Mila · Independent student guide

Study in Italy with a clearer plan

Mila helps international students navigate university applications, scholarships, ISEE/ISEEU, housing, visas and student life—starting with Bocconi and Milan.

Calm blue water of Lake Como with a lakeside Italian village and mountains in the distance

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Where are you in your journey?

Choose your current stage to see the most useful next steps.

Select one option above

Tools students need first

Start with Mila’s practical tools for applications, scholarships, housing, documents and moving to Italy.

Start here

ISEE / ISEEU Calculator

Estimate your household indicator and prepare for financial-aid applications.

Estimate my ISEE/ISEEU
Free practice resources

Preparing for the Bocconi Test?

Access organised practice tests, sample questions and preparation documents for Bocconi undergraduate and graduate admissions.

Explore the test prep library

Application Roadmap

Build a practical checklist for your university, programme and current stage.

Build my roadmap

Housing Directory

Compare platforms, agencies and student accommodation.

Explore housing

Visa & Arrival Timeline

Plan the steps from your offer to settling in Italy.

View the timeline

Document Self-Checks

Review your CV and motivation letter before submitting.

Check my documents

Application deadline finder

Compare upcoming application windows for selected Italian universities. Dates can vary by programme, applicant category and academic year.

Politecnico di Milano

Programme

Architecture and Design · General call

Academic year

2027–28

Date or window

1 Oct 2026 – 28 Jan 2027

Open now
Official source
Details

Current official information · Master’s · International applicants · September 2027 · Closes 11:59 PM Italian time. Early-bird deadline: 1 December 2026 (lower application fee). Architecture and Design accept students only for the September intake. Outcomes by the end of May 2027. Last verified: 27 October 2026.

Politecnico di Milano

Programme

Engineering · 1st call

Academic year

2027–28

Date or window

1 Oct 2026 – 1 Dec 2026

Open now
Official source
Details

Current official information · Master’s · International applicants · September 2027 · Closes 11:59 PM Italian time. Applies to Engineering study areas only; dates differ from Architecture and Design. Outcomes by the end of May 2027. Last verified: 27 October 2026.

Politecnico di Milano

Programme

Engineering

Academic year

Planning estimate

Date or window

Usually May–June; the 2026–27 call ran 18 May–18 June 2026.

Estimated window
Official source
Details

Historical reference only · Master’s · International applicants · February intake. Historical estimate from 2026–27 only. This intake was limited to eligible Engineering programmes. Last verified: 22 September 2026.

Sapienza University of Rome

Programme

English-taught programmes · pre-selection

Academic year

Planning estimate

Date or window

Usually late December–mid May; the 2026–27 window ran 22 Dec 2025–15 May 2026.

Estimated window
Official source
Details

Historical reference only · Master’s · Non-EU requiring a visa. Historical estimate only. MoveIN pre-selection is separate from the programme’s admission call and enrolment steps. Last verified: 22 September 2026.

Admission, scholarship, enrollment and visa deadlines are different. Confirmed dates come from the named official source. Estimated windows only describe a previous official cycle and must not be treated as current deadlines.

View all deadlines

Common application mistakes

Small timing and document mistakes can create bigger problems later.

  1. 1.

    Confusing admission and scholarship deadlines

    An admission application does not automatically include a scholarship application. Track them separately.

  2. 2.

    Taking the admission test too late

    Complete your accepted test early enough to receive the score and submit it before your chosen round closes.

  3. 4.

    Using information from the wrong academic year

    Always check the page title, academic year and last update before relying on dates or financial thresholds.

See all common mistakes

Featured guide

The Bocconi guide

A complete, plain-English walkthrough of applying to Bocconi University in Milan—written from the experience of going through it as an international student.

Bocconi has its own application rounds, its own admission test and its own financial-aid process, so general advice about studying in Italy often does not match what you actually need to do.

How the guide is organised

This guide follows the real order of the journey: understanding the rounds and deadlines, preparing for the admission test and proving your English level, gathering transcripts and supporting documents, applying for the ISU need-based scholarship and tuition brackets, then finding housing and completing enrolment once you are admitted. Each part links to the official Bocconi pages so you can always verify requirements for your specific program and intake year. Read it from the top, or jump to the part you need right now.

  1. 1How applying works
  2. 2Admission test & language
  3. 3Documents
  4. 4Scholarships & support
  5. 5Housing
  6. 6After admission
  7. 7Official links
Read the Bocconi guide
Bocconi University campus in Milan

Scholarships & financial preparation

Three simple tools to prepare your funding application.

Explore Mila

Six areas of guidance. Each area has its own page with guides, checklists and tools.

University Applications

How Italian admissions work, from choosing a programme to submitting your file.

  • Application rounds
  • Entry tests
  • Roadmap & checklist
Open Applications →

Scholarships

Need-based, merit-based and regional support, and the financial documents behind them.

  • Scholarship types
  • ISEE / ISEEU
  • Financial documents
Open Scholarships →

Housing

Where students search in Milan, how areas compare and how to avoid rental scams.

  • Platforms & agencies
  • Milan areas
  • Scam check
Open Housing →

Visa & Arrival

The sequence from admission letter to visa appointment to your first days in Italy.

  • Visa timeline
  • Pre-enrolment
  • Arrival essentials
Open Visa & Arrival →

Documents

CVs, motivation letters, translations and the paperwork universities expect.

  • CV self-check
  • Motivation letter
  • Translations & legalisation
Open Documents →

Milan Life

Transport, budgeting, bureaucracy and settling into the city as a student.

  • Transport
  • Budget
  • First week
Open Milan Life →

For applicants from Türkiye

Turkish version · Türkçe içerik

This area is written in Turkish and includes details specifically useful for applicants from Türkiye. It is a basic version and is still being updated.

Open Turkish version

Essential guides

Clear starting points for the questions students ask most often.

  • Checklist5 min read

    Financial-document checklist

    The income, asset, property and family document categories usually requested for need-based applications.

  • Directory7 min read

    Housing platforms in Milan

    Where students commonly search, what each platform is good for and what to check before paying.

  • Guide9 min read

    Student visa preparation

    The general sequence from offer letter to appointment to arrival, with the documents each stage needs.

  • Checklist4 min read

    First week in Milan

    Codice fiscale, transport, residency and the basics of settling in during your first days.

Meet the person behind Mila

Simay, creator of Mila

Hi, I’m Simay—a Turkish student currently pursuing an MSc in Data Science and Business Analytics at Bocconi University. Before moving to Milan, I studied Industrial Engineering at Boğaziçi University from 2019 to 2024 and gained professional experience through internships and a full-time role between 2022 and 2026.

I created Mila because I know how overwhelming studying abroad can feel—and I’m still figuring parts of it out too. Mila brings together the information and tools I wish I had throughout my own journey.

Read my story

Popular questions

Is Mila an official university platform?

No. Mila is an independent educational resource created by a student, and it links to official sources for every requirement.

Which universities are covered?

Seven Italian universities are listed in the directory, with the most detailed guidance for Bocconi and Milan.

Does Mila guarantee admission or scholarships?

No. Admission and financial-aid decisions are made only by the universities and the relevant authorities.

Can Mila calculate my official ISEE?

No. The estimator gives an unofficial, approximate figure using the published Italian methodology where it can be applied, and otherwise helps you organise document categories. Official calculations are done by CAF, INPS or your university.

When should I start looking for housing?

As early as your plans allow. Managed residences are usually booked earliest, while private rentals are often easier once you are in Milan.

Does Mila store my documents?

No. Nothing is uploaded. The self-checks and checklists only save your answers in your own browser.

View all questions
Mila is an independent educational platform. It is not affiliated with Bocconi University or Italian public institutions.

Community

Ask questions, compare notes with other applicants and hear how current students handled the same steps.

What the community is for

  • Application timelines and interview experiences
  • Housing leads, area tips and scam warnings
  • Visa appointment experiences by country
  • Everyday life in Milan as an international student
Visit the Community page

Join the Mila student community

Connect with other students preparing applications, comparing universities, looking for housing and planning their move to Italy.

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