The city of Milan is a fashion capital, corporate hotspot and an architectural forerunner in Italy. With plenty of fascinating attractions, it is a city that is well worth a visit or a place to live during your university years.

Book your student accommodation Milan with Student.com and immerse yourself in the fantastic food, fashion and art scenes of Italy’s most sophisticated town.

We offer well over 1,000 student housing options to both domestic and international students. Choose one and make your home in a stylish studio apartment or a shared room in the city centre surrounded by world-class museums, unparalleled shopping and exceptional eateries.

To learn more about the student residences we list or how you can rent a room through us, send us a quick message through live chat or give us a call.

Get to know Milan

While Rome is the seat of political power in Italy, Milan is the financial capital and the industrial powerhouse of a country that boasts one of the European Union’s largest economies.

It possesses most of the country’s big banks, its stock exchange and is Italy's powerhouse of style.

But full of culture and diversity, Milan has a lot more to offer than just commerce and fashion. It would not be one of Italy’s most visited cities if it did not have enough to grab and keep the attention of curious visitors and students.

Milan is a city with a mix of modern and traditional that is packed with art, fashion, history and mouth-watering food. With a thriving economy, a wealth of interesting things to see and do and being home to some of the best universities in the world, Milan should be at the top of any list of places to live and study in Italy.

Compared to some megacities, it is still relatively small but offers all the advantages of a large city. Most of Milan’s attractions and museums can be reached by foot, thus making it perfect for students and visitors. The excellent climate and charming streets offer an enjoyable walking experience.

Breathtaking attractions

Some of the city’s most beautiful attractions include the Duomo di Milano church, one of the main opera houses in the world (Teatro alla Scala), a striking castle (Castello Sforzesco), many ancient churches and a wide variety of art galleries and museums.

Piazza del Duomo will likely be one of your first stops when exploring Milan. The famous geographical and historical centre of the city remains a major part of Milanese life. The popular meeting place comprises shops, monuments, theatres and restaurants.

The crown jewel on the square is Duomo. Milan’s extravagant gothic 14th-century cathedral is one of the largest in Europe.

Just a 10-minute walk away is the famous Castello Sforzesco. The iconic red-brick castle was built in the 15th century and is one of the most popular monuments in Milan. It is now home to fine art collections and museums including the Museum of Ancient Art, the Museum of Musical Instruments, the Picture Gallery and The Museum of Rondanini Pietà, which includes Michelangelo’s last sculpture.

Great museums and churches

With art being deeply rooted in Italy, Milan has several artistic monuments where you can see the works of some of the country’s favourite sons and the world’s greatest artists like Michelangelo, Raphael, and Leonardo da Vinci.

The Pinacoteca di Brera, in a beautiful 17th-century building alongside the Accademia di Belli Arti (NABA), houses one of the main art collections of renaissance art in Italy with works dating as far back as the 14th century.

The Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia, opened in 1953, is one of the main science and technology museums in the world and the largest in Italy. It features a collection of over 10,000 items, including models based on Leonardo da Vinci’s sketches, steam trains, planes and the Enrico Toti - Italy’s first submarine.

Also, don’t forget to check out Milan’s hidden crown jewel - the Chiesa di San Maurizio. The 16th-century royal chapel and onetime Benedictine convent is covered in breathtaking frescoes, most of which were executed by da Vinci’s former sidekick Bernardino Luini.

Awesome food and restaurants

Italy is also renowned for its tasty food. Milan might not quite be the capital of Italian Cuisine, but the city is well known for some classic dishes including the Risotto alla Milanese, Cotoletta alla Milanese, and Panettone. It’s also known for the Aperol Spritz - a blend of prosecco, soda and Aperol, a fruity Italian aperitif.

Among the best places to eat is Eppol, home of the ham and whiskey club sandwich. Eppol blends Italian and American traditions in a chic lounge that serves brunch, dinner and drinks.

Student life in Milan

Italy's capital of chic may be renowned for fashion, design and finance, but there is plenty more on offer for students. From fashion and shopping to a great nightlife, there’s a lot to do as a student in Milan.

Nightlife

Whether you want to go listen to classical music or party the night away at a chic nightclub, Milan is a great city for endless nights.

By day, it’s a sunny city full of people heading to work, drinking cappuccinos and touring iconic landmarks. By night, it transforms into a lively scene of socialising, drinking and dancing.

The pulsing heart of Milan's party scene is the stylish district of Navigli. This is where most of the young and hip hang out at bars and restaurants lining a network of canals.

Some of Italy’s trendiest nightclubs, restaurants and pubs can also be found at popular destinations such as Brera, Corso Como, Porta Venezia, Moscova and the Duomo area.

A shoppers’ paradise

A major fashion capital, Milan is a dream come true for shopaholics.

The most sought-out high-end fashion brands like Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Prada can all be found in Milan’s main fashion district - Quadrilatero della moda. But Milan’s shopping is much more than the world-famous Fashion Quadrilateral.

The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, an elegant nineteenth-century shopping arcade, houses some of the most luxurious boutiques in Milan.

If you are not a fan of fancy, expensive clothing, the city also offers variety in budgets and styles. Funky avant-garde shops can be found in the Navigli area, while the Brera district houses several small independent shops. If you are into vintage, you can check out Mercatino Michela, Memory Lanc or Lipstick Vintage.

A sweet escape to the outdoors

Whenever you want to escape the grandioseness of the fashion capital during your study breaks, you can take a short day trip to the Italian Lakes region, one of the most beautiful areas of northern Italy. The area’s green hills and crystal-clear lakes make it a perfect getaway from the buzzing city.

But you don’t have to leave the city to experience some serenity. Whenever you feel like stretching your legs, the large green space of Parco Sempione is a great place to enjoy a walk or run. Home to hundreds of animals, plants and beautiful buildings, it is conveniently located in the historic centre of the city.

Where to study in Milan?

From large public universities to smaller, private and specialised schools, Milan is home to a number of world-class educational institutions.

Polytechnic University of Milan (Politecnico di Milano), the Bocconi University, University of Milan (Università degli Studi di Milano) and University of Milan-Bicocca are four of the most popular universities in Milan among international students.

Polytechnic University of Milan

Politecnico di Milano is the largest technical university in Italy. Eighteen percent of its over 42,000 students are international.

The university has placed high in several global university rankings, being ranked as the 142nd best university in the world by the 2022 QS World University Rankings. QS also ranked it at the 20th best university in the world in the field of Engineering & Technology.

Bocconi University

This relatively small private university of about 14,000 students is known as one of the best in Europe for its specialisations. QS World University Rankings ranked the university 7th in the world and 3rd in Europe for Business and Management Studies.

It also ranked 5th in Europe and 18th worldwide for Economics and Econometrics.

University of Milan

With over 60,000 students, it is one of the larger universities in Europe. In fact, the university grew to 90,000 students before splitting into two to form the University of Milan-Bicocca in 1998.

Also known as ‘Statale,’ the University of Milan was ranked 3rd in Italy by the 2020-21 Center for World University Rankings (CWUR), as well as in the top 10 for Italy in the 2021 Times Higher Education rankings.

Frequently asked questions about student housing in Milan

How do I apply for a student residence in Milan on Student.com?

You can use the different filters on this page to find a property that you like. You can also take advantage of the mapping function to find properties in the area of Milan where you’d like to live. After you’ve found your ideal property from our list of student residences, click on ‘View rooms’ to go to the property page.

On the property page, choose your preferred room type. If you’re ready to book, simply click ‘Book Now’. If you want more information before making your final choice, click ‘Enquire.’

One of our booking consultants will then give you a call to guide you through the next steps or answer any questions you may still have.

What are the different types of rooms and apartments I can rent?

Usually the most cost-effective choice is the Shared Room. In this room type, you’ll share your bedroom with at least one roommate. You’ll also share a bathroom and other living areas with tenants from other rooms.

If you want a bedroom all for yourself, book a Private Room. Depending on the property, the bathroom may be either private or shared. Other living areas are shared with students living in other rooms.

Booking the Entire Place will give you a fully self-contained studio flat with your own bedroom, bathroom and a kitchenette.

Do you list rooms in the city centre?

Yes, many of the rooms and apartments we list are located in the Milan city centre.

Can I get a viewing before moving in?

Many of the properties we list have a good selection of photos to give you an idea of what your new student home will look like, so even without a viewing you should get a good idea of what living there would be like.

If you’ll be in Milan before your move-in date, we can also arrange a viewing of a property for you. Just give us a call and our booking consultants will arrange one for you.

Do I have to pay a deposit to secure my booking?

Yes, most of the landlords will require you to pay a deposit in order to secure your booking. This will be paid directly to the landlord, and you don’t have to pay anything to Student.com. Your booking consultant will give you more information about paying the deposit while you are making your booking.