Erasmus in Milan

Milan is Italy's economic engine and one of the world's capitals of fashion and design. Faster, more business-driven and more international than Rome or Naples, it feels closer to Northern European metropolises than to the Mediterranean stereotype of Italy.

Academically, Milan is a heavyweight: Bocconi (economics, finance, management), Politecnico di Milano (engineering, architecture, design), Università degli Studi di Milano (Statale), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, IULM (media, communication) and NABA (arts and design). Many offer a wide range of English-taught programmes, making Milan accessible even with limited Italian.

It is expensive by Italian standards, but cosmopolitan, internationally connected and rich in opportunities. Students come for the academic prestige, the legendary aperitivo culture, the proximity of the Alps and the lakes, and a cultural scene anchored around the Duomo, the Navigli canals and a constantly evolving creative neighbourhood map.

The Milan housing market is extremely tight and pricey. Start hunting at least two months in advance, especially for the September intake when demand peaks. A shared room typically costs between €500 and €700/month, often more in the centre.

Useful platforms: Idealista.it, Spotahome, Uniplaces, DoveVivo (student-focused coliving) and Aparto (modern student residences). Key neighbourhoods: Navigli (canals, nightlife, trendy), Porta Romana (central, student-friendly), Città Studi (next to Politecnico Leonardo and Statale), Lambrate (close to Politecnico Bovisa, cheaper), Isola (hip, near Porta Garibaldi), and Bicocca (around Università Milano-Bicocca, best value).

Watch out for scams: never pay a deposit before visiting (in person or via a serious video call), avoid listings that look too good to be true, and steer clear of agenzia charging high upfront "registration" fees just to access listings. A written contratto di locazione is mandatory.

ATM runs one of Italy's cleanest and most efficient public transport networks: 5 metro lines (M1 to M5, with a 6th planned), historic trams and buses. The under-27 monthly pass costs €22/month (abbonamento Under 27) and covers the whole urban zone — one of the best deals in Europe.

Milan is flat and bike-friendly. BikeMi, the municipal bike-share scheme, offers a yearly subscription of around €36/year, far more practical than in the rest of Italy. E-scooters (Lime, Dott, Bird) are everywhere.

For travel: Trenord serves Lake Como, Bergamo and Lombardy; Trenitalia and Italo connect Milan to Rome, Venice and Florence in a few hours of high-speed rail from Milano Centrale. Three airports: Malpensa (long-haul), Linate (close to the city) and Bergamo Orio al Serio (low-cost).

ESN Milano is very active, with dedicated sections at Bocconi, Politecnico, Statale, Cattolica, Bicocca and IULM. They run parties, trips and language tandems — the easiest entry point for meeting other Erasmus in your first week.

Milan is the capital of the aperitivo: for €10–15, one cocktail (Spritz, Negroni) gets you access to a generous buffet. The Navigli are the iconic spot, but Brera, Porta Venezia and Isola are also great. Clubs to know: Magazzini Generali, Tunnel, Just Cavalli, Old Fashion. For culture, the Duomo and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II are must-sees, and most public museums are free on the first Sunday of each month.

Weekends open up easily: Lake Como is less than an hour by regional train (~€5), the Lombard Alps (Bormio, Livigno) offer winter skiing, and San Siro roars on Inter and AC Milan match days.

Your first step is the codice fiscale, the Italian tax ID required for almost everything: signing a lease, opening a bank account, getting a phone plan. It is free at the Agenzia delle Entrate with your passport or ID card.

Non-EU students must apply for a permesso di soggiorno within 8 days of arrival using the Kit Giallo picked up at a Poste Italiane office. For healthcare, EU students are covered by the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC); non-EU students need private insurance or the regional Tessera Sanitaria. Registering your residenza at the town hall is optional for short Erasmus stays.

For banking, an Italian IBAN is no longer required thanks to SEPA: N26 or Revolut are perfectly fine. If you want a local account, Intesa Sanpaolo XME Conto UP! is free for under-35s.

Italian is the official language, but Milan stands out in Italy for its broad English-language academic offer: Bocconi, Politecnico di Milano, Università Cattolica (MIB) and IULM run full bachelor and master programmes in English. Studying without Italian is genuinely possible.

Off campus, daily life is still in Italian: shops, paperwork, public transport, neighbourhood restaurants. The Milanese accent is mild and easy to understand. Learning even basic Italian dramatically improves integration and local experience.

Best ways to learn: Scuola Leonardo da Vinci (well-known intensive courses), the Centri Linguistici at Bocconi and Politecnico (often free or subsidised for exchange students), and the language tandems organised by ESN.