Enquire to study in the UK 
When Santiago Hinojosa pursued his master’s at Politecnico di Milano, he was only expecting an education at an internationally top-ranked technical university and spending time learning Italian. Fast forward two years later, he’s graduated alongside close friends he calls a second family.
“Being an international student at Politecnico di Milano was one of the most rewarding aspects of my educational journey in Italy,” says Hinojosa. “Every classroom reflected a rich diversity, with groups comprising individuals from different parts of the world. It was common to hear more than 10 languages spoken around a dinner table, creating a truly multicultural and vibrant atmosphere.”
Santiago Hinojosa is a MSc Environmental and Land Planning Engineering graduate from Ecuador. Source: Politecnico di Milano
With over 8,000 international students from more than 100 countries across the university’s six campuses, the Ecuadorian is right. Italy’s best university and #111 in the world by QS Rankings 2024 is a global setting where you can form lasting connections that shape your life within and outside the classroom. “The bonds formed with people from different backgrounds added a unique dimension to my academic and personal growth,” says Hinojosa.
Here, it’s a place to grow. Politecnico di Milano draws Engineering, Architecture, and Design students to its halls with close to 50 postgraduate programmes available and impressive rankings – #23 for Engineering and Technology and #7 for Art and Design by QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024, #1 Southern Europe ranking (as of July 2024).
Zoe Noble is a MSc in Design and Engineering student from the US with a Fulbright award. Source: Politecnico di Milano
American student Zoe Noble chose to pursue a MSc in Design and Engineering here as it was recommended by her Italian professor during her undergraduate studies.
“My bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering had been largely math and science-focused, and I was very interested in learning more about the design side of things,” says Noble. “While I had learned how things worked and physically how to build things, I hadn’t been taught how to make things that looked good or were easy for people to use.”
A study abroad opportunity in Trieste only confirmed Noble’s desire to do her master’s in Italy, and she’s been enjoying it ever since.
“I find Italian work culture and life much more relaxed than in the US, but I enjoy it,” she says. “It has been a bit of an adjustment since I’m used to working nonstop once I get started, so my Italian classmates always remind me to take breaks and have a coffee.”
Being in Italy’s global capital of fashion and design also means that students immerse themselves in the city’s rich culture daily. For Noble, who has a minor in Italian history, she takes a lot of pleasure in exploring the many museums and historical sights when she’s not busy with coursework.
Nihal Adil Abdelmagid is a MSc in Architecture – Building Architecture student from Sudan. Source: Politecnico di Milano
Milan’s architectural landmarks are another pull for students like Nihal Adil Abdelmagid to join Politecnico di Milano. The Sudanese MSc in Architecture – Building Architecture student passes the Duomo di Milano, Castello Sforzesco, and Arco della Pace often, each acting as a reminder of what heights she can achieve.
In Abdelmagid’s case, learning about this transnational field of Architecture at Politecnico di Milano provides her with the university’s expertise, technologies, and well-equipped facilities needed to reach her goal of working in a top construction company.
“Learning about the complex structural methods and sustainable technology, particularly in the field of construction, and how they are combined to create world landmarks that achieve significant functional needs has been eye-opening,” says Abdelmagid.
Sustainable development is a big part of Politecnico di Milano’s teaching and research. Working towards the United Nations’s Sustainable Development Goals, their commitment to environmental sustainability, promotion of responsible research, international cooperation for development, and equal opportunities see plenty of positive results. The university is ranked 16 amongst 873 universities in Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2023: industry, innovation, and infrastructure.
An emphasis on research excellence can be found in the university’s pedagogy.
They focus on supporting advanced and fundamental research activities, developing strategic partnerships with academia and industries worldwide, embedding scientific developments and research results into university education, and more. Politecnico di Milano is the first university in Italy and fifth in Europe for the number of funded Horizon Europe projects – EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation – and, in 2015, received the HR Excellence in Research award from the European Commission.
“Professors boast great academic profiles, with many actively engaged in cutting-edge research addressing global concerns,” says Hinojosa. “It provides a dynamic and forward-thinking atmosphere where students could participate.”
He describes his experience as “very challenging yet immensely rewarding.” “This unique academic experience journey was crucial in shaping my academic and professional growth,” he says.
Like many before him, Hinojosa’s journey at the university has been life-changing.
“Beyond shaping my professional life, this journey has substantially contributed to my personal life,” he says. “It is one of those remarkable experiences that, when you look back, feels almost unreal, and you can hardly believe it happened.”
Follow Politecnico di Milano on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and YouTube
