Domus Academy offers one-year master’s courses in design specializations with a goal to help students develop skills and talents in a self-directed way with the help of collaborative projects.
Domus Academy is a private university of design in Milan, Italy. The university provides post-graduate and professional courses in the areas of
- Design
- Experience
- Fashion, and
- Business
The university not only provides education but also provides:
- a workshop-based experience,
- hands-on professional experience,
- real-world projects,
- lectures, and
- seminars.
The academic master’s degree is awarded by Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti, NABA. The Academic Master’s Degree is given in the end, accredited by the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities, and Research (MIUR).
The university was established in the year 1982 and became Italy’s first postgraduate design school. One of the founding principles of the school is: Rather than just offering new solutions, the design must also reveal new problems. Leading designers such as Ettore Sottsass, Philippe Starck, and Denis Santachiara were called lecturers and leaders, in the early years of the university.
In 2009, the school was bought by Laureate Education of Baltimore, Maryland. In 2018, Laureate sold the school to the British group Galileo Global Education, which owns it today. Domus Academy has since remained among the world's leading design schools.
- Domus Academy in Milan is ranked in the top 3% of design schools worldwide, placed 62nd in Art and Design in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026
- For 2026-27 the one-year Academic Master (60 ECTS) costs EUR 23,900 for EU and Switzerland students and EUR 28,900 for non-EU students, each including a EUR 3,000 pre-enrollment fee, plus a non-refundable EUR 100 application fee
- English entry is IELTS 5.0 for the Academic Master and 5.5 for Dual Award programmes
- The Academic Master's degree is awarded through NABA and accredited by the Italian Ministry of University and Research.
Where Is Domus Academy Located?
Domus Academy is a private design and fashion school in the Navigli district of Milan, at via Carlo Darwin 20. Founded in 1982 as Italy's first postgraduate design school, it shares a 13-building campus with NABA. Milan, a world capital of fashion and design, places students beside leading design studios and global brands.
Domus Academy was established in Milan, the world capital of fashion and design. Milan has over 800 innovative startups, and over 900 fashion and design showrooms.
It has one international Milan Design week, and 4 fashion weeks. The school of design, in Milan, helps its students to gain knowledge and practical skills by solving real design problems by collaborating with a lot of brands in fashion, product design, interaction design, luxury design, luxury goods, etc.
Some of the companies are:
- Adidas
- Alfa Romeo
- Audi
- B&B Italia
- Bayer
- Canon
- Club Med
- Condé Nast
- Fiat
- Frog Design
- Giorgio Armani
- Gucci
- L’Oréal
- LG
- Nokia
- Park Hyatt Milano
- Samsung
- Slowear
- Stone Island
- Swarovski
- Tommy Hilfiger Amsterdam
- Versace
- Volkswagen
- Whirlpool
- Zara
What Are Domus Academy's Rankings?
Domus Academy ranks in the top 3% of design schools worldwide, placed 62nd of 2,239 institutions in Art and Design and 4th in Italy in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026. It also appears in Calibre Careers' top 25 design and top 20 fashion school lists, and holds recognition from The Business of Fashion.
Domus Academy is consistently recognised among the world's leading design and fashion schools. Its main rankings and awards include the following:
- QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026: top 3% of design schools worldwide, 62nd in Art and Design and 4th in Italy
- Calibre Careers 2026: Top 25 Design Schools and Top 20 Fashion Schools globally
- CEOWORLD Magazine 2025: among the 30 best fashion schools worldwide
- UI GreenMetric 2025: ranked among the top 100 universities for sustainability categories
- The Business of Fashion: Special Badges of Excellence for its fashion programmes
- Frame Publishers: featured in the guide to the world's leading graduate design and fashion schools
What Is the Domus Academy Fee Structure?
For 2026-27, Domus Academy's one-year Academic Master (60 ECTS) costs 23,900 euros for EU and Switzerland students and 28,900 euros for non-EU students, each including a 3,000 euro pre-enrollment fee. Two-year Master of Arts programmes cost 17,200 euros per year for EU and 22,200 euros for non-EU students. A 100 euro application fee applies.
Domus Academy, a private school, publishes the following master's fee structure for the 2026-27 academic year, taken from its official fees and scholarships page:
| Programme (2026-27) | EU & Switzerland | Non-EU |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Master, 60 ECTS (one-year) | €23,900 | €28,900 |
| Master of Arts, 120 ECTS (two-year) | €17,200 per year | €22,200 per year |
| Dual Award Master, 90 ECTS | €27,900 | €32,900 |
| Pre-enrollment (included in tuition) | €3,000 | €3,000 |
| Application fee (non-refundable) | €100 | €100 |
Each fee shown includes a 3,000 euro pre-enrollment amount, and the non-refundable 100 euro application fee is mandatory for every programme. Portfolio and project-based scholarships can reduce the standard tuition.
Dr Ambedkar Scholarship 2026: Eligibility and ApplicationRead →What Facilities Does the Campus Offer?
Domus Academy is located in the Navigli district of Milan. The campus houses Design Lab, Fashion Lab, Language Support, a digital fabrication studio, and exhibition spaces. The Navigli area offers students proximity to Milan's design and fashion industry ecosystem. The campus provides access to professional networks with leading Italian and international companies across design, luxury, and technology sectors.
Domus Academy is located in the Navigli district of Milan. The campus is situated close to public transportation and city center. The 13-building campus is shared with Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti, NABA.
The campus provides a lot of facilities and a few of them are mentioned below:
- Design Lab
- Fashion Lab
- Language Support
- Cafeteria
- Library
- Network Services
- Fine Arts Shop
What Scholarships Does Domus Academy Offer?
Domus Academy offers merit-based scholarships awarded through portfolio and project-based competitions held throughout the year, with amounts calculated as a percentage of the standard tuition fee. Regional and early-application awards are also available, and eligible students may apply for Italian DSU right-to-study grants. Applicants demonstrate merit through their portfolio, motivation, and academic record.
Domus Academy offers scholarships to a lot of students with a goal of providing education to people at an affordable cost for a diverse student population.
Domus Academy launches portfolio and project-based scholarship contests throughout the year, with awards calculated as a percentage of the standard tuition fee and assigned by merit-based ranking. Eligible bachelor's and master's students may also apply for Italian DSU right-to-study scholarships, whose value depends on ISEE income bands and the student's country of origin. Applicants should hold a first-level academic diploma or a bachelor's degree and meet the English requirement of IELTS 5.0 Academic or an equivalent certificate.
Which Courses Does Domus Academy Offer?
Domus Academy offers 11 master's programmes in four fields. Design programmes include Master in Interior and Living Design, Master in Product Design, and Master in Urban Vision and Architectural Design. Experience programmes include Interaction Design, Service Design, and Visual Brand Design. Fashion programmes cover Fashion Design, Fashion Management, and Fashion Styling. Business programmes include Business Design and Luxury Brand Management.
Domus Academy offers 11 programs for a master’s degree in the fields of:
- Design
- Experience
- Fashion
- Business
All programs are combined with a hands-on workshop with companies and a professional experience period.
The courses of every field offered by Domus Academy are listed below:
Design
- Master in Interior & Living Design
- Master in Product Design
- Master in Urban Vision & Architectural Design
Experience
- Master in Interaction Design
- Master in Service Design
- Master in Visual Brand Design
Fashion
- Master in Fashion Design
- Master in Fashion Management
- Master in Fashion Styling and Visual Merchandising
Business
- Master in Business Design
- Master in Luxury Brand Management
Domus Academy Online Courses
With a goal to help recent undergraduates build upon their prior experience and acquire new critical skills and perspectives to apply in their career, Domus Academy provides online short courses on themes within the design fields.
The courses along with their duration and medium of instruction offered by Domus Academy have been listed below:
- Online Short Course Design Area: 4 weeks, 60 hours, English
- Online Short Course Business Area: 4 weeks, 60 hours, English
- Online Short Course Fashion Area: 4 weeks, 60 hours, English
- Online Short Course Experience Area: 4 weeks, 60 hours, English
Domus Academy Luxury Brand Management
Master’s in Luxury Brand Management is a business course provided by Domus Academy. The program is a one-year program, taught in English. The academic master’s degree is accredited by the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MIUR). The program is awarded by Nuova Accademia Di Belle Arti Milano, NABA.
To ensure the excellence of the student, the program provides the following:
- Workshops
- Seminars
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- Fieldwork
This program is classified into four modules which are followed by professional experience, and a portfolio presentation (as a final exam):
- Strategic Branding
- Advanced Business for Design
- Integrated Communication Strategy
- Personal Branding
Domus Academy Product Design
Master’s in Product Design is a one-year master’s degree in the field of design. The aim of the course is to teach the students:
- How to analyze current industry directions,
- Anticipate future trends,
- Explore new techniques in design, technology, fabrication, and distribution.
Accredited by the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities, and Research (MIUR), the program is workshop-based and conducts seminars, lectures, tutorials, and fieldwork. The program is awarded by Nuova Accademia Di Belle Arti Milano, NABA. Product Design is broken down into four courses which are then followed by professional experience and a final portfolio presentation as a final exam.
The name of the courses in which Master’s in Product Design have been mentioned below.
- Design Culture
- Design Formation
- Business for Design
- Personal Branding
What Is Domus Academy's Acceptance Rate?
Domus Academy does not publish an official acceptance rate and is not highly selective; admission is portfolio-based rather than rank-based. Applicants must hold a relevant first-level or bachelor's degree, meet the English requirement of IELTS 5.0 for Academic Master programmes, and submit a strong portfolio and motivation letter, which are the most important factors in evaluation.
Domus Academy is not highly selective, and admission is based mainly on the quality of the applicant's portfolio and motivation. The student body is highly international: more than 65 nationalities are represented and around 93% of students come from outside Italy.
How Does Domus Academy Admission Work?
The Domus Academy admissions committee evaluates each application on academic records, relevant work experience, extracurricular activities, and above all the quality of the academic portfolio and knowledge of the sector. Applicants complete the online form, submit the required documents, and pay the non-refundable 100 euro application fee. A decision is communicated within seven days of a complete submission.
The admission committee of the Domus Academy looks carefully throughout the applications, which include:
- Academic Records
- Work experience if any
- Extracurricular activities
- Test scores
- Letters of recommendation
- Portfolio
- Motivation Letter
The enrollment process takes place in the following steps:
- Fill out the application form, e-mail application or online application
- Submit all listed documents
- Pay the application fee , €100
- The decision is sent by email, within 7 days from the receipt of the submission
- Apply for student VISA, if enrolled
- If enrolled, submit the declaration of value, the balance of the tuition fee, and request the permit of stay.
Following is a list of the documents that are required for submission:
- Curriculum Vitae/ Résumé
- Professional portfolio of projects
- Motivation Letter
- Copy of bachelor’s degree/ Academic Diploma
- Academic Transcripts
- Documentation of further courses or Seminars attended, if available
- Certificate of English Language Proficiency
- Copy of Passport
- Payment Receipt
Domus Academy Admission Requirements
To enroll in Domus Academy, a student must have:
- 15 years or more of previous education
- A first-level academic degree in a field related to the master’s course selected
- Certificate of English Language Proficiency/ IELTS 5.0
Who Are Domus Academy's Notable Alumni?
Domus Academy's alumni work across design, fashion, and business worldwide. They include Jean Louis Sabaji, a couturier known for red-carpet designs; Eray Alan, a senior service and interaction designer; Nikhil Paul, founder of the lighting brand Paul Matter; and Rodrigo Torres, an industrial designer. The community spans more than 65 nationalities across creative industries.
Domus Academy has produced a lot of notable alumni who have excelled in the fields of design, experience, fashion, and business. A few notable alumni have mentioned below.
- Ashley Davenport, Social Media Editor- Condé Nast Italia
- Jean Louis Sabaji, Owner and Creative Director- Jean Louis Sabaji
- Eray Alan, Senior Service & Interaction Designer- Fjord
- Christopher Ong, Project Manager for Masari Group/ Hermes and Lanvin Indonesia
- Jin Changbao, Founder and Vice President- R&D Design plc
- Nikhil Paul, Founder/Creative Head- Paul Matter
- Mehar Sethi, Co-founder- Reesome
- Aki Motoyama, Furniture Designer
- Rodrigo Torres, Founder- Design by Rodrigo Torres
- Danai Gavrili, Co-Founder and Designer at Lommer