Istituto Marangoni in Milan does not ask for a portfolio: creative course applicants submit six creative ideas, business applicants a 700-word trend paper; B2 language and twelve years of schooling are required; three years at €25,800 a year plus an annual €4,000 enrolment fee. Polimoda in Florence asks for a seven-question questionnaire, a portfolio (design) or an essay on five inspirations (business), and interviews everyone; Fashion Design and Fashion Business run for four years in English at €18,000 a year.
Istituto Marangoni vs Polimoda: How Admission Differs
The two private Italian fashion schools international applicants compare most often. Based on the schools’ official pages, last reviewed September 2026.
Author The EDMONT editorial teamLast reviewed
| Criterion | Istituto Marangoni | Polimoda |
|---|---|---|
| City | Milan (also Florence) | Florence |
| Length | 3 years, 180 CFA | 4 years (Fashion Design, Fashion Business) |
| Creative task | Six creative ideas, A4/A3 | Portfolio of previous work |
| Business courses | 700-word trend paper | Essay on five inspirations |
| Written work | Signed personal statement | Seven 500-character answers, CV and letter |
| Interview | Not listed among requirements | With every applicant |
| Language | B2 in the course language (e.g. IELTS 5.0) | English |
| Fees | €25,800 + €4,000 enrolment fee a year | €18,000 a year |
An idea against a fashion culture
Marangoni reads the six ideas as a statement of direction: what inspires the applicant and how they think visually. Volume does not help; coherence does.
Polimoda reads the applicant’s fashion culture as closely as their work: the questionnaire tests whether they can name a campaign’s photographer and read a collection, and the interview whether they can explain their work.
What this means for an international applicant
Marangoni’s recognised courses require a twelfth year of schooling, which an applicant from an eleven-year system has to cover in advance. Marangoni’s budget must include the annual enrolment fee; Polimoda’s a fourth year of study: over a full course the totals are closer than the annual fees suggest.
Which applicant each school suits
- Istituto Marangoni suits an applicant without a large portfolio who wants Milan and can state a clear direction in six ideas.
- Polimoda suits an applicant who knows the industry well, is ready to discuss it at interview, and prefers Florence and a four-year programme.
The difference between Marangoni and Polimoda lies in what admission tests: clarity of creative direction, or knowledge of fashion culture. Both tasks need preparation, but of different kinds.
Each school in detail: what to submit, how the portfolio works, fees and common mistakes.Istituto Marangoni
The second school in this comparison.Polimoda
Primary sources
The official pages of both schools used for this comparison. Last reviewed: .
- Istituto Marangoni — Entry requirements, Milano and Firenze
- Istituto Marangoni — Fashion Design & Accessories, Milano
- Istituto Marangoni — Admissions FAQs
- Polimoda — How to apply
- Polimoda — Admission process
- Polimoda — Undergraduate guidelines: Design / Art Direction
- Polimoda — Undergraduate guidelines: Business
- Polimoda — Undergraduate Fashion Design
- Polimoda — Undergraduate Fashion Business
- Polimoda — Financial aid
EDMONT / FASHION & CREATIVE INDUSTRIES
Which of the two schools is realistic for the applicant
A comparison shows how the rules differ, but not which school suits a particular applicant. Tell us where they study now, the intended year of entry and a link to their work: we will say which selection model fits them and what to prepare in time.
The applicant’s profile
Tell us which curriculum the applicant follows, the intended year of entry and the discipline under consideration: design, business or communication. That is enough for a first substantive reply.