Milano Fashion Institute

Milano Fashion Institute: The Business School with Direct Access to the Fashion Industry

Milano Fashion Institute - MFI is the Business School of Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana - CNMI (the Italian Fashion Council), the non-profit organization that governs, coordinates, and promotes the development of Italian fashion both in Italy and abroad, and is the main organizer of the Milan Fashion Week.

Since its founding in 2007, MFI has been dedicated to becoming the reference point for excellence in fashion system training in Italy, shaping the next generation of managers for the international fashion industry.

Located in Milan, the epicenter of luxury and ready-to-wear fashion, MFI places students directly in the heart of the vibrant and ever-evolving fashion world, offering unrivaled access to the industry’s top brands and latest trends.

Post Graduate Education

Master's Programs in Fashion Direction

• Master in Fashion, Retail Management & Merchandising – MIFAR
• Master in Fashion, Licensing & Luxury Management - MIFALL
• Master in Fashion, Business & Brand Management - MIFABB
• Master in Fashion, Branding & Communication - MIFAM
• Master in Fashion, CSR & Sustainability Management - MIFAS
• Master in Fashion, Design Management & Collection Development - MIFAD
  

All Master Courses are taught in English.

Key Facts

• Location: On-campus in Milan. Our programs are offered in a blended format, combining in-person and online learning to ensure both flexibility and a rich, hands-on educational experience.
• Accreditation: These are 1st Level University Masters, formally accredited through Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, and recognized as academic qualifications in accordance with the standards set by the Italian Ministry of Education.
• Duration: 1 year – 1,200 hours total.

Educational Approach

Milano Fashion institute’s academic approach is shaped by the following educational aims:

• Exclusive Industry Access: Students gain direct access to a prestigious network of international fashion and luxury brands, creating unparalleled opportunities for internships, collaborations, and career development.
• Strong Industry Connections for Career Launch: MFI connects students with leading fashion companies, ensuring hands-on experience and a strong professional network upon graduation.
• Global Perspective: The institute fosters international collaborations and provides access to top global fashion markets, preparing future leaders for the international fashion industry.
• Comprehensive Fashion Expertise: Programs offer in-depth knowledge of the fashion industry while refining specialized skills, with a focus on Italian craftsmanship and excellence.
• High Career Placement and Real-World Projects: With a 96% placement rate and a focus on practical experience through field projects, MFI prepares students to enter the workforce confidently and successfully.

Fashion Experience

Milan Fashion Week

Milano Fashion Institute, the Business School of Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana - CNMI (the Italian Fashion Council), offers students an exclusive opportunity to take part in Milan Fashion Week. This includes access to high-profile events, shows, and presentations, along with invaluable networking opportunities with leading professionals in the fashion industry. Our students are at the heart of the fashion world, gaining firsthand experience and building connections that will shape their careers.

Study Tours/City Tours

MFI organizes one-day city tours of Milan and two-day tours for an extended experience.

• City Tours - Students are guided through the heart of Milan, the global fashion capital. This immersive day-long experience includes visits to prestigious fashion landmarks, such as museums, designer showrooms, and renowned luxury brands. Students gain firsthand insight into the inner workings of the fashion industry while also exploring the city’s rich cultural heritage. These tours provide a perfect introduction to Milan’s vibrant fashion scene, offering networking opportunities and inspiration for aspiring fashion professionals.
• Study Tours - For a more in-depth experience, MFI offers a series of two-day trips to some of Italy’s most iconic cities and regions, all deeply connected to the fashion industry. These curated tours include additional activities such as visits to leading cultural institutions, fashion suppliers, and exclusive behind-the-scenes tours of luxury brands. By grouping companies from different regions, these tours provide a comprehensive insight into each territory's heritage, creativity, technical expertise, and capacity for innovation. The aim is to craft an inspiring travel experience that aligns with the academic themes explored throughout the year. Students have the opportunity to choose one destination, according to their personal interests.

All MFI study tours are fully organized in-house by the Institute, in collaboration with the Italian Fashion Council (CNMI), ensuring an authentic and seamless experience without reliance on external agencies.

Selection Process

The selection process for the Masters is open for EU students from March 1st, 2025 to December 15th, 2025; for non-EU students, from March 1st 2025 to October 15th, 2025.

After receiving this Application Form, Milano Fashion Institute carries out a pre-selection according to the documents sent. Subsequently, MFI will inform you if the Application is suitable
or not.

If eligible, Applicants have to attend an online interview with the Academic Committee, after which the final result (admitted or not admitted) will be communicated. The process requires a period of 2 to 4 weeks. We therefore invite the candidates to submit their applications as soon as possible.

Starting date of lectures Master's: 12 January 2026

Selection documents to be sent

1. Application Form. The form is available online. It must be completed accurately (in English or in Italian) in all its parts.
2. Copy of Degree certificate. The Master's is aimed at both BA and MSc/equivalent graduates. The documentation must clearly include the University attended. If the degree was obtained between the date of conclusion of the selection process and the beginning of the Master's, self-certification is required with a commitment to send the degree certificate by the start date of the course.
3. Copy of your Passport or your ID card
4. CV
5. Motivation letter. The letter must include the reasons that led the candidate to apply for the Master's and the interest in the industry.
6. Photo (passport type
7. Copy of the Official Transcript (official certificate issued by the University) of the exams in the original language.
8. Copy of the English language certificate (TOEFL min 80; IELTS min 6 overall; PTE Academic min 51; CAE; CPE; BEC Higher), if needed.

Sending your Application Form

The Application Form (with all the documents attached) must be submitted no later than December 15th, 2025 (for EU students), and October 15th, 2025, for non-EU students, by the online form.

Milano Fashion Institute is committed to mentor international students, and in particular extra-E.U. citizens, in order to fully understand which is the procedure to follow for remaining in Italy and attending MFI Masters. The information provided below are alternatively for non E.U. citizens and for E.U. citizens.

Non E.U. citizens

Before the arrival in Italy

1. Student VISA

A visa is a permit issued to citizens of another country that is not part of the European Union, in order to enter the territory of the Italian Republic.

In order to attend a Milano Fashion Institute Master, perspective students that are not E.U. citizens must have the student VISA. This visa is specifically dedicated to students who will attend a course and remain in Italy for more than 90 days.

The student visa must be requested at the Italian Embassy or at the Italian Consulate in your home country of origin, or in the country in which the student permanently resides, before the departure to Italy.

To find out which are the documents required to apply for a visa and find the closest place to you to request it, you can click the following link: http://vistoperitalia.esteri.it/home/en

2. MFI Enrollment Certificate

During the process of requesting the visa, students are required to present their enrollment certificate to the local Italian Embassy or Consulate.

Milano Fashion Institute provide the enrollment certificate to the eligible perspective students by 5 working days.After the arrival in Italy

3. Residence Permit (permesso di soggiorno)

The Italian law on immigration provides that extra-EU citizens, planning to stay in Italy for more than 3 months, have to apply for the residence permit within 8 days from their arrival in Italy.

Extra E.U. citizens have to submit the residence permit application at any post office where there is a Sportello Amico counter available. In order to do that students can obtain the kit directly at the post office and follow the instructions. They are requested also to present the following documents: passport, MFI enrollment certificate, photocopy of the receipt of the Health insurance, a € 16,00 duty stamp (you can buy it at the Tobacconist’s, i.e. Tabacchi shop). However, Milano Fashion Institute recommends to carefully read and comply with the instructions available in the kit.

The cost of this application that must be paid to the post office is 30,00 €. From the post office you will be given an appointment (day and time) for going to the Questura Immigration Office in order to be fingerprinted. On this appointment you will be required to bring 4 identical passport photos and the original documents, whose copies were enclosed in the application kit, including any document that could be missing in your application.

4. Tax identification code (i.e. Codice fiscale)

Once the student has arrived in Italy, it is necessary to obtain the codice fiscale, that is a unique tax identification code used in all the interactions with government agencies and public administration in Italy, as well as for other purposes (such as opening a bank account, signing a contract for renting an apartment or a room, signing a mobile phone contract, etc).

Application is easy and must be made at the local office of the Agenzie delle Entrate by showing a valid passport or stay permit.

The Agenzia delle Entrate offices available in Milan, and to which students can refer to, are at the following locations:

Via dei Missaglia, 97. Tel: 02.893075;
E-mail: dp.imilano.utmilano5@agenziaentrate.it
Via Abetone, 10. Tel: 02.540011 or 02.54100729;
E-mail: dp.imilano.utmilano4@agenziaentrate.it
Via della Moscova, 2. Tel: 02.636791;
E-mail: dp.imilano.utmilano1@agenziaentrate.it
Via Ugo Bassi, 4°. Tel: 02.697161;
E-mail: dp.iimilano.utmilano2@agenziaentrate.it
Via Leonardo Bistolfi, 5. Tel: 02.210491;
E-mail: dp.iimilano.utmilano3@agenziaentrate.it
Piazzale Carlo Stuparich, 2. Tel: 02.330251;
E-mail: dp.iimilano.utmilano6@agenziaentrate.it

E.U. citizens, along with Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Iceland

European Union’s citizens, along with citizens from Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Iceland, who will remain in Italy for more than 90 months are mandatory required to register at the Ufficio Anagrafe (Registry Office) of the municipality in the city of Milan.

In order to be registered to the Ufficio Anagrafe the following documents are required:

- Passport or equivalent document
- Italian Tax Identification Code (Codice fiscale)
- The apartment rent contract or a declaration from the owner of the apartment, where the student is staying, stating that the student is a guestThe registration is completed after the Polizia Municipale (Local Police) has carried out a visit to the address in order to confirm the facts.

Additional useful information

If you are a foreign student, it is possible to open a current account at any bank or post office. In order to open a current account in Italy, the following documents are required:

- Tax identification Number (Codice Fiscale)
- Valid Passport or equivalent document
- Residence Permit (this document is not needed for citizens of E.U., Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland).