How to get an internship in Milan as an English speaker

Discover Milan's prominent industries, internship opportunities, and career tips to excel in Italy's finance hub and kick-start your professional journey.

Ivandzhelin

4 minute read

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Updated on 19 Apr 2024

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Studying

Are you eager to secure an internship in Milan, the city known as Italy's financial centre and the global capital of fashion? With almost 390,000 companies in the city, Milan offers life-changing opportunities at every corner to set a solid foundation for your future career.

But how do you land Italian internship as an English-speaker? We’ve created the ultimate guide to help you figure out all the kinks, covering everything from the prominent industries in the city to the companies looking for English-speaking interns.

Known as the playground of business, finance, fashion and design, Milan is a sea of career opportunities.

The Lombardic city generates 10% of Italy’s GDP, making it the wealthiest Italian city. This sustained economic and cultural growth has magnetised numerous national and multinational companies to set up their operations in Milan. You can find the headquarters of international banks, Italy's stock exchange, and renowned companies like Alfa Romeo, Pirelli, Intesa Sanpaolo and Vodafone Italy.

Milan is also one of the fashion capitals worldwide, offering incredible internship opportunities in the field. The city is home to 2,000 design companies, generating a significant portion of Italy's fashion revenues. Famous fashion houses like Gucci, Valentino, Versace, and Prada have made Milan their headquarters. And Milan Fashion Week alone contributes millions of euros to the city's economy.

Milan is the home of some of the best fashion schools in Italy, which offer Erasmus placements at their campuses.

Beyond its thriving economy, Milan ranks as the 5th most liveable city in the world. The city has over 200 museums and 54 theatres, where you can immerse yourself in the works of world-famous artists. Milan offers you the opportunity to enjoy delicious Italian cuisine and dynamic nightlife. Plus, if you're up for a day trip, there are plenty of picturesque places nearby to explore, such as the enchanting Lake Como.

Online platforms like LinkedIn and Glassdoor are the best places to look for an English-speaking internship in Milan. As a rule of thumb, if the description of the job listing is in English, the company is looking for an English-speaking intern.

Other internship sources are university websites, Erasmus and the websites of the companies you’re interested in.

Companies that often have open English-speaking internship positions in Milan include Prada, Bottega Veneta, Gucci, Disney, Valentino, American Express, Amazon and Credit Suisse.

To further your fashion career, you can also volunteer during Milan Fashion Week.

• Research the company you’re interested in and find people working in your desired department. You can contact them via LinkedIn to introduce yourself and ask whether they want to check out your CV.
• On that note, networking is key in Milan, so make sure you branch out and meet people outside your bubble. Be sociable and polite, and attend as many industry events as possible.
• Update your LinkedIn, ensuring your profile reflects your skills, experiences, and aspirations. Italian employers actively engage on LinkedIn to identify potential candidates.
• English is widely spoken in Milan, but speaking Italian is always a perk. You’ll have an easier time finding an internship and make a better impression if you have some knowledge of the language.

The answer depends on the type of internship you’re doing. If your internship is less than 90 days, you aren’t legally allowed to receive compensation for it.

By Italian law, only interns doing extracurricular placements are entitled to a monthly compensation of €500. The actual salary may vary depending on factors such as meal coverage, working hours (e.g. your pay's €350 if you work less than 4 hours per day), or the nature of the administrative tasks involved.

Bearing this in mind, living in the bustling economy and culture of Milan comes at a steep price. You can expect a monthly cost of living between €1,675 if you rent a room in shared accommodation and €2,075 if you live in a studio apartment. While it's possible to manage expenses through budgeting or opting for more affordable neighbourhoods within Milan, keep in mind that Milan is the most expensive city in Italy to live in.

Internship durations in Milan vary across industries and depend on your course of study or the specific company you're interning with.

In hospitality and tourism, your internship will often run between 8 weeks and 6 months. But in business, you can expect to be an intern for 3 to 12 months.

Fashion internships offer more flexibility as they often revolve around major fashion events. For instance, a fashion week internship will typically last for 4 weeks.

Interns from the EU/EEA don’t need a visa to work in Milan. The same applies to students from Canada or the US moving to Italy for an internship shorter than 90 days.

Interns coming from non-EU/EEA countries will need an Italian work visa. But if you're already a student at an Italian university, you can use your Italian student visa.

Once you’re in Milan, you’ll need a few other documents before starting your internship:

1. Valid ID (EU/EAA) or an Italian residence permit (foreign interns)
2. Your Italian tax code (Codice Fiscale)
3. EHIC (EU/EEA) or Italian health insurance/private health insurance (foreign interns)

Now that you know that Milan offers abundant career opportunities in business, fashion, and design, it’s time to secure your dream internship using our tips. And if you’re moving to Milan for your internship, don’t forget to reserve your accommodation in Milan before you arrive. Buona fortuna!

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