On November 6, 2018 we were guests of the Milano AllNews radio program and we discussed together the topic concerning international students in Milan.

Below is the most relevant data. To learn more, listen to the recording.

https://www.facebook.com/milanoallnews/videos/319664802183286/

The attractiveness of Milan is also due to the educational offer of the universities that are based there.
The international student growth continues (+ 2.4% on the previous year), reaching 12.878 units. As in previous years, a substantial balance between genders is confirmed (52.2% female and 47.8% male).
Almost all, 90.5%, are enrolled in degree programs (1st, 2nd level, single cycle) while the remaining share (9.5%) attends post-graduate courses (PhD, masters and specialisation schools).
Compared to Italian students, international students more frequently choose courses related to science, mathematics, engineering, technology, medicine, physics, computer science and chemistry (50.1% versus 40.0%) and, to an even greater extent, art and design (6.1% versus 1.4%), a clear sign of the strong appeal of Milan as a center for these disciplines, symbol of the “Made in Italy”.
In terms of geographical origin, 42.6% of international students are European and 38.4% are Asian. In absolute terms, China (2,017 students), Iran (876 students) and India (752 students) are the most represented countries. Among the nationalities of the old continent stands Switzerland (751 students) while in second place is Albania (446).
In addition, the number of students involved in Erasmus and mobility programs continues to grow (17,820, + 5.3% on the previous academic year), as well as the number of students leaving (10,737, + 0.6% on the previous year) - and the figure is particularly positive - of incoming foreign ones (7,083, + 13.2% on the previous year). It is to be noted that, unlike foreign colleagues, most Italian students participate in mobility programs other than Erasmus.
Finally, a strategic point to underline is the growth of the offer of courses taught in English by the Milanese universities (28.7% of the courses) if compared with the generality of Italian universities (16.3% of the courses). The same trend is observed with regard to the so-called "double degree" courses (29.0% of the courses against 13.4% at the national level).
The data thus reflect the prospect of a territory and a city with a strong international trend, increasingly attractive for young talents.