Milan.

Milan invented the modern aperitivo, and evenings revolve around it, buy a drink, graze the buffet, then move on. The Navigli canals, Isola and Porta Venezia are nightlife hotspots, while Citta Studi buzzes with students near the Politecnico. It is a polished, cosmopolitan scene that rewards making an effort.

• Do aperitivo along the Navigli canals, a drink plus buffet for around 10 euros is dinner sorted.
• Head to Isola, Porta Venezia and Ticinese for bars and clubs.
• Ask the Milan group on Studcasa which club nights and student events are worth the queue.

Milan is the most expensive city in Italy, with rents well above the rest of the country, budget towards the top of, or above, the national band. Aperitivo culture actually helps, since a 10-euro drink comes with a buffet dinner. Living further out on the metro and cooking at home are the big savings.

• Expect the highest rents in Italy; sharing in Lambrate, Bovisa or NoLo softens the blow.
• Use aperitivo buffets as cheap dinners and cook at home to balance the budget.
• Get an ATM student season ticket to keep transport costs predictable.

Milan's rental market is tight and pricey, so start early and be ready to move fast. Students cluster in Citta Studi and Bovisa (near the Politecnico), Lambrate, NoLo and the more affordable outer zones. Beware scams and never pay deposits before viewing.

• Search on Idealista and Facebook groups, and post in the Studcasa Milan group for rooms, competition is intense.
• Citta Studi and Bovisa suit Politecnico students; NoLo and Lambrate are cheaper and up-and-coming.
• Never wire a deposit before seeing a flat in person; scams targeting students are common.

Milan has Italy's best public transport, the ATM metro's five lines, historic trams and buses cover the whole city, backed by BikeMi bike share. A student season ticket makes daily travel cheap. Three airports and Milano Centrale connect you everywhere else.

• Buy an ATM student pass; the metro and trams get you almost anywhere fast.
• Use BikeMi bike share for short hops and the pretty historic trams for scenic routes.
• Malpensa, Linate and Bergamo airports plus Centrale cover flights and high-speed trains.

Milan has a stellar academic line-up: Bocconi for economics and management, the Politecnico di Milano for engineering, design and architecture, the huge Statale (Universita degli Studi) for the broadest range, plus Cattolica, Bicocca and IULM. English-taught programmes are plentiful and the international student community is one of Italy's largest.

• Campuses are scattered, Bocconi near Porta Romana, PoliMi in Citta Studi and Bovisa, so choose housing accordingly.
• ESN and university buddy schemes are well organised; sign up before term starts.

If you are an EU or EEA citizen you need nothing beyond registering your residence if you stay past 90 days. Non-EU students almost always need a national type D study visa arranged through the Italian consulate before arrival, plus proof of enrolment, funds and health insurance. Exactly what you need depends on your nationality, so check with your consulate early.

Once in Italy, non-EU students must apply for a permesso di soggiorno, the residence permit, within eight days of arrival, using a post office kit and a police questura appointment. It is slow and paperwork-heavy, so bring photocopies of everything and expect queues. Your university's international office will usually walk you through it.

• EU/EEA, no visa; register if staying 90+ days
• Non-EU, type D study visa from your consulate
• After arrival, permesso di soggiorno within 8 days

Milanese classics are rich and buttery: risotto alla milanese (with saffron), cotoletta, ossobuco and, at Christmas, panettone. But the city is also Italy's most international, so you will find every cuisine here. Aperitivo, brunch and design-week events shape the social calendar.

• Try a proper saffron risotto alla milanese and a cotoletta at a traditional trattoria.
• Explore the food halls at Mercato Centrale by Centrale station and the Navigli markets.
• Sample the international food scene in Chinatown (Via Paolo Sarpi) and Porta Venezia.

Navigli is the canal-side nightlife hub, Brera the arty upmarket quarter, and Isola the trendy district by the skyscrapers. Citta Studi is student-heavy near the Politecnico, while NoLo, Lambrate and Porta Romana offer more affordable, lived-in vibes. The centre around the Duomo is grand but expensive.

• Navigli: canals, bars and aperitivo, lively but pricey.
• Citta Studi: student central near the Politecnico, more affordable.
• NoLo and Lambrate: up-and-coming, cheaper and well connected by metro.

Milan is Italy's travel springboard. Lake Como is 40 minutes to an hour by train, Bergamo under an hour, Turin and the lakes within reach, and Venice, Verona and Genoa easy day trips. High-speed trains and three airports put the Alps, the Riviera and the rest of Europe at your fingertips.

• Train to Como or Varenna on Lake Como for a classic day out under an hour away.
• Take the high-speed train to Turin, Verona or Venice for weekend city breaks.
• Ski in the Alps or fly cheaply across Europe from Bergamo's Ryanair hub.

Budget realistically, Milan is dear, so lock in housing early and lean on aperitivo and the metro to save. Milanese life is fast and work-focused, so do not expect the slow southern charm. Dress the part if you want in to the smarter clubs, and always validate your metro and tram tickets.

• Sort accommodation months ahead and avoid deposit scams by viewing in person.
• Live near a metro line and buy the student season pass to save time and money.
• Use aperitivo as dinner and cook at home to offset the high rents.