Milan is Italy's most international city: home to a deep luxury and finance sector, the country's largest expat community, and a private school market that has grown sharply in the last decade. If you are looking at bilingual international schools in Milan for 2026, this guide explains how Italian-English programmes work, who they suit, and what to expect on fees and admissions.
Why bilingual schools in Milan are different
Italy distinguishes between scuole paritarie, which follow the national curriculum and grant Italian state-recognised diplomas, and fully private international schools that follow English-medium frameworks. Many Milan schools are paritarie offering bilingual instruction, where the day is split between Italian and English. Others are fully international and lead to the IB Diploma or A Levels.
How Italian-English bilingual programmes are structured
Bilingual primary schools typically run a half-day in Italian and a half-day in English with subject specialists for science, music and PE often teaching in English. By middle school, the structure shifts to a stronger Italian academic core with English used for humanities or science. At lyceum level, the strongest bilingual paths lead to the Italian Maturità with international options or to the IB Diploma. The choice of pathway shapes university access in Italy and abroad.
Top bilingual international schools in Milan
American School of Milan
ASM is a fully private American school running PreK through Grade 12 with the IB Diploma at the upper years. While English-medium dominates, Italian is taught daily across the school. See American School of Milan profile on ISA.
ICS Milan International School
ICS Milan offers a bilingual curriculum from Early Years through to the IB Diploma, mixing Italian and English instruction with strong international university preparation. See ICS Milan International School profile on ISA.
Junior College Bilingual School
Junior College runs a bilingual scuola paritaria from primary through liceo, leading to the Italian Maturità with strong English language preparation. See Junior College Bilingual School profile on ISA.
Montessori Bilingual School of Milan
This school combines Montessori pedagogy with Italian-English bilingual instruction across the early years and primary stages. See Montessori Bilingual School of Milan profile on ISA.
St. Joseph International College
St. Joseph offers a bilingual programme from Early Years to the IB Diploma with Cambridge IGCSE in middle years, drawing a multinational community. See St. Joseph International College profile on ISA.
What does a bilingual school in Milan cost in 2026?
Bilingual paritarie typically charge between €6,000 and €11,000 per year for primary, rising to €8,000 to €14,000 in liceo. Fully private international schools sit higher, between €15,000 and €25,000 per year, with some lyceum years above that. Capital fees, lunches and external IB or IGCSE exam fees can add 8 to 12 per cent.
Practical admissions tips
Apply ten to twelve months before the September start. Many bilingual schools in Milan open admissions for the next academic year in November or December, with assessment days in January and February. Bring your child's last two reports, a teacher recommendation, and an English assessment if your child is not yet fluent. Compare bilingual options across Italy on International School Advisor.
Choosing the right bilingual setting
Decide whether you want the Italian Maturità as the end qualification or the IB Diploma. Then weigh the proportion of teaching time in each language, the proportion of native English speakers in the cohort, and the school's track record on bilingual outcomes. The strongest bilingual results come when both languages are used daily in real subject teaching, not just language classes.
Long-term considerations for expat families
If your move to Milan is open-ended, a paritaria leading to the Maturità preserves access to Italian universities. If you may move again within a few years, the IB Diploma is the more portable qualification. Families with mixed plans often start their children in a bilingual primary and decide at age 11 or 14 whether to pivot.
FAQs
Are bilingual schools in Milan public or private?
Most bilingual schools in Milan are private scuole paritarie, which means they follow the Italian national curriculum and grant state-recognised diplomas while charging tuition. A smaller number are fully private international schools.
How much does a bilingual school in Milan cost in 2026?
Bilingual paritarie charge €6,000 to €14,000 per year. Fully private international schools charge €15,000 to €25,000. Capital fees and exam fees add 8 to 12 per cent.
Will my child sit the Italian Maturità or the IB Diploma?
It depends on the school. Bilingual paritarie typically lead to the Italian Maturità , while international schools lead to the IB Diploma or A Levels. Confirm the end qualification before enrolling.