Milan offers part-time work options for international students, but students at Raffles Milano should plan carefully because creative courses can be studio-heavy and deadline-driven.

Work Rules For International Students In Italy

The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs says a residence permit for study allows part-time work for up to 20 hours per week and no more than 1,040 hours per year. Students should follow the rule strictly and check their visa or residence permit conditions before accepting work.

Common Part-Time Job Options Near Raffles Milano

Raffles Milano is close to Porta Venezia and well connected to Centrale, Repubblica and the wider city centre. Students may find part-time roles in:

• Cafes, restaurants and bakeries
• Retail stores and fashion showrooms
• Event support during design and fashion weeks
• Gallery, exhibition or front-desk support
• Social media content support for small brands
• Photography or studio assistance
• Tutoring, especially English or design software, where legally structured
• Campus or school-linked support roles, if available

Creative Side Opportunities

Design students may also find occasional opportunities connected to their skills, such as assisting with shoots, moodboards, styling, installations, visual merchandising, content editing or portfolio photography.

Students should be careful with informal freelance work. Non-EU students on a study permit must make sure any paid work is legal, contracted and within the permitted limits.

Skills That Improve Job Chances

Part-time work in Milan becomes easier when students build:

• Basic Italian for customer-facing roles
• Strong English communication
• Adobe Creative Cloud skills
• Canva, Figma or social media content skills
• Retail and hospitality confidence
• A small portfolio for creative assistant roles
• Good availability around class schedules

Balancing Work And Study

Raffles Milano students should avoid taking on too much work during project deadlines. Fashion, product, interior and visual design courses often need long studio hours, making, revisions, photography and presentation preparation.

A realistic plan is to work fewer hours during submission periods and focus on portfolio quality. The long-term value of the course depends on the work students create, not only on the money earned during the semester.

Student Takeaway

Part-time work is possible in Milan, but Raffles Milano students should prioritise legal work, manageable hours and roles that strengthen communication, Italian language confidence or creative industry exposure.