Helen – Politecnico di Milano – Italy
Semester 2, 2023 & Semester 1, 2024
Bachelor of Architecture
Like many architecture students, I’ve always believed that Italy is the heart of architectural heritage. With its rich history and deep-rooted architectural foundation, it felt like the perfect place to grow both personally and professionally. That’s why I chose Milan — and Politecnico di Milano (Polimi) — for my exchange experience.
Before classes begin, Polimi hosts a brief introduction session for incoming students to help us understand life in Italy. One of the biggest challenges you’ll face early on is applying for your residence permit (permesso di soggiorno). The process involves gathering the required documents, attending appointments, and waiting in some long lines — classic Italian bureaucracy! It’s time-consuming but manageable, especially if you stay organised.
Once you’re past the paperwork, Milan truly opens up. One of the highlights of my entire experience was being in the city during Milan Design Week. It felt like the whole city turned into a museum. Furniture brands, architecture firms, and design companies filled every corner of Milan with exhibitions, installations, and events — and most of them were free to visit!
Coming from a Vietnamese background, it did take me some time to adjust to the food scene. While Italian cuisine is amazing, I sometimes craved the tastes of home. Fortunately, Milan has a great Chinatown with lots of Asian grocery stores and restaurants. Milan is quite international, so whether you’re craving sushi or pho, you’ll likely find it here. There’s also a strong Vietnamese community, which really helped me settle in and get translations or advice when needed.
One of the most important tips I can give: learn Italian. While Milan is international, many websites, services, and admin processes are still in Italian. Even knowing basic phrases made my daily life a lot easier and helped me feel more connected to the culture.
Studying at Polimi
One of the biggest differences I noticed compared to QUT is the way subjects are registered. There’s a wide variety of electives, but they fill up quickly — so register early if something catches your interest.
The workload at Polimi is generally lighter than at QUT. A lot of subjects are based on group work, and you have more free time to enjoy life outside uni. However, unlike QUT, lectures are not recorded, and professors don’t usually offer the same kind of support materials. Because of privacy rules, many classes aren’t available online. So my advice is: attend as many classes as you can.
Exams are quite different too. You might have to do oral exams, where you present or answer questions in front of the class or directly to the professor. It can be intimidating at first, but it also really helps with confidence and communication skills.
Final Thoughts
The most valuable part of this exchange was the people I met. From fellow students at Polimi to travelers from all over the world, the connections I made will stay with me forever. My biggest advice? Put yourself out there. Don’t just stick with classmates — meet people from other courses, events, or cities.
I came to Milan alone, but thanks to the friendships I built, I never truly felt alone. Those connections helped me overcome homesickness and encouraged me to explore and grow.
This exchange gave me the chance to travel, learn, and live in one of the world’s most inspiring cities. I’ll never regret taking the leap — and I hope you take it too.
Find out more on how you can apply: Student Exchange
