For the School of Design, internationalization has a double meaning: supporting student (and teaching and technical staff) mobility outwards and, on the opposite direction, attracting students, researchers, professors and visiting professors from abroad. In relation to these two internalization channels, in recent years, the School of Design has committed itself to widen its international contact network and it now works with 200 design universities from all over the world in Erasmus exchange programme, in bilateral exchange projects, joint workshops with other schools, international internships and so on.

Erasmus programme:

Erasmus programme give students the possibility to carry out a period of study at a foreign university within the European Union, from 3 to 12 months, legally recognised by their university. In particular, Erasmus for study enables university students to carry out a period of study at a university with a partnership agreement with their university. This mobility can entitle students for an economic contribution (under the conditions set out in the International Mobility Call) and free registration at the host university. Students can thus follow courses and take exams at the partner university and have the exams recognized by their universities. The mobility can be carried out one time for each level of study.

Bilateral exchange:

The School of Design has also activated some bilateral agreements with non-EU universities. These are mainly intended for the use of Laurea Magistrale students and application can be submitted also by those who have already carried out an Erasmus experience abroad during their three-year study programme. The procedures for admission to such exchanges are the same as those for Erasmus exchanges with the exception for the economic contribution for mobility, that in this case it is not guaranteed. The bilateral agreement, in fact, enables students to attend a period of study abroad at a partner university without incurring registration fees at such universities. In some cases, however, a management fee for exchange students must be paid (e.g.: Orientation fee).

Students in PSSD can make an exchange mobility in the second year selecting among more than 40  European and Extra UE Universities from all over the world.

Erasmus+ for Traineeship:

PSSD students have  the possibility of undertaking the curricular work placement in Europe, through the Erasmus Placement Call arranged by the University Career Service, which enables selected students to obtain scholarships for an experience of at least three months (250 hours).

International Workshops:

Within the Erasmus program, PSSD students can join international workshops in partner schools.

Final Thesis Abroad:

This initiative permits to students of Master Degrees, that decided and agreed with the supervisor, to develop part of the graduation work abroad in institutions, in organizations and in community, in supranational or international companies. In order to apply, it is necessary to have already decided with the supervisor the topic of the graduation work, the foreign institution where to go and have already contacted them. The notice aims at leaving students with a good flexibility on the start date and on the choice of the foreign institution where to carry out this period of detailed work on the thesis. It is not required to go in a partner University of Politecnico di Milano. The period abroad must be at least 8 consecutive weeks. The number of granted scholarships varies from year to year depending on funding availability.

Master of European Design MEDes:

From the a.y. 2002/2003, the School of Design activated the MEDes, as five-year international educational programme, in collaboration with six other famous European design universities and formalised through an agreement that relies on the Erasmus+ mobility programme since 2014.

6 students are selected for this excellence programme among all those enrolled on the 2nd year of the laurea study programmes in Industrial Product Design, Interior Design and Communication Design, that at the time of application are in order with the curricular exams and that have successfully attended at least one semester at Politecnico di Milano. The students apply immediately for two years of mobility (and for a total of five years of study including Laurea and Laurea Magistrale) and therefore they guarantee the continuation to LM at Politecnico di Milano, always by following the normal career planned by the university that provides the degree examination at the end of the 3rd year. In order to complete the full career, students can only graduate in their university of origin, for both Laurea and Laurea Magistrale. Candidates, admitted to the MEDes programme, have two study experiences abroad, in two partner universities: the first one during the 3rd year of I level Laurea, and the other one during the 1st year of Laurea Magistrale. In addition to Politecnico di Milano, the universities taking part in this programme are: