🏅 QS World Rank =87
Politecnico di Milano — Full Profile & Ranking 2026
Italy’s top-ranked university in QS 2027 — engineering, architecture, and design — QS World Rankings 2027 =87
Politecnico di Milano is a public technical university in Milan, Italy, founded in 1863. In the QS World University Rankings 2027 (released June 2026), it ranked joint 87th in the world, up 11 places from 98th, its best result so far and the highest-ranked university in Italy. It is especially strong in engineering, architecture, and design. Tuition is income-based and capped, with merit scholarships available. This guide covers Politecnico’s strengths, admission, costs, scholarships, advice for applicants from Pakistan, and the questions applicants ask most. Every figure is labelled with its year or source.
Politecnico di Milano Overview
Politecnico di Milano (Polimi) is Italy’s largest technical university, with campuses in Milan and other Lombardy cities. It is known globally for engineering, architecture, and design, and has a large international community — about 9,940 international students in 2025/26. It offers 37 English-taught master’s programs, and many bachelor’s programs are taught in Italian or English.
Politecnico di Milano Rankings — QS World University Rankings 2027
Politecnico di Milano is ranked joint 87th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) in June 2026, up from 98th and the best-ranked Italian university.
QS ranks universities using academic reputation, employer reputation, citations per faculty, student-to-faculty ratio, and measures of international faculty and students. This is a QS-specific result, not a universal ranking — Times Higher Education, U.S. News, and ARWU use different methods and can order the same universities differently.
Source: QS TopUniversities, QS World University Rankings 2027 (released June 2026).
Faculties & Key Strengths
- Engineering — civil, mechanical, electrical, computing, aerospace, management
- Architecture — Built Environment and Urban Planning
- Design — Product, Fashion, Communication, and Interior Design
- Management Engineering — Polimi Graduate School of Management (MIP)
For the full list of schools and degrees, see Politecnico di Milano’s official website.
Explore Related Guides & Rankings
Admission Requirements
Politecnico di Milano admission details below were checked in October 2026. Confirm them on the official admission pages.
Admission Details
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Entry | Applicants take an admission test (TOLC-type tests such as TOLC-I/TOLC-AV or Polimi’s own tests, depending on the program); check the program for the test and deadline |
| Master’s Entry | Evaluated on bachelor’s degree, grades, and program-specific requirements; application windows are set per intake |
| Early Window | An early window (about 1 October–1 December) applies to some master’s intakes — confirm dates |
| English Requirement | IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent for English-taught programs |
| Pre-enrolment | Non-EU students apply for a visa through the Italian pre-enrolment (Universitaly) process |
Language of Instruction
Master’s programs are widely offered in English (37 English-taught master’s); bachelor’s programs are taught in Italian or English depending on the program.
Official source: Politecnico di Milano — International Prospective Students.
Politecnico di Milano Acceptance Rate
Politecnico’s selectivity varies by program: bachelor’s places are allocated through admission tests and ranking lists, and master’s places depend on grades and program requirements. Politecnico has not published one official overall acceptance rate.
Always check current entry requirements per program on the official admissions pages.
Practical Application Checklist
- Choose your program and confirm its language and admission route
- Check the test or application window and register on time
- Prepare transcripts, degree certificates, and English certificates
- Apply for Universitaly pre-enrolment as a non-EU student
- Apply for merit scholarships and DSU regional aid in time
- Budget for tuition, Milan accommodation, and living costs
- Apply for an Italian student visa after admission
- Verify every date, fee, and requirement on Politecnico’s official website before submitting
Tuition & Costs
For non-EU master’s students with a foreign bachelor’s degree, annual tuition is capped at roughly €3,900–3,950 (€3,943.04 in one published summary; other sources cite €3,886–3,900), and varies by program. Italian regional rules allow reductions based on income. Living costs in Milan are commonly estimated at about €1,000–1,500 per month (aggregated estimate), and Italy requires proof of funds for a student visa.
Source: Politecnico di Milano fee information and third-party summaries, October 2026. Confirm exact fees on Politecnico’s official fees page.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
- Politecnico Merit Scholarships — Platinum €10,000 per year, Gold €8,000 per year, Silver as a tuition waiver for outstanding international master’s applicants
- DSU regional scholarships — need-based regional aid, which include non-EU students
- Italian government and other scholarships — check current offerings for Pakistan
Scholarship terms, values, and eligibility change year to year — confirm current offerings on Politecnico’s website. Funding is not automatic or guaranteed.
Politecnico di Milano for Pakistani Students
Pakistani applicants apply to Politecnico di Milano as non-EU international students. Practical points:
- A relevant bachelor’s degree is required for master’s admission; check the program’s requirements for Pakistani degrees
- Pakistani applicants apply through the university’s portal and Universitaly pre-enrolment
- Merit scholarships and DSU aid are assessed individually and are not guaranteed
- IELTS and similar English tests are available in major Pakistani cities, including Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad
- Applicants do not need a paid agent — applications are submitted directly to the university or the national portal
- Visa or residence-permit decisions are made solely by Italian authorities, not by the university
- Always verify current deadlines, fees, and requirements on the official website before applying
Campus & Student Life
- Main campuses: Leonardo and Bovisa in Milan
- Milan is a fashion, design, and finance capital
- A large international student community
- Excellent rail connections across Italy and Europe
Research & Career Opportunities
- Polimi graduates are well regarded in engineering, architecture, and design
- Milan has strong industry links in manufacturing, design, and finance
- Italy offers a post-study permit to look for work — confirm current rules
- Politecnico does not guarantee employment, salary, or residence outcomes
Notable Alumni
- Giulio Natta, Nobel laureate in Chemistry (1963), taught at Polimi
- Renzo Piano and other prominent architects studied or taught here
- Leading Italian engineers, industrialists, and designers
Contact & Location
Politecnico di Milano
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
International admissions email: international.admission@polimi.it
Official website: polimi.it
Contact details can change — check the official website for the most current information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Politecnico di Milano is ranked joint 87th in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2027, released in June 2026.
It is the highest-ranked Italian university in the QS World University Rankings 2027.
It is known for engineering, architecture, and design.
Roughly up to €3,900–3,950 per year depending on the program and income-based rules; confirm on the official fees page.
Merit scholarships include Platinum (€10,000 per year), Gold (€8,000 per year), and Silver (tuition waiver) awards, subject to eligibility.
Yes, as non-EU students; IELTS testing is available in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, and an Italian student visa is required after admission.
Yes, 37 English-taught master’s programs are offered, plus some bachelor’s programs.
Check Politecnico’s official admission and fees pages, since deadlines, fees, and requirements are reviewed annually.
Compare Politecnico di Milano With Other Top Universities
Disclaimer: This page is based on the QS World University Rankings 2027, Politecnico di Milano’s official admissions and fees pages, and other publicly available sources, last checked in October 2026. Fees, rankings, deadlines, and admission rules change, and no admission, funding, visa, or employment outcome is guaranteed. Always verify current details directly with Politecnico di Milano before applying.
