Study Design in Italy – Raffles Milano International Design Institute

Study Design in Italy at a leading boutique international school in Milan for fashion, product, visual and communication design, where the walls between creative disciplines come down and students learn in a truly interdisciplinary and supportive environment.

Choosing where to study design is not only about choosing a school. It is about choosing the environment where your creative identity, portfolio, professional habits, and industry direction will begin to take shape.

For young creatives who want to study design in Italy, Raffles Milano offers a strong and distinctive option: a dynamic, more personal design institute in Milan, one of the world’s most important creative cities.

From our experience advising students and families, this is where Raffles Milano becomes especially interesting. Its strength is not in being the largest institution in Italy, but in combining a leading international education network, a focused learning environment, direct access to tutors and professionals, practical projects, and a strong connection with the creative industries.

Raffles Milano is part of Raffles Education, a major international education network founded in Singapore in 1990. With more than 35 years of education experience, Raffles Education brings an established international background to Milan. The group is listed on the Singapore Exchange and also operates through a Hong Kong Stock Exchange-listed subsidiary, which further reflects the scale and corporate structure behind the network.

Key Facts

Key point	Summary
Main study areas	Fashion, Design, and Visual Communication
Location	Raffles Milano campus in Milan
Degree structure	Three-year bachelor’s-level courses, 180 credits
Tuition	EU students: from €10,000 to €22,000 per year; non-EU students: generally €22,000 per year
Enrollment/admin fee	€2,500 for EU applicants; €4,000 for non-EU applicants, paid as part of the annual tuition, not as an extra fee
Main scholarship advantage	Qualified applicants may receive €5,000 International Student Aid, with additional scholarships or reductions possible depending on profile, enrollment date, school initiatives, and availability
Summer pathway benefit	Students who complete a Raffles Milano summer academic program may receive an additional €2,000 tuition discount
Total possible first-year benefit	Up to €7,000, depending on profile, timing, intake, and availability

Why study design in Italy, and why Milan

Italy is one of the world’s strongest countries for design, fashion, interiors, craftsmanship, visual culture, product development, and creative industries. For students who want to study design abroad, Italy offers something very specific: a living connection between culture, aesthetics, industry, materials, brands, and everyday design.

Within Italy, Milan is already a natural choice for anyone interested in fashion and design. The city is home to Milan Fashion Week, Milan Design Week, Salone del Mobile, international showrooms, design studios, fashion houses, creative agencies, galleries, museums, luxury brands, and one of the strongest professional ecosystems in Europe.

For this reason, we do not see Milan only as a study destination. It is part of the learning experience itself.

Those who study here are surrounded by the industry they want to enter. They see how collections are presented, how brands communicate, how products are launched, how interiors are designed, and how creative work moves from idea to market.

Against that background, Raffles Milano stands out as a strong option for young people who want to be closer to tutors, projects, professionals, and the creative rhythm of the city from the beginning.

About Raffles Milano

Raffles Milano is an international design institute located in Milan, with a strong focus on fashion, design, visual communication, interiors, branding, photography, luxury, and creative industries.

As the European hub of the Raffles Education network, it combines the energy of one of the world’s leading creative capitals with the resources and international perspective of a global education group.

What we particularly like about this institute is its boutique approach to education. Rather than operating like a large university with hundreds of students per cohort, Raffles Milano emphasizes smaller classes, direct access to tutors, intensive project work, and close interaction with industry professionals.

This creates a more personal learning experience in which individual development, portfolio building, and professional growth receive serious attention.

When we visited the Raffles Milano campus, we immediately felt that this was not an anonymous school building. The atmosphere was open, young, and creative, with a reception team that was welcoming, helpful, and easy to talk to from the first moment.

The campus is located in the Porta Venezia Design District, one of Milan’s most active and inspiring areas. Inside, students have access to spaces that support real creative work: the Fashion Lab, Product Lab, Photo Lab, IT Lab, library, lounge, meeting rooms, cafeteria, courtyard, and terrace.

This video gives you a short tour through the Raffles Milano campus and a closer look at an environment that feels personal, practical, and alive.

For many of our international applicants, especially those seeking a more personalized alternative to larger institutions, this combination of academic guidance, creative experimentation, and professional exposure is one of the school’s strongest advantages.

Practical learning approach

Raffles Milano is not a traditional, theory-heavy design school. Its programs are built around practice, experimentation, real projects, and direct contact with professionals.

Learning takes place through design briefs, studio work, workshops, interdisciplinary projects, company collaborations, portfolio development, presentations, and professional feedback.

This is especially important in creative education because employers rarely judge young designers only by their diploma. They look at the portfolio, creative process, visual maturity, ability to present ideas, and readiness to work in a professional environment.

The smaller setup allows more direct feedback and closer contact with tutors and industry professionals. Our students will not only complete assignments. They will learn how to present, collaborate, respond to briefs, work under pressure, and communicate their ideas in front of others.

Accreditation and recognition

The accredited undergraduate courses at Raffles Milano lead to a First-Level Academic Diploma within the Italian higher education system.

For families, this is an important point because the qualification is not only a private school certificate. It is an officially recognized academic qualification within the Italian AFAM/MUR system and is recognized as an equivalent bachelor’s degree within the Italian education system.

The undergraduate structure is three years and carries 180 credits, giving young creatives a recognized academic pathway while keeping the learning strongly connected to practice, projects, and portfolio development.

Raffles Milano’s undergraduate offer is organized around three main academic areas: Fashion, Design, and Visual Communication. Within these areas, students follow more focused study paths that help them build a specific creative and professional profile in directions such as fashion design, product design, interior design, visual and graphic design, communication, accessories, or fashion marketing.

In practice, this means that students complete an officially recognized academic course while also developing a more focused portfolio and professional direction through their chosen study path. In some cases, the official diploma is accompanied by a Raffles certificate that reflects the student’s specific specialization.

Fashion Graduate Event 2015

A look back at Raffles Milano’s graduate fashion platform, showing how student creativity and public recognition have been part of the school’s story for many years.

International outlook

Raffles Milano is part of Raffles Education, an international education group established in Singapore in 1990. Over more than three decades, the organization has expanded into a network of 16 colleges and universities across 14 cities in 9 countries, creating a global ecosystem focused on design, business, communication, and creative education.

Today, the network includes institutions and university centers in Singapore, Italy, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, China, India, and Saudi Arabia. More than 24,000 students are enrolled in Raffles Education programs, benefiting from a practical, industry-relevant education across its international network.

The wider Raffles Education group has received a number of international recognitions for educational leadership, quality management, and brand development. These include the IAIR Awards for leadership in private education, the World Branding Award, the International Star for Quality Award, the ESQR Quality Choice Prize, and the Golden Bull Award.

For international applicants, this means studying design in Italy while benefiting from the resources, reputation, and global connections of a broader educational network that spans multiple countries and creative industries.

Programs

Raffles Milano offers a focused undergraduate portfolio built around three main creative areas: Fashion, Design, and Visual Communication.

When evaluating schools and education options for our students, we look at program recognition, portfolio value, career relevance, profile fit, and long-term flexibility. Based on these criteria, we recommend the following undergraduate areas at Raffles Milano, each connected to an officially recognized academic pathway within the Italian higher education system.

Click on each area for its detailed description.

Fashion

Study paths: Fashion Design, Jewellery and Accessories Design, and Fashion Communication and Marketing

Design

Study paths: Product Design and Interior Design

Visual Communication

Study paths: Visual and Graphic Design and Communication Design and Management

Each area follows a three-year undergraduate structure and carries 180 credits. Students develop a strong creative foundation and then build a more focused profile through their chosen path, portfolio work, projects, and professional exposure.

This is where our advising role becomes especially important. Once we understand your abilities, interests, creative direction, and long-term aspirations, our academic advisors can help you and your parents understand which area and which path would best match your goals, portfolio potential, and future plans.

Fashion

Fashion at Raffles Milano is for students who want to understand fashion as both creative expression and professional practice.

This area connects fashion culture, collection development, materials, visual research, styling, communication, accessories, branding, and the realities of the international fashion system. Studying in Milan gives future fashion professionals direct exposure to one of the world’s most important fashion capitals, where brands, showrooms, events, and creative professionals are part of daily life.

Depending on the chosen direction, students may focus on Fashion Design, Jewellery and Accessories Design, or Fashion Communication and Marketing. More details are available on the dedicated Fashion area page.

Design

Design at Raffles Milano is for students who want to create objects, spaces, systems, services, and solutions that respond to real needs.

This area connects creativity with function, materials, prototyping, interiors, sustainability, smart technologies, digital modeling, and the relationship between an idea and its realization. Students learn how to move from research and concept development to practical design outcomes and professional presentation.

Milan is one of the best places in Europe to study design, especially for those interested in product design, interior design, furniture, lighting, innovation, craftsmanship, and the culture of Made in Italy.

Depending on the chosen direction, students may focus on Product Design or Interior Design. More details are available on the dedicated Design area page.

Visual Communication

Visual Communication at Raffles Milano is for students interested in visual language, identity, branding, typography, digital culture, editorial design, image-making, interfaces, motion design, communication strategy, and contemporary media.

This area develops a strong command of visual systems and communication tools. Students learn how ideas are translated into visual identities, brand systems, digital interfaces, printed materials, cultural messages, campaigns, and visual stories.

Depending on the chosen direction, students may focus on Visual and Graphic Design or Communication Design and Management. More details are available on the dedicated Visual Communication area page.

Master’s programs

Even though our presentation focuses mainly on undergraduate studies, the Master’s portfolio is worth mentioning because it shows that the institute has a broader academic and professional ecosystem.

Raffles Milano offers Master’s programs in:

• Branding for Luxury, Fashion and Design
• Fashion Design and Sustainability
• Fashion Photography
• Product and Interior Design Innovation
• Visual Design and Communication

We would be happy to assist you with learning more about Raffles Milano Master’s programs, entry requirements, portfolio expectations, and the application process.

Raffles Milano Highlights

PRODIREKT recognizes several strong advantages at Raffles Milano, especially for applicants who want a more personal, practice-based design education in Milan. These highlights are not isolated features. Together, they show how the school connects teaching, projects, industry exposure, professional feedback, and the creative energy of Milan.

1. Learning with professionals

One of the strongest reasons to consider this school is the direct connection between teaching and professional practice.

Classes are led by professionals, designers, creative directors, consultants, architects, visual specialists, brand experts, and industry figures who bring real experience into the classroom. This creates a different kind of learning environment. The conversation is closer to how the creative industry actually works.

Young creatives are not only asked to understand theory. They are asked to think, make, test, revise, present, and defend their creative decisions. A future fashion designer, product designer, visual designer, interior designer, visual communicator, or communication strategist needs more than technical knowledge. They need judgment, discipline, presentation skills, and the ability to work with feedback.

The smaller scale makes this more effective. Participants can be seen more easily, corrected more directly, and guided more personally.

2. Signature Events

Raffles Milano’s Signature Events are one of the clearest examples of how the school connects classroom learning with real creative and professional experience. They allow students to test ideas, present work, collaborate across disciplines, meet professionals, and understand how design, fashion, communication, and business operate beyond a standard classroom setting.

For young creatives, this matters because a design education is not only about completing courses. It is also about learning how to show work, explain ideas, respond to feedback, work under pressure, and build confidence in front of real audiences.

Design Week

During Milan Design Week, students experience one of the most important design moments in the world from inside the city itself.

You see how design enters public space, how brands and studios present ideas, and how creative work becomes part of an international professional conversation.

Portfolio Night

Portfolio Night is an annual event where students present their work to companies, studios, recruiters, and industry professionals.

You learn how to speak about your portfolio, explain your decisions, receive feedback, and turn your work into a real professional conversation.

72 Hours

72 Hours, or 72H, is one of Raffles Milano’s signature project experiences. For three intensive days, students work on real creative briefs, often together with professionals, companies, and multidisciplinary teams.

The value of 72H is that it places students closer to the rhythm of real creative work. They need to manage time, exchange ideas, make decisions, solve problems, present concepts, and stay creative when the pressure is real.

Fashion Graduate

Fashion Graduate is a key moment where fashion students present their graduate collections and show their creative identity, technical development, and personal vision.

You see what it means to complete a collection, present it publicly, and communicate a personal design language in a serious creative setting.

These events matter because they turn academic work into public, professional, and industry-facing experience. They help students become more confident, more articulate, and more prepared for the realities of creative work.

3. Career Service and professional preparation

Career preparation is one of the strongest parts of the student experience.

The Career Service supports young creatives with internships, personal branding, CV preparation, interview preparation, coaching, company meetings, and recruitment opportunities. This support is important because a creative career does not depend only on talent. It also depends on how clearly someone can present their work, explain their process, and communicate their professional direction.

One of the key moments is Portfolio Night, where graduating candidates present their work to companies and industry professionals. For young creatives, this is a valuable bridge between education and employment because it turns the portfolio into a real professional conversation.

The career orientation is supported by a strong placement record, with an average of 97% of graduates placed in the professional world within ten months of graduation through the school’s personal branding pathway, company engagement, Portfolio Night, and Career Service.

For international candidates, this career orientation is particularly important. Many talented young people need help understanding how to present themselves, structure a portfolio, and communicate their value in an international professional setting.

From our visit to Raffles Milano:

PRODIREKT attended Raffles Milano’s Career Beginnings & Portfolio Night in Milan, and it gave us a close, human view of what this school does especially well. We met industry leaders, but we also met the future design stars: young creatives standing beside their work, explaining their ideas with clarity, confidence, and personal voice. For families trying to understand what a design education can become in real life, this is one of the best moments to see it. You can read more about our experience here: Why Raffles Milano Stands Out in Design Education

4. Summer academic courses in Milan taught in English

Not everyone is ready to commit immediately to a full undergraduate degree abroad. This is why summer academic courses in Milan, taught in English and powered by Raffles Milano, can be an excellent first step.

Through Verbalists Education and PRODIREKT, participants can join the academic MILAN Fashion Program and the academic MILAN Design Program. These short programs are especially useful for young people who want to test their interest before applying for a full degree, experience the school from the inside, explore Milan as a study destination, meet international peers, build early portfolio material, and understand whether fashion or design is the right path.

The programs include lectures, workshops, project work, and presentations. Participants can explore fashion design, product design, and interior design in a practical and inspiring environment, while learning in English in one of Europe’s most important creative cities.

University credits

One of the strongest academic advantages is that these are not just short creative summer experiences. Eligible participants can earn 4 ECTS university credits for a completed summer academic program. Students who take both eligible program options may be able to earn up to 8 ECTS credits in total, depending on the confirmed program combination and schedule.

This makes the experience more than a summer course. It can become a real academic step toward future studies, with credits that may be useful later if the student continues at Raffles Milano or applies to another university.

Significant financial advantage

There is also a clear financial advantage. Those who complete the academic MILAN Fashion Program or the academic MILAN Design Program and then enroll in a full undergraduate program at Raffles Milano can receive a €2,000 Summer Program tuition discount.

This can be combined with the €5,000 International Student Aid available to qualified PRODIREKT and Verbalists applicants, bringing the total first-year benefit up to €7,000. Additional scholarships or early bird incentives may also apply, depending on timing, profile, and availability.

For many families, this is the safest and smartest first step. A young person can experience Milan, see how they respond to a design school environment, return home with stronger motivation and concrete work, and then make a more confident decision about a full undergraduate program.

Read more about both summer academic options here: Summer Programs in Italy – Verbalists Education

Tuition and Scholarships

Tuition at Raffles Milano depends on the applicant category and individual assessment. The final amount, payment plan, scholarship, discount, or special condition is confirmed individually after admission through a personalized payment details form.

Tuition fees

For European Union students, annual undergraduate fees are based on income brackets and may range from €10,000 to €22,000 per year, depending on ISEEU assessment and eligibility. ISEEU refers to the income and assets assessment used in Italy for university fee calculation.

For non-European Union students, the annual undergraduate fee is generally €22,000 per year.

For bachelor-level programs accredited by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR), a regional fee of up to €190 may also apply.

Enrollment/admin fee

The enrollment/admin fee is not an additional charge. It represents the first portion of the annual tuition and is paid after admission in order to secure a place in the program.

• For European Union applicants, the enrollment/admin fee is €2,500.
• For non-European Union applicants, the enrollment/admin fee is €4,000.

This amount is normally paid within 14 days after admission confirmation.

After the enrollment/admin fee is paid, the remaining part of the tuition can usually be paid either in a single payment or through a payment plan. A single payment may bring an additional upfront-payment discount, depending on the current policy.

Scholarships

Applicants applying through PRODIREKT and the Verbalists Education & Language Network may have access to special financial advantages arranged through our cooperation with Raffles Education and Raffles Milano.

For qualified candidates, this may include a €5,000 International Student Aid for the first academic year, available to both European Union and non-European Union applicants. This support may be combined with other scholarships or early bird incentives, where applicable.

Other scholarship opportunities may also be available depending on the enrollment period, profile, portfolio quality, or specific campaign theme. One example is the “Show your Talent” scholarship opportunity. Our academic advisors help families review available options, prepare the required documents, and present the profile in the strongest possible way.

Admission process

The admission process is personal and structured. It is not based on a traditional entrance test. The school wants to understand the applicant’s motivation, interests, academic background, creative direction, and fit for the selected program.

First Step – PRODIREKT application

The first step is to complete and send the PRODIREKT Application together with the signed Terms and Conditions.

• PRODIREKT Application (download the application form)
• Terms & Conditions (download here)

This does not secure a place on the program and does not place you under any obligation to attend. It is simply the first formal step in the application process, so that we can review your profile, provide precise information, and check current availability for the selected program.

After receiving the application, our academic advisor reviews the basic information and arranges a brief initial phone or video interview with the applicant and parents. This first conversation helps us understand the student’s interests, motivation, English level, preferred program, and general readiness for the next stage.

If the profile appears suitable, we continue with document preparation.

Second Step – Application documents

The documents usually include:

• ID, for European Union residents, or passport
• CV
• motivation letter
• high school transcripts for each completed year, issued in Italian or English
• portfolio, if available
• language certificate, if available

PRODIREKT helps applicants prepare and review the documents before submission, especially the CV, motivation letter, and portfolio, where a clear and well-presented profile can make a real difference.

Third Step – Online interview with Raffles Milano

After the documents are reviewed and the application is ready, we arrange the next step: an online interview with the Raffles Milano program director or academic representative.

The interview is motivational and academic in nature. It does not include a design knowledge test.

Its purpose is to understand the applicant’s interests, motivation, previous experience, and reasons for choosing this study path. Where needed, the interview may also include a language assessment.

Applicants who are still in their fourth year of high school can also have an interview. In that case, registration can be kept valid for the following academic year, depending on confirmation from the school and available places.

Fourth Step – Admission feedback

After the online interview, admission feedback is usually provided within one week.

If accepted, the applicant receives the admission and enrollment documents, together with payment details and the next steps for confirming the place.

Fifth Step – Enrollment confirmation

To confirm the place, the applicant completes the enrollment documents and pays the enrollment/admin fee. This amount is part of the total annual tuition and is normally paid within 14 days after admission confirmation.

European Union and non-European Union applicants follow broadly the same admission path. The main practical difference is that eligible European Union candidates may later need income-related documentation for ISEEU assessment, while non-European Union candidates receive visa support documentation after completing the relevant enrollment step.

Sixth Step – Final preparation before arrival

Applications can usually be submitted up to one month before the start of classes. However, we strongly recommend applying earlier because classes are small, with a limited number of places.

The main degree intake normally takes place in the autumn, with three-year undergraduate courses and Master’s programs usually starting in the October–November period, depending on the academic year and program.

Our young creatives also have the opportunity to join short summer academic programs in fashion and design, which are separate from the full-degree intake and can be a useful first step for those who want to experience Raffles Milano and earn up to 8 university credits before applying to a full undergraduate program.

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Through our academic advising group, candidates receive guidance throughout the full process. We help with program selection, document preparation, CV and motivation letter advice, portfolio guidance, communication with the school, interview preparation, enrollment steps, and visa-related orientation for non-European Union applicants.

Request more information: download the application form here and send it to info@prodirekt.net. You can also send us your inquiry through the form below, or contact us by email or phone. Our academic advisors will help you understand your options and choose the right academic path.

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