At IED the applicant chooses between a portfolio and one of four set projects of up to three slides. The work is scored out of 100 across ten criteria and then forms the basis of the admission interview. The course language is required at B1 or above, reaching B2 by 31 May of the first year, along with twelve years of schooling. The course runs for three years, 180 CFA/ECTS, in Italian or English, at €20,800 a year.
- City
- Milan (also Florence, Rome, Turin, Cagliari)
- Award
- First-level academic diploma, MUR-recognised
- Length
- 3 years, 180 CFA/ECTS
- Language
- Italian or English
- Start
- October 2026, January 2027
- Fee
- €20,800 a year (€2,500 + €18,300)
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How admission works
- 01
Adviser and application
Applications go through admission.ied.it, with login details from an admissions adviser.
- 02
The admission test
An assessment of qualifications, of the portfolio or set project, and of language. The applicant chooses between a personal portfolio and one of four set projects.
- 03
The portfolio
Digital, as a PPT, PDF or personal website, up to 8 MB: work across fields, with keywords or a short text of up to 500 words.
- 04
Or a set project
One of four, no more than three slides: “Me, myself and I”, “A sustainable challenge”, “Innovation: from global to local”, “The new digital society”.
- 05
The interview
The work becomes the basis of the admission interview; eligibility is decided on qualifications, the work and the interview.
- 06
Enrolment and visa
For a non-EU applicant: pre-enrolment through Universitaly, a Declaration of Value or a CIMEA statement, and a type D visa. IED advises completing enrolment by June or July, although the formal deadline is around September.
What this means for an international applicant
IED sets out the Italian schooling-length rule in detail: a certificate awarded after eleven years is accepted only together with a completed first year of university with all exams passed, or a recognised foundation year. For an applicant from an eleven-year system this is the central question, and it has to be settled a year before entry.
A published scoring scale is rare among fashion schools. It shows that IED values originality, critical thinking and a personal signature over drawing skill, so a three-slide set project can work better than a large but scattered portfolio.
How the work is scored
IED publishes its criteria, among them overall assessment, expressive skill, originality, alignment with the brief, effectiveness, innovation, analysis and critical thinking, and a personal signature; up to 10 points each, 100 in total.
The portfolio should show process, not only outcome. Keywords or a short text help the panel see where an idea came from.
How much IED costs
IED bachelor’s study in Italy for 2026/27: €20,800 a year, made up of a €2,500 enrolment fee and €18,300 tuition.
EU citizens pay on an income scale, from €8,500 to €20,800.
An Italian study residence permit is renewed only if the student has passed at least one exam in the first year and at least two in each following year.
Common mistakes
- Choosing the portfolio out of habit when a set project would show the applicant’s thinking better.
- Applying with an eleven-year certificate and nothing to cover the twelfth year.
- Treating B1 as enough: B2 is required by 31 May of the first year to continue.
- Leaving the visa process until August: IED advises finishing enrolment by June or July.
Who it suits
- An applicant who wants to know the criteria they will be judged on.
- Those considering campuses beyond Milan: the course runs at other IED schools too.
- If a public university and minimal fees matter, look at Politecnico di Milano, which uses a test rather than creative work.
How this school compares: portfolio, set tasks, interview, language and fees at 13 schools in Italy, the UK, France and the US in the EDMONT Fashion Admissions Matrix.Fashion Admissions Matrix 2027