My Experience at Polimi GSOM: Far from Expectations, Close to Frustration (Polimi Graduate School of Management — Financial Risk Management)

In December 2023, with one year left to complete my bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, I started searching for master’s programs across Europe. I considered universities in the Netherlands, the UK, and Italy. Attracted by its strong marketing campaigns and high global rankings, I decided to enroll in the Financial Risk Management Master’s Program at Polimi Graduate School of Management.

Through early application discounts and additional scholarships, I secured approximately a 40% tuition reduction, paying €12,000 in total. However, I later realized that this amount is extremely high — even by Italian standards. Moreover, DSU scholarships were not available for non-European students, creating further financial and administrative challenges.

While the program promised “mandatory internships, quality education, and extensive corporate partnerships,” in practice, these commitments were not fully delivered. For instance, the school failed to provide internships in Italy for non-European students, later excusing this with statements like “we never promised jobs for everyone.” Academically, the courses and professors were valuable, yet students consistently struggled with unclear information regarding exam schedules, semester timelines, and holiday periods.

At the school, no one takes responsibility for anything. Whenever a problem arises, it is almost impossible to find a clear point of contact. If you manage to reach someone, they simply redirect you to someone else, and eventually you are left either solving the issue entirely on your own or becoming accustomed to dealing with its negative consequences.

For example, I once had an issue with a bank payment. No one informed me that the system had no solution for this matter. Instead, I was told to “ask someone else,” which eventually led me to visit 10–15 different banks just to inquire. Imagine trying to open a bank account with a ricevuta: the school assures you that it is possible, but since they never specify where or how, you are left wandering aimlessly, trying to figure it out by yourself.

More critically, serious issues arose in the visa process. My official graduation date should have been November 18, 2025, but due to errors in the documents provided by the school, my visa was issued only until November 15, 2025. This has created significant uncertainty about my ability to remain in Italy until graduation. Additionally, conflicting information about the program’s start date (first communicated as November, later changed to October) led me to miss the first month of courses, only to later be informed that my absence exceeded the allowed limit.

In conclusion, while Polimi Graduate School of Management excels in marketing and enjoys a prestigious reputation, the actual student experience is deeply flawed. The academic staff and the city of Milan are undoubtedly valuable, but systemic inefficiencies, administrative errors, and weak student support services have made this program a major disappointment for me.

For those interested, I am willing to share documented correspondence to substantiate these claims. From my perspective, Polimi GSOM is not the opportunity it advertises itself to be, but rather a source of significant risk and frustration for international students. However, Italy itself is a beautiful country — definitely worth visiting for travel and cultural experiences. But when it comes to education, Polimi GSOM has been the place that truly taught me the meaning of patience in my life.

In my opinion, the best form of marketing investment is the one that makes people happy and leaves them with good memories.

Best Regards