IES Abroad Milan – Business Studies

My time in Milan and Europe is something I will always remember! Everything about Italy and the program made my experience even more enjoyable! From the transportation to the events and field trips, I was able to explore parts of Italy I could have never imagined I would see. The amazing staff and professors made the academic side of the program amazing as well! As a lover of art, being able to travel Europe to see artworks I've learned about was a dream come true. My travels allowed me to gain new perspectives, and I will forever be thankful for these experiences.

Studying abroad in Milan with IES Abroad was an absolutely incredible experience that I will cherish forever. Before applying, I always thought I’d end up in Paris or London, but I am so glad I chose Italy! There were moments throughout my time in Milan when I couldn't believe I was actually living in such a vibrant, culturally rich city. The courses I took were amazing and truly enriched my academic journey. From delving into the power of storytelling to exploring Italy's cinematic history, each class sparked my passion for both business and film. The Italian language class was especially rewarding, as it allowed me to immerse myself in the culture even more. It was a perfect blend of academic rigor and personal growth. I also loved how my commute around Milan was never a hassle—public transport was easy to navigate, and I got to enjoy the beauty of the city on a daily basis. Being exposed to Italian culture and customs made me feel like I was truly living the Italian way, from the food to the fashion to the interactions with locals. Milan itself was a stunning backdrop for my studies. From the unforgettable experience of catching celebrities at Fashion Week to discovering new areas around the city, there was always something new and exciting to explore. And it's true what they say, gelato is better than ice cream!

As part of the IES Abroad Milan program, I learned Italian, met locals, received a great education, interned at an Italian company, and traveled Europe all in a semester. It truly was the best time of my life. The administration is responsive and accommodating allowing for a supportive experience during a semester-long adventure.

I spent Fall 2023 studying in Milan through IES Business Studies and it was the best experience of my life! I took two courses through IES Abroad and two courses at partner institution, Bocconi University. IES Abroad did a great job facilitating an easy transition for all students to their new home in Milan. It was an amazing opportunity to meet different people from various parts of the world, some who have become my closest friends. This was my first time away from home, which was one of my biggest fears regarding studying abroad, but IES made the adjustment very easy as I was constantly surrounded by support and any assistance if I needed it.

I had the best experience at IES Milan! They offered lots of community engagement events to get closer with other students and planned lots of fun trips to immerse ourselves in Italian culture. The staff was amazing and the courses they offered were interesting and engaging. Hands down, the time of my life!

Studying abroad in Milan was the best decision for me because I'm highly interested in fashion and Milan is home to many designer brands. Through classes I was able to learn more about how Italian designer and luxury brands are managed as well as their history. I also enjoyed my visual merchandising class where we went on field trips to see different window displays and store interiors across the city. Also, I go to a large big ten school, but I didn't really know many people going into the same study abroad program. I ended up meeting some of the most amazing friends along the way though. I was able to connect with students from schools all across the country that I still stay in contact with today.

I chose to go to Milan for multiple reasons, all which held true. First the food. As an Italian food fanatic, living in Italy was heaven. Only the best and most fresh food every day. Second was the location. Milan's central location in Europe and three major airports makes flying to any other European city quick and easy. Lastly, Italy's diverse geography and culture provided for an amazing new destination every weekend. An hour train ride north got you to the Alps and south got you to Tuscany. The IES staff were always very nice and supportive, and ensured that I had the best experience possible. They always made an effort to give advice for both our travels and academics. Speaking of academics, all the professors were great at English, easy to communicate with, and provided a great international perspective in the business classroom setting. Studying abroad was the best experience ever, and Milan was the best place to do it.

I had the amazing opportunity to study and intern abroad in Milan through IES. I absolutely loved my experience in Milan, and definitely miss it! While there, I took classes in subjects I was interested in that helped me learn more about Italian culture and contributed to my major. Through my internship, I expanded my cultural awareness and developed skills I know will be beneficial in future work experiences. I also had the opportunity to explore the city and other parts of Italy through field trips IES planned. Whether it be taking cooking lessons, touring historical sites in Milan, or flying to the south of Italy, I will remember these experiences forever. I am grateful that IES planned them because I would not have been able to do them on my own, and they made my abroad experience even more amazing. The apartment I lived in was also great. It was in a safe area and was very secure. The Italian student living with us, called a CA, was extremely helpful and helped me adjust quickly!

Milan, the fashion capital of the world, is a lovely place to both live and study. It has the best university in Italy, Bocconi University, where I attended for my study abroad term. It is the economic center of this country, and I took advantage of that by taking an internship in a local venture capital firm. I also stayed with a local family who made my studying abroad life more fantastic. Overall, food is amazing (Mozarella is the BEST!), everyone dresses in such a fashion way which inspired my style, and so many other great things! Enjoying Leonardo Da Vinci's Last Supper, watching an opera at world-famous Scala Opera House, taking a walk around Sforza Castle, shopping at the famous Montapolian district... Milan is really an amazing place to study abroad and enjoy one's life.

I absolutely loved living in Milan, Italy and studying abroad through IES. Milan was an amazing city for me because it had a lot to do but was small enough for me to easily navigate on my own within a few days of being there. The program administration was amazing and extraordinarily helpful when I needed to go to the doctor and complete insurance reimbursements. The academics in Milan were culturally immersive, interesting, and well-taught by great professors. I chose to live in an apartment and WOW- my apartment was beautiful. I don't think I'll have another apartment like that for a while. I would definitely recommend Milan to someone who loves to travel to big and small cities around Europe and especially within Italy. The Milan airports were extremely accessible and reliable and usually pretty inexpensive compared to other airports. I traveled somewhere new almost every weekend and Milan was a great home base to do that from! At the end of the program I was so sad to leave Milan- it is definitely my new favorite city in Europe.

It took me a long time to finally commit to a study abroad program and leading up to my flight, I was unsure if I picked the right place. The moment I landed in Milan, I knew I made the right choice and the four months I spent in Italy were the best four months of my life. I enjoyed all of my Business Studies classes and the professors were determined to helping students succeed in the classroom. I did not expect to like my Italian 101 class, but it ended up being my favorite class! My professor was the absolute best and made it so easy to quickly learn Italian and about Italian culture to help get around the city. I lived in an apartment provided by IES and it was in a great location close to the IES and the popular areas in the city. Living with my roommates as well as an Italian CA made it much easier to adjust to a new city. Milan has many cool areas to explore, AMAZING food, fun nightlife and is a very easy city to adjust to. The Milan airports, trains, and bus systems are easy to use and make it very easy to travel to other parts of Europe. The program also offers trips during the program. I knew study abroad was going to go by fast, but not that fast! I could not imagine studying abroad anywhere else and would highly recommend Milan to anyone who wants a study abroad experience that is going to exceed their expectations! Grazie Milano!

Going abroad gave me the opportunity to see so many wonderful places and meet interesting people. I learned so much about Italian culture and the differences between other European countries. I was able to visit Spain, Switzerland, France, Austria, England, and Greece during while studying abroad. The food was phenomenal and also my favorite part of living in Italy. I had a kind host family that provided me with amazing meals. I highly recommend studying abroad!

Studying with IES in Milan was a definite adventure! The program provided a wide variety of classes to choose from, covering subjects from fashion to film to finance, taught by professors from well-known universities and businesses. Lessons were even taken outside of the classroom, allowing us to explore the new environment we found ourselves in while applying lectures to real-world experiences. In an effort to further immerse myself in the Italian education and work communities, I also partook in an internship and International Banking course at l'Università Bocconi, all through IES. The IES Center is run by an incredibly amicable staff that made sure I made the most of my abroad experience by making all of the above possible and keeping us students informed of the weekly happenings around the city.

My experience in Italy through IES Abroad was one of, if not the most, rewarding and incredible experiences of my life. I met friends from all over America and the world, who I will treasure always. My experience with immersing myself into the Italian culture was fluid thanks to IES staff’s guidance. I found that Milan was the perfect city to study in, since it is a city that makes you feel right at home. I strongly recommend Milan to anybody looking for a study abroad experience in a city that is perfectly located in the country and makes you feel like a local.

My experience with IES Abroad Milan: Business Studies was absolutely incredible. Thanks to IES, the 4 months i spent in Italy were absolutely life changing. It was an experience that I will never forget and has shaped who I am today. The academic aspect of IES was great, as I enjoyed all of my classes and really liked all of my professors. It was unlike any American academic experience because of all the field trips I got to go on in my classes. As for my housing situation, I was lucky enough to be placed in an apartment in one of the nicest areas of Milan. I became friends with my CA, who also happened to be my roommate, and because of her I truly felt like I was able to immerse myself into Italian culture. IES offered many weekend trips as well as activities to do in Milan such as gelato making, which allowed for students to participate in activities that they may not have partaken in otherwise. Overall, my experience with IES and the time I spent in Milan has changed me for the better and will absolutely have an influence on me for the rest of my life. Grazie IES, Grazie Milano!

My time spent in Milan with IES is something I will cherish forever. The staff genuinely makes an effort to know each student, which is admirable and meant a lot in a place with many unfamiliar faces. I cannot say enough good things about my Italian intensive course; I don't think I would have had such a successful semester with the skills and information I learned during this time. IES helped me to secure an internship alongside my coursework with a local business, which was invaluable professional experience for this point in my career. My housing assignment, provided by IES, was beautiful and in a convenient location that provided inspiration and encouraged exploration. Additionally, my live-in CA became an excellent resource and friend. IES planned many cultural activities, including a beautiful trip to Tuscany that was one of my favorite travel experiences thus far. One more factor that I think makes IES unique is their creation of a student council every semester. They are truly interested in the student experience and were extremely willing to make accommodations based on recommendations from the council. If I got to do it all over, I would 100% choose IES again. I recommend this program to everyone I know who is considering studying abroad!

Compared to other cities in Italy, Milan is more under-the-radar and doesn't receive the large influx of tourism like Rome or Florence. Because of this, it can be difficult to find English speakers and communication is a little more difficult. IES does a fantastic job of offering degree specific courses, planning trips, and organizing activities for students. All IES staff was supportive and available if any questions or concerns arose. I lived with a host family and they really made my experience authentic, as I could catch on to Italian words and phrases and become more ingrained into their culture. I also volunteered through a service learning class where I worked at a soup kitchen and a school throughout the semester. It's great to interact with students in other universities as well, you not only expand your horizons in Europe, but meet people from all over the U.S. This was my busiest college semester, but easily my favorite and most rewarding.

I studied abroad in Fall 2018 and had the best experience through IES Milan. I lived in a charming apartment only a few minutes from the city center, close to restaurants, and shopping! The IES staff are always ready to help for any issues, and you also have the opportunity to live with an Italian student that assists you to navigate Milan while you are there. I have made lifelong friends from all around the country and world. Milan is unlike other Italian cities because it is not as touristy which makes a living their extremely lovely since you are truly treated like a local. I would recommend going to Milan to anyone who wants to study abroad!

IES Abroad Milano was an incredibly fulfilling experience. Unlike other more touristy areas in Italy (Rome and Florence) where it is common to speak English, you will actually have to learn a little Italian to get by--I found this challenging and exciting to learn another language--the Italian courses through IES are superb. I recommend this program to anyone who is looking to learn a foreign language (after all, languages are a great way to make your resume stand out!). Additionally, IES provides wonderful housing accommodations--dorms, apartments, or a family stay. I chose to live in an apartment which was in the trendy neighbourhood of Brera--all apartments will be in the center of Milan. If you choose to live in an apartment you will most likely have a direct roommate and other apartment mates unless you request a single room for additional cost. There will be an Italian CA who will live with you and they are all young and nice and a great resource for immersing yourself into the culture. In terms of Milan as a city, there is a lot of art and culture--the Duomo, apertivo, and the Last Supper are musts. The metro systems are very reliable and affordable (22 euros a month). Milan is also the financial and fashion capitals of Italy, so it is a great place to study business or fashion. All professors at the program are also affiliated with other Italian universities. The rest of the staff is also helpful for travel recommendations, making doctors appointments, and anything else you may need. Plus, the program typically has three to four trips per study abroad session. During my time, we went to Venice, Verona, Padova, and Parma. I cannot wait to visit Milan again!

IES Milan Business Studies was such a great program! I took interesting classes with phenomenal professors, lived in one of the nicest neighborhoods and apartments in Milan, and had the time of my life. The staff was always available to help me with whatever I needed and I became great friends with the Italian student (known as the CA) who I lived with. I would pick this program again if I had the chance. You won't regret it!