Polimi is the number 1 technical university in Italy. In the QS World University Rankings 2026 it is number 98 worldwide, the first Italian university ever to enter the top 100. In the QS rankings by subject 2025 it is number 6 worldwide in Design, number 7 in Architecture and number 21 in Engineering and Technology, plus global top 15 positions in Mechanical Engineering and Civil and Structural Engineering. For engineering, architecture and design, it is one of the strongest options in Europe.

As an EU citizen, tuition is calculated on your family's income through ISEE, not on a fixed fee. ISEE below EUR 30,000 equals zero tuition (No Tax Area). Above the threshold you pay proportionally, up to a maximum of about EUR 4,000 per year, plus a regional tax and bollo of approximately EUR 156 per year. Added to this is the cost of living in Milan: accommodation EUR 450-800 per month, food EUR 250-400 per month, so an estimated total cost of living of about EUR 9,000-15,000 per year. Compared with the UK or the USA, the total cost is drastically lower.

ISEE (Indicatore della Situazione Economica Equivalente) is your family's equivalent economic indicator, used in Italy to set how much tuition you pay. As an EU citizen, you submit the ISEE through INPS or, if you have income and assets in Romania, the ISEE parificato version through CAF centres. Based on this value you fall into the right tuition band. It matters enormously for Romanians: the lower the family's income, the less you pay. Below EUR 30,000 ISEE you pay no tuition at all. Without a submitted ISEE, you are automatically charged the maximum (about EUR 4,000 per year).

Yes, Polimi has an increasingly wide set of programs taught entirely in English. The offer is widest at Laurea Magistrale (master's) level, but there are also certain Laurea (bachelor's) programs in English in Engineering and Design. For programs in English you need a certification such as IELTS 6.0 plus, TOEFL iBT 78 plus, or a high school diploma obtained in English. For programs in Italian you need at least B2 (CILS, CELI or equivalent). Check the exact language of the program on the Polimi website, as it varies from program to program.

The process has two components. Universitaly is the portal of the Italian Ministry of Universities (MUR) where all candidates with a foreign diploma pre-enrol and upload the equivalence documents (Dichiarazione di Valore or CIMEA attestation). The admission test differs by field: for Engineering you take TOL (Polimi's own test) or the TOLC-I alternative by CISIA, or the English version (CEnT-S, which from 2026 replaces TOLC-I for programs in English), or the SAT. For Design and Architecture there are dedicated tests with specific sections. Test application is done on the Polimi portal.

Yes. The Romanian Baccalaureate grants access to university studies in Italy, but it must be equivalated. You need a Dichiarazione di Valore (DoV) issued by the Italian Consulate in Romania, or an attestation through CIMEA (statement of comparability). These documents confirm that your diploma is recognised. Then you pre-enrol on Universitaly and take the admission test for your chosen program. Recommendation: start the equivalence procedure a few months in advance, because the DoV can take time.

No. As a Romanian citizen (EU) you do not need a study visa or a permesso di soggiorno to study in Italy. You can move freely. For stays over 90 days you can register with the Anagrafe as an EU citizen (iscrizione anagrafica), a procedure useful for residency but optional for studies. You do, however, need a codice fiscale (Italian tax code), which you obtain at the Agenzia delle Entrate or through the consulate, for tuition, accommodation and contracts. A European health card or medical insurance is also recommended.

Yes, as a Romanian EU citizen you have the automatic right to work in Italy without a visa. Milan is the economic capital of Italy and a European hub for engineering, design, fashion and finance, with companies such as Pirelli, Leonardo, ENI, ABB, Prada and numerous architecture and design studios. Polimi graduates are highly sought after on the local and international market. Starting salaries for engineers and designers in Milan are generally above the Italian national average. With a diploma recognised across the EU, you can later work anywhere in the European Union without a visa.