Bocconi University in Italy: Know Top Programs, Requirements, and More

Imagine studying in a country with out-of-the-world historical sites, multicultural ambience, affordable tuition fees, and the best pizza in the world! With its splendid art culture and amazing gastronomy, Italy is also one of the top destinations in Europe for higher studies owing to its globally renowned academic institutions. Be it an MBA, a degree in arts, music, or history, there are scores of premier universities spread across the country. One such leading university situated in the economic heart of Italy is Bocconi University. Established in the year 1902, the university has its ideals rooted in bringing liberalism, pluralism, and social and economic development.

So, if are looking forward to becoming a part of such a leading institution, then let’s walk you through the key features of Bocconi University, from its prospective courses, and admission process to the eligibility criteria, and acceptance rate that you must know before sending your application.

Name	Bocconi University
Location	Italy
Courses	Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD, Special Programs, Summer Programs, etc
Entrance Exams	Around 6 to 12 months after graduation (depending on course)
Acceptance Rate	38%
Application Intakes	September-October and January-February
Tuition Fee	EUR 10,000 to 17,000 (INR 8,80,000- 15,00,000)
Average Cost of Accommodation	EUR 700- 1000 per month (INR 61,000- 88,000)
Work and Study in Italy	20 hours per week only if the candidate has a valid study permit
Post Study Work Permit in Italy	Post-Study Work Permit in Italy

About Bocconi University

Bocconi University offers a plethora of undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate courses in Finance, Economics, Management, Law, Public Administration, and Political Science. SDA Bocconi, the Business school of the university provides MBA and executive MBA programs in an array of specialisations. Furthermore, the research programs carried out in the university under some well-known faculty members specializing in different fields are well-funded by national and international institutions.

• For an undergraduate degree in business, Bocconi University has designed a commendable course, the World Bachelor in Business, in collaboration with Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the University of Southern California. This has led to an opportunity for students to study on three continents in 4 years and obtain three diplomas from the universities.

• The Masters of Science in Management and International Management is probably one of the most sought-after courses at the university, through which a few students get to participate in the CEMS Master of Management, which was co-founded by Bocconi University.

• The research projects undertaken at Bocconi University in the areas of Economics, Business, Finance, and Political Sciences, are mainly funded by the university itself (1.5 million Euros), the European Union (1.4 million Euros), and other external sources(roughly around 11 million Euros).

• Clearly, due to the extremely well-funded research projects, led by top-notch faculty, Bocconi University is undoubtedly the best option for Business, Law and Political Science students to pursue research in their areas of interest and expertise.

• Also, Bocconi University boasts 20 permanent research centres, with 200 international and 300-400 national publications yearly. A smart choice for all the finance and business wizards out there!

Bocconi University: Global Rankings

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023	Social Sciences & Management- 14thAccounting and Finance – 17thEconomics and Econometrics – 16thBusiness & Management- 7th
Financial Times	Global MBA 2020: #29 Executive Education 2019: #9
US News	Best Global Universities in Italy: #30 Subject Rankings (Economics & Business): #20

Bocconi University Programs

Classified into varied schools, namely, Undergraduate, Graduate, School of Law, PhD school, SDN Bocconi School of Management and Summer School, Bocconi University offers a plethora of degrees from Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in different specializations along with specialized masters as well as doctorate courses in Business, Economics, Management, Law, amongst others. Further, the summer school of Bocconi University also provides 3-week programs to BSc students and 2-week programs to high school students.

Undergraduate Programs

International Economics and Finance	Economic and Social Sciences
Mathematical and Computing Sciences for Artificial Intelligence	World Bachelor in Business (4-year program)
Economics, Management & Computer Science	Economics and Management for Arts, Culture and Communication
International Politics and Government	International Economics and Management

Graduate Programs

Cyber Risk Strategy and Governance; International Management; Marketing Management; Sciences Po-Bocconi Double Degree; Economics and Management of Innovation and Technology; LSE-Bocconi Double Degree; CEMS MIM Program; China MIM Program; Management; Economics and Management of Innovation and Technology; Economic and Social Sciences

Politics and Policy Analysis; ESSEC-Bocconi Double Degree; Economics and Management in Arts, Culture, Media and Entertainment; Accounting, Financial Management and Control; Finance; Data Science and Business Analytics; Economics and Management of Government and International Organizations; Law and Business Administration; Integrated MA in Law (Taught in Italian)

Specialized Masters

MAAC: Accounting, Auditing & Control (in Italian)	MaGER: Green Management, Energy and Corporate Social Responsibility (in English)
MasterOP: Organization and Human Resources (in Italian)	MEMIT: Management of Transport, Logistics and Infrastructure (in Italian)
MET: Economics of Tourism (in Italian)	MAFINRISK: Quantitative Finance and Risk Management (in English)
MiMeC: Marketing and Communication (in Italian)	LLM-ITLLLM in Law of Internet Technology (in English)
LLM in European Business and Social Law (in English)	MDT: Corporate Tax Law (in Italian)

PhD Programs

PhD in Statistics	PhD in Public Policy and Administration
PhD in Legal Studies	PhD in Economics and Finance
PhD in Business Administration and Management +Policies for Smart Specialisation	PhD in Business Administration and Management
PhD in Statistics and Computer Science	–

Summer Programs at Bocconi University

Offered to high school students to opt for a combination of subjects during their third-last or second-last year, the summer courses by Bocconi focus on a 2-week curriculum through which one can explore different areas of interest. In each summer program, there are a total of 4 morning sessions and two sessions held in the afternoons focusing on a specific project.

For High School Students

Game Theory; Economics; Computer Coding; Strategy; Entrepreneurship; Digital Marketing;

EU for Sustainable Globalization; Finance; Luxury and Fashion; International Politics; Numbers and Cryptography

For International Students

On the other hand, the university also offers a plethora of summer programs for international students wanting to study in its downtown campus in Italy for three weeks. There are mainly 7 courses provided with 6 credit points in each program. Take a look at the varied specialisations you can choose from:

Fashion and Design Management Entrepreneurship and Innovation  Equity and Venture Capital Financing

Management Digital Law International Business Strategy Luxury Management

Bocconi University MBA

SDA Bocconi School of Management at Bocconi University offers an international 1-year MBA program that comprises a unique curriculum beyond managerial knowledge as well and students get to work with top brands like Google, Gucci, Valentino, Illy to Starbucks. Other than this SDA Bocconi MBA, you can also choose from an Executive MBA as well as Rotman-SDA Bocconi Global Executive MBA. Here are the key features of Bocconi University MBAs:

Bocconi University Full-Time MBA

Duration: 1 year
Starting Time: September
Requirements: Bachelor’s degree, GMAT/GRE; IELTS/TOEFL/PTE; 2 Letters of Reference
Number of Years of Work Experience: 5.5 years

Bocconi University Executive MBA

Duration: 18 months
Format: Weekend/Modular
Starting Time: May (Weekend); Nov (Modular)
Requirements: Bachelor’s degree; IELTS/TOEFL/PTE; 2 Letters of Reference
Number of Years of Work Experience: 5-6 years

Rotman-SDA Bocconi Global Executive MBA

Duration: 18 months
Format: Modular
Starting Time: Oct
Requirements: Bachelor’s degree; IELTS/TOEFL/PTE; 2 Letters of Reference
Number of Years of Work Experience: 5+ years (Full-time); 2+ years (mid to senior management level)
Offered in: Toronto, Milano, Mumbai, San Francisco, Copenhagen, Shanghai, São Paulo

Acceptance Rate of Bocconi University

The acceptance rate of the university is quite high. It is pretty hard to get in, especially in courses related to Finance. Bocconi University consistently ranks at the top, for MSc in Finance, so it’s a lot of hard work to be able to land admission. Published research papers, Internships related to the stream you aim for, and Letters of Recommendation by faculty or employers to support the directionality of your application, are what will help you get into this top university in Italy. Work experience is not much of the criteria at Bocconi University, but it always gives you an edge over your competitors. Also, for SDA Bocconi School of Management, the acceptance rate is estimated at around 38% by Forbes.

Eligibility Criteria For Admissions At Bocconi University

For students applying for undergraduate courses at Bocconi University, the entry requirements are as follows:

• Secondary school mark sheets
• 1300+ in the SAT would be a decent score. Try scoring above 1400. ACT exam scores are also considered. If a candidate does not have the scores for any of these two, you need to appear for the Bocconi Selection Test which is conducted in venues around Milan.
• Letters of Recommendation (LORs) by school faculty members, preferably by a teacher related to the stream you are applying for a degree.
• Extracurricular achievements will give you an edge over other applicants. Sports, music, or art, definitely give you an edge over your competitors.
• A minimum score of 100+ in TOEFL, and 7.0+ in IELTS.
  Or Cambridge Assessment Tests such as CPE, CAE, FCE, etc.

To apply for a graduate program at Bocconi University, one must fulfil the following general prerequisites:

• GMAT/GRE Score OR you can appear for the Bocconi Selection Test if you don’t have any of these two.
• CV
• SOP (Statement of Purpose)
• TOEFL/IELTS Scorecards (100+ and 7.0+ respectively)
  OR Cambridge Assessment Tests such as CPE, CAE, FCE, etc.
• 2+ LORs
• Work experience always preferred: Since Bocconi University consistently ranks in the top 10 universities in the world in finance, the number of students with work experience is increasing every year.

Scholarship Opportunities

Bocconi University offers need-based scholarships to international students, up to 100% fee waiver. Including Bocconi ISU Scholarships, there are two main types of financial aid awards that one can apply for both Bachelor of Science and Master of Science programs, i.e. Merit Awards and International Awards.

Merit Awards
Comprising of a full tuition waiver providing around € 12,000 annually (undergraduate) and € 13,000 annually (Graduate), it also offers a chance for some selected students to get free accommodation in the residence halls of the university.

International Awards
Provides a 50% reduction in tuition fees for bachelor’s and master’s programs.

These scholarship awards can be applied for renewal after 2 years for undergraduate courses or in the final year of the graduate program, given the student fulfils the necessary academic progress specified under the award.

Placement Prospects at Bocconi University

Top companies from around the world hire from Bocconi University, mostly in the finance sector, followed by consulting, investment banking, venture capital, and technology. Corporate giants, such as Accenture and Goldman Sachs have partnered with the institution for yearly placement sessions. Some of the top recruiters are :

• Accenture
• Goldman Sachs
• Gucci
• L’Oréal
• IBM
• Unilever
• Deutsche Bank
• Vodafone
• Deloitte
• JP Morgan
• Citi Foundation
• PWC

And many other leading banks, investment groups, and consulting firms.

Bocconi University Notable Alumni

Bocconi University has been the premier institution of Italy for decades, and a lot of its alumni have taken up leadership roles in Energy firms, Consulting firms, Investment groups, and politics. Here are some of the famous alumni whose alma mater was Bocconi University:

Management	Maria Sofia Gazzotti, Mc Kinsey & Company Federico Marchetti, CEO and Founder of YOOX group Vittorio Colao, CEO of Vodafone group Giovanni Gardelli, Snapchat Emma Marcegaglia, Eni Luca de Meo, President of Renault
Finance	Lorenzo Longo, Goldman Sachs Silvia Bandinu, UBS Andrea Enria, Chair, European Banking Authority
Data Science	Alberto Albanese, Coca-Cola & HBC Italia Dario Lamacchia, Microsoft, Munich, Germany
Political Science	Mario Monti, Former Italian Prime Minister
Education	Nouriel Roubini, Educator and Researcher Luigi Pistaferri, Associate Professor, Stanford University
Economics	Monica Morlacco, Yale University Victor Mylonas, International Monetary Fund, Washington

Exchange Programs

Bocconi University, besides having top-class faculty and leading businessmen, politicians and philanthropists as alumni, provides terrific exchange program opportunities to its students. Students can go for exchange semesters, internships, and research projects all over the world. With its affiliations to 283 universities across the globe and 100+ in Europe itself, 68 partner universities in North America, 22 in South America and 71 partners in Asia, Africa and Oceania combined.

Selection of students depends on their academic records, extracurricular involvement, and overall work experience including internships. Many scholarships are awarded to the top performers, and going abroad for a whole semester doesn’t end up being costly.

Related Articles:

MBA in Italy	PhD in Italy
Cost of Living in Italy	Scholarships in Italy
Study in Italy without IELTS?	🚀 Study in Italy for Indian Students 2024-25

FAQs

So, this was all about Bocconi University. Many Indian students dream of pursuing education in foreign nations due to the exposure and career growth they offer. Consider joining a free counselling session with Leverage Edu if you plan to study abroad.