Milan

QS Best Student Cities ranking: 40th

A global leader in the fashion industry and Italy’s leading financial hub, Milan has plenty to offer creative and corporate-minded students alike, despite dropping four places in the QS Best Student Cities 2019.

Milan still holds something of a reputation for soulless glamour and consumerism, and it’s true that the city center’s range of swanky designer stores – especially within the stunningly designed Galleria Emmanuelle Vittoria II shopping center – offer a taste of luxury and expense that’s hard to rival… even if you’re only window shopping!

Yet that doesn’t mean Milan is solely a millionaire’s playground – there’s also a huge range of student-friendly activities and events, both cultural and sporting (Milan is home to two of the biggest football teams in Italy, AC Milan and Internazionale), as well as a vibrant nightlife.

As befits its status as Italy’s financial engine-room, Milan’s highest score in the Best Student Cities ranking is for employer activity, for which it’s ranked 15^th in the world. Corporate-minded students will find numerous internship and career opportunities within the city, with recruiters across Europe identifying universities in Milan as producers of highly employable graduates.

Of the five ranked universities in Milan featured within the QS World University Rankings® 2020, the Politecnico di Milano is the highest-ranked at 149^th in the world. It’s also currently the highest-ranked university in Italy.

Milan’s also been very well received by its students, appearing in the top 50 for both the student view indicator and the desirability indicator. When asked in our student survey what the best things about Milan are, one respondent said: “the opportunities the city offers, the people, the food, the nightlife and the education.”

Are you studying in Milan? Share your experience.

Internationally ranked universities in Milan

More about Milan

To find out how each of the above categories is calculated, view the methodology.