Campus and city
PoliMi's main Leonardo campus occupies a historic complex in central Milan near Città Studi, offering easy metro access to Duomo, Navigli, and Brera. The Bovisa campus in northwest Milan hosts Design and some Engineering departments in renovated industrial buildings with a creative, studio-oriented atmosphere. With 47,000 students across both campuses, the university sustains hundreds of student associations, sports teams, and cultural groups. Milan's aperitivo culture (pre-dinner drinks with free food) is the default social activity, and the Navigli canal district is the student nightlife hub. Housing is the main challenge: university residences (Residenze PoliMi) cover roughly 2,000 beds, so most students share apartments at EUR 500-800/month in zones like Lambrate, Bovisa, or Città Studi. The Milan Metro (4 lines) makes commuting practical. Weekend escapes to Lake Como (40 minutes by train), the Dolomites, or Cinque Terre are standard. Italian cuisine, espresso culture, and the city's fashion-design-finance energy create a lifestyle that consistently ranks among the best student experiences in continental Europe.