About
Bocconi University is consistently ranked as the top university in Italy. A private university founded in 1902, Bocconi also is considered one of Europe’s leading educational institutions. With around 15,000 students including 8,000 undergraduate students, Bocconi also one of the largest higher education institutions in Italy in terms of student enrolments.
Internationally minded, the university enrols more than 4,000 students from outside Italy onto various programmes every year, and on top of them Bocconi exchanges around 4,500 students every year (incoming and outgoing). Bocconi students learn to be versatile and develop a truly global mindset, an essential asset for getting ready for the job market.
Bocconi offers programmes in Economics, Management, Finance, Politics & Policy Analysis, Data Science and Law, the first three of which are consistently well ranked among the top in Europe and worldwide by QS World University Rankings and the Financial Times. Consult Bocconi on QS World Rankings to learn more about Bocconi’s current world ranking and academic reputation in different subject areas.
Location
Bocconi lies in the heart of Milan, a cosmopolitan and modern city in the north of Italy. Take a virtual campus tour.
One reason Bocconi is such an attractive destination for students wishing to learn more about economics, business and finance is Milan’s excellent reputation for business. The city is home to Italy’s stock exchange “the Borsa Italiana,” in addition to several leading financial institutions.
Moreover, the city centre of Milan is a showcase for its history as a regional capital of the Roman Empire and Leonardo da Vinci’s Renaissance home. Museums, theatres and historical churches abound throughout the city. Italian cuisine is well known around the world. Milan offers fine food from every area in Italy, ranging from its own saffron-laced risotto alla Milanese to specialties from far-off Sicily or Sardinia. And the city is a melting pot of international cuisines, from Chinese and Indian to Ethiopian and Brazilian and many places in between. A world fashion hub, Milan hosts Italy’s most famous brands, and its Fashion Weeks attract thousands of visitors looking for the latest trends every year.
Level of competitiveness
This exchange is only open to Queen Mary students from the following four academic schools: School of Business and Management, School of Economics and Finance, School of Politics and International Relations, School of Law.
- Business and Management agreement: Competitive **
- Economics and Finance agreement: Very competitive ***
- Law bilateral agreement: Very competitive ***
- Politics and International Relations agreement: Less competitive *
The level of competitiveness (Less competitive * / Competitive ** / Very competitive ***) refers to one's chances of being allocated an exchange space at this partner. This is an approximation determined by the number of applications received for this destination during the last academic year versus the total number of exchange spaces available to Queen Mary students.
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Blog posts on Queen Mary Global Bloggers
Language of Instruction
All courses are taught and examined in English.
However, many courses in Italian are also offered to international students who meet Bocconi's Italian language level requirements to take these (host institution conditions apply).
For students who wish to acquire Italian language skills for daily life and to facilitate integration into the local community, Bocconi offers different types of Italian classes for foreigners (see below to learn more about the intensive Italian language classes available before the official start of university-wide teaching, or about learning Italian throughout the semester).
Academic Calendar
Welcome activities and arrival date: Bocconi’s International Student Desk (ISD) office organises a series of social events and orientation activities at the beginning of each semester to help students feel at home. Students are required to arrive on campus in time to complete the mandatory check-in and attend the Welcome Activities. Late arrivals should be reported in advance.
- Welcome/Orientation: late August – early September (see also below if you are interested in the intensive Italian language classes before the official academic year begins)
- Semester one: early September – early December (exam sessions: December, January-February). Earliest departure date*: late December.
- Semester two: early February – mid-May (exam sessions: May, June-July). Earliest departure date*: late May
(*) Bocconi schedules one exam date for each course by the “earliest departure date.” Students may take exams at Bocconi only during the official examination sessions.
Important: students should not plan departures before this earliest departure date and should wait for the final exam schedule to be available prior to make any travel arrangements for the end of either semester.
Further details about Bocconi’s academic calendar can be found here.
Italian classes before arrival and/or throughout the year: If students also choose to opt into intensive Italian language classes before the main teaching period begins for the academic year, these run late August – early September. This is offered again late January-early February before the start of the second semester (regular Italian courses are also available throughout both semesters, during term time; more information below under “Courses”). Full information about Bocconi’s Italian language classes on offer can be found here.
Courses
Bocconi offers a wide range of courses, taught both in Italian and English – please consult the list of available courses open to exchange students here.
Course selection is held online before the start of classes, and courses are assigned on a first-come-first-served basis. Enrolment in any specific course cannot be guaranteed. Academic advisors are available to advise exchange students on course content and guide them in building their study plan. Students may add/drop courses after the start of teaching, allowing students to then update their study plan and Learning Agreements.
Final exams must be sat during the official dates/periods according to Bocconi rules only. If students achieve a passing grade on the final exam, students can leave campus from the Earliest Departure Date. In the case of failure, students must stay on campus and re-sit any exams during the next exam session(s).
Once an exchange is completed and all examinations marked, Bocconi emails a digital official Transcript of records (PDF) to both Queen Mary and to the student.
Italian language courses: Bocconi’s International Student Desk (ISD) organises optional Italian language courses in order to help exchange students become familiar with the Italian language.
Activities and societies
Bocconi offers more than 100 student associations. In addition to hobbies, sports, special interests, performing arts and cultural associations, Bocconi offers associations focused in different subject areas such as management; finance; economics and social sciences; government, geopolitics and politics; law; technology and innovation, society and environment; and international and foreign students clubs. Find the full list of associations here.
Bocconi facilities include free ping-pong tables, two modern canteens, a restaurant/café, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and a high-end gym with a sauna, jacuzzi, and hammam. Gym and swimming memberships are available at an additional cost.
Bocconi hosts two job/career fairs per year (Bocconi&Jobs). These fairs attract international companies, law firms, and banks, providing excellent networking opportunities. Queen Mary students who have attended these fairs have later secured summer internships with companies represented.
Credits
Students must enrol on a full courseload: 30 ECTS per semester / 60 ECTS for the full academic year (equivalent to 60 Queen Mary credits per semester / 120 Queen mary credits for the full academic year).
Each course at Bocconi varies usually between 6 and 8 ECTS, where students generally take 4-5 courses per semester in order to meet the 30 ECTS requirement per semester.
Bocconi uses a numerical grading system out of 30, in which grades are given on a scale of 30ths (30/30) with 18/30 being the minimum passing grade. In order to pass a course, students must obtain at least 18/30 on the final exam.
Find out more about Queen Mary's credit transfer and grade conversion process.
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Blog posts on Queen Mary Global Bloggers:
Instagram takeovers:
YouTube videos/vlogs:
Accommodation
Students may apply for university-managed housing and/or look to rent private accommodation.
University housing: students are required to complete a separate housing application, managed directly by the central Bocconi Housing Office. Availability is not guaranteed, places are limited and assigned on a first-come-first-served basis. More information is available here.
Private housing: Students are responsible for securing their own accommodation. This Living in Milan webpage maintained by Bocconi’s International Desk offers some additional guidance about living in Milan.
Important: Securing private accommodation in Milan can be expensive, with renting options varying drastically in terms of cost and generally being on par with London renting costs. The cost will vary based on a student’s lifestyle and budget. Students should be aware that finding and securing moderately priced private accommodation in Milan during the summer months or at the start of the academic year can be challenging. Nominated students are advised to follow partner guidance where available as soon as possible to begin their accommodation search safely. Guidance about searching for private accommodation safely is available on the QMplus resource page, “Pre-departure” tab from early spring.
Cost of living
The University of Bocconi provides information on the cost of living as a student here. You can find more general, up-to-date information about the cost of living in Milan here.
Living expenses can vary depending on individual lifestyle, especially in Milan where renting private accommodation can be as (if not more) expensive than renting privately in London. Please consult the estimated minimum and maximum cost of living figures for this destination country available in our “Estimated Costs of Living” document available on our Finance page.
Important: Students considering to live and study in Milan must be realistic about financial matters, this being one of the most expensive cities in the world. In the decision-making process, Queen Mary students must calculate their forecasted budget with confirmed funding to which they will have access against the rising cost of living.
Support services
Bocconi funds and supports many activities in counselling, self-empowerment and wellbeing in order to promote the psychological wellbeing of its students. Students are also able to make appointments with a student counsellor about any academic or personal concerns at any point throughout the year.
The International Student Desk (ISD) is the office dedicated to incoming exchange students at Bocconi. The ISD team offers a series of tailor-made services at the start of and throughout each semester to ensure students make the most of and integrate locally during their time at Bocconi.
As a current Queen Mary student you will be able to find a summary sheet for this partner university on our QMplus page, with an overview of the local student support services available on the following topics: specific learning differences, physical impairments, sensory impairments, long term medical conditions, autism spectrum conditions, mental health and wellbeing difficulties, special accommodation provision, non-emergency health care, emergency services, harassment and trauma and suicide prevention.
Student life
Bocconi encourages and assists all exchange students in making the most of their time on campus. Bocconi programmes and courses develop and challenge students who are keen to grow, inside and outside of their studies. To complement this, a wide range of extracurricular sport, art and performing arts activities and programmes is offered that help to build confidence, leadership and team-working skills, from sports clubs such as football, basketball and water polo, to performing arts, yoga and relaxation techniques. Students may get in touch with the Campus Life office once arrived to get involved in student activities and events. A regularly-updated calendar of events for students can be found here.
Bocconi also provides vital support for those who are considering their next step. Companies from all over the world advertise through the Career Service. This office can help you look for internship opportunities, get ready for job interviews and it also offers a personal consulting service.
