International students

For NON-EU students

To arrive in Italy, international students enrolled in one of SPD courses must apply for a study visa at the Italian Embassy or Consulate in their country of residence. Depending on your country of residence, it may take up to several weeks before you receive the document. Therefore, it’s a good idea to act in advance and make your first appointment in good time.

For the visa to be issued, it is necessary to take out an insurance policy that covers the costs of possible accidents or illnesses. In this first phase, the student can turn to private insurance companies in his or her country and sign a contract valid for the duration of the course. Alternatively, he can choose to interrupt the private insurance and continue for the calendar year (from January to December) with the Italian health insurance.

• For EU and NON-EU students
  • Tax code/Codice fiscale: the Codice Fiscale is a series of 16 alphanumeric characters that allows Italian public authorities to identify each citizen in the country. It is one of the most important documents as it allows you to register with the National Health System, open a bank account, sign a rental contract for a flat, subscribe to public transport and much more.
  • Residence permit: All international students staying in Italy for more than 3 months are obliged to register temporarily with the local authority of their place of residence.
  • Health insurance: As mentioned above, all students must be covered by health insurance valid for the duration of their stay in Italy. Those without it may benefit from the National Health System upon payment of the registration fee or any private insurance valid on Italian territory.
• For NON-EU students
  • Permit of stay/Permesso di soggiorno: the Permesso di soggiorno is an electronic card that allows non-European citizens to stay legally in Italy for one year. Therefore, students enrolled in Master’s courses will have to renew their residence permit to stay until they obtain their degree. The first request must be made within eight working days of entering Italy.

SPD is located in a modern, multifunctional, and international campus, designed to foster innovation and collaboration, perfectly reflecting the spirit of a design school.

Educational Hub. SPD’s campus is part of the Bodio Center, which hosts an educational hub of the Plena Education Group. Alongside SPD, the center is home to other higher education institutions such as RUFA Rome University of Fine Arts and Saint Louis College of Music, creating an interdisciplinary and inspiring environment.

Architecture and Redevelopment. The complex is renowned for its major urban regeneration project, focused on sustainability, achieving certifications such as LEED® and BREEAM® and on regenerative design, establishing harmony between modern architecture, green spaces, and shared gardens.

SPD Scuola Politecnica di Design – Piazzale Lugano 19, 20158 Milan, Italy. Located within the Bodio Center, in the north-west area of Milan, the campus is easily accessible by public transport and well connected to the city’s main hubs.

• By Metro: Line M3 (Yellow Line) – stop Maciachini, then about 10 minutes on foot.
• By Train: Suburban railway line S2 or S4, stop Milano Bovisa Politecnico, then about 15 minutes on foot.
• By Tram: Lines 2 and 4 stop near Piazzale Lugano.
• By Bus: Lines 82 and 70 stop close to the campus.