Milan Galleria
Milan, Italy

Fashion, Retail & Innovation

Study Program

Dates

-

15 weeks

Costs

Credit

15 - 18 semester hours

22.5 - 27 quarter hours

Eligibility

Application Deadline

The application deadline has passed.

Apply Now

Request Information

Tentative Dates

-

16 weeks

Costs

Credit

15 - 18 semester hours

22.5 - 27 quarter hours

Eligibility

Application Deadline

Apply Now

Request Information

Dates

-

15 weeks

Costs

Credit

15 - 18 semester hours

22.5 - 27 quarter hours

Eligibility

Application Deadline

The application deadline has passed.

Apply Now

Request Information

Dates

-

39 weeks

Credit

15 - 18 semester hours

22.5 - 27 quarter hours

Eligibility

Application Deadline

The application deadline has passed.

Apply Now

Request Information

Overview

Live and learn in Milan, one of the leading fashion and design capitals of the world! As the home to many high-end fashion houses such as Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, MiuMiu, and Prada, Milan offers you the opportunity to study global trends in fashion design, fabrics, materials, sales, and marketing in Italy’s second-largest city and unofficial fashion capital.  

Designed for students interested in fashion, retail, and innovation, you will enroll in courses (in English or Italian) led by local experts and highly qualified faculty from CIEE Milan and CIEE’s renowned partner schools, the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, an Italian private research university. To round out your academic experience abroad, you may also enroll in an optional part-time internship in fashion, marketing, communications, or another business-related industry.

Outside the classroom, you’ll have every opportunity to enjoy all Milan has to offer! Shop in one of the city’s 200+ boutiques, indulge in one of nearly 6,000 restaurants, and participate in excursions beyond the city to enhance classroom learning and intercultural understanding. Make your time in Italy the adventure of a lifetime on this one-of-a-kind study abroad program! 

Unique Experiences

Apply Your Language Skills

in an internship at an Italian company

Explore the Lombardy Region

from Brescia to Bergamo

Shop to Your Heart’s Content

at The Galleria of Vittorio Emanuele II, the oldest shopping mall

6 th

Largest Tram Network in the World

80 +

Museums and Galleries in the City

600

Years To Build the Duomo de Milano

Experience
  • milan city center at sunset statue building
  • Milan fashion runway

Your Destination

Say hello to Milan, the second-largest city in Italy and the country’s unofficial fashion capital. Home to some of Italy’s major fashion brands, a booming wine industry, the oldest shopping center in the world (the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II), and a thriving international student community, there is plenty to experience and explore in the cosmopolitan city of Milan.  

When you study abroad in Milan, you call the Lombardy region of northern Italy home. Here, you’ll have every opportunity to enjoy one of the city’s many study spaces such as the University Biblioteca Statale di Milano (the largest academic library in Italy), go shopping in one of more than 200 shops and boutiques, indulge in one of nearly 6,000 restaurants, and much more while immersing yourself in the local culture.  

CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Milan. 

The Culture

Milan lake como sailboat

Excursions & Activities

  • Visit important cultural and historical landmarks in nearby cities like Venice and Genoa  
  • Explore Lake Como, the most beautiful of the northern Italian lakes   
  • Take excursions to emblematic Italian towns like Bologna, Bergamo, or Verona  
  • Socialize with local students to have an aperitif or to watch a calcio game   
  • Give back to the community and volunteer with a local organization     
Milan business distrcit

Projects

Internship: Build new skills and intercultural competencies with a for-credit internship in English or Italian. Gain on-the-job experience in a company within a variety of industry sectors. Students who are part of an internship program have a weekly classroom component that provides academic support to their practical experience. 

Directed Independent Research: Qualified students who have demonstrated academic rigor and curiosity can pursue a research project of their own design. Independent research topics will be approved by the CIEE Milan Director and home institution and must reflect a topic that is relevant to Italy. 

Program Blogs

From CIEE

Top 10 Italian Slang Words & Phrases You Must Know

By College Study Abroad at CIEE

Planning to study abroad in Italy? Beyond the iconic landmarks, endless pasta, and rich espresso, there's something essential that will help you truly blend in with the locals: Italian slang... keep reading

From CIEE

Top 5 Italian Holidays and Traditions

By College Study Abroad at CIEE

Ever wondered what it's like to celebrate like an Italian? Spoiler alert: It's not just about pizza and pasta. When you mix ancient traditions, mouth-watering food, and a dash of... keep reading

From CIEE

Should I Study Abroad in Spain or Italy?

By College Study Abroad at CIEE

When weighing your study abroad options, it’s easy to get stuck on a few favorite destinations. We get it! After all, we offer a ton of different study abroad programs... keep reading

Housing
Academics

Academics

The semester-length program is designed for students interested in taking fashion, retail, and innovation courses abroad through courses at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, CIEE courses, internship opportunities, and related co-curriculars.  

Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, affectionately known as Cattolica, is an Italian private research university, founded in 1921. Its main campus is located in Milan, Italy, with satellite campuses in Brescia, Piacenza, Cremona, and Rome. The university is organized into 12 faculties and seven postgraduate schools. In the renowned QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022, Cattolica’s ascendency placed the University in formidable company, with 16 disciplines ranked in the top 300 in the world, or higher.   

Arizona State University: Enhance your international academic coursework with optional online courses that best align with your degree requirements and interests. ASU offers thousands of online courses in asynchronous 7.5-week sessions that fit within the CIEE academic calendar, so you can study abroad with CIEE while continuing to meet all your academic goals.

GPA

2.75

Additional Requirements

Please refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria.

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors. Your study abroad advisor and CIEE staff can help you understand your course options if you don't see a recommendation that fits your course needs.

Requirements

All CIEE “Fashion, Retail & Innovation” Milan students take courses for a total of 15-18 semester credits. At least one of those courses must be a fashion, retail, or innovation course, and at least one course must be taken at the host institution (maximum of three host institution courses). Courses can otherwise be a combination of CIEE courses and host institution courses). 

Online Course Options: substitute up to 6 credits online through ASU (after required minimum 12 credits in-person courses)

Program Credit

Total credit: 15-18 U.S. semester/22.5-27 quarter credits   

Course Credit

  • CIEE Courses: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter hours; 45 contact hours  
  • CIEE Language Courses: 3 – 4 U.S. semester/4.5 – 6 quarter credits; 45 – 60 contact hours  
  • Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Courses: 3 U.S. semester/6 ECTS; 45 contact hours.  

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors. Your study abroad advisor and CIEE staff can help you understand your course options if you don't see a recommendation that fits your course needs.

Academic Culture

Students should expect to have daily homework assignments and continuous assessment. Most CIEE courses combine lectures with local field trips and excursions to help students gain a better understanding of the local culture. 

Class Format

CIEE courses are scheduled Monday through Thursday. Students should expect to have daily homework assignments and continuous assessments. Most courses combine lectures with local field trips and excursions to help students gain a better understanding of the local culture. Attendance in class is mandatory and absences affect final grades.  

Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore classes are typically scheduled Monday through Thursday. The “International Curriculum” program is in English, with international students. Attendance is required; participation in class is expected. Students are typically graded on midterm and final exams. Participation makes up a percentage of the final grade.  

Grading

Students’ grades are based on attendance, class participation, homework, project work, presentations, and trimester/midterm/final examinations.  

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors. Your study abroad advisor and CIEE staff can help you understand your course options if you don't see a recommendation that fits your course needs.

Language of Instruction

English and/or Italian

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors. Your study abroad advisor and CIEE staff can help you understand your course options if you don't see a recommendation that fits your course needs.

Courses

Course Information

Academic Projects

Course
Language
Semester Credit

Agriculture

Course
Language
Semester Credit

Business, Economics, Management, and Marketing

Course
Language
Semester Credit

Communication, Journalism, and Media

Course
Language
Semester Credit

Languages and Cultural Studies

Course
Language
Semester Credit

Social Sciences

Course
Language
Semester Credit

Visual and Performing Arts

Course
Language
Semester Credit

Natural Resources, Conservation, and the Environment

Course
Language
Semester Credit

Academic Projects

Course
Language
Semester Credit

Business, Economics, Management, and Marketing

Course
Language
Semester Credit

Agriculture

Course
Language
Semester Credit

Languages and Cultural Studies

Course
Language
Semester Credit

Social Sciences

Course
Language
Semester Credit

Visual and Performing Arts

Course
Language
Semester Credit

Natural Resources, Conservation, and the Environment

Course
Language
Semester Credit

Courses listed below are a sample list and offerings are subject to change. 

Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

International Curriculum(all courses listed are 6 ECTS/3 U.S. credits and run in both the Fall and Spring semesters, unless otherwise specified): 

Fashion, Retail and Innovation courses:

  • Fashion Images and the City of Milan. A Sociological Perspective on Modern Italian Fashion  
  • What is Design? The Fundamentals of an Italian Industry - spring only  
  • The Fashion Market: Structure, Players and Success Factors
  • Luxury Business Insights  
  • A Fashion Brand: from Line Creation to Market Placement. A case study  
  • Managing Sustainability in Fashion and Luxury  
  • Fashion and Gender: an Ever-changing Relationship - spring only  
  • Made in Italy: Shaping Italian Lifestyle through Fashion and Food - fall only  

Business and Economics courses: 

  • Strategic Management & Entrepreneurship: the Italian Perspective  
  • Entrepreneurship Lab: Creating a New Business  
  • Green Management & Sustainability  
  • Entrepreneurial Finance  
  • Business, Government and the Global Economy (spring only)  
  • Business, Government and the Global Economy (fall only)  
  • The Economics of the European integration  
  • The Globalization of Finance: Managing Returns and Risks  
  • Business Ethics  
  • Leadership Coaching: Bringing Potential to the Stage of Work  
  • The Human Side of Business  
  • Diversity at Work: Working Better by Working Together  

International Relations courses:  

  • The European Union in the World: Crisis or Transformation?  
  • International Relations and the Middle East: A Comparative European Perspective

Italian Culture: Literature, Theater, Cinema, Music, Philosophy, and History courses:  

  • Methods of Illusion: la Mise-en-scène  from Drama to Fiction and Visual Arts  
  • Writers & Paintings, Words and Colours: Italy and the Arts - spring only  
  • Creative Italian Storytelling: from Literature to Cinema to other Forms of Fiction  
  • Drama: "The Word to the Action" in the Italian Commedia dell'Arte  
  • The Discovery of Italy through its Culinary Traditions  
  • A Mafia Story: Its Representation in Literature, Cinema and Television  
  • The Female Character in Italian Contemporary Literature and Culture - fall only  
  • Italy, a Country to Savor  
  • The Italian Foods of the Future  

Media and Communications courses:  

  • Federico Fellini and Contemporary Italian Cinema  
  • Digital Journalism and Digital Media in Italy  
  • Publishing, Publicity and Cultural Journalism  
  • "Green is the New Black": Asset and Appeal of the Value "Environment" in Global Business Communication - fall only  
  • Television, Advertising, Music: The Italian Approach to the Media  
  • From Strategy to Effective Presentations - Methodologies to Write and Present Convincing and Engaging Communications  
  • "Luxury for Sustainability": How Values Meet and Cross in Corporate and Brand Communication - spring only  
  • Personal Marketing Performance skills at work  
  • What Makes Us Global? Cultural Interconnectedness Effective Management  
  • A Sensorial Journey Towards Intercultural Competences    

Sociology, Psychology, and Law courses: 

  • Are Individuals the Same in the East and West? Cultural Differences in Social Psychological Processes - spring only  
  • Discovering the Mystery of the Ordinary Life. Social Psychology in Action - fall only  
  • Roman Law and Common Law. Two Jurisprudential Traditions in Comparison - spring only  
  • Human Strengths and Well-being - spring only 

CIEE proudly partners with ASU to deliver asynchronous, 100% online coursework that aligns with your degree requirements from anywhere you study abroad.

CIEE and ASU offer courses online per program eligibility, at no additional charge. Be sure to review online courses with your home school advisor.

Check the CIEE Program Dates and ASU start dates below to maximize course options within your program! 

Search ASU Online Courses BROWSE FAQs for more INFO

 

Program Options
Program Options

Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.

Scholarships

Scholarships & Grants

CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.

Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:

  • Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
  • Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
  • CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
  • MSI Grant

To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application.

Learn more about scholarships

Dates & Fees

Dates & Fees

You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Fees & Housing

Program Spring 2025 15 weeks Application Due Deadline Passed Start Date End Date Fees & Housing $20,950
Program Fall 2025 16 weeks Start Date * End Date * Fees & Housing $20,950
Program Fall 2024 15 weeks Application Due Deadline Passed Start Date End Date Fees & Housing $20,950
Program Academic year 2024-2025 39 weeks Application Due Deadline Passed Start Date End Date

*Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.

To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, your college or university may charge additional fees for study abroad, or may require you to receive a transcript via CIEE's School of Record, which carries an additional fee of $500.

Program Fees

CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.

Participation Confirmation = $300*

Educational Costs = $14,456**

Housing = $6,000***

Insurance = $194

Total Fees = $20,950

Estimated Costs

Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.

Meals not included in program fee = $1,160

International Airfare = $1,250††

Local Transportation = $100

Books & Supplies = $150

Visa Fees = $60†††

Potential travel to consulate for visa = $500††††

Personal expenses = $300†††††

Total Costs = $3,520

Optional Housing

CIEE accommodation options are detailed in the Housing section. Based on availability, Select or Select Plus Housing can be chosen during the application process for an additional fee. Housing is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis; however, other factors may also be considered.

Select Housing Fee = $1,500

Select Plus Housing Fee = $2,500

Financial Aid

CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.

See Scholarships

*non-refundable fee

**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students

***Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.

For groceries if you plan on making your own meals, budget more money if you plan on eating out regularly.

††round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

†††Full-semester students only. To be paid at Italian consulate in US

††††If no consulate in your home area

†††††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries

Program Fees

CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.

Participation Confirmation = $300*

Educational Costs = $14,456**

Housing = $6,000***

Insurance = $194

Total Fees = $20,950

Estimated Costs

Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.

Meals not included in program fee = $1,160

International Airfare = $1,250††

Local Transportation = $240

Books & Supplies = $150

Visa Fees = $60†††

Potential travel to consulate for visa = $500††††

Personal expenses = $300†††††

Total Costs = $3,660

Financial Aid

CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.

See Scholarships

*non-refundable fee

**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students

***Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.

For groceries if you plan on making your own meals, budget more money if you plan on eating out regularly.

††round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

†††Full-semester students only. To be paid at Italian consulate in US

††††If no consulate in your home area

†††††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries

Program Fees

CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.

Participation Confirmation = $300*

Educational Costs = $14,456**

Housing = $6,000***

Insurance = $194

Total Fees = $20,950

Estimated Costs

Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.

Meals not included in program fee = $1,160

International Airfare = $1,250††

Local Transportation = $240

Books & Supplies = $150

Visa Fees = $60†††

Potential travel to consulate for visa = $500††††

Personal expenses = $250†††††

Total Costs = $3,610

Optional Housing

CIEE accommodation options are detailed in the Housing section. Based on availability, Select or Select Plus Housing can be chosen during the application process for an additional fee. Housing is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis; however, other factors may also be considered.

Select Housing Fee = $750

Select Plus Housing Fee = $1,500

Financial Aid

CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.

See Scholarships

*non-refundable fee

**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students

***Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.

For groceries if you plan on making your own meals, budget more money if you plan on eating out regularly.

††round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

†††Full-semester students only. To be paid at Italian consulate in US

††††If no consulate in your home area

†††††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries

Program Fees

CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.

Estimated Costs

Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.

Financial Aid

CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.

See Scholarships

What's Included

Tuition

Housing

Pre-departure Advising

Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions

Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet

Orientation

Introduction to your program plus practical information about living in your host city

On-site Staff

Full-time program leadership and support in your city

Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities

Excursions and/or Study Tours

Travel Protection

CIEE iNext travel protection

24/7 emergency on-site support

Staff

Our Staff

Stephen Marth

Center Director

Stephen joins CIEE with over a decade of experience in the study abroad field in Italy. He has lived and worked in Bologna and Rome, where he served first as...

Angela Lavecchia

Academic Director

Angela holds a BA in Foreign Languages and a MA in Comparative Literature from Università degli Studi di Napoli “L’Orientale”. She has completed a Master’s Degree in Teaching and Promotion...

Beatrice D’Alimonte

Student Life Manager

Beatrice holds an MA in International Education from the NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. She is passionate about creating inclusive programming and empowering learning environments for students from diverse backgrounds and identities.

Get Started Steps

Get Started

Here’s what you need to do to take the next steps:

1

Start an Application

You're one step closer to an amazing study abroad experience!

2

Connect With Your Campus Study Abroad Office

Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad.

3

Contact Us

Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.

Request Info