Bocconi University

History

Bocconi University was established in 1902 as Italy's first university to offer a degree in economics.

Its founder, Ferdinando Bocconi, created the university in memory of his son Luigi, who died in the Battle of Adwa during the First Italo-Ethiopian War. The university was initially affiliated with the Polytechnic University of Milan's engineering school and adopted a teaching model based on methods used at the École Supérieure of Antwerp.

The university’s first building opened in Largo Notari (today Largo Treves). In 1941, Bocconi moved to its current main campus in Via Sarfatti 25. Over the decades, the campus has expanded with new facilities, including student residences, research centers, and the business school SDA Bocconi School of Management (established in 1971).

Key milestones include the introduction of new degree programs in law, political science, data science and artificial intelligence, the launch of Italy’s first MBA (1974), the creation of the CEMS alliance (1988), and the completion of the new urban campus designed by SANAA in 2019.

Campus

The university's first building opened in 1902 on Via Statuto, near the Pinacoteca di Brera. Today, the campus is located beside Parco Ravizza, between Via Sarfatti and Viale Bligny, and comprises multiple buildings near Porta Ticinese and the Basilica of Sant'Eustorgio:

• Sarfatti Building (1936), designed by Giuseppe Pagano, is the oldest building on campus. It houses classrooms, the aula magna, administrative offices, and a restaurant. Its entrance is flanked by two lion statues, which have become the subject of university myths.
• Pensionato Building (1956), by Giovanni Muzio, contains dormitories (350 rooms), a canteen, large halls, and faculty offices. Its floors are shaped like a symmetrical "L", said to represent laude.
• SDA Bocconi Building (1985, expanded 2001) accommodates the SDA Bocconi School of Management and includes the EGEA bookstore. A football pitch lies between this and the Pensionato Building.
• Leonardo del Vecchio Building (Velodromo) (2001), designed by Ignazio Gardella, is ellipsoid in shape and contains classrooms for up to 150 students each. It features a geothermal heat pump system. A statue of Ferdinando Bocconi stands in the foyer.
• Library Building (1962), also by Giovanni Muzio, stands in Piazza Sraffa alongside the campus chapel (San Ferdinando) and other smaller facilities.
• Röntgen Building (2007), designed by Grafton Architects, won World Building of the Year at the 2008 World Architecture Festival in Barcelona. It houses the university's departments and research centers, as well as a new aula magna, seminar rooms, and exhibition areas. Its designers, Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara, received the 2020 Pritzker Architecture Prize.

Several other administrative and research offices are located near Parco Ravizza and Viale Isonzo.

Dormitories

Bocconi provides approximately 1,800 dormitory places for students. Residences include Bocconi, Javotte, Dubini, Spadolini, Isonzo, Bligny, and Castiglioni (opened in 2018).

File:Bocconi-velodromo.jpg|Full view on the ellipsoid Velodromo building, as seen from EGEA File:Bocconi-entrance-vel.jpg|Entrance to the Velodromo and new building in background File:Dubini Residence.jpg|The Dubini Residence (Residenza E. Dubini) of Bocconi University

Academics

Undergraduate School

The Bocconi Undergraduate School offers twelve Bachelor of Science programs in English and/or Italian:

• Economia Aziendale e Management (CLEAM)
• Economia e Management per Arte, Cultura e Comunicazione (CLEACC)
• Economic and Social Sciences (BESS)
• Economics and Management for Arts, Culture and Communication (CLEACC)
• Economics, Management and Computer Science (BEMACS)
• International Economics and Finance (BIEF)
• International Economics and Management (BIEM)
• International Politics and Government (BIG)
• International Politics and Government (BIG) (joint with HEC Paris)
• Mathematical and Computing Sciences for Artificial Intelligence (BAI)
• World Bachelor in Business (WBB) (joint with the Marshall School of Business-University of Southern California and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)

The university offers double degree programs with Peking University and HEC Paris, and exchange programs with 290 CEMS partner institutions in 55 countries.

Graduate School

The Bocconi Graduate School offers 14 Master of Science (MSc) programs taught in English, 1 specialized master in English, and 1 in Italian. Bocconi's MSc in Finance was among the first six programs worldwide to partner with the CFA Institute and the first in continental Europe. Its MSc in Management and International Management includes participation in the CEMS Master in International Management, of which Bocconi is a founding member.

MSc programs include: Accounting and Financial Management; Artificial Intelligence; Cyber Risk Strategy and Governance; Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence in Health Sciences; Data Science and Business Analytics; Economic and Social Sciences; Economics and Management in Arts, Culture, Media and Entertainment; Economics and Management of Government and International Organizations; Finance; Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship; International Management; Marketing Management; Politics and Policy Analysis; Transformative Sustainability.

Specialized masters include: Marketing e Comunicazione (MiMeC); Quantitative Finance and Risk Management (MAFINRISK).

Double degree programs exist with CEMS partner universities, ESSEC Business School, Fudan University, and Sciences Po.

School of Law

Main article: Bocconi University School of Law

Established in 2006, the Bocconi School of Law consolidated the university's tradition in legal studies under the "A. Sraffa" Institute for Comparative Law. It offers law courses in Italian and English and a summer academy (with the University of Trento and Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies).

Programs include:

• Giurisprudenza
• Bachelor in Global Law (BGL)
• Master of Arts in Global Law for Organizations, Business Enterprises and Institutions (GLOBE)

Specialized masters include: LLM in European Business and Social Law; LLM in Global Tax and Law Governance; LLM in Law of Technology and Automated Systems.

The School of Law also offers a number of double degree programs and exchange programs with 290 partner institutions worldwide.

PhD School

The Bocconi PhD School offers doctoral programs in:

• Economics and Finance (4 years)
• Business Administration and Management (4 years)
• Statistics and Computer Science (4 years)
• Social and Political Science (4 years)
• Mathematics and Applications (4 years)
• Legal Studies (3 years)

SDA Bocconi

Main article: SDA Bocconi School of Management

The SDA Bocconi School of Management, founded in 1971, offers MBA programs, executive education, professional certifications, and a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA). It holds triple accreditation (AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA) and publishes Economia & Management, an Italian management review. The school also offers specialized MSc programs in areas such as corporate finance, real estate management, food and beverage, fashion, design, and sports management.

Research and endowment

In 2006, Bocconi's research funding came primarily from the university itself (€1.5 million), the European Union (€1.4 million), the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (€300,000), and external sources (€11 million). In 2011, the European Research Council awarded €5 million to five social sciences and humanities projects led by Bocconi professors.

Bocconi is a member of the Offshoring Research Network, which studies the international relocation of business processes and services.

Departments

Bocconi has departments in: Accounting; Economics; Finance; Management and Technology; Marketing; Decision Sciences; Legal Studies; Policy Analysis and Public Management; and Computing Sciences.

Permanent research centers include the Paolo Baffi Centre, CERGAS (healthcare management), CERTeT (regional economics, transport, and tourism), CReSV (sustainability), CRIOS (innovation and strategy), Dondena Centre (social dynamics and policy), IEFE (energy and environment), IGIER (economic research, jointly with NBER and CEPR), and others.

International rankings

Student life

Student publications

Student-run publications include:

• Tra i Leoni, a campus magazine.
• Bocconi School of Law Student-Edited Papers, the official law journal.
• IS@B News, run by the International Student Association.
• Be OBjective Magazine, a bimonthly magazine on arts and culture.

Superstitions

A superstition holds that students who pass between the lion statues at the Sarfatti Building entrance will not graduate: "Chi passa tra i Leoni non si laurea alla Bocconi."

From above, the main campus buildings form "30L" (30 cum laude), the highest possible exam grade: the Roentgen Building forms the "3", the Velodromo the "0", and the main building two "L"s.

Notable people

Alumni

• Alberto Alemanno, Global Clinical Professor of Law at New York University (NYU)
• Alberto Alesina, former Nathaniel Ropes Professor of Political Economy at Harvard University
• Franco Amatori, professor of Economic History at Bocconi University and past president of the European Business History Association
• Jörg Asmussen, member of the executive board of the European Central Bank
• Oriana Bandiera, Sir Anthony Atkinson Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics
• Tito Boeri, professor of labour economics at Bocconi University, columnist for La Repubblica and former president of INPS (National Institute for Social Security in Italy)
• Luigi Corradi, engineer and CEO of Trenitalia
• Francesca Cornelli, Dean of Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, previously professor of finance and deputy dean at London Business School
• Jelena Djokovic, tennis player and Novak Djokovic's wife
• Luigi Einaudi, President of the Italian Republic (1948–1955) and governor of Bank of Italy
• Francesco Giavazzi, economist and Bocconi University professor
• Vittorio Grilli, Italian Minister of Economy and Finance (2012–13) and previously a professor at Yale University
• Fiorella Kostoris, professor at the Sapienza University of Rome and College of Europe
• Luca de Meo, CEO of Kering, former CEO of Renault and former president of SEAT
• Antonio Merlo, sixteenth President of Drexel University, former George A. Peterkin Professor of Economics and Dean at Rice University
• Mario Monti, former Italian Prime Minister (2011–2013)
• Emma Bonino, former Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs (2013–14)
• Vittorio Colao, former CEO of Vodafone Group and the Italian Minister for Technological Innovation in the government of Prime Minister Mario Draghi
• Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa, economist and former Italian Minister of Economy and Finance (2006–08)
• Corrado Passera, former Italian Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Infrastructure and Transport (2011–13)
• Barbara Pollastrini, former Italian Minister for Equal Opportunities in the Prodi II Cabinet (2006)
• Sebastian Rocca, social entrepreneur, coach, and LGBTQI rights activist
• Nouriel Roubini, NYU Stern School of Business professor emeritus
• Fabrizio Saccomanni, Minister of Economy and Finance of the Italian government and former General Manager of the Bank of Italy
• Paolo Scaroni, chair of AC Milan and Enel
• Renato Soru, billionaire entrepreneur and manager, founder of the internet service company Tiscali
• Luigi Zingales, University of Chicago Booth School of Business professor
• Patrizia Toia, Italian politician and member of the European Parliament
• Marco Patuano, CEO of TIM Group
• Federico Marchetti, CEO and founder of YOOX Net-a-Porter Group
• Marco Cappato, Italian politician and member of the European Parliament
• Alessandro Magnoli Bocchi, economist
• Alessandro Pansa, former CEO of Leonardo
• Claudio Costamagna, chairman of Advanced Accelerator Applications
• Giovanni Arrighi, professor of sociology at Johns Hopkins University
• Domenico Lombardi, president of The Oxford Institute for Economic Policy, and a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution
• Eduardo Missoni, secretary general of the World Organization of the Scout Movement
• Andrea Enria, chair of the ECB Supervisory Board (2019–present), and previously chair of the European Banking Authority (2011–19)
• Mario Biondi, novelist, travel writer, poet
• Paolo Brera, journalist, author, and former assistant professor of political economy at Bocconi University
• Teresa de Lauretis, writer and professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz
• Valerio Massimo Manfredi, journalist, television host, historical novelist
• Mario Arcelli, economist, Minister for the Budget in the Italian government
• Fabio De'Longhi, CEO of De'Longhi
• Francesco Milleri, CEO of Luxottica
• Salvatore Aranzulla, blogger and entrepreneur
• Dubravka Negre, Minister of Mining and Energy of Serbia since 2022
• Sergio Noja Noseda, professor of Islamic law, Arabic Language and Literature. Author of multiple books on Islamic culture
• Alessandro Profumo, banker
• Marco Tronchetti Provera, manager
• Massimo Renon, CEO of the Benetton Group since 2020
• Luigi Roth, CEO of Breda Railway Construction (1993–2001)
• Leopoldo Sabbatini, first dean of Bocconi University, vice president of the Milan Chamber of Commerce
• Nina Seničar, Serbian model
• Guido Tabellini, former rector of Bocconi University (2008–2012) and columnist for Il Sole 24 Ore
• Sara Tommasi, pornographic actress
• Benedetto Della Vedova, politician
• Roberto Vedovotto, CEO of Kering Eyewear since 2014

Other

• Andrea Agnelli, businessman and chairman of Juventus FC
• Prince Aimone of Savoy, Duke of Apulia, claimant for the headship of the House of Savoy
• Pierre Casiraghi, seventh in line to the throne of Monaco, son of Caroline, Princess of Hanover, and nephew of Albert II, Prince of Monaco
• Giovanni Cobolli Gigli, former chairman of Juventus FC
• Chiara Ferragni, fashion blogger and businesswoman, has not obtained degree
• Steven Goldstein, race car driver
• Beatrice Borromeo, noblewoman of the House of Borromeo, journalist and ex-model
• Prince Joachim of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este
• Vittorio Gallinari, basketball player
• Clarence Seedorf, Dutch football player
• Carla Sozzani, gallerist known for creating the 10 Corso Como complex

Alumnus of the Year

Since 2011, Bocconi's Alumni Association has awarded Alumnus of the Year to graduates exemplifying the values of professionalism, entrepreneurship, integrity, responsibility, and openness. It replaced the Bocconian of the Year (since 1988) and Master of Masters (since 2007). Past recipients include Fabrizio Saccomanni, Emma Bonino, Vittorio Colao, Nouriel Roubini, Luca de Meo, Francesca Bellettini, and Giuseppe Sala, among others.

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