Fashion Schools in Italy

If there is a heaven, surely the angels are wearing Italian clothing. With thousands of years of fashion tradition, Italy is home to a plethora of unique and highly prestigious fashion institutes. On this page, you will find out about the fashion schools and institutes in Italy and how to join their clubs.

Evidently, the country is home to numerous globally recognized fashion brands, including Versace, Gucci, Prada, Bottega Veneta, Valentino, among others. As a result, it’s a wise decision to explore opportunities or even establish your own brand in this genuine place.

Before we begin, you’ll need a wealth of details and information to make a good decision. Due to these circumstances, we created a table of contents to allow you to review each section without feeling overwhelmed. You can look at the table below.

Table of Contents

How to get into Italy?

In case you are considering coming to the Mediterranean country to study fashion, you should look into what basic documents you need to start your studies. If you are Italian, feel free to skip this.

To be able to enter, you will need an European permit (also known as a “visa”). There are some requirements that you will need to fulfill to be eligible to receive a visa. These are the most important:

  • Must be 18 years old or older

It’s a requirement for the Italian government that the applicant be of legal age. In other words, you must be at least 18 years old.

  • Must have been approved by the fashion institute

Before initiating the visa process, you will need to show the government that you already have a place to study. Normally, the fashion schools and institutes in Italy have the correct information for the selection process on their websites.

Be aware that each institution has its own standards, so we hope you will fit in easily.

  • Have English certificates

It’s essential to have English certificates to be able to study in Italy. As a matter of fact, the IELTS and TOEFL are required by the majority of fashion schools and institutes in Italy.

If you are an European Citizen…

Firstly, European citizens are considered to be people from the 28 member states of the European Union, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Monaco, and Andorra.

Due to this circumstances, students do not need a visa to enter the country. Furthermore, if there’s a chance, the student may visit the institutions and choose whatever he or she likes most.

Every citizen has the right, according to EU rules, to stay in a country for six months before applying for a residence card. In short, the future European designer has 180 days to explore the Mediterranean country.

If you are not an European Citizen…

If you are not an European citizen, you will need to apply for a student visa in order to enter to Italy. 

To qualify, you will need to enroll in a course or degree that has 20 hours of teaching per week (80 hours per month).

One advantage compared to other European countries is that you won’t need a language test or proof that you speak Italian. In this case, the language issue is up to the fashion schools in Italy, not the government.

Additionally to the admission, you will need travel insurance, accommodation, flight tickets, and proof that you can support yourself in Italy.

An important detail: if you find a full-time job, you can convert your student visa into a work permit.

What are the Fashion Schools in Italy?

Here is a list of the fashion schools in Italy. By clicking on the name, you will be directed to the official website of each institute. Aside from the website, you can also see the instruction language and the type of school. Good Luck!

Northern Italy

Fashion Schools in Italy, Fashion Institutes in Italy
City of Milan, Italy

Home to the most prestigious Italian fashion brands, Northern Italy has the best fashion institutes in the country. Check it out!

Milan
Verona
Venice
Brescia 
Turin
Novara

Central Italy

Fashion Schools in Italy, Fashion Institutes in Italy
City of Rome, Italy

Fashion schools in Italy have regional characteristics, and with “open museum” towns like Florence and Rome, the central area of Italy is ideal for students who appreciate heritage and the arts. The following is a list of fashion institutes in the area.

Rome
Florence
Pontedera
Frosinone
Rimini

Southern Italy

Fashion Schools in Italy, Fashion Institutes in Italy

With an amazing climate and breathtaking nature, the southern region of Italy is a hidden gem. Here are the fashion institutes in the region. 

Naples
Aversa
Cagliari

The Best Fashion Schools in Italy

With dozens of fashion schools and institutes in Italy, it’s difficult to choose. However, the official tourism website of Italy chose which ones represented the true essence of Italian fashion. Here is the list with the tuition fees (updated for 2024 prices). 

  1. Istituto Marangoni (€21.750 for EU students, €25.400 for non EU students + €4.000 in english classes)
  2. NABA – Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti (€8.100 to €20.600 for EU students, €20.600 for non EU students)
  3. Politecnico di Milano (€888,59 € to €3.891,59 for EU students, €3.891,59 for non EU students)
  4. IED Istituto Europeo di Design (€8.200 to €20.200 for EU students, €20.200 for non EU students)
  5. Istituto di moda Burgo (€25.000 for EU students, €26.000 for non EU students)
  6. Università Iuav di Venezia (€156 to €2.943,10 for all students)
  7. Polimoda (€18.000 to €32.000 for all students)
  8. Accademia Italiana (€6.200 to €7.800 for Italians, €11.100 for EU students and €11.600 for non EU students)
  9. Istituto Modartech (€8.000 for EU students, €10.000 for non EU students)
  10. Università di Roma La Sapienza (€2.821 for all students)

How much it will cost?

Studying in Italy is an exciting journey. Because of the country’s abundance of cities and institutes, you will be able to afford a wide range of possibilities even on a budget of 900 or 3000 euros. It is essential to carefully select a place because the cost of living can vary greatly, particularly in touristy towns such as Rome and Milan. Here is a breakdown of the costs associated with attending fashion schools in Italy.

Tuition fees
  • Each institute has its own policy of fees. The government is not responsible for establishing a national fee.
  • For European citizens: at public universities, the price may vary according to each region, course, and income level; the tuition can be 200 euros or 6,000 euros per year.
  • For non-European citizens: public universities and institutes normally charge the same amount as European citizens, but as highlighted before, it depends on each institute’s fee policy.
  • The private institutes may charge differently, but they are drastically more expensive than the public universities. The range of prices may vary from 7,000 to 32,000 euros per year.
Visa and Bureaucracy Costs
  • For European citizens: There’s no need for a Visa because it’s a right under the European Union.
  • For non-European citizens: 50 euros for requesting the process (may vary slightly according to each consulate)
  • By law, foreign students are required to have travel insurance and monthly funds above 500 euros for self-support.
Travel costs
  • Because Italy is a jewel of tourism, the best times to visit are in February and November.
  • The average cost of a plane ticket can be found at 500 euros in the low season (for one trip), but this is directly affected by how far you are from the country.
  • It’s always a good idea to have some cash on hand in case of an emergency. You are permitted to bring up to 10,000 euros on a trip. 
First days costs
  • During the first few days, you may need to stay in a hotel until you are able to move into your place (remember, you need to have an accommodation already).
  • The main difference between Italy and other European countries is that not everything is concentrated in the capital city. This means that the cost of living, like food and transportation, may vary strongly. A week in Milan does not have the same cost as a week in Naples, so be aware of the city where your institute is.
  • Of course, the Italian food cannot be forgotten. The cost of food depends on your diet and willingness to eat. For example, a meal in a restaurant could cost you 10–20 euros, and groceries could cost you 40 euros per week.
Housing and Rent
  • The fashion schools in Italy have their own partnerships with housing for students. This is a reality that also applies to most of the universities and schools in the country.

Official channels and contact

It’s extremely important to know all the details about studying in the fashion schools in Italy, and the Italian government has official channels for explaining each procedure. These are the channels:

Student visa in Italy

Official government answers for the process of studying in Italy

Visas in Italy

Government’s website for questions about visas 

See also