Milan is Italy’s economic engine and one of Europe’s most dynamic student cities — Politecnico di Milano (Italy’s top technical university, ranked among the world’s best for design and architecture), Bocconi (Europe’s #1 business school), and Università Statale (Italy’s largest public university) together host 180,000+ students. Housing is Italy’s most expensive but still cheaper than London or Paris.
Politecnico di Milano (Città Studi & Bovisa)
Città Studi: The main PoliMi campus area. 1920s rationalist university buildings, excellent pizzerias, and affordable student bars. Rooms €400–600/month.
Lambrate: East of Città Studi. A former industrial quarter with a creative edge — studios, galleries, and the Lambretto street market. 10 min walk to PoliMi. Rooms €350–550/month.
Bovisa: PoliMi’s engineering and design campus in the north. A transitioning industrial neighborhood with new student housing. Rooms €350–520/month.
Bocconi University (Porta Romana)
Porta Romana: Bocconi’s neighborhood. Elegant 1920s apartment buildings, the Terme Milano spa, and one of Milan’s best food markets. 5 min walk. Rooms €450–700/month. Bocconi students tend to have higher budgets.
Porta Ticinese & Navigli: South of Bocconi, along the Naviglio Grande canal. The aperitivo capital — every evening, the canal-side bars fill with students. 10–15 min walk. Rooms €400–650/month.
Università Statale (Centro Storico)
Centro Storico & Brera: Near the Duomo and the Brera art gallery. Expensive and tourist-heavy. Rooms €500–800/month.
Porta Venezia & Città Studi: 10–15 min metro/tram to Statale. Excellent food scene (especially Ethiopian and Eritrean on Via Tadino). Rooms €400–600/month.
Isola: North of the centre, Milan’s Brooklyn. The Bosco Verticale (vertical forest towers), design shops, and the Blue Note jazz club. 10 min metro to Statale. Rooms €400–650/month.
DSU Scholarships & Housing
The DSU (Diritto allo Studio Universitario) scholarship provides accommodation in university residences for eligible students. Apply through your university — the deadline is typically July–August for the following academic year. Residences cost €150–300/month for scholarship recipients.
FAQ
Is Milan as expensive as they say? For Italy, yes. But compared to London or Paris, it’s 30–40% cheaper for housing. Milan’s real cost is in going out — aperitivo (€10–15 for a drink + buffet) is the budget-friendly alternative to a full dinner. How does Milan compare to Rome for students? Milan is more international, better connected, and has stronger job/internship prospects. Rome is more beautiful and historically rich. Milan feels more like a modern European city, Rome feels more like Italy. Monthly budget? €900–1,300/month. Budget more for Bocconi students (higher social scene expectations).