Short answer: There are 15 verified English-taught design programmes in Italy (3 bachelor's, 12 master's) in 6 cities; most are in Milan, Florence, Piacenza. The most common entrance requirements are ARCHED, TOLD.
Where can you study design in English?
English-taught bachelor's in design
| Programme | University | Admission | Deadline (non-EU, 2027/28) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural DesignCivil engineering, architecture and design · 3 yrs | Politecnico di MilanoMilan | ARCHEDEnglish B2 | 16 July 2027 |
| Architectural DesignCivil engineering, architecture and design · 3 yrs | Politecnico di MilanoPiacenza | ARCHEDEnglish B2 | 16 July 2027 |
| Interaction DesignCivil engineering, architecture and design · 3 yrs | Politecnico di MilanoMilan | TOLDEnglish B2 | 14 May 2027 |
English-taught master's in design
| Programme | University | Admission | Deadline (non-EU, 2027/28) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural Design and HistoryCivil engineering, architecture and design · 2 yrs | Politecnico di MilanoMilan | Programme's entrance testEnglish B2 | 1 December 2026 |
| Design & EngineeringCivil engineering, architecture and design · 2 yrs | Politecnico di MilanoMilan | Programme's entrance testEnglish B2 | 1 December 2026 |
| Design for the Built EnvironmentCivil engineering, architecture and design · 2 yrs | Università di Napoli Federico IINaples | No test (open admission)English B2 | 15 May 2027 |
| Design for the Fashion SystemCivil engineering, architecture and design · 2 yrs | Politecnico di MilanoMilan | Programme's entrance testEnglish B2 | 1 December 2026 |
| Design of sustainable tourism systemsEconomics, business and statistics · 2 yrs | Università di FirenzeFlorence | No test (open admission)English B2 | 6 February 2027 |
| Digital and Interaction DesignCivil engineering, architecture and design · 2 yrs | Politecnico di MilanoMilan | Programme's entrance testEnglish B2 | 1 December 2026 |
| Eco-social DesignCivil engineering, architecture and design · 2 yrs | Libera Università di BolzanoBolzano | Programme's entrance testEnglish B2 | 28 April 2027 |
| Product and Service DesignCivil engineering, architecture and design · 2 yrs | Sapienza Università di RomaRome | Programme's entrance testEnglish B2 | 15 May 2027 |
| Product Service System DesignCivil engineering, architecture and design · 2 yrs | Politecnico di MilanoMilan | Programme's entrance testEnglish B2 | 1 December 2026 |
| Sustainable Architecture and Landscape DesignCivil engineering, architecture and design · 2 yrs | Politecnico di MilanoMilan | Programme's entrance testEnglish B2 | 1 December 2026 |
| Urban and Regional Planning and Design for SustainabilityCivil engineering, architecture and design · 2 yrs · partly Italian | Università di FirenzeFlorence | No test (open admission)English B2 | 6 February 2027 |
| Urban Planning and Policy DesignCivil engineering, architecture and design · 2 yrs | Politecnico di MilanoMilan | Programme's entrance testEnglish B2 | 1 December 2026 |
Every programme was checked on the university's own website; the programme name links to its official page. Deadlines are for non-EU applicants living abroad and can change, so confirm on the programme page before applying.
Frequently asked questions
Can you study design in English in Italy?
Yes. We verified 15 English-taught programmes (3 bachelor's, 12 master's) at 5 universities.
Which cities offer design in English?
Milan (9), Florence (2), Piacenza (1), Naples (1), Bolzano (1), Rome (1).
Which exam do you need for design in Italy?
It depends on the programme. The most common are ARCHED (2), TOLD (1). 3 programmes have open admission with no test.
When is the next application deadline for design?
The earliest open 2027/28 deadline for non-EU applicants is 1 December 2026 (Architectural Design and History, Politecnico di Milano).
Other subjects
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Free assessmentProgramme data checked on the universities' own websites; last updated 10 November 2026.