Our Fashion Design & Merchandising Program offers a holistic fashion experience. Encounter the sources of global trends in business, design, tailoring, fabrics and materials, modeling, and marketing. Learn about the business of fashion from local experts and professors from the best universities in Milan. Join the Milanese design and tailoring scene through practicum courses at professional fashion institutes offering hands-on lessons in clothing and accessory creation.
Once you’ve applied for a program, one of us will be your direct point of contact. From housing to course registration and everything in between, we're here to help you prepare to study abroad. Once you’re accepted to your program, you’ll find even more detailed information about what you need to know before you depart in your Predeparture Guide. Let’s get started!
Fashion is in the air in Milan. As one of the “big four” fashion capitals (along with London, New York, and Paris), Milan is home to many high-end fashion houses such as Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, and many others; and nearly all of the “big names” are represented. Prepare to be inspired by the Milanese standards of elegance and obsession with style—from the runway to the street.
Live in a furnished apartment located in a safe and lively district. Located on main public transportation routes, apartments are within a 40-minute commute to the Center, and each apartment offers fully equipped kitchens, Internet access, a dishwasher, and a washing machine. These apartments are single-sex. Premium location units may carry an additional cost. Apartment life can be enhanced by a live-in Italian roommate called a Community Assistant (CA). These Assistants can help you improve your Italian language skills, get to know the city of Milan, and integrate more fully into the local culture. Meals are not included, so you normally eat lunch at a local café or a university cafeteria, and prepare your own breakfast and dinner at home.
Our mission is simple: to provide you with the best study abroad program possible—which includes the highest quality academic and cultural experiences.
We offer unique courses in Fashion, Italian language, and culture, along with a wide array of electives taught by our world-class professors. Course options at prestigious local universities enhance not just what you learn, but how you learn it, and provide you with new perspectives each day in class.
Fashion & Design
For students seeking experience in the initial design stages and in the workroom, a limited number of courses are available at Arsutoria including Footwear Design and Handbag Design. Arsutoria is a well-known leather making school that is located in central Milan, just 15 minutes by public transit or 30 minutes by foot from the IES Abroad Center.
Create your own academic experience by selecting from the following program components. You take 15-19 credits per semester. Language courses are taught in Italian, and all other courses are taught in English or Italian.
To learn more about IES Abroad’s innovative theoretical and pedagogical approaches to teaching language abroad, refer to the IES Abroad MAP for Language & Intercultural Communication.
NOTE: This is a list of planned course offerings. After you are accepted, you will see a list of final course offerings in your MyIESabroad account. Additionally, IES Abroad reserves the right to cancel a course due to insufficient enrollment or circumstances beyond our control.
| Course name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| CM/AR 260 - Strategies for Digital Engagement: Italian Case Studies in the Arts | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
Enrolling in a partner institution course is a great way to meet Italians and experience the Italian education system first-hand. As a student in the Fashion Design & Merchandising program, two partner institution courses are included in the program cost, provided that you meet the institution's requirements. Any additional enrollments will carry an additional fee.
Most partner institution courses are worth 3 credits. Specific course listings and descriptions are not available on the institutions' websites until shortly before the beginning of the term and may be updated frequently. The IES Abroad staff will assist you with the partner institution enrollment process.
Getting your passport is a crucial step for studying abroad. With processing times taking longer than usual, consider this a gentle reminder to not procrastinate on getting or renewing your passport.
Even though your adventure starts in Milan, our field trips take you beyond the city to discover the culture and traditions of your host country. All trips are included in the program fee unless otherwise noted with ($).
NOTE: IES Abroad field trip destinations, activities, and lengths of stay may vary according to term and availability.
Want to find out the difference between "parmesan cheese" and Parmigiano Reggiano? A trip to the wonderful city of Parma, in the Emilia Romagna region, will teach you that and more. Guided tours of the Duomo, Baptistery, and the Farnese Theater will follow a visit to a state-of-the-art vineywards, in the rolling hills west of Parma.
Learn what's behind these two cornerstones of the Italian economy. How did Enzo Ferrari build such iconic sports cars and balsamic vinegar become a World-renowned delicacy? You'll find out from the source!
Experience the city of cinema, royal palaces, and chocolate. Once the capital of Italy, Turin is a refined, elegant metropolitan city of great historical interest, with a touch of contemporary, cosmopolitan buzz. Explore its baroque architecture and some of...
Visit the charming city of Stresa on Lago Maggiore. Get the full scenic tour on a private boat that will take you to see the three marvelous Borromean Islands, along with their museums and botanical gardens, situated in the heart of the lake.
Get inspired while hiking the trails of this UNESCO World-Heritage site and visiting its picturesque towns overlooking the Mediterranean sea. If that wasn't enough, you'll also get to enjoy a boat tour to see the colorful villages from the sea.
Take a trip to the Veneto region to see the famous location of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, also known as the "City of Love."
Did you know that, while in Milan, you can intern as part of your study abroad experience? With a part-time internship, you’ll gain global work experience that will increase your job readiness and give you an advantage after graduation. With an internship, you will:
All of our internships are supervised and earn IES Abroad credit. You participate in a mandatory 3-credit seminar to complement the practical experience you gain during the internship for a greater understanding of work life in your host country.
Participating in a community-based learning experience in Milan is one of the best ways to gain a deeper understanding of the city’s culture and society. Working alongside local people toward a common goal, you experience first-hand some of the social issues that affect Milan, while applying your skills toward a community-driven solution.
A community-based learning placement consists of time spent with a local organization, accompanied by a weekly academic, for-credit community-based learning seminar. Through the seminar, you have structured time for reflection, discussion, and research on the issues of your host community.
IES Abroad Milan partners with the local city government’s immigration department to provide a range of community-based learning opportunities from working to grant asylum to immigrants to developing job-training programs. Additional partners include: a community soup kitchen, food bank and tutoring services for children in need.
We firmly believe that financial limitations should not prevent a qualified student from studying abroad. This is why we commit millions of dollars to our study abroad scholarships and aid.
The Center is where our highly trained local staff provide on-the-ground support throughout your time abroad.
Our long-standing presence in Milan got an upgrade in 2024: welcome to the brand new IES Abroad Milan Center. It has architectural history, over a dozen classrooms, a 280-seat auditorium, onsite gym, plenty of study spaces, and more. This cutting edge center will be your study abroad hub.
With 70 years of experience, we are proud to set the standard for health and safety in study abroad. Our Chicago-based and on-site staff are all highly trained and experienced in the matters of health, safety, and crisis management. We are here for you from predeparture to your return, and are ready to support you—no matter which time zone you’re in. We plan for "what ifs" so that you don’t have to. From international health insurance included in the cost of your program to highly-trained local staff who can connect you to English-speaking healthcare providers, we are working around the clock to ensure your health and safety while abroad.
No one knows the IES Abroad experience better than a student who has lived it! From budget tips to housing experiences, our volunteer Ambassadors are here to share it all.
There and Back Again, Part 4: I attempt to demystify the prestigious, old, and confusing tutorial system at Oxford.
Here I talk about my experience studying abroad in Ireland and taking advantage of the opportunity to travel to various European countries during reading week...
Here, I feature some of the best spots to fuel your caffeine addiction while abroad.
