Bocconi University Milan: top 10 in Europe for Economics, Italy's absolute elite private university
Bocconi is Italy's best university for economics and finance according to QS and the Financial Times, in the European top 10 for Economics. With 45% international students, a 97% employment rate and fully English-language programmes, it is the Italian private university of global reference for finance, management and international law.
Bocconi: European top 10 for Economics — Italy's only private university in the QS World Top 200
The Bocconi University of Milan is Italy's best university for economics, finance and management according to the leading international rankings: in the European top 10 for Economics and Business of the QS World University Rankings, in the global top 200 overall, and consistently at the top of the Financial Times European Business School Ranking. With approximately 16,000 students — of whom 45% are international from over 120 countries — Bocconi is the Italian private university of absolute global reference for those aspiring to careers in finance, consulting, management, international law and European institutions.
Bocconi offers programmes exclusively in economics, management, finance and law — all on an integrated, modern and iconic campus in the heart of Milan, designed by architects including Grafton Architects (Pritzker Prize 2020). Master's programmes — from CLMG (Economics and Management) to MiM (Master in Management), MSc in Finance, MSc in Economics, LLM in Law — are delivered entirely or in significant proportion in English, with international faculty and students from worldwide.
Bocconi graduates' employment rate is 97% within a year of graduation — Italy's highest and among Europe's highest. Alumni hold top positions at McKinsey, Goldman Sachs, ECB, the European Commission, IMF, Bank of Italy and hundreds of international institutions. Fees are significantly higher than state universities (approximately €15,000-25,000/year), but the return on investment is among Europe's highest.
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Bocconi University by the numbers
From 1902 to the European summit: Bocconi and 120 years of excellence in Italy's economic capital
The Bocconi University was founded in 1902 in Milan on the initiative of Ferdinando Bocconi — a Milanese merchant and senator — in memory of his son Luigi, who died at the Battle of Adwa in 1896. Its founding came during a period of great economic dynamism for Milan — in full industrial revolution — and the institution was conceived from the outset as an Anglo-Saxon-style business school, oriented towards international business and commerce.
During the twentieth century Bocconi established itself as Italy's leading university for economics and business, training generations of managers, bankers, economists and politicians who guided Italian economic development. In the 1980s and 1990s, with the internationalisation of the Italian economy, Bocconi invested massively in the international dimension — adopting the Anglo-Saxon curriculum, introducing English-language programmes and opening SDA Bocconi School of Management.
Today Bocconi is recognised as one of Europe's and the world's best business schools, with alumni in leadership positions across every sector of the global economy. The Via Sarfatti campus — with the new buildings by Grafton Architects and residences by Lacaton & Vassal — is one of Italy's most beautiful and innovative academic environments.
FAQ — Università Bocconi – Milano
Study economics in Milan: useful resources
Bocconi Milan is the absolute pinnacle for those wishing to study economics, finance and management in Italy — the choice of Italian and international academic elites. Explore Italian universities and discover everything about living and studying in Italy.
