Politecnico di Milano ranked 6th globally in Design

Politecnico di Milano confirms its position among the world's leading academic institutions, standing out as one of the best universities in its key disciplines. In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, the global ranking list by academic field, Politecnico is ranked 6th in Design, 7th in Architecture and 21st in Engineering.

Out of more than 5,200 universities surveyed, with 1,747 making it into the rankings, Politecnico di Milano has improved its position in Arts & Humanities, moving up from 60th to 50th place; Natural Sciences, advancing from 129th to 113th place; Social Sciences & Management, rising from 100th to 91st place. For the first time, Politecnico di Milano received scores in Life Sciences & Medicine, although it did not officially enter the rankings. This result reflects the university’s growing interdisciplinary focus and its expanding collaborations in the medical and scientific fields.

-Donatella Sciuto, Rector of Politecnico di Milano

Among the most notable achievements: 12th place in Mechanical, Aerospace & Manufacturing Engineering; 13th place in Civil & Structural Engineering; 26th place in Data Science & AI.

Politecnico's performance stood out in the main macro-areas, and in 25 specialist disciplines (narrow subjects) out of 55 examined by the QS. These subject areas, spanning from Design to various branches of Engineering, are assessed based on multiple indicators, including academic reputation, employer reputation, and research impact. The university ranked among the world’s top 100 in 16 disciplines, reinforcing its strong interdisciplinary focus and ability to integrate diverse expertise to address the evolving challenges of modern education and research.

All 12 departments have at least one discipline ranked in the global top 50, demonstrating the strength of their teaching and research excellence. A particularly high score in Employer Reputation, one of QS’s key indicators, highlights that Politecnico di Milano graduates are not only in high demand but are highly valued by Italian and international employers for their skills and innovative mindset. Another significant achievement is the university’s strong performance in the International Research Network (IRN) indicator, which recognises its ability to establish global scientific collaborations.

See the rankings