1. General Information

School	School of Design
Code Reference Law	1260
Name	Interior and Spatial Design
Reference Law	Ordinamento 270/04
Class of degree	LM-12 - Design
Degree level	Laurea Magistrale (Equivalent To Master Of Science)
First year of activation	2010/2011
Official length of the programme	2
Years of the programme already activated	1,2
Official language(s) (¹)	Italian/English
Campus	Milano
Dean of the School	Francesco Zurlo
Coordinator of the Study programme	Francesco Scullica
Website of the School	http://www.design.polimi.it
Website of the Study programme	https://www.interiordesign.polimi.it/

(¹) The degree course offers some tracks in Italian and others in English.

Central Student Office - Milano Bovisa

Address

VIA LAMBRUSCHINI, 15 (MI)

2. General presentation of the study programme

The Laurea Magistrale in Interior and Spatial Design, focuses on:

-   refunctionalization, above all by means of adaptable and reversible devices, interior spaces of abandoned industrial and tertiary spaces seen as one of the great contemporary challenges. They are a way of making available to communities a resource whose value comes above all from the cultural and formal value of design responses;

-   revising traditional interior space types in order to make new types of space available to: residential buildings in all their forms (from domestic to special residences – healthcare, elderly people etc.); work spaces, in both private and public contexts (ranging from private of¿ces to the public administration and all the places of the new forms of creative work); places of learning and consumption of contemporary culture (schools, universities, libraries), spaces for research and heritage and art and communication spaces such as museums, exhibition spaces, entertainment venues beside photographic / tv / fashion show sets, theme parks and cultural enhancement of historical, landscape and industrial archeology environments; retail conceived  as consumption of products and services ranging from shopping malls to showrooms until pop-up stores;

- the design of interiors of vehicles such as cars, trains, yachts and ships.

-   the recon¿guration, above all by means of installation type methods, of open city micro-spaces, the so-called urban interiors, for the purposes of enhancing the symbolic and representative component in places, their hospitable side and use value.

- the evaluation and the design of landscape elements of the interstitial, diffused, intermediate and internal, integrated spaces, of the urban spaces of the contemporary world, aimed at creating more value of the relational aspects of the environment, space and people, even with more attention to the green and landscape component of the projects, to create more livability and quality of life of citizens in highly urbanized places subjected to a continuous functional upgrade;

- The acquisition of knowledge related to the most ephemeral aspect of contemporary design of spaces, such as the digital component for the integration and the development of space, such as sensitive environments (now widely used in the installations sector and the performative environments), interactive, up to the evaluation of the integration in the project of augmented reality aspects (AR) and virtual reality (VR).

The aim of the course is to train designers capable of intervening creatively with projects in the contexts set out above, in functional, aesthetic-formal, technical and technological de¿nitions of space, of the relationships between users and space, the relationships between space and context; working to enhance the interior spaces of the existing architectural heritage by modifying environmental quality and image often with reversible action and always in any case in an innovative interpretation of the nature of space and client demands.

Interior spatial designers must essentially not simply design spaces and objects but also build relationships between these seeking to put forward an overall vision of the art of living in the present.

Speci¿cally this course of study is designed to supply students with the skills they need to control and manage the multiplicity of speci¿c skills required in the development and implementation of complex projects. The components of the most conventional interior and diffused spaces designs combine with the most innovative aspects of research and scenario creating skills, technical-technological-productive, economic-strategic, communicative and representational skills. The course aims to develop students' ability to initiate a self-education process by providing them with the cultural and information tools they require to develop their own independent design journey and language.

The Master Course is the continuation of the Interior Design Bachelor Course of study.

3. Learning objectives

One of the main objectives of the course is to transmit the following skills:

-   the ability to interpret the context of the proposed project and its evolutionary character with analytical, research and communication skills;

-   creativity on the basis of a wide ranging knowledge of the history of interiors, visual arts and research and experimentation trends in contemporary design culture, translating analysis elements into innovative design solutions in line with sustainability, design for all and in accordance with the availability of resources;

-   the ability to develop complex design responses - on the basis of a solid grounding in the cultural, relationship, symbolic, psychological and perceptional factors which in¿uence space use methods - which interpret the various contemporary ways people make use of spaces including by means of a revision of existing space types;

-   the ability to visualize and communicate design ideas in the various process phases: from researching and de¿ning the project issue to elaborating concepts and the implementation of the technical design which is to accompany the implementation process. Knowledge of artistic and visual languages and cultures is thus fundamental. They enable designers to develop expressive methods and languages which are appropriate to the design idea.

The course thus involves considerable theoretical and critical study with the objective of supplying students with an advanced academic knowledge and the ability to develop individual research abilities, ongoing learning and project planning and strategic completion skills. Advanced courses in interior design disciplines are also available with the objective of studying subject areas in greater depth and exploring the most innovative subject ¿elds.

Laboratory activities provide opportunities for students to experiment with the theoretical-critical knowledge gained and lead on to individual research project work culminating in the final dissertation.

Internship at certi¿ed companies or professional studios, public bodies and institutions is mandatory and provided by the school.

The academic subjects on which the Master programme rests are:

-   design culture studies which enable students to make use of project work practices using laboratory type educational methods on the basis of knowledge in other subject areas acquired in ex cathedra lectures. In the design process this knowledge is put to use in the analytical phase (i.e. in the concept de¿nition phase) to provide insights into the project context in terms of design opportunities, limitations, potential, selection and priority hierarchies; to analyse the character of spaces within which projects must intervene; to assess the user-environment interaction and the implications this can have on space quality; to analyse the relationships between artefact and environment. In the design synthesis phase this knowledge takes the concrete form of the ability to translate needs into requisites and quality in spaces and décor systems which make them liveable in; to recognise the speci¿c features and quality of the various existing organisms to which the transformation project is to be applied; to de¿ne, on the basis of the requirements made of the space, the materials, component parts, technologies and relationships with other subsystems. The objective of this study unit - the foundation stone in designer training - is to supply students with a method with which to take on varied design requirements, via moments of paradigmatic design, at a high level of project complexity.

 -  humanities studies which contribute to the analysis and interpretation of the social and cultural contexts of the designed spaces and the meaning systems environments express as bearers of aesthetic-cultural values. They also contribute to placing the space within a material value system by means of socio-technical analysis, value and sign reading, of its symbolic and representational value in addition to enabling its ergonomic and perceptional qualities, contributing to de¿ning the nature of the relationship between man and lived space, to be read.

The goal of this ¿eld of study is to supply students with methodologies and tools from ethnographic, anthropological and sociological research applied to user, context and behaviour analysis.

-   historical-critical studies which supply students with knowledge of evolutions but above all the most innovative aspects of contemporary culture, interior design culture and more generally of architecture projects; linking them up with evolutions in artistic, architectural, visual communication, design and fashion languages.

The educational objective of this ¿eld of study is to supply students with the ability to interpret design in its context of reference using historical study methods;

-   visual culture, contemporary languages and representation and multimedia studies, in-depth study of the use of the languages, tools and techniques relating to space representation; the ability to read and interpret visual languages; knowledge of perceptional mechanisms and colour systems in a more advanced form than the Bachelor level.

The educational objective of this unit is to provide graduates with the ability to transfer analysis and design synthesis elements onto the visual plane.

-   building materials and technologies studies looking at  materials and their cultural and symbolic values in greater depth in the context of the transformations taking place in contemporary society; performance, structural and functional qualities; materials' properties in relation to the environment they are to be used in; sustainability and recyclability; the functioning of interior space building systems; environmental comfort.

The educational objective of this ¿eld of study is to provide students with knowledge relating to the choice of materials functional to contexts of use, required performance and the quality of lived space.

4. Organization of the study programme and further studies

4.1 Structure of the study programme and Qualifications

The Laurea Magistrale (equivalent to Master of Science) Programme is divided into 4 semesters and offers 120 credits (CFU).

At the moment of the matriculation, the students are assigned to a Section, to which they will belong until the end of the Programme.

The curriculum allows the students to opt for some Laboratories (2 at the 1^st year and  1 at the 2^nd year) and Courses, in order to personalize their own study path.

During the 2^nd year Laboratory, the student applies the competencies he/she has acquired.

 

The Programmes terminate with a compulsory internship and a degree examination, where the final dissertation is discussed.

During the Laurea Magistrale Programmes, the student can join Double Degree Programmes.

4.2 Further Studies

The qualification grants access to "Dottorato di Ricerca" (Research Doctorate), "Corso di Specializzazione di secondo livello" (2nd level Specialization Course) and "Master Universitario di secondo livello" (2nd level University Master)

5. Professional opportunities and work market

5.1 Professional status of the degree

The graduates from the Laurea Magistrale in Interior and Spatial Design are capable of overseeing and directing design activities, coordinating all the expertise involved in the project spaces equipped, indoor and outdoor, aimed at the attainment of specific objectives. These professionals may find employment with companies and firms specialized in exhibition interiors, and have moreover found many opportunities in the commercial areas of companies operating with retail spaces and visual merchandising (furniture, retail chains, fashion companies). These graduates also frequently find work with professional studios and design companies.

Graduates in Interior and Spatial Design will carry articulated project activities, coordinating all the skills involved in the design of interiors and spaces obtaining specific goals.

In particular their natural spheres are within:

-   design studios and companies working in the interior design and installations sector carrying out research and design in various spheres ranging from the domestic sphere, in the era of diffused work and relational economics; commercial networks' retail points and culture production and presentation spaces (like auditoriums, museums, art galleries, libraries and exhibitions); public spaces used for the most evolved social functions (such as of¿ces, hospitals, schools and universities); hotels in the era of mass tourism and diffused nomadism; exhibition space installation and urban micro-spaces; sets in the environments linked to the new entertainment culture;

-  bodies and institutions, including in the public sphere, working in the cultural heritage and landscape enhancement ¿eld;

- company design structures in the large-scale distribution and contract sectors

5.2 Careers options and profiles

Interior and Spatial Design graduates can work in a very wide range of ¿elds: domestic interior design, furniture product design, semi-public space design (contract), public interior design, reconversion of abandoned spaces, urban interiors design, retail and exhibition space installations, set design and museum layout, public and private green living areas as well as equipped landscape connections, interior design  of vehicles such as cars, trains, yachts and ships..

Such professionals will thus be able to work within professional design studios and companies in the interior design and installation of different categories of spaces up to the urban landscape interventions, furniture and installation companies, public and private institutions working in the installation and cultural and museum heritage sectors, entertainment venues, public and private institutions working in the urban planning and renovation ¿eld. These potential career outcomes are vocation contexts speci¿c to national level professional activities such as furniture, décor and installation components and systems.

5.3 Qualification profile

Interior -Spatial designer
profile in a work context:
Profile of designers able to work creatively with projects always, in any case, in an innovative interpretation of the nature of space and client demands. The interior-spatial designers design spaces and objects and builds relationships between these seeking to put forward an overall vision of the art of living in the present.

Graduate student of the Laurea Magistrale in Interior and Spatial Design are qualified to carry out direction and management roles in design activities coordinating the various skills involved in designing interior and exterior equipped spaces in accordance with specific objectives.

skills of this function:
Specific skills:
- the context of the proposed project and its evolutionary character with analytical, research and communication skills;

- translate the elements of analysis into elaboration of innovative design solutions, based on a wide knowledge of history of the interiors, visual arts and trends of research and experimentation of the culture of contemporary design, with creative capacity and consistently with the issues essential today (sustainability, design for all) and in accordance with the availability of resources;

- to elaborate - on the basis of a strong knowledge of cultural, relational, symbolic, psychological, perceptive factors that influence the ways in which space is used - complex design responses that read the different modes of simultaneous use of the environments by users, also through a review of the types of existing spaces;

- to view and communicate the project idea in the different phases of the process: from the research and definition of the design problem, to the elaboration of the concept, up to the executive technical design that wants to arrive to the realization process;

- to apply artistic and visual languages ¿¿and cultures in order to develop expressive ways and languages ¿¿suitable for the project idea.

Job opportunities:
Interior and Spatial Design graduate students can work in a very wide range of fields: domestic interior design, furniture product and system design, semi-public space design (contract), public interior design, reconversion of abandoned spaces, urban interiors design, retail and exhibition space installations, set design and museum layout, public and private green living areas as well as equipped landscaped connections. Such professionals will thus be able to work within professional design studios and companies in the interior design and installation sphere, furniture and installation companies, public and private institutions working in the installation and cultural and museum heritage sectors, entertainment venues, public and private institutions working in the urban planning and renovation field. Furthermore, they also successfully pursue careers in the area of retail and visual merchandising companies (furniture, large-scale distribution, fashion companies). 
These potential career outcomes are vocation contexts specific to national level professional activities such as furniture, décor and installation components and systems.
In particular their natural spheres are within:
- design studios and companies working in the interior design and installations sector carrying out research and design in different fields. From the domestic environment, in the period of diffused work and relational economics; commercial networks' retail points and culture production and presentation spaces (like auditoriums, museums, art galleries, libraries and exhibitions); public spaces used for the most evolved social functions (such as offices, hospitals, schools and universities); hotels in the era of mass tourism and diffused nomadism; exhibition space installation and urban micro-spaces; sets in the environments linked to the new entertainment culture;
- bodies and institutions, including in the public sphere, working in the cultural heritage enhancement field;
company design structures in the large-scale distribution and contract sectors.

6. Enrolment

6.1 Access requirements

First cycle degree (level 6 EQF) or comparable qualification

Candidate admission is dependent on assessments of merit and of the contents of previous courses of study. Students from other campuses or dissimilar study programmes will be required to undergo assessment of their educational background in order to identify any supplementary courses of study which may be required before admission to the Laurea Magistrale study programme.

Qualifications required for admission:

-  Level I or II laurea;

-  Appropriate English languages skills certification.

Updates to the “Guida all’ammissione alla Laurea Magistrale” are published every year on the School's site including detailed information on the material required for admission applications, how to register and deadlines, admission without assessment and reasons for non admission. Minimum laurea marks required for admission are also shown.

Students requiring supplementary studies prior to admission must fulfil these within one year of the date of assessment.

6.2 Requested knowledge

Access to the assessment procedure for the purposes of admission to the Master's Degree Courses offered by the School of Design is granted to:

Politecnico di Milano graduates/undergraduates with a weighted average of not less than 23/30 ( calculated at the end of the submission of application) and in possession of a suitable English language certificate;

- candidates graduating from other Italian universities with a weighted average of no less than 25/30 ( calculated at the end of the submission of application) and in possession of a suitable English language certificate;

- candidates who have graduated from foreign universities and have a suitable English language certificate (an Italian language certificate is also required in the case of a section with teaching in Italian).

 

The English language certificate for candidates with an Italian qualification must be submitted by the application deadline:

https://www.polimi.it/studenti-iscritti/lingua-inglese/studenti-dei-corsi-di-laurea-magistrale/

For candidates with a foreign qualification check the link below:

https://www.polimi.it/en/international-prospective-students/laurea-magistrale-programmes-equivalent-to-master-of-science/application-procedures/application/list-of-documents-required-by-the-admissions-office/

In order to be admitted to the Master's degree course in Interior and Spatial Design it is necessary to hold a Bachelor's degree, or equivalent qualification obtained abroad, in one of the following classes:

L-4 Industrial design

L-17 Architectural Sciences

Applicants with a foreign qualification will only be assessed if the course of study allows admission without curricular supplements.

For those coming from Class L-4, the presence of ECTS credits assigned to Sectors ICAR/12 Architectural Technology and ICAR/08 Construction Science or /09 Construction Technology will be ascertained. In the absence of these curricular requirements a supplement will be assigned.

For courses or curricula other than Interior Design, a Design Laboratory integration will also be assigned.

Those who hold a Bachelor's degree in one of the following Classes may also enrol:

- L-3 Disciplines of the Performing Arts, Music, Entertainment and Fashion

-  L-7 Civil and Environmental Engineering

-  L-21 Sciences of Spatial, Urban, Landscape and Environmental Planning

-  L-23 Building Sciences and Technology

provided they meet specific curricular requirements as specified below:

a total of at least 40 ECTS credits obtained in the macro-sector 08/C DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGICAL DESIGN OF ARCHITECTURE and/or in the SSD ICAR/16 Interior Architecture and Design, ICAR/17 Design, ICAR/08 Building Science.

In the absence of these curricular requirements, supplements will be assigned.

Graduates from ISIAs and Academies may also be admitted to the Master's degree course: admission is possible for courses with curricula related to Interior Design, Scenography and Product Design.

Fulfilment of the necessary curricular requirements is assessed by a special CdS Committee.

The committee will advise the applicant of the need to supplement their qualifications before proceeding to assess the individual's preparedness.

These supplements must be fulfilled within one year of the application for evaluation: students in these circumstances may also supplement their plan by bringing forward, through registration in single courses, Master's degree courses up to a maximum of 32 ECTS credits.

For admissions to the 2nd semester, if there is a need to assign curricular supplements related to the 1st semester, the candidate will be invited to reapply in the following semester.

To check the curricular supplements assigned, please check Annex 2 in the Admission Guide to the Master's Degree Courses of the School of Design:

https://www.design.polimi.it/en/teaching/documents/career-guides

 

It is possible to apply for admission to the Master's degree in both the 1st and 2nd semesters, according to the periods indicated in the academic calendar and the procedures detailed in the Admission Guide to the School of Design's Master's Degree Courses. 

If the quota of available places for regular enrolment and for enrolment to single courses for curricular integration is reached in the 1st semester, the admission procedure will not be opened in the 2nd semester.

The deadlines, application procedures and documents required for candidates with an Italian qualification are indicated in the Admission Guide to the Master's Degree Courses of the School of Design:

https://www.design.polimi.it/en/teaching/documents/career-guides

The deadlines, application procedures and documents required for candidates with foreign qualifications can be found at the following link:

https://www.polimi.it/en/international-prospective-students/laurea-magistrale-programmes-equivalent-to-master-of-science/application-procedures/

 

 Admission to the Master's degree is by means of an online application and is subject to the assessment of the candidate's previous career and individual preparation by a special committee whose decision is final. In the event of a unfavourable assessment, the Committee will give appropriate reasons for the decision.

 For the assessment of an individual's readiness, the weighted average (only for candidates with an Italian qualification), consistency with the Level I course and documents relating to projects carried out in the three-year period, extra-curricular educational and professional experiences will be assessed.

Evaluation criteria, cases exempt from assessment (admission de jure) for candidates with an Italian qualification are indicated in the Admission Guide to the Master's Degree Courses of the School of Design:

https://www.design.polimi.it/en/teaching/documents/career-guides

 

Transitions and transfers

Students already enrolled in Master's degree courses at the Politecnico di Milano in previous academic years may apply to transfer to another course; students enrolled in Master's degree courses at other universities may apply to transfer; both procedures may be carried out through the online services with the same deadlines and procedures provided for new admissions to the Master's degree course.

Applications for Transition and Transfer are only possible in the 1st semester.

Acceptance of transfer applications from eligible candidates is subject to compliance with the numbers allocated for each Master's degree: if transfer applications exceed the number allocated for this procedure, a ranking will be drawn up.

The acceptance of transfer applications from eligible candidates is subject to their being placed in a useful position in the ranking list for newly enrolled candidates.

Guide to admission
http://www.design.polimi.it/it/studiare-design/guide-alla-carriera/

6.3 Deadlines for admission and number of places available

Posti disponibili per gli ingressi:

- Interior e Spatial Design LM (sede di Milano): 130 studenti di cui 40 riservati a studenti extracomunitari di cui 4 studenti cinesi del progetto "Marco Polo".

6.4 Tutoring and students support

Orientation and ongoing tutoring include all activities aimed at providing assistance to students before and during their university career, so that it can take place within the timeframe envisaged by the teaching regulations and in a way that is profitable from the point of view of the development of professional and human skills. Tutoring activities are therefore distinct from institutional teaching activities, even though they may serve or complement them. Tutoring activities can be carried out by Masters Degree students, PhD students, lecturers and external staff.

Tutoring activities are planned and managed by the School in close coordination with the Course of Study.

At University level, the Financial Aid and International Mobility Service interacts with the Schools on the administrative aspects of tutoring Master's degree students.

 The School appoints the President of the Joint Committee as the School Tutoring Representative in order to carry out a statistical analysis of the data (learning analytics), initiate discussions with the student representatives on the Joint Committee, discuss with the CCS Tutoring Representatives and plan tutoring activities of maximum effectiveness.

 Tutoring activities are divided into the following services:

- educational guidance for first-year and postgraduate students;

- guidance and support for students for the activation of curricular internships;

- educational support meetings held by professors (to facilitate the choices of including optional courses for the purposes of personalising the study plan);

- assistance/reception activities for first-year students on Master's degree courses, both at the desk and through the new communication channels set up by the School;

- support for foreign students enrolled in English-language Master's degree courses and for students on international mobility;

- assistance for revision and catch-up seminars;

- assistance in computerised classrooms, libraries and laboratories;

- assistance in finding and developing teaching materials.

Open Days are organised for students wishing to enrol in the School of Design's courses of study, during which each course of study presents its teaching programme through presentations and/or open lectures.

An orientation service is available to inform future students about the educational and training activities of their courses of study in order to clarify the educational objectives and professional opportunities.

Every year a Welcome Day is organised for first-year students, during which the following are presented: the organisation of the School, the offices and their responsibilities, the international exchange programmes, the communication tools of the School and the Politecnico, the School of Design website, Trouble Ticketing, chat, the Beep portal, the library services, the instrument laboratories and Safety Week (the week in which students obtain authorisation to access the laboratories). During this meeting, space is given to the presentation of the Joint Committee and the Student Representation.

The Student Representatives of the School Council have prepared a handbook to introduce themselves and summarise the services students can access.

For current students, presentations of optional courses and Synthesis Workshops are prepared. In addition to the Teaching Fact Sheets, which present in detail how the courses are conducted, students can access the School's website and view slides and videos prepared by the lecturers to summarise the topics covered in the course.

The School organises "Lesson 0" to provide information on the University's facilities and services and to explain the organisation of the course of study; the coordinators may organise this lesson collectively with the other courses of study or on the first day of class of one of the subjects of the specific Master's degree course. Second-year students are provided with information on the range of courses on offer and on initiatives specific to their year.

The focuses of Lesson 0 are:

- Course Organisation and University Services (I LM);

- Erasmus Placement (II LM);

- postgraduate: masters and doctorate

- job market and Career Service (II LM);

- student opinion questionnaire (I and II LM);

- questionnaire on services and overall training pathway (II LM);

- final examination: type, choice of supervisor and final grade (II LM).

For current students, the School has initiated activities aimed at:

- contribute to removing obstacles to successful course attendance, including through initiatives tailored to the needs, aptitudes and requirements of individuals;

- make students more actively involved in the learning process.

Il/i Course Tutoring Contact Person(s) is the institutional reference point for guidance at the School; the service is organised within the framework of the course of study and in particular deals with:

- support service to students where they need help in solving problems or deepening concepts;

- approval and possible drafting of texts concerning the presentation of the degree course for which the professor is the contact person;

- identification of student projects from their degree course, to be used as orientation tools during Open Days, and for the School's institutional communication.

For further details on the Tutoring Actions put in place by the School:

https://www.design.polimi.it/it/didattica/servizi/tutorato

 

7. Contents of the study Program

7.1 Programme requirements

For admission to the Laurea Magistrale final exam students must:
- have obtained the 120 ECTS required for a Level II Laurea Magistrale including credits relating to internships and final exams.
- have written an individual thesis under the guidance of a Supervisor taking the form of a project or theoretical-methodological or historical-critical considerations.
The Laurea Magistrale exam consists of a discussion on students' individual theses led by a teaching staff officer, the thesis supervisor.

According to Law No. 33 of April 12, 2022, simultaneous enrollment in two programs is allowed. Enrollment in two programs is possible only if they are of different degree classes (classi di laurea) and differ in at least two-thirds of their educational activities regarding academic credits. 

Consistent with what is defined by Law No. 33, at the student's instance, the maximum number of CFUs already taken in the other program and validatable is 40 CFUs for MSc programmes.

Please note that courses belonging to programs of a different level or type from the program you are enrolled in cannot be validated.

Full details on when to apply for validation and the administrative fees to be paid are available on the Polimi website: https://www.polimi.it/contemporanea-iscrizione

7.2 Mode of study

The Laurea Magistrale programme is full time. It uses a number of educational methods: the single subject courses contain theoretical contents which are taught by means of ex cathedra lessons and assessed with tests and interviews throughout the year.
Integrated courses involve more than one discipline or specific sphere and they are sometimes entrusted to two members of the teaching staff who integrate their contributions.
The Experimental Laboratories offer students the opportunity to experiment and use the tools, technologies and equipment useful for the project.
The Laboratories involve project work by students under the guidance of a teaching staff team each of whom offer their own subject matter as applied to the project theme. The Workshops are full time courses lasting a week in which students develop a project under the guidance of a well regarded professional or a company.
The Erasmus Programme and the other international mobility programmes are an opportunity for students to spend a study semester abroad at qualified European and non-European design universities.
Professional Internship is a period of time spent at one of the Politecnico's partner companies or design studios under the guidance of a School tutor or a tutor appointed by the company.

 Optional student courses

In the Laurea Magistrale programme 12 credits are awarded to optional courses (equivalent to two in the second year).

Students are required to choose their optional courses on presentation of their first year study plans. Similarly when they present their second year study plans they will be required to choose a second course.

The optional courses take place in both 1st and 2nd semesters.

Internships - Laurea Magistrale

In Laurea Magistrale students carry out an internship at a company, professional studio, study centre, body, etc. with a partnership agreement with the Politecnico di Milano which fulfils the requirements of current legislation specifying that, on completion of the agreed internship period a certificate will be issued. (minimum 280 hrs). The internship cannot last more than a year).

Such internships can be incorporated into students' study plans in either the 1st or the 2nd year of study depending on the organisation of the student's course of study.

Internship is an educational experience which gives students real experience of the world of work. The host company must be aware of and agree to the legal regulations and the need for educational support and the student must accept and show an ability to respect the company's rules and behaviours.

For additional information on how to draw up a study plan, educational priorities, attendance requirements and exam sessions, etc., you are advised to consult the document Implementing Norms for Educational Regulations available for consultation on the School's site.

Curricolar Internships
https://www.design.polimi.it/en/1/teaching/studying-design/curricolar-internships
Career Guides
https://www.design.polimi.it/en/teaching/documents/career-guides

7.3 Detailed learning objectives

Students' ability to choose the courses and credits to be incorporated into their study plans is subordinate to a series of rules imposed by the School which makes available an educational programme worth 60 credits for each year of the course (nominal courses).

Each year students can choose courses for a different number of credits than that specified by the nominal courses (60 ECTS per year) to graduate their study programmes according to their needs.

The minimum number of credits a student can enrol on is 30 unless the number of credits needed for course completion are fewer than this.

The maximum number of credits a student can enrol on is 80, respecting exam priorities.

The current framework of the study plan requires the course exam sequence to be respected as shown in the Regulations.

Courses designed for later years of the programme cannot be inserted into an earlier year study plan (“advance study”) unless all previous and current year courses have also been integrated into it.

The School has also implemented an exam priority sequence on the basis of which certain courses can only be enrolled on if other, introductory courses have already been passed. Students may actually be able to enrol on fewer credits than is nominally the case as a result of this rule.

The System Regulations require a series of educational activities (specialist, elective or supplementary) which are present in the course of study in the form of single subject and integrated courses and Design studio in which the two-year Laurea Magistrale's educational content is conveyed.

Laurea Magistrale

In addition to these types of educational activities the System Regulations also require that a specific number of credits are attributed to types of activity which can be categorised as follows:

-  educational activities chosen independently by students (Optional courses);

-  educational activities relating to preparation for the final exams required for the qualification to be awarded (Final exam);

-   activities designed to enable students to gain additional language skills, IT, telematic and relational skills which will help them in finding employment as well as educational activities designed to facilitate professional choices by giving students direct experience of working in the sector which the qualification can gain them access to including, in particular, educational work experience and guidance (Internships).

 

Ambassador Programme

Within the context of the interuniversity framework project "Tecnologie delle Transizioni", Politecnico di Milano wants to activate high-level training courses aimed at creating new professional figures in Green Technologies, Smart Infrastructures, Inclusivity Design and Creative Thinking that:

• have skills in specific areas consistently with the training project (green/smart/inclusivity/creative)

• acquire enabling digital technologies in line with the profile
• master interdisciplinary tools, methods, and aptitude for a systemic vision
• develop talent to operate in interdisciplinary and multisectoral contexts acquired through exposure, even in teams, to case studies and challenges
• Will have systemic skills, interdisciplinary vision and a strong attention to the design of inclusive contexts, spaces, artefacts, infrastructures, technologies, products and services, enhancing the sense of equity.

The Laurea Magistrale Programme in Interior and Spatial Design, will activate in the academic year 2023/2024 the training programme Ambassador in Green Technologies and Inclusivity Design.

Once the student is registered for the programme, he/she will have to insert in the study plan at leat 30 credits related to the Ambassador in Smart Infrastructures or Inclusivity Design profile. These credits must include a minimum of 12 credits from list A and 18 credits from list B: 6 credits from these last ones will be inserted in the sudy plan as “effective” and will count towards the 120 credits needed to earn the Laurea Magistrale Degree, while the other credits will be added in a supernumerary position.

The registration at the Ambassador Programme is incompatible with the registration to (internal or external) Double Degrees or to the ASP.

Ambassador Design
https://www.design.polimi.it/en/teaching/educational-offer/ambassador-courses
Ambassador Polimi
https://www.polimi.it/en/programmes/high-level-training-courses/green-technologies-smart-infrastructures-e-inclusivity-design

1 Year courses - Track: IS1 - Interior and Spatial Design 1

Code	Educational activities	SSD	Course Title		Language	Sem	CFU	CFU Group
056071	B,C	ICAR/13 ICAR/16 L-ART/06	NEW INTERIORS 1			1	15,0 [3,0]	15,0
051381	B	ICAR/12	ATELIER FOR TECHNOLOGIES (a)			1	6,0	6,0
051425	C	L-ART/04	MUSEOLOGY IN CONTEMPORARY AGE			2	6,0	6,0
059593	B	ICAR/13	LIGHTING			2	6,0	6,0

^(a) Table A Green Ambassador Programmes

1 Year courses - Track: IS2 - Interior and Spatial Design 2

Code	Educational activities	SSD	Course Title		Language	Sem	CFU	CFU Group
054617	B,C	ICAR/13 ICAR/16 L-ART/06	EPHEMERAL/TEMPORARY SPACES 1			1	15,0 [3,0]	15,0
051381	B	ICAR/12	ATELIER FOR TECHNOLOGIES (a)			1	6,0	6,0
051425	C	L-ART/04	MUSEOLOGY IN CONTEMPORARY AGE			2	6,0	6,0
059593	B	ICAR/13	LIGHTING			2	6,0	6,0

^(a) Table A Green Ambassador Programmes

1 Year courses - Track: IS3 - Interior and Spatial Design 3

Code	Educational activities	SSD	Course Title		Language	Sem	CFU	CFU Group
054618	B,C	ICAR/13 ICAR/16 L-ART/06	LANDSCAPE AND INTERIOR - SPATIAL DESIGN 1			1	15,0 [3,0]	15,0
051381	B	ICAR/12	ATELIER FOR TECHNOLOGIES (a)			1	6,0	6,0
051425	C	L-ART/04	MUSEOLOGY IN CONTEMPORARY AGE			2	6,0	6,0
059593	B	ICAR/13	LIGHTING			2	6,0	6,0

^(a) Table A Green Ambassador Programmes

1 Year courses - Track: *** - offerta comune

Code	Educational activities	SSD	Course Title		Language	Sem	CFU	CFU Group
Laboratori a scelta / Elective Project Studios
051402	B,C	ICAR/13 ICAR/16 M-DEA/01	EPHEMERAL/TEMPORARY SPACES 2 (a)			2	15,0	15,0 (Grp. Opz.)
051491	B,C	ICAR/13 ICAR/16 M-DEA/01	LANDSCAPE AND INTERIOR - SPATIAL DESIGN 2			2	15,0
054611	B,C	ICAR/13 ICAR/16 M-DEA/01	NEW INTERIORS 2			2	15,0
059329	B	ICAR/13	WORKSHOP (b)			1	6,0 [6,0]	6,0
Cultura italiana/Arts and languages
051437	B	ICAR/16	ARTS AND LANGUAGES OF THE PRESENT			2	6,0	6,0 (Grp. Opz.)
051427	B	ICAR/16	CULTURA ITALIANA			2	6,0

^(a) Table A Inclusivity Ambassador Programmes
^(b) Table A Green Ambassador Programmes

2 Year courses - Track: *** - offerta comune

Code	Educational activities	SSD	Course Title		Language	Sem	CFU	CFU Group
Lab. Contest design/ Contest design studio
052723	B,C	ICAR/13 ICAR/16 M-DEA/01 M-PSI/01	CONTEST DESIGN STUDIO SECT.1		/	1	15,0	15,0 (Grp. Opz.)
052724	B,C	ICAR/13 ICAR/16 M-DEA/01 M-PSI/01	CONTEST DESIGN STUDIO SECT.2			1	15,0
052728	B,C	ICAR/13 ICAR/16 M-DEA/01 M-PSI/01	CONTEST DESIGN STUDIO SECT.3			1	15,0
054614	B,C	ICAR/13 ICAR/16 M-DEA/01 M-PSI/01	THESIS INCUBATOR STUDIO			A	15,0
Arte contemporanea e spazi/ Contemporary interiors
054607	B,C	L-ART/03	ARTE CONTEMPORANEA E SPAZI			2	6,0 [1,0]	6,0 (Grp. Opz.)
052729	B	ICAR/18	CONTEMPORARY INTERIORS			1	6,0
Corsi a scelta 2° anno - gruppo 1 / Elective courses 2st year - group 1
061596	B	ICAR/13	AI-POWERED DESIGN			2	6,0	6,0 (Grp. Opz.)
053791	--	SECS-S/01	APPLIED STATISTICS			1	6,0 [1,0]
059731	B,C	L-ART/03	ART DIRECTION E COPYWRITING: LIBERTÀ, PROGETTAZIONE, COMUNICAZIONE			2	6,0 [4,0]
059797	B	ICAR/13	ARTE E DESIGN DELLA LUCE			1	6,0
056373	--	M-PED/03	COMMUNICATION AND ARGUMENTATION			2	6,0 [5,0]
053670	--	ING-INF/05	COMPUTER GRAPHICS			2	6,0
053431	B	ICAR/13	DESIGN DELLA COMUNICAZIONE E CULTURE DI GENERE (a)			2	6,0 [4,0]
058467	B	ICAR/13 MED/42	DESIGNING AND TESTING FOR INCLUSIVITY			2	6,0
059604	C	M-PSI/01	DESIGN FOR INCLUSION			1	6,0 [6,0]
059801	B	ICAR/13	DESIGN PER LA VALORIZZAZIONE DEI BENI CULTURALI			1	6,0
059792	B	M-FIL/04	DESIGN PHILOSOPHY			2	6,0
056524	B	ICAR/13	DESIGN RESEARCH PLANNING			2	6,0
053433	B	ICAR/13	DESIGN THE COMPLEXITY			2	6,0 [2,0]
059603	--	SECS-P/08	DIGITAL DESIGN PLAYGROUND			1	6,0
058161	--	ING-IND/35	DIGITAL INNOVATION FOR CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE DESIGN			1	6,0 [2,0]
058192	B	ICAR/13 ICAR/20	DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT			1	6,0
059730	--	IUS/04	DIRITTO D'AUTORE E DIGITAL COPYRIGHT			1	6,0 [2,0]
056375	--	SECS-P/06	ECONOMIA DELLA CREATIVITÀ, CULTURA E INNOVAZIONE			2	6,0
053611	C	M-PSI/01	EFFECTIVE RELATIONSHIPS II - IMPROVE YOUR NTS (NON-TECHNICAL-SKILLS)			2	6,0 [6,0]
053459	B	ICAR/13	ERASMUS EXPERIENCE			2	6,0 [2,0]
059737	B	ICAR/13	EVENT DESIGN			2	6,0
059791	B	M-FIL/04	FILOSOFIA DELLA BELLEZZA			1	6,0
059738	B	ICAR/16	ILLUMINARE LA CITTÀ			1	6,0
056344	B	ICAR/13	IMAGINATION DESIGN			1	6,0 [6,0]
056443	B	ICAR/13	ITALIAN DESIGN WAY: AN INTRODUCTION			2	6,0
055105	C	ICAR/15	LECTURES-LANDSCAPE			1	6,0 [1,0]
054977	B	ICAR/13	LICENSING E BRAND EXTENSION			2	6,0 [6,0]
056442	B	ICAR/13	LIFE STYLE AND FASHION			1	6,0
056872	--	ING-IND/15	METODI DI RAPPRESENTAZIONE PARAMETRICA			1	6,0
059736	B	SPS/08	METODI DI RICERCA SOCIALE PER IL DESIGN			2	6,0
053477	--	ING-IND/22	NANOTECNOLOGIE E MATERIALI FUNZIONALI PER IL DESIGN			2	6,0
059711	B	M-FIL/04	PENSIERO CREATIVO			2	6,0
056377	--	ING-INF/05	PERSONALITÀ, TEAM BUILDING, LEADERSHIP			2	6,0 [5,0]
096777	--	ING-IND/15	REVERSE MODELING			2	6,0
054813	--	MAT/08	SHAPES AND ALGORITHMS: COMPUTATIONAL TOOLS FOR GENERATIVE DESIGN			2	6,0 [2,0]
056372	--	SPS/07	SOCIOLOGY OF CONTEMPORARY CITIES			1	6,0
058236	B	ICAR/13 ING-IND/22	SUSTAINABLE AND CIRCULAR MATERIALS FOR DESIGN			1	6,0
058399	B	ICAR/13	SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGIES AND DESIGN (b)			2	6,0
058404	B	ICAR/13	TEMPORARY AND INCLUSIVE URBAN SOLUTIONS (c)			2	6,0 [2,0]
056440	B	ICAR/16	TEMPORARY EXHIBITION DESIGN			2	6,0
056343	B	ICAR/13	TESTO FILMICO E MONDI NARRATIVI			1	6,0 [6,0]
059661	B	ICAR/13	THE CITY OF CARE			2	6,0
055141	B	SPS/08	TREND FORECASTING AND STRATEGIC INNOVATION			1	6,0 [4,0]
054708	--	ING-IND/15	VIRTUAL AND PHYSICAL PROTOTYPING (d)			2	6,0 [2,0]
Corsi a scelta 2° anno - gruppo 2 / Elective courses 2st year - group 2
061596	B	ICAR/13	AI-POWERED DESIGN			2	6,0	6,0 (Grp. Opz.)
053791	--	SECS-S/01	APPLIED STATISTICS			1	6,0 [1,0]
059731	B,C	L-ART/03	ART DIRECTION E COPYWRITING: LIBERTÀ, PROGETTAZIONE, COMUNICAZIONE			2	6,0 [4,0]
061595	B	ICAR/13	ADVANCED RESEARCH WRITING			1	6,0
059797	B	ICAR/13	ARTE E DESIGN DELLA LUCE			1	6,0
056373	--	M-PED/03	COMMUNICATION AND ARGUMENTATION			2	6,0 [5,0]
053670	--	ING-INF/05	COMPUTER GRAPHICS			2	6,0
053431	B	ICAR/13	DESIGN DELLA COMUNICAZIONE E CULTURE DI GENERE (e)			2	6,0 [4,0]
058467	B	ICAR/13 MED/42	DESIGNING AND TESTING FOR INCLUSIVITY			2	6,0
059604	C	M-PSI/01	DESIGN FOR INCLUSION			1	6,0 [6,0]
059801	B	ICAR/13	DESIGN PER LA VALORIZZAZIONE DEI BENI CULTURALI			1	6,0
059792	B	M-FIL/04	DESIGN PHILOSOPHY			2	6,0
056524	B	ICAR/13	DESIGN RESEARCH PLANNING			2	6,0
053433	B	ICAR/13	DESIGN THE COMPLEXITY			2	6,0 [2,0]
059603	--	SECS-P/08	DIGITAL DESIGN PLAYGROUND			1	6,0
058161	--	ING-IND/35	DIGITAL INNOVATION FOR CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE DESIGN			1	6,0 [2,0]
058192	B	ICAR/13 ICAR/20	DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT			1	6,0
059730	--	IUS/04	DIRITTO D'AUTORE E DIGITAL COPYRIGHT			1	6,0 [2,0]
056375	--	SECS-P/06	ECONOMIA DELLA CREATIVITÀ, CULTURA E INNOVAZIONE			2	6,0
053611	C	M-PSI/01	EFFECTIVE RELATIONSHIPS II - IMPROVE YOUR NTS (NON-TECHNICAL-SKILLS)			2	6,0 [6,0]
053749	B	ICAR/13	ERASMUS EXPERIENCE			2	6,0 [2,0]
059737	B	ICAR/13	EVENT DESIGN			2	6,0
059791	B	M-FIL/04	FILOSOFIA DELLA BELLEZZA			1	6,0
053671	--	ING-INF/05	HYPERMEDIA APPLICATIONS (WEB AND MULTIMEDIA)			2	6,0
056344	B	ICAR/13	IMAGINATION DESIGN			1	6,0 [6,0]
059738	B	ICAR/16	ILLUMINARE LA CITTÀ			1	6,0
056443	B	ICAR/13	ITALIAN DESIGN WAY: AN INTRODUCTION			2	6,0
055105	C	ICAR/15	LECTURES-LANDSCAPE			1	6,0 [1,0]
054977	B	ICAR/13	LICENSING E BRAND EXTENSION			2	6,0 [6,0]
056442	B	ICAR/13	LIFE STYLE AND FASHION			1	6,0
056872	--	ING-IND/15	METODI DI RAPPRESENTAZIONE PARAMETRICA			1	6,0
059736	B	SPS/08	METODI DI RICERCA SOCIALE PER IL DESIGN			2	6,0
053477	--	ING-IND/22	NANOTECNOLOGIE E MATERIALI FUNZIONALI PER IL DESIGN			2	6,0
059711	B	M-FIL/04	PENSIERO CREATIVO			2	6,0
056377	--	ING-INF/05	PERSONALITÀ, TEAM BUILDING, LEADERSHIP			2	6,0 [5,0]
096777	--	ING-IND/15	REVERSE MODELING			2	6,0
054813	--	MAT/08	SHAPES AND ALGORITHMS: COMPUTATIONAL TOOLS FOR GENERATIVE DESIGN			2	6,0 [2,0]
056372	--	SPS/07	SOCIOLOGY OF CONTEMPORARY CITIES			1	6,0
058236	B	ICAR/13 ING-IND/22	SUSTAINABLE AND CIRCULAR MATERIALS FOR DESIGN			1	6,0
058399	B	ICAR/13	SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGIES AND DESIGN (f)			2	6,0
058404	B	ICAR/13	TEMPORARY AND INCLUSIVE URBAN SOLUTIONS (g)			2	6,0 [2,0]
056440	B	ICAR/16	TEMPORARY EXHIBITION DESIGN			2	6,0
056343	B	ICAR/13	TESTO FILMICO E MONDI NARRATIVI			1	6,0 [6,0]
059661	B	ICAR/13	THE CITY OF CARE			2	6,0
055141	B	SPS/08	TREND FORECASTING AND STRATEGIC INNOVATION			1	6,0 [4,0]
054708	--	ING-IND/15	VIRTUAL AND PHYSICAL PROTOTYPING (h)			2	6,0 [2,0]
052732	--	--	INTERNSHIP		--	1	15,0	15,0
052745	--	--	INTERNSHIP		--	2	15,0
Insegnamenti Ambassador Green Technologies e Inclusivity Design- Tabella B
059585	--	ING-IND/15 ING-IND/22	CREATIVITY FOR SUSTAINABLE DESIGN (i)			2	6,0	8,0
053431	B	ICAR/13	DESIGN DELLA COMUNICAZIONE E CULTURE DI GENERE (j)			2	6,0 [4,0]
058227	--	ING-IND/35	COLLABORATIVE INNOVATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND IMPACT			1	6,0 [2,0]
059604	C	M-PSI/01	DESIGN FOR INCLUSION (k)			1	6,0 [6,0]
058591	B	ICAR/13	DESIGN FUTURES (l)			2	6,0
058592	B	ICAR/13	DESIGN FUTURES (m)			2	6,0
059529	B	ICAR/12	DESIGN OF ULTRA-LIGHTWEIGHT BUILDING SYSTEM (n)			2	6,0
058467	B	ICAR/13 MED/42	DESIGNING AND TESTING FOR INCLUSIVITY (o)			2	6,0
058192	B	ICAR/13 ICAR/20	DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (p)			1	6,0
059530	--	ICAR/20	FESTINALENTE: PIANIFICAZIONE E PROGETTAZIONE DI LINEE LENTE CICLABILI E CAMMINABILI (q)			2	6,0
056928	--	ICAR/20	IC URBAN ETHNOGRAPHY (r)			1	8,0
057152	--	ING-IND/35	INNOVATION IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE (s)			1	6,0 [1,0]
059528	--	ING-IND/11	PRINCIPI DI ARCHITETTURA SOSTENIBILE (t)			2	6,0
058399	B	ICAR/13	SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGIES AND DESIGN (u)			2	6,0
058236	B	ICAR/13 ING-IND/22	SUSTAINABLE AND CIRCULAR MATERIALS FOR DESIGN (v)			2	6,0
056844	--	SPS/09	SOCIOLOGY OF THE CITY (w)			1	8,0
058404	B	ICAR/13	TEMPORARY AND INCLUSIVE URBAN SOLUTIONS (x)			2	6,0 [2,0]
059661	B	ICAR/13	THE CITY OF CARE (y)			2	6,0
059343	--	--	THESIS		--	1	12,0	12,0

^(a) Closed number subject
^(b) Closed number subject
^(c) Closed number subject
^(d) Closed number subject
^(e) Closed number subject
^(f) Closed number subject
^(g) Closed number subject
^(h) Closed number subject
⁽ⁱ⁾ Ambassador Green Technologies Table B
^(j) Closed number subject
Ambassador Inclusivity design Table B
^(k) teaching ambassadors inclusivity table b
^(l) Closed number subject
Ambassador Inclusivity design Table B
^(m) Closed number subject
Ambassador Inclusivity design Table B
⁽ⁿ⁾ Ambassador Green Technologies Table B
^(o) Ambassador Inclusivity design Table B
^(p) Ambassador Green design Table B
^(q) Ambassador Green Technologies Table B
^(r) teaching ambassador inclusivity table b
^(s) teaching ambassador inclusivity table b
^(t) Ambassador Green Technologies Table B
^(u) Closed number subject
Ambassador Green design Table B
^(v) Ambassador Green Technologies Table B
^(w) teaching ambassador inclusivity table b
^(x) Closed number subject
Ambassador Inclusivity design Table B
^(y) teaching ambassador inclusivity table b

7.4 Foreign language

Foreign language assessment will be carried out in accordance with the university's methods as set out on the web pagehttps://www.polimi.it/futuri-studenti/ammissione-ai-corsi-di-laurea-magistrale/la-lingua-inglese

Students are encouraged to read this document carefully and respect the norms set out in it.

Specifically, note that: "Pursuant to Ministerial Decree 270/04 the Politecnico di Milano has adopted the English language as the European Union language which students must speak in addition to Italian".

 English language knowledge, according to the standards indicated by the University, is a registration pre-requisite.  For admission to the School of Design LM Study Programme, certificates must be submitted by candidates within the time frames for admission applications. This deadline must be respected by all students (from similar or different courses)

Information on English language fluency https://aunicalogin.polimi.it/aunicalogin/getservizio.xml?id_servizio=204&idApp=1&idLink=3860

7.5 Degree examination

Thesis work is strictly individual. Coordinated theses with a common introductory part and separate theses can be considered.

The thesis may be written by a maximum of three authors, even if they are enrolled in different Master's degree courses. The Committee must always be able to identify the contribution made by each appliant. 

There is only one Supervisor and they must be a lecturer (Professor or Researcher), whether permanent or contracted at the University (in the current or previous academic year) and may be a member of the Degree Committee. He/she may be assisted by one or more co-supervisors (CU) or by experts in specific subjects, even if they are external to the School.

The Supervisor is usually included in the Graduation Committee that will judge the undergraduate student and make its proposal for a mark.

The student submits a thesis to the Degree Examination Board, which may consist of:

1. the development of a theoretical, design, experimental or innovative research thesis (Research Thesis).

The Thesis must:

- explore the project in its technical-specialist and/or systemic aspects in relation to the educational objectives of the course of study. The discussion must include an in-depth theoretical/critical, methodological and/or historical dissertation and/or an in-depth experimental study;

- include a substantial preparatory part devoted to research conducted with scientific criteria and access to sources of scientific knowledge (databases, scientific articles, conference proceedings, etc...);

 - propose to deepen knowledge of a poorly established topic and its potential applications or a greater contribution to the advancement of knowledge in a specific research area (thesis of a more theoretical nature);

- require a minimum working time of 6 months; entitling the holder to a maximum of 8 points when assessing the dissertation and its presentation.

2. the development of a thesis to consolidate and refine knowledge already acquired (consolidation thesis). The thesis must:

- present the project by enhancing the technical-specialist and/or systemic aspects in accordance with the educational objectives of the course of study. The discussion should include an adequate methodological argumentation, historical aspects, theoretical/critical elements; 

- focus on topics well established in scientific research and design applications;

- include a part of research functional to the development of the project and the simple formulation of the basic assumptions and main hypotheses on which the proposed project application is based;

- focus primarily on potential project applications;

- require a minimum of 2 months of working time; gives a maximum score of 4 points when assessing the dissertation and its presentation. 

Students may choose either the assignment of the Research Thesis or the Consolidation Thesis.

However, the request for either type of thesis must be made (and assessed by the supervisor) on the basis of the minimum time required to complete either route and the commitment that the student intends to make to it.

 

During the course of the thesis, the supervisor may suggest to the student - in view of the aptitudes demonstrated, contingent interests and emerging time requirements - that the type and nature of the thesis be changed in both directions. It will then be the task of the supervisor to assess the final result and confirm or otherwise the correct change of the thesis' placement in the explicit category. The work must demonstrate the competence and critical capacity developed by the student in the areas of the project in relation to the contents of the course of study. The Thesis works consist of a report containing the stages of development, the objectives of the work, the bibliography and the sources of documentation; the technical drawings of the project, the physical and/or virtual model where applicable.

The student must provide the Commission with at least two copies of the thesis, which he may take back at the end of the discussion. The presentation of the project may be supplemented by a report on the work experience carried out in companies or professional studios.

The thesis is normally written in Italian or English. At the graduate student's justified request, a thesis written in other languages may also be accepted, subject to authorisation from head of Degrees but with presentation and discussion in Italian or English. If the thesis is written in English or another foreign language, it must in any case contain an extract in Italian.

Following the evaluation, presentation and discussion of the LM thesis, as well as of the student's entire career within the Master's degree course, the Degree Committee awards a score.

The mark is expressed in hundredths (/110). It consists of the sum of:

 1. the average achieved by the undergraduate in the courses, weighted by credits and expressed in hundredths and hundredths of a hundredths (without taking into account any additional activities and honours)

2. the increment awarded by the Degree Committees expressed in hundredths and hundredths of a hundredth. This sum shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number (0.50 is rounded up to 1.00) and limited to 110. The Degree

The minimum graduation mark will always be 66.

Committee may also award honours.

The score has a value

- between -1 and 8 points in the case of a theoretical, design, experimental or innovative research thesis (research thesis);

- between -1 and 4 points in the case of a thesis for the consolidation and improvement of knowledge already acquired (consolidation thesis).

In the case of five-year old theses, the score may be between 0 and 10 points.

 

Honours, which may also be proposed by the rapporteur, means a special commendation from the CL for the preparation and competence of the graduate, for their brilliant academic record, for the way in which they have presented their thesis, their ability to reason, and the quality and originality of the thesis. Honours may only be awarded if the mark given is, before rounding off, greater than or equal to 111 (one hundred and eleven) hundred decimal points.

Honours are awarded by unanimous decision of the members of the Degree Committee.

Further information can be found in the Master's Degree Examination Regulations available on the School's website. https://www.design.polimi.it/en/teaching/documents/career-guides

 

8. Academic calendar

The Laurea course calendar is drawn up in accordance with study assessment methods which, for the Design School's Laurea programmes involve “ongoing” assessments performed during each semester. The academic year is made up of two semesters each of which consists of a teaching session and learning assessment sessions (exam sessions). The teaching sessions of each semester are made up of two periods of lessons, practice and laboratory work, with exam sessions with the related curricular workshop activities.
The teaching periods are approximately mid-September-December and end-February-early June.
In September, before the start of lectures, there will be a period for presentation of Study Plan.
The degree exam sessions are scheduled in these periods: February, July, September.

Lesson timetable, calendars and deadlines
https://www.design.polimi.it/en/teaching/studying-design/lessons-timetable-calendars-and-deadlines

9. Faculty

The names of professors for each Course, together with their subject, will be available on the degree programme starting from the month of September.
The degree programme is annually published on the website of Politecnico di Milano.

10. Infrastructures and laboratories

The School of Design is based at Campus Bovisa-Candiani where the educational activities are held and where there are services for students (Experimental laboratories, Library, Study room, Press Service,..)
https://maps.polimi.it/maps/

Design Laboratories
The creation of big experimental laboratories supporting design education is in line with the Politecnico di Milano School of Design's experimental tradition, its inductive teaching model, in which 'knowledge' and 'know-how' are mutually supportive.
The purpose of these laboratories is the practice of activities which allow students to verify their design hypotheses and learn how to use the technical tools required for experimentation, representation and design communication.
The laboratories managed by the Design Department occupy an approximately 10,000 square metre space in the Milan Bovisa campus.

https://dipartimentodesign.polimi.it/en/laboratories

11. International context

Building an international dimension for the School of Design and its Study Programmes has been one of its priority objectives since it was founded in the year 2000.

There are many reasons for this purpose: the nature of design which inherently draws its very lifeblood from its multicultural and multi-local character, its proximity to both the world of manufacturing - which has now taken on a global dimension - and the sphere of consumption whose dynamics and tendencies are visible in a range of local specific contexts; the very DNA of the design community which has always been international; Milan's acknowledged status as design capital, a crucible for designers from all over the world who have come here to study or open a studio; the desire to make educational trajectories increasingly permeable to impulses deriving from this stimulating context as in other dynamic foreign contexts, with the aim to teach to international professors and designers.


To these should be added more highly structured activities which aim to strengthen collaborative relations, in the didactic and research fields, with selected universities: this is the case of the MEDes_Master of European Design educational programme (with 6 partner universities), the LM Double Degree Programmes.

The School of Design is a member of Cumulus, a network of European design schools, and of the main international design associations. http://www.cumulusassociation.org/

12. Internationalization

For the School of Design, internationalization has a double meaning: supporting student (and teaching and technical staff) mobility outwards and, on the opposite direction, attracting students, researchers, professors and visiting professors from abroad.
In recent years, the School of Design works with 200 design universities from all over the world in Erasmus exchange programmes (with 150 European universities), in bilateral exchange projects (with 60 non European universities), in Double Degree programmes, joint workshops with other schools, international internships and so on.
 
To encourage the internalisation most of the Master programmes are offer in English or have at least an English section.

In addition to these actions, the School of Design invites Visiting Professors from all over the world, within its programs, and promotes innovative and international teaching activities through Collaborative Classes program which foresees a collaboration online of students and teachers.
 
International exchanges
The School of Design takes part in international student exchange programmes which offer students the opportunity to go abroad for a period, both during L and LM study programme, at one of the Politecnico's partner universities. A list of the School's partner universities is available on the Politecnico's web site and on the School of Design web site in the International Area.

Each agreement is managed by a professor, promoter of the exchange responsible for the various steps of the mobility, from the selection until the validation of the exams.

The Erasmus+ Programme
The Erasmus + program establishes the possibility for a European university student to carry out a period of study in a foreign university within the European Union, from 2 up to 12 months, legally recognized by their university.

In particular, Erasmus for study allows university students to complete a period of study at a university that has signed an agreement with the home university. This mobility may give the right to an economic contribution (with conditions specified in the Call for international mobility) and to free enrollment in the host university. The student can thus follow courses and carry out exams in the partner university and then have the exams taken also in the university of their country recognized. The mobility can be carried out for a maximum of 12 months in each level of study.


 
Bilateral exchanges
The School of Design has also activated some bilateral agreements with non-EU universities.
The procedures for admission to such exchanges are the same as those for Erasmus exchanges with the exception for the economic contribution for mobility, that in this case it is not guaranteed.
The bilateral agreement, in fact, enables students to attend a period of study abroad at a partner university without incurring registration fees at such universities. In some cases, however, a management fee for exchange students must be paid (e.g.: Orientation fee, Insurance,..).
 
 
 
Double Degrees
The School of Design has signed a series of bilateral agreements with some European and extra-European partners, to allow its students the opportunity to spend a period of study abroad, attending courses aimed at obtaining a double degree (master's degree + Diploma of the Partner University ).

Master's degree students have the opportunity to participate in a double degree project by extending their curriculum and replacing one semester at their home campus with two or three semesters at the host partner.

In order to obtain the two degrees, students must meet the requirements of both Universities or Schools and pass all the required exams. Students will also have to carry out a thesis work under the supervision of a thesis supervisor from the Polytechnic and a supervisor from the partner university and discuss the thesis in a regular graduation session in each of the two universities, even in virtual mode.

The double degree agreements available for LM students of the School of Design at the moment are:
In Europe:
Double Degree with Les Ecoles Centrales, France

In China:
Double Degree with Tongji University, Shanghai - China
Double Degree with Tsinghua University, Beijing - China
Double Degree with Xi'an Jiaotong University, China

In Latin America
Double Degree with the Universidad Nacional de Bogotà, Colombia
Double Degree with the Universidade De Sao Paulo, Brazil
Double Degree with the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
Double Degree with the Universidade do Vale do Rio Dos Sinos, Brazil

"Free Mover" Mobility

“Free Movers” are students who have international mobility and independently organize their period of study abroad. This mobility is not tied to an exchange project organized by the Politecnico di Milano, for example, Erasmus. It therefore occurs outside current agreements between the Politecnico di Milano and partner sites and the call for International mobility.

 

Since this is not a structured and community program, candidates for the "Free Mover" mobility must personally organize their stay abroad (contact with the chosen University, food, accommodation, health assistance, etc.) and there is no '' disbursement of any type of contribution to support the expenses for the mobility period.

“Free Mover” mobility may be used to sit exams or to conduct thesis work, with different requirements for the candidacy process and approval from the Programme. In the first case, the mobility may not be used for a site that has an exchange agreement with the Politecnico for the School in which the student is registered.

Guide to the international mobility of Corsi di Laurea e Laurea Magistrale Scuola del Design
https://www.design.polimi.it/en/teaching/documents/career-guides
For more information about the rules and limitations for "Free Mover" mobility, consult the University guidelines:
https://www.polimi.it/campus-e-servizi/mobilita-internazionale/studiare-allestero/free-movers

13. Quantitative data

The  University Assessment Commission Nucleus perform periodic analysis on the overall results analysing the teaching activities and the integration of graduates into the work world. Reports and studies are available on the website of the Politecnico di Milano.

Data
https://www.polimi.it/il-politecnico/organizzazione/organi-di-ateneo/nucleo-di-valutazione/dati-a-cura-dellufficio-di-supporto

14. Further information

Students are encouraged to consult the School of Design site and in particular the Guides which regulate access, changing degree programme, courses and laurea exams for any other information they may need.

15. Errata corrige