requirements of their programme.

During the Q&A, the university confirmed that a Cambridge B2 certificate can satisfy the requirement discussed in the webinar. A Cambridge certificate obtained several years previously was also described as remaining valid, provided it meets the required level.

Because language requirements can vary, prospective students should check the current requirements for their specific programme before applying.

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5. How much does a Master’s at Politecnico di Milano cost?

According to the figures presented during the webinar, tuition for Master of Science programmes varies by student category.

For EU students, the tuition fee discussed was approximately €900–€3,900 for the two-year programme, depending on family income.

For non-EU students, the figure presented was approximately €3,900 for the two-year programme.

These figures were presented during the webinar, so applicants should always check the latest official fee information before applying.

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6. How much does it cost to live in Milan as a student?

The webinar estimated overall student living costs in Milan at approximately €900–€1,000 per month, including accommodation and other living expenses.

Accommodation is one of the largest components of the budget. University residences were presented at approximately €400–€600 per month, while private accommodation can cost more. Politecnico di Milano also works with partner residences that can offer additional options.

For international students, this means that tuition is only part of the financial calculation. Accommodation and everyday living costs in Milan should be included when planning your budget.

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7. Does Politecnico di Milano offer scholarships?

Yes. The university offers merit-based scholarships based on academic performance.

Students need to submit a separate scholarship application in addition to their programme application. Different scholarship levels are available, and the scholarships discussed in the webinar include tuition coverage. The highest scholarship mentioned during the session was valued at €10,000.

The university also confirmed during the Q&A that there is no age limit for applying for scholarships.

Important: Scholarship deadlines and eligibility can change, so check the current scholarship information when preparing your application.

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8. Can international students work while studying at Politecnico di Milano?

Politecnico di Milano offers students opportunities to work within the university.

The webinar explained that students can work for up to 200 hours per year in university offices and activities. Current students participating in the webinar had themselves worked as university collaborators.

The benefit is not only financial: these positions can provide work experience while allowing students to work around their primary commitment of studying.

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9. What career support does Politecnico di Milano provide?

Career support was one of the strongest themes of the webinar.

The Career Service acts as a bridge between students and companies, organising events and providing opportunities to meet employers, learn about companies and explore internships and employment opportunities.

Students also mentioned company presentations and career events as an important part of their experience.

One student highlighted the opportunity to meet major companies on campus, while another recommended that prospective students investigate the Career Service and employment opportunities before applying.

The university presented a figure of around 90% of students finding employment within one year of graduation, with approximately half finding employment before graduation.

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10. Does Politecnico di Milano offer online Master’s degrees?

No. The webinar confirmed that the programmes discussed are in-person programmes.

A prospective student specifically asked whether the Architecture programme could be studied online. The answer was no: the university’s programmes are designed for students to study on campus, including in Milan.

For students looking specifically for an online Master’s, Politecnico di Milano would therefore not meet that requirement based on the information presented in the webinar.

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11. What is student life like at Politecnico di Milano?

The current students described university life as much broader than attending lectures.

Students can participate in:

• Student associations
• Sports activities
• Competitions
• Social events
• Student clubs
• Career events
• Cultural activities
• Soft-skills courses

One student from Vietnam described taking part in a Mathematical Engineering student association and the university’s running event. Another student highlighted the international environment created by group projects with students from different cultural backgrounds.
The university also offers free Italian-language courses to students, with students expected to reach a minimum level during their studies.

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12. Is Milan a good city for international students?

The student experience shared during the webinar emphasised Milan’s international and cultural environment.

Students highlighted the city’s design, architecture, fashion, food, cultural events and opportunities to explore Italy. For Architecture and Design students in particular, the city itself was described as an extension of the classroom.

One Architecture student described studying in Italy as a way of experiencing architecture not only through university courses but through the streets, buildings, historical sites and cities around you.

For an international student, the location therefore forms an important part of the study experience—not simply the university campus.

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13. What should I know before applying to Politecnico di Milano?

Current students gave a particularly useful answer to this question.

Their advice was to investigate two things carefully before applying:

First: the curriculum and track

Politecnico di Milano offers multiple programmes and, in several cases, different tracks and opportunities to customise your study plan.

Don’t simply apply because you recognise the university’s name. Look at the actual courses you would take and whether they fit your academic and professional interests.

Second: career opportunities

Students recommended looking closely at the Career Service, employment opportunities, internships and the companies connected with the university.

In other words, don’t only ask:

“Is this a good university?”

Ask:

“Is this specific programme a good fit for what I want to do after graduation?”

That distinction can make your university search considerably more useful.

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14. How large can my portfolio be for an Architecture or Design application?

The maximum portfolio size discussed during the webinar was 20 MB.

But the students and university representative stressed that the objective is not to include as many projects as possible.

Instead, applicants should select their strongest and most relevant work, preferably from their Bachelor’s studies, and create a coherent portfolio related to the programme they are applying for.

The recommendation was to show not only the final result but also the thinking and design process behind the project.

So don’t simply show a beautiful finished project. Explain:

• What was the objective?
• What problem were you solving?
• What was your process?
• Why did you make particular decisions?
• What was the final result?

That gives the admissions team a better understanding of how you think and work.

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15. Does Politecnico di Milano offer Master’s programmes related to business?

Politecnico di Milano does offer programmes connected to Management Engineering.

During the webinar, the university explained that Management Engineering includes different tracks, with options that can relate to areas such as international business and management. Prospective students were encouraged to review the individual programme tracks rather than assuming that the university focuses only on traditional engineering.

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16. When should I apply to Politecnico di Milano?

The exact application deadlines change by academic year and programme.

During the webinar, the university said that the next deadlines would be published shortly and advised prospective students to monitor the official Politecnico di Milano website for the exact dates.

The application fee can also vary depending on the application period. The webinar explained that an early application period could have a lower fee than later application periods.

Best approach: don’t wait for the final deadline. Start preparing your transcripts, English certificate, portfolio and other documents early.

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What does studying at Politecnico di Milano actually feel like?

The clearest message from the three international students was that the experience goes beyond the classroom.

The Vietnamese Mathematical Engineering student highlighted hands-on projects, competitions, student associations and sports.

The Architecture student described Milan and Italy as a kind of living laboratory, where architecture and design can be experienced outside the university itself.

The Colombian Digital Interaction Design student highlighted international group projects, contact with companies, career events and challenging presentations with professors.
That combination—academic challenge, practical projects, international classmates, company exposure and life in Milan—was a recurring theme throughout the webinar.

Still have questions about studying at Politecnico di Milano?

One of the most useful suggestions from the university itself was to speak directly to current students.

Politecnico di Milano has an Ask a Student initiative that allows prospective students to connect with student ambassadors and, where available, arrange conversations with students studying specific programmes.

For prospective students, this can be particularly valuable because admissions pages can tell you what a programme is, while current students can tell you what it is actually like to study it.

If you are considering a Master’s at Politecnico di Milano, start by comparing the curriculum, admission requirements, total cost, scholarship options, career opportunities and student experience for the specific programme you are interested in.

Watch the full webinar here: https://thestudyabroadportal.com/open-day/a-successful-career-starts-with-high-quality-education-find-your-masters-in-engineering-design-or-architecture-at-politecnico-di-milano/?utm_source=Blog