Italian and Bocconi Academic System
The Italian Education System is made of a 13-year cycle of pre-university education (5-year elementary school cycle, 3-year middle school cycle and 5-year high school cycle).
The University reform of 1999 transformed the organization of the Italian university, changing the structure of both the study plan and the degree programs in the fields of Economics and Management from one long four-year cycle to the so-called 3 plus 2, divided into two cycles (undergraduate and graduate).
The two study cycles are to be considered separate; at the end of each, a final exam is required, as well as the awarding of a diploma and the certification of the title obtained. Once the 3-year cycle has been completed the student can decide whether to enter the job market or continue the university studies by enrolling in a graduate program (Master of Science or a Specialized Master). In addition, Bocconi University's School of Law offers a five-year Integrated Master of Arts in Giurisprudenza (“Law”) program in Italian.
To access the university education system, there are some governmental requirements that must be fulfilled. Each university has then its own access requirements and educational approach.
Since the start of the Bocconi University graduate programs, the selection process has been distinct from that of the undergraduate one; therefore, admission to an undergraduate degree program does not imply the automatic admission to a Master of Science program. Check Bocconi access requirements.
You must have a 12-year diploma. If you have an 11-year diploma it must be integrated with 1 full year of university.
There are then specific requirements for different type of diplomas:
- American diploma with a minimum of 3 APs
- IB full diploma (no IB certificates)
- British diploma with minimum 3 A Levels and at least 6 GCE
If your home country educational system requires a qualifying exam for university admission applicants must pass this exam to access the Italian University System as well.
For all further information, please visit this page
To access admissions to a Master of Science program, students must hold a Bachelor Diploma (1st cycle qualification) that must be suitable and valid for the purposes of accessing a 2nd cycle of studies (like a Master of Science Program is).
Bocconi University deems as valid a Bachelor Diploma (I-level degree/undergraduate Program) with at least:
- 180 educational credits (ECTS)
- a length of at least 3 years
- not professional
- comparable to an Italian Bachelor Program
- issued by a foreign University that is recognized within the educational system of the Country issuing the degree which allow continuing studies in a post-graduate (II level) program
(i.e. an undergraduate degree issued by a US University in Greece must be recognized as valid for the purposes of continuing studies in a post-graduate program in the United States).
For all further information, visit this page
In Bocconi, exams and assessments are marked out of thirty (for exams) or given a pass/fail grade and are always individual.
A mark of between 0 and 17 out of thirty is considered unsatisfactory.
A mark of between 18 and 30 out of thirty is considered satisfactory.
The examining board may award "lode" (cum laude) to students who are awarded thirty out of thirty (30/30). A 30 "cum laude" is awarded the value of 31.
The assessment methods may be different for attending and non-attending students. Students are considered "attending" if they meet the course attendance requirements established by the faculty member.
Registration for written oral, partial exams and seminars is compulsory and exams are held in person on Campus.
Withdrawing from an exam is equivalent to not taking the exam. Handing in written exam papers (whether they are partial or general exams) specifically means accepting the mark the teacher gives the paper, no matter what it is.
For all further details, please refer to the Guide to the University