Milan Polytechnic Student Guide: Accommodation, University Life and Local Tips

The Polytechnic of Milan: Academic Excellence in Europe

Politecnico di Milano (aka Polimi) is Italy’s largest technical university and one of Europe’s most respected institutions for engineering, architecture, and design. In fact, Polimi has been known for conducting some amazing research. Some of the university’s most recent projects include building an autonomous guidance system that will be able to explore deep space, creating a device that’s actually able to photograph antimatter, and even harnessing AI to monitor and protect endangered wildlife.

With projects like this, it’s no wonder why the university has once again confirmed its global leadership, as the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 show:

• 6th in the world for Design
• 7th for Architecture
• 21st for Engineering

Polimi doesn’t just have high academic rankings though; it also has some fantastic student satisfaction scores. According to studyportals.com, the university has an overall score of 4.2 stars and was also awarded a badge of excellence from the Global Student Satisfaction Awards 2023.

Being a university that has taken on 37,000 students, Polimi is made up of two campuses: Leonardo, that’s located close to Milan’s historic centre and Bovisa, a more cosmopolitan, modern and ‘studenty’ area of Milan. It’s about seven minutes via the underground from one campus to another, but it’s most likely that your course will be located at the university’s main campus, Bovisa.

The University Experience at the Polytechnic of Milan

What’s great about Politecnico’s student life is that it’s full of opportunities to get involved beyond the lecture hall. With a wide range of student societies, you can really explore all sorts.

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the clubs you can join:

• Skyward Experimental Rocketry
• Teatro delle Bigli (if you love anything theatre-related)
• WoShou (for Chinese Italian Polimi Students)
• Erasmus Student Network (for International Students)
• Poliradio (if you fancy yourself a podcaster)

Joining groups like these not only enhances your university experience, but also helps you build friendships and networks that will last long after graduation.

Resources for international students

With students from over 100 countries, Polimi is well-prepared to support internationals:

• Welcome Week and Orientation events
• Language courses in Italian and English
• Dedicated international offices to help with visas, housing, and academic matters
• Buddy programmes to connect new students with experienced peers

If you fancy a deep dive into life at Politecnico di Milano, here’s a brilliant video from AlfieTravels, talking about his time there as an international student.