Fashion, Retail & Innovation
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
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
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
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
Milan Study Abroad Pros and Cons
If you’re considering studying abroad in Italy and have Milan as one of your top city choices – first, good thinking, and second, keep reading as we outline the pros... keep reading
Milan Study Abroad: The Ultimate Guide
Milan , referred to as the fashion capital of the world, is a beautiful Italian city known for its multicultural vibe, design and retail innovations, and incredible museums and architecture... keep reading
EAT, DRINK, EXPLORE: MILAN
EAT Who needs GPS in Italy when you have minestrone? Locals swear it only takes a few sips of this typical soup to know precisely where you are on the... keep reading
Housing & Meals
Housing
CIEE Milan offers diverse housing options to ensure you're comfortable in your home away from home. From shared apartments to residence halls, your accommodation preferences will be met. All housing has direct access to plenty of shopping, supermarkets, restaurants, and public transportation.
Standard Housing: Includes a double room in an apartment or residence hall. Both apartments and residence halls feature furnished double rooms, access to a kitchen and shared common spaces, and are located under 40 minutes from the city center.
Select Housing: Includes a limited number of single rooms in an apartment or residence hall. Both apartments and residence halls feature furnished single rooms, access to a shared kitchen and common spaces, and are located under 40 minutes from the city center. Select housing requires an additional fee.
Select Plus Housing: Includes a limited number of single rooms in an apartment or residence hall. Both apartments and residence halls feature furnished single rooms, access to a shared kitchen and common spaces, and are under 30 minutes from the city center. Select Plus housing requires an additional fee.
A note: Housing is on a first-come, first-served basis. If we cannot accommodate your first housing choice, we’ll let you know before you arrive.
Meals
Apartments & Residence Halls: Meals not included
Academics
The semester-length program is designed for students interested in taking fashion, retail, and innovation courses abroad through courses at CIEE’s partner institutions (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and Milano Fashion Institute), 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.
Milano Fashion Institute is the Fashion and Luxury School of Management for Fashion Specialists of the Camera Nazionale Della Moda Italiana in partnership with Italian and International Universities. A cutting-edge fashion school, MFI was founded in 2007 to create a university center of excellence at the service of the Fashion System. MFI offers masters programs only, and some courses are open to CIEE undergraduate students (Spring Only).
Course Information
Academic Projects
Business, Economics, Management, and Marketing
Agriculture
Languages and Cultural Studies
Social Sciences
Visual and Performing Arts
Natural Resources, Conservation, and the Environment
Academic Projects
Business, Economics, Management, and Marketing
Agriculture
Languages and Cultural Studies
Social Sciences
Visual and Performing Arts
Natural Resources, Conservation, and the Environment
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
Milano Fashion Institute (MFI) (Spring Only)
MFI courses are master’s degree courses (they will be transcripted as undergraduate courses at CIEE). They and bear a varied number of credits based on contact hours. Credits listed below are U.S.
Fashion, Retail, and Innovation courses (spring only):
- Fashion Business Models
- Fashion Research Methods & Trends
- Italian Fashion System
- Fashion Marketing & Brand Management
- Brand & Luxury Management: Brand Development Process: Lifestyle management
- Brand & Business Management: Fashion Business Management
- Brand & Business Management: Fashion Branding Strategies
- Brand & Communication Management: Brand & Communication Strategies
- Brand & Sustainability Management: CSR Communication
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 & 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
- CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
- MSI Grant
- Trailblazer Grant
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application.
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 Fall 2024 15 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Fees & Housing $20,950 | |
| Program Academic year 2024-2025 | Start Date * | End Date TBD* | ||
| Program Spring 2025 15 weeks | Start Date * | End Date * | ||
| Program Spring 2024 15 weeks | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date | End Date | Fees & Housing $20,950 |
*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 = $20,950Estimated 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 = $3,610Optional 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:
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.
*non-refundable
**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
†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
^based on availability
^^based on availability
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.
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.
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 = $20,950Estimated 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 = $3,610Optional 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:
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.
*non-refundable
**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
†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
^first-come, first serve, based on availability
^^first-come, first serve, based on availability
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
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
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.
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