International Education in Milan

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For centuries, Milan has been a diverse and cosmopolitan place that many expats call home. The city is no stranger to international schools - in fact it has several that are long-established and very well-regarded internationally. And just like the city itself, Milan’s international schools welcome students from all over the world.

Italy’s public schools offer excellent standards of education, easily rivalling private and international schools. Public schools are also free throughout the country. So why choose an international school?

First of all, public schools in Italy teach through Italian. So if your child doesn’t speak the language, it’s quite a big hurdle to overcome. Secondly, since international schools are privately run, they may have a higher standard of facilities and more extensive extra curricular programs to offer.

International schools in Italy also have a more global approach to education, preparing children for life or further education in any part of the world. And finally, there’s also curriculum choice. The transition to a new school in a new country is easier for children if they can pick up where they left off, with the same lessons and subjects.

While the British curriculum has a slight edge in Milan’s international schools, others are very easily found. The International Baccalaureate and the American curriculum are almost as common as the British one, and you can also find French, Swiss, Canadian and Italian international schools in the city.

The language of instruction matches the curriculum, i.e. a school that teaches the French curriculum will instruct students through French. The IB is always taught through English. Italian is commonly offered as a second language in Milan’s international schools.

Two traditions are common in international schools in Milan that you may not see in other cities. The first is boarding schools. While they are becoming less popular and less common, there are still some boarding options available for those considering it.

The second tradition is religion. It remains an important part of life in Italy, so many schools make Catholicism their ethos. Religion can appear in many aspects of school life, from the name of the school to religion lessons and anything in between. Your child will not be forced to participate in the religious aspects of school life if they prefer not to, however.

The majority of Milan’s international schools are spread evenly throughout the central districts of the city, circling the historical district and then spreading further out. If you’d prefer to be away from the hustle and bustle of the city, consider areas such as Monza or Baranzate on the outskirts.

Below, we have compiled the top 10 international schools in Milan according to our users. However, there are another 13 schools to choose from in the city. You can find the best international school for your child by personalising your results. Just fill in your search criteria, and we will calculate a personal score for every international school in Milan based on your requirements.