milan fashion mannequins
Milan, Italy

Summer Fashion, Retail & Innovation

Study Program

Tentative Dates

-

3 weeks

Costs

Credit

3 per session semester hours

4.5 per session quarter hours

Eligibility

Application Deadline

Apply Now

Request Information

Overview

Spend your summer living and learning in Milan, one of the leading hubs for fashion and design worldwide! As the home to many high-end fashion houses – such as Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, MiuMiu, and Prada – studying abroad in Milan offers you the unique opportunity to learn about global trends in fashion design, fabrics, materials, sales, and marketing in Italy’s second-largest city and unofficial fashion capital.  

Designed for students interested in fashion, retail, and innovation, this summer program is ideal for students looking to enroll in a course, delivered in English by highly qualified faculty, at the CIEE Milan study center. Outside the classroom, you’ll have every opportunity to enjoy all Milan has to offer! Explore the city’s 200+ boutiques, indulge in one of its nearly 6,000 restaurants, and participate in excursions beyond the city to enhance classroom learning and intercultural understanding. Make your time in Italy the adventure of a lifetime on this one-of-a-kind study abroad program! 

Unique Experiences

EXPLORE

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy’s oldest active shopping gallery, home to designer boutiques

TRAVEL

to the Lombardy Region from Brescia to Bergamo

\

VISIT

the Last Supper Painting created by Leonardo da Vinci in the late 15th century

200,000 +

visitors attend Fashion Week in Milan

80 +

museums and galleries in the city

6 TH

largest tram network in the world

Experience
  • milan galleria at night
  • milan trolley in old town

Your Destination

Say hello to Milan, the second-largest city in Italy and the country’s unofficial fashion capital. Home to some of Italy’s major fashion brands, a booming wine industry, one of the oldest shopping centers in the world (the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II), and a thriving international student community, there is plenty to experience and explore in the cosmopolitan city of Milan.   

When you study abroad in Milan, you call the Lombardy region of northern Italy home. Here, you’ll have every opportunity to indulge in one of the canal-side cafés or restaurants in the Navigli District, explore the Sforzesco Castle to discover the city’s history, and much more while immersing yourself in the local culture.   

CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Milan. 

The Culture

Milan lake como sailboat

Excursions & Activities

  •  Explore Lake Como, the most beautiful of the northern Italian lakes   
  • Take excursions to emblematic Italian towns like Bologna, Bergamo or Verona   
  • Hang out with local students to have an aperitivo or to watch a calcio game   
  • Participate in a cooking and/or wine-tasting session to complement gastronomy-based courses   
  • Go on guided visits to Milan’s iconic monuments, like the Duomo or Santa Maria delle Grazie   
  • Participate in guided visits to some of Milan’s museums and galleries, like Pinacoteca di Brera or Museo del Novecento   
  • Partake in language exchange activities with local students to practice your Italian language skills  

Program Blogs

From CIEE

Top 10 Italian Slang Words & Phrases You Must Know

By College Study Abroad at CIEE

Planning to study abroad in Italy? Beyond the iconic landmarks, endless pasta, and rich espresso, there's something essential that will help you truly blend in with the locals: Italian slang... keep reading

From CIEE

Top 5 Italian Holidays and Traditions

By College Study Abroad at CIEE

Ever wondered what it's like to celebrate like an Italian? Spoiler alert: It's not just about pizza and pasta. When you mix ancient traditions, mouth-watering food, and a dash of... keep reading

From CIEE

Should I Study Abroad in Spain or Italy?

By College Study Abroad at CIEE

When weighing your study abroad options, it’s easy to get stuck on a few favorite destinations. We get it! After all, we offer a ton of different study abroad programs... keep reading

Housing
Academics

Academics

This summer program is designed for students interested in studying fashion, retail, and innovation in an international context through course work and related local co-curricular activities.  

Students will take one course at the CIEE Milan study center; the course will be taught by local faculty with teaching experience in an international context and a professional background in the fashion industry. These professionals will bring a unique blend of academic knowledge and practical expertise to their role. 

GPA

2.5

Additional Requirements

Please refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria.

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors. Your study abroad advisor and CIEE staff can help you understand your course options if you don't see a recommendation that fits your course needs.

Requirements

Students are required to enroll in a 3-credit course.

Program Credit

Total credit: 3 semester/4.5 quarter credits   

Course Credit

CIEE Courses: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits; 45 contact hours    

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors. Your study abroad advisor and CIEE staff can help you understand your course options if you don't see a recommendation that fits your course needs.

Academic Culture

Each course is a full semester in content, so the pace is accelerated, and the workload is demanding. Courses are designed to follow U.S. academic culture and standards. The class environment typically features a combination of traditional lectures and discussions with co-curricular excursions and activities. Heavy emphasis is placed on student participation. To avoid falling behind, students should not plan personal travel away from the city when classes are in session and plan trips for the weekends in between blocks. 

Class Format

CIEE courses are held Monday through Friday. Classes are delivered in English and  combine lectures with required local co-curriculars and excursions to help students gain a better understanding of the academic content. Students should expect an average of two hours of preparation required for each hour in class. Instruction is supported and augmented online with our learning management system, Canvas.    

Grading

The U.S. grading scale of A-F is used. Students are graded on the basis of attendance, class participation, homework, project work, presentations, and midterm and final examinations. Learning outcomes assessment is continuous through personal reflections, evaluation feedback, self-assessment, and requirements as set out in course syllabi. 

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors. Your study abroad advisor and CIEE staff can help you understand your course options if you don't see a recommendation that fits your course needs.

Language of Instruction

English 

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors. Your study abroad advisor and CIEE staff can help you understand your course options if you don't see a recommendation that fits your course needs.

Courses

Course Information

Summer Session II 2025

Course
Language
Semester Credit

Summer Session I 2024

Course
Language
Semester Credit

Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.

Scholarships

Scholarships & Grants

CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.

Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:

  • Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
  • Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
  • CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
  • MSI Grant
  • CIEE STEM Scholarship

To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application.

Learn more about scholarships

Dates & Fees

Dates & Fees

You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Fees & Housing

Program Summer Session II 2025 3 weeks Start Date * End Date * Fees & Housing $5,450

*Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.

To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, your college or university may charge additional fees for study abroad, or may require you to receive a transcript via CIEE's School of Record, which carries an additional fee of $500.

Program Fees

CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.

Participation Confirmation = $300*

Educational Costs = $2,950**

Housing = $2,000***

Insurance = $200

Total Fees = $5,450

Estimated Costs

Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.

Financial Aid

CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.

See Scholarships

*non-refundable

**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students

***Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.

What's Included

Tuition

Housing

Pre-departure Advising

Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions

Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet

Orientation

Introduction to your program plus practical information about living in your host city

On-site Staff

Full-time program leadership and support in your city

Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities

Excursions and/or Study Tours

Travel Protection

CIEE iNext travel protection

24/7 emergency on-site support

Staff

Our Staff

Stephen Marth

Center Director

Stephen joins CIEE with over a decade of experience in the study abroad field in Italy. He has lived and worked in Bologna and Rome, where he served first as...

Angela Lavecchia

Academic Director

Angela holds a BA in Foreign Languages and a MA in Comparative Literature from Università degli Studi di Napoli “L’Orientale”. She has completed a Master’s Degree in Teaching and Promotion...

Beatrice D’Alimonte

Student Life Manager

Beatrice holds an MA in International Education from the NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. She is passionate about creating inclusive programming and empowering learning environments for students from diverse backgrounds and identities.

Get Started Steps

Get Started

Here’s what you need to do to take the next steps:

1

Start an Application

You're one step closer to an amazing study abroad experience!

2

Connect With Your Campus Study Abroad Office

Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad.

3

Contact Us

Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.

Request Info