Politecnico di Milano Exchange Program

• Background
• Location Information
• Program Dates
• Host Institution
• Academic Information
• Academic Disciplines
• Credit Transfer Information
• Eligibility Requirements
• Program Costs
• Housing and Meals
• Insurance
• Extracurricular Activities
• Climate
• VISA & Passport Information
• Your Next Steps
• Experiences of Former Students
• Contact Details

BACKGROUND
Georgia Tech (GT) has developed a number of overseas programs around the globe. These programs provide students with the opportunity to complete a portion of their academic programs in top-notch foreign universities that are partnered with GT. As a result of immersion in a foreign academic and cultural environment, students have the maximum opportunity to learn to operate effectively in an atmosphere that is wholly different from that of GT and the U.S.

LOCATION INFORMATION
Italy
Italy is located in Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia. Italy became a nation-state in 1861 when the city-states of the peninsula, along with Sardinia and Sicily, were united under King Victor EMMANUEL. An era of parliamentary government came to a close in the early 1920s when Benito MUSSOLINI established a Fascist dictatorship. His disastrous alliance with Nazi Germany led to Italy's defeat in World War II. A democratic republic replaced the monarchy in 1946 and economic revival followed. Italy was a charter member of NATO and the European Economic Community (EEC). It has been at the forefront of European economic and political unification, joining the European Monetary Union in 1999. Persistent problems include illegal immigration, organized crime, corruption, high unemployment, and the low incomes and technical standards of southern Italy compared with the prosperous north.

Milan
Milán is the main city of northern Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy. The city proper (Comune di Milano) has about 1,308,500 inhabitants (2004), and the population of the urban area (Greater Milan, or La Grande Milano) is about 4,280,820 people (2006 estimate). In European terms, Milan's metropolitan area covers an area roughly equivalent to that of Paris with a population of more than 7 million people. Milan's so-called regional city (Città Regione) has over 9.4 million inhabitants. This area meets the criteria of the Combined Statistical Areas (CSAs) of the United States. By population, Milan is Italy's largest city and the 3rd Metro Area of the UE. Municipal borders wrap a relatively small area - about one-eighth that of Rome. Milan is an alpha world full service city in GaWc inventory. The urban agglomeration includes Swiss territories in Canton Ticino: this does not imply any kind of administrative unity, though.

The city is one of the world's major commercial and financial centers. The city is famous for fashion firms and shops (via Montenapoleone) and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in the Piazza Duomo, reputed to be the world's oldest shopping mall. Milan is one of the world capitals of fashion - along with New York City, Paris, London, Tokyo - and design. Indeed the English word milliner is derived from the name of the city. Another famed product of the city is the traditional Christmas sweet cake Panettone. Milan is also famous for the Alfa Romeo motorcar and for its silk production. Milan is also one of the wealthiest cities in the European Union.

PROGRAM DATES
Spring Term: early March - late June
Academic Year: late September - late June

NOTE: Students may participate in this program for the spring term or for a full academic year.

HOST INSTITUTION ACADEMIC INFORMATION
The Politecnico di Milano was established in 1863 by a group of scholars and entrepreneurs belonging to prominent Milanese families. Its most eminent professors over the years have included the mathematician Francesco Brioschi (its first Director), Luigi Cremona, and Giulio Natta (Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1963). The Politecnico di Milano is now ranked as one of the most outstanding European universities in Engineering, Architecture and Industrial Design, and in many disciplines is regarded as a leading research institution worldwide

In Italy the term "Politecnico" means a state university consisting only of study programmes in Engineering and Architecture. The Politecnico di Milano is nowadays organized in 16 departments and a network of 9 Schools of Engineering, Architecture and Industrial Design spread over 7 campuses over the Lombardy region with a central administration and management. The 9 schools are devoted to education whereas the 16 departments are devoted to research.

The educational policy of the Politecnico di Milano consists in offering different curricula tailored to the needs of its territory, which is considered one of most developed industrial areas in Europe.

The number of students enrolled in all campuses is approximately 40,000, which makes the Politecnico di Milano the largest institution in Italy for Engineering, Architecture and Industrial Design.

ACADEMIC DISCIPLINES

Subject Areas Available:

• Computer Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

Language Information

The subjects listed above have undergraduate courses taught in English. If you speak fluent Italian, you are welcome to take classes in the other undergraduate subject areas offered by the Politecnico.

For details about the courses in Computer Engineering and Mechanical Engineering that will be taught in English during the Spring 2010 semester, click here and here. Note that the CompE courses are taught at the Como campus while the ME courses are taught in Milano.

Free Italian language courses are offered to interested students: click here

CREDIT TRANSFER INFORMATION
Credit for courses taken as part of GT exchange programs is added as transfer credit on the GT transcript. Since it is important to know which kind of credit students will earn abroad as soon as possible, GT requires that courses be pre-approved for transfer. With a Foreign Credit Approval Form (available from OIE) in hand, and the credit transfer system information (listed below), students should submit course descriptions to the appropriate academic unit to request their approval. If taking Math classes, for example, then the student should go to the GT School of Mathematics to get permission for the courses to transfer to GT. If approved, the GT School of Mathematics signs the Foreign Credit Approval Form showing how the courses will transfer so that students will know which type of credit they should expect to receive.

For detailed credit transfer instructions click here

For the Foreign Credit Approval Form click here

CREDIT TRANSFER SYSTEM
Politecnico di Milano uses the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS):
1.4 ECTS credits = 1 GT credit

GRADE TRANSFER SYSTEM
Politecnico di Milano uses the following Italian grade scale:
Politecnico di Milano Grade = US Grade
28-30 = A
24-27 = B
21-23 = C
18-20 = D
<18 = F

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Eligible students must meet the following criteria:

• Georgia Tech degree-seeking undergraduate student
• 3.0 GPA or higher
• completed at least two semesters of college-level study prior to participation
• at least 18 years of age by the program's departure date
• enroll in 12 credit hours at the host institution and earn a C or higher for each course
• international students (non-US citizens) may have additional requirements set by the overseas university.
• all students must have completed all the prerequisites for any courses they wish to take
  
  

PROGRAM COSTS
The same matriculation, tuition and other mandatory fees (including transportation, technology, activity, health, and athletic) apply to a term abroad as would normally at Georgia Tech. Exchange students must pay tuition and fees to the GT Bursar for each semester they are abroad. No other expenses associated with this program are paid to GT; instead, these expenses are paid on site.

Keep in mind the costs of books, health insurance, food, living expenses, and travel money, as well as pre-departure costs like your passport and visa.

The currency in Italy is the Euro (EUR). Exchange rates fluctuate, so check the newspaper or click here for the most current rates.

DON"T FORGET TO APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS!! See the OIE web site for more info: click here

Following are cost estimates for one semester at Politecnico di Milano that may help you prepare for your term(s) abroad. All costs are in USD.

In State Tuition	$3,035
Out of State Tuition	$3,285
GT Mandatory Fees	$818
Books and Supplies	$250
Administrative and/or Application fees
Miscellaneous (includes passport/visa fees, required field trips, local transportation and incidentals)	$650
Roundtrip Airfare	$900
Room and Board	$4,850
Additional Language Instruction
Mandatory Insurance	$150
Total	$10,653 (in state)
	$10,903 (out of state)

*Out-of-state students pay in state tuition, plus $250 for this exchange program.

*Costs in the preceding chart are estimates for undergraduates based on tuition rates posted by the GT Bursar for "continuing students." Guaranteed tuition rates, graduate tuition rates, and MBA tuition rates vary. Please check the GT Bursar's web site click here to confirm actual tuition rates based on degree, term, or level of study. Actual costs may be higher or lower than those listed above, depending on the exchange rate and personal spending habits/needs.

HOUSING AND MEALS
Housing

• Residence halls
• Private accommodation (rooms / flats)

Meals

• NO meal plan
• On campus restaurants / canteens are available

For more information, click here and here.

INSURANCE
Students participating in this program will be assessed $150 per semester for mandatory insurance coverage. You will be covered by T.W. Lord and Associates. For detailed information about this insurance plan, click here. This cost is included in the above cost estimates for the program.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
The Sport and Leisure sector at the Politecnico di Milano places high priority on both the provision of sport facilities and of sport opportunities for students. Student's Sport activities at the Politecnico are organised by the University Sport Committee (C.U.S.) A Fitness Gym is located a the Casa dello Studente, viale Romagna 62 offering a wide range of resistance equipment and is free of charge to all students.

The Erasmus Student Network Politecnico is a non-profit, apolitical association of students founded in 1992. Its aim is to support the student exchange programs, supplying information and any kind of help that can be voluntarily given by its members.

ESN Politecnico has been a member of the Italian network, ESN Italia, and of the international one, ESN International, since December 1994. ESN International is a pan-European student organization founded in Copenhagen in 1990.
Since then, the network has expanded considerably. At the moment ESN consists of more than 180 sections in 27 countries. Despite its name, the network is devoted to students participating in all exchange programmes in Europe.

The goals:
- improving the social integration of foreign students at the host institution.
- providing more adequate information about exchange programmes.
- taking advantage of exchange students' experience by making them active in the network.
- continuously contributing to the evaluation of the European exchange programmes based on the experiences of former exchange students.

In order to pursue these goals, during the academic semesters of every year ESN organizes 4 cultural trips around Italy, guided visits to the most famous monuments in Milan, a design competition, conferences and parties in various clubs almost every day of the week.

The services and activities are run completely by the volunteer work of a certain number of active members, mostly Italian students having come back from an exchange program. The board is composed by a president, a vice-president, secretary and two board members, who organize periodical meetings with the assembly of the members.

For more details, click here.

CLIMATE
The Italian climate is unique and can be far from the stereotype of a "land of sun.", depending on the region.
In fact the north of Italy (Turin, Milan, and Bologna) has a true continental climate, while below Florence it becomes more and more Mediterranean. The climate of the coastal areas of the Peninsula is very different from that of the interior, particularly during the winter months. The higher areas are cold, wet, and often snowy. The coastal regions, where most of the large towns are located, have a typical Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot and generally dry summers. The length and intensity of the summer dry season increases southwards (compare the tables for Rome, Naples, and Brindisi). The Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Italy and Europe.Between north and south there is a quite remarkable difference in the temperatures, above all during the winter: in some days of December or January it can snow in Milan by -2°C while Palermo or Naples have just clouds and +17°C. In some morning Turin can be by -12°C while on the same time Rome has got +6°C and Reggio Calabria +12°C. In the summer the difference is lighter. The east coast of the peninsula is not as wet as the west coast, but during winter is usually colder. The east coast north of Pescara is occasionally affected by the cold bora winds in winter and spring, but the wind is less strong here than around Trieste. During these frosty spells from E-NE cities like Rimini, Ancona, Pescara and the entire eastern hillside of the Apennines can be affected by true "blizzards". The town of Fabriano, located just around 300 mt a.s.l., can often see 50/60 cm of fresh snow fall in 24 hours during these episodes. Italy is subject to highly diverse weather conditions in autumn, winter, and spring, while summer is usually more stable, even if in the north cities like Turin, Milan, Brescia, Verona or Udine sees a lot of thunderstorms in the afternoon/night hours. So, while below Florence the summer is typically dry and sunny, in the north is quite cloudier and relatively rich of rain, even if a little muggy/sultry.

VISA AND PASSPORT INFORMATION
Complete information about how to apply for or renew a U.S. passport is available from the GT Office of International Education or online: click here

As a University Exchange Student, you will need a valid passport and visa. Please consult the web site of the Italian Embassy for more information on obtaining a visa: click here

YOUR NEXT STEPS
To begin the process of participating in this exchange, please do the following:

• Attend an exchange program information session. For dates visit: click here. If you are unable to attend, please make an appointment with the OIE staff member listed below.
• Download the OIE Exchange and Study/Work Abroad Application instructions at click here and submit the completed application by the appropriate deadline.
• Deadlines: Fall/academic year/summer applications are generally due in mid-February. Spring applications are generally due in early to mid-September. Specifics are listed in the application packet.
• Visit the host institution's course information link located under "academic disciplines". Print course descriptions of all the courses of interest that you believe will fit into your GT academic plan.
• Make an appointment with your Academic Advisor to review course options, bring course descriptions to help.
• If you need to get or renew a passport, you should start that process now! Passport information is online: click here.
• For financial aid information click here
• For scholarship information click here

EXPERIENCES OF FORMER STUDENTS
click here

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Becky Gunter, Semester Study Abroad Advisor
GT Office of International Education
631 Cherry Street
Savant Building, Suite 211
Atlanta, GA 30332-0284
Phone: (404)894-7475 Fax: (404)894-9682
E-mail: becky.gunter@oie.gatech.edu
OIE web site: click here

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