Standing before you is the Politecnico di Milano at Campus di Via Giuseppe Colombo 40. It is more than just a university. It is a place where Italy’s future engineers, architects, and designers are forged.
Founded in 1863, the Politecnico di Milano is the oldest university in Milan. Francesco Brioschi established it. He hoped to advance Italy’s scientific and technological progress. The Politecnico quickly gained international recognition. This was thanks to its influential faculty. The Politecnico emphasized largely modernist principles.
The Politecnico di Milano has grown significantly. It now has two main campuses in Milan. There are also satellite campuses in five other cities. The central offices are in the historical campus of Città Studi. This campus has been active since 1927.
Here at the Politecnico di Milano, about 40000 students are enrolled. Around 8000 of these students are international. They come from over 100 countries. The university has partnerships with institutions worldwide. These include ETH Zurich and MIT.
The Politecnico di Milano excels in many fields. It consistently ranks as one of the best schools for architecture and engineering. In 2022, it ranked 23rd globally for Engineering & Technology. It ranked 7th worldwide for design. The Politecnico ranked 12th for civil and structural engineering. It also ranked 9th for mechanical and aerospace engineering.
Many notable people have studied or taught at the Politecnico di Milano. Giulio Natta won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Enrico Forlanini was an engineer and aeronautical pioneer. Amalia Ercoli Finzi is an astrophysicist. Renzo Piano and Aldo Rossi are famous architects.
In its early years, the Politecnico di Milano only taught civil and industrial engineering. Architecture was introduced in 1865. Only 30 students were admitted in the first year. The first female graduate was in 1913.
The university moved to Piazza Leonardo da Vinci in 1927. At that time, it was named Regio Politecnico. The word Regio was removed after World War II.
The Politecnico di Milano adopted its current logo in 1942. It is based on a detail from Raphael’s School of Athens.
The Politecnico di Milano opened the first European center of electronic computation in 1954. The university jointly developed the satellite Sirio. It launched in 1977.
Since the 1980s, the Politecnico di Milano has expanded. It opened satellite campuses in other cities. A program in industrial design started in 1993.
In 2012, the university planned to teach all graduate courses in English. This decision was later revised. The Italian Supreme Court ruled that Italian could not be abolished.
The Politecnico di Milano offers undergraduate and graduate courses. These courses span engineering, architecture, and design. The academic year is divided into two semesters. Students need 60 university credits per year.
The library system here holds over 470000 records. The Politecnico di Milano also has its own publishing trademark, Polipress.
The Politecnico di Milano participates in many international research projects. It was the first university in Italy for European research funding.
The Politecnico di Milano has a long history of scientific research. It once operated the first research nuclear reactor in Italy. Today, it operates one of the biggest wind tunnels in Europe.
As you stand here at the Politecnico di Milano, you are standing at a place where innovation meets tradition. It is a place where the future is being designed.