Renowned for its beauty and longstanding reputation as a nucleus of creativity, Milan offers international students a taste of "la dolce vita," or "the sweet life." Students will discover that today's glitz and glamour gracefully complement the city's historical splendor. Milan attracts the largest number of international students of any Italian city, reflecting its local charms and international flavor.

Milan is Northern Italy's major urban center. It sits at the heart of the Po basin on the Lombard Plain, south of the Italian Alps, and traces its history to Celtic origins in 600 B.C. The city's position at the intersection of several major transportation routes helped establish its importance as a regional economic center, and today's Milan is a stylish and elegant 21st century cultural mecca.

Italy is home to the oldest university in the western world, the Università di Bologna, which counts Dante Alighieri among its former pupils. This commitment to higher education continues into the present day, and several of the country's prominent universities are located in Milan. Italy is also a force of innovation in international exchange, and was one of four countries to create the "European Area of Higher Education," which led to reforms known as the "Bologna Process." Member states cooperate in promoting student mobility, developing joint study programs, emphasizing the teaching of European languages, and generally making higher education coherent at the European level.

The wealthiest and second-largest city in Italy, Milan has long been recognized as the fashion capital of the world, and many consider it Europe's creative capital. Students in Milan often have a deep interest in design and the arts. The Nuova Accademia Di Belle Arti Milano offers excellent programs in the arts, including visual arts, graphic design and media design. Art students in Milan will want to visit the Sforzesco Castle to catch a glimpse of Michelangelo's last, unfinished statue "Rondanini Pietà," which he worked on into his final days.

The Milan campus of the Istituto Europeo Di Design is another option for students interested in design. The school offers programs in fashion, interior decoration, industrial design, and audio/visual design, as well as a program in advertising, marketing and business communication.

Students in Milan have access to some of the finest museums in Europe. For example, the Pinacoteca Di Brera Gallery houses the works of artists such as Grassi, Matisse and Picasso. The city's oldest museum, the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, established in 1609, boasts pieces by da Vinci, Raffaello and Botticelli. No student of art or design can afford to miss former Milan resident da Vinci's painting, "The Last Supper," which is on display in the church Santa Maria delle Grazie, built in 1463.

Architecture and engineering students who study in Milan can attend the Politecnico Di Milano, which has excellent programs and facilities. Students will marvel at the Gothic Duomo di Milano, one of the largest cathedrals in the world, dating to 1300 but not fully completed until the 20th century. Today, the cathedral houses a staggering array of monuments and works of art, including statues, sarcophagi and paintings. Nearby sits the Galleria Vittorio Emmanuele II, known as "Milan's Living Room" due to its reputation as a meeting place for Milan residents. The Neoclassical structure was built to honor the first king of unified Italy, and now contains restaurants and shops.

Though Milan's reputation for lifestyle innovation dominates its image abroad, the city is also a center of business and commerce in Italy. Milan is the seat of the Italian Stock Exchange, as well as the location of the headquarters of Alfa Romeo automobiles. The Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi offers programs for students who want to study business, economics and finance while in Milan.

If students choose to focus on the Italian language while they study abroad in Milan, they can attend the Milan campus of the Universita Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore, which offers a strong language program. Students can also study Italian literature at the university. Milan is an ideal setting to complement Italian language studies with full immersion in Italian culture.

While out of the classroom, students in Milan have a plethora of activities to choose from, including a thriving nightlife. The Via Montenapoleone, a street north of the Piazza della Scala, is the heart of one of the world's most famous shopping districts. Window-shopping here is a feast for the eyes, with stores such as Armani, Prada and Versace displaying their wares for passersby and interested buyers alike.

Students will enjoy the Mediterranean climate, and can travel to one of many nearby lakes, including the famous Lake Como, where actor George Clooney entertains Italy's finest at his vacation home. Italy's excellent train system connects students to Venice and Florence; France, Switzerland and Austria are a short journey away. Milan is a prime destination for students who want to receive an excellent education in one of the world's most sophisticated cities.

Resources -

IIEPassport: http://www.IIEPassport.org
Milan City Site: http://www.comune.milano.it/portale/wps/portal/CDMHome
Official Tourism Site: http://milan.arounder.com/
Italian Ministry of Education: http://www.miur.it/
U.S. Consulate, Milan http://milan.usconsulate.gov/
Universita Degli Studi Di Milano: http://www.unimi.it/
Scuola Politecnica Di Design: http://www.scuoladesign.com/Site/storia/indexEng.php

Find study abroad programs in Milan