Where are the international schools in Milan?

Milan is a large cosmopolitan city with several international schools Pexels

24 November 2021, 9:00

Around the world, people are reconsidering their living and working situations en masse as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. For many, a radical shift is in the cards, as people leave stable employment in favour of freelance work, or at least leaving their offices to work from home, giving them more freedom to choose where they live. In the midst of the pandemic, interest in property abroad has dramatically increased, as people who are less tied down look for a home that better suits their needs, or at least a place that they can escape to for a few weeks or months at a time. And as people look abroad for their future, Italy is an increasingly popular choice for many expats due to the high standard and relatively low cost of living compared to many northern European countries. Italy has something for everyone, from beautiful coastlines and beaches, to world famous gastronomy, to a rich culture and history that stretches back millennia.

In light of the changes in working brought on by the pandemic, one area in particular stands out: Milan. Not only has the northern city long been Italy's financial and industrial engine, as well as one of the principal economic centres of Europe, since the advent of the coronavirus pandemic the city has become a haven for freelance workers and those working from home. Though the city is famously expensive to live in, and even amidst the pandemic property prices have continued to rise, there may not be a better moment than now to invest in the city's property market. And if you are looking to settle down in Milan permanently, and maybe raise your family there, there is an added benifit: there is nowhere in Italy with as wide a range of international schools as Milan, meaning you can get exactly the education you want for your children.

But before you buy a house over an hour away from your children's school, it's worth asking where these schools are located. Here, we break down the four areas in Milan with the most international schools, so while you work from home, you will never be too far away from the classroom where your kids are learning.

Centro Storico

The world famous gothic cathedral in Milan Unsplash

Milan's historic centre is one of the most expensive areas in the city, for obvious reasons. The old limits of the city, as defined by the now mostly demolished medieval Spanish walls, is easily the most beautiful area of Milan. With stunning medieval and Renaissance architecture to be seen on practically every street, living here is a dream of many an aficionado of Italian culture, and a great way to pass on this interest to your children. Aside from gorgeous examples of architecture such as the Duomo cathedral, the hisoric centre is also home to much of the high end shopping and fashion that Milan is famous for, as well as museums and theatres that are known the world over.

Should you move to the city's historic centre though, you should be aware that despite the high price tag associated with living there, your options for international schooling are not as many as in other parts of Milan. If you are looking for a religiously informed education for your children, Colegio San Carlo offers a Catholic education based around the internationally recognised International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum. This school serves children from 3 years old up to 18, though the education is mostly in Italian, something worth bearing in mind if the language barrier is a concern of yours. If you would like a British education for your children however, or an international one for that matter, but without the religious emphasis, your options are more limited: ICS Milan International School has a campus in the area, but this is only for children up to 5 years old, with the rest of primary and secondary education being served by their other campuses around the city. In contrast, St. Louis School offers both British and IB curriculums, but their campus in the Centro Storico only serves students from 14 years old up to the end of secondary school at 18, with the earlier years divided between their other two campuses. However, all of these schools offer a bus service to students, so there's no need to worry too much about the changing campuses as your children get older!

Search for properties in Milan's historic centre on idealista and find your new home to live near where your children are going to study:

Fiera-De Angelí

The events space at Fiera Milano City Wikimedia commons

To the west of the city-centre we can find the neighbourhoods of Fiera and De Angelí. Despite their central location, just outside the historic centre, the neighbourhoods that make up this area have a very quiet and residential feel to them, perfect for families, but is still very well connected by both road and public transport to the city-centre and all of the amenities that come with it. The district has a heavy international presence, in part due to the Fiera Milano City, an events space that regularly hosts international conferences and trade fairs, and if you are looking for some entertainment or nightlife, the San Siro neighbourhood right next door is known for exactly that, as well as being home to several open green spaces, and the famous San Siro stadium.

As far as educational options go, this area of Milan offers a bit more to international students than the centre. One of St. Louis School's primary campuses is located in the northern part of the district, serving children up to the age of 14, after which point they could continue their education at the campus in the historic centre. In the southern part of this district, MILE School also serves students up to the age of 14, teaching a British curriculum in a bilingual environment, with an emphasis on digital and technological education. If you would like your children to complete their full education in the area however, the best option is probably Bloom International School which teaches the Cambridge International Programme to students from the age of 3 up to 18 years old when they would complete their secondary education.

If you want your children to attend one of these international schools, search properties advertised on idealista in Fiera-De Angelí and find your new home in the area:

Porta Venezia

The old city gates Porta Venezia is named for Wikimedia commons

On the opposite side of the city, east of the historic centre, the neighbourhood of Porta Venezia is one of the most popular and lively areas in Milan. This area of the city is becoming increasingly popular with young people, and is seen as a fun, liberal place, that was even named as one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world in 2020. As a very young neighbourhood, Porta Venezia is of course known for its vibrant nightlife; excellent restaurants, trendy bars, and lively nightclubs. However it is also known for a strong community spirit that carried it through the lockdowns at the beginning of the pandemic.

Given how many young people live in the neighbourhood, it is not unreasonable to imagine that it might soon be home to many young families, and Porta Venezia seems poised to take advantage of this fact: there are more international schools in and around this neighbourhood than anywhere else in Milan. For an IB education for your children, the clearest option is the Bilingual European School, just a few minutes to the north of the neighbourhood limit. Their two campuses, right next to each other, serve preschool children up to 6 years old, and primary age children up to 14. For an IB education up to 18 years old, you would have to look to The British School of Milan - Sir James Henderson, again a little outside of the neighbourhood, in Città Studi (literally "Study City"). This school offers both IB and British style curriculums to its students, from 3 years old up to 18. ICS Milan International School also has a campus in the neighbourhood for students up to 11 years old, with another one further east in Città Studi serving the same age group. In addition to these schools, there is Anderson International School, the largest of Milan's international schools, and St. Jospeh's International College, both offering a British curriculum to students up to 18 years of age. If neither British nor international educations appeal to you, Porta Venezia is also home to the Canadian School of Milan, offering a Canadian curriculum to their students, from 3 to 18 years old, as well as the more common IB curriculum.

If you want your children to study at one of these international schools, and you want to live in Porta Venezia, search for your new home in the neighbourhood on idealista:

Monza

The royal palace at Monza Pixabay

The last option on this list is for those who would rather live a bit outside of Milan itself. The city lifestyle isn't for everyone, especially if you are raising a family, and by moving a little outside the centre you can get more for your money. Since the pandemic many people favour the ability to get more space in their home over the convenience of living in city-centres, and with the centre of Milan only a 10 minute train ride away, you won't even sacrifice much for that extra space. You won't necessarily have to travel into the city centre for anything though, as Monza is a well developed city in its own right, with all of the facilities you will need to be found locally. But it is still nice to be able to get into Milan so quickly!

The international schools in Monza all follow an IB or other international curriculum, so if you specifically want a British school for your children you will have to look to Milan, though with the excellent transport links mentioned above, and the bus services provided by most international schools in the city, this shouldnt be too much of a hassle. As for the schools in Monza itself, there are three main options. The International School of Monza serves students from 3 to 18 years old, and is the only school in the area that is certified to deliver an IB curriculum. At primary age however there is also the choice of GIS The International School of Monza, and Yies School, which serve students up to 11 and 14 years old respectively, preparing them to move onto an IB secondary education.

If one of these schools looks like the right fit for your children's education and you would like to live outside Milan, but still near the city, take a look at the properties advertised on idealista in Monza: