The College’s program at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy, affords qualified Chicago students an opportunity to study at the leading university in Business and Economics in Italy.
This is an intense academic immersion program in which students take regular Business, Management, Policy, and Economics courses at Bocconi in either English or Italian alongside degree-seeking students at the university.
Bocconi University offers instruction by distinguished Italian and international faculty primarily in the subjects of International Economics, Management, Marketing, Policy, Political Science, and Finance. Founded in the 6th century BC, Milan is Italy’s hub for economics and the Italian financial market, as well as a capital for fashion and industrial design.
Bocconi operates on a two-semester calendar with the autumn semester running from mid-September to the end of December and the spring semester running from mid-February to the end of May. Students have the option to study at Bocconi for either the autumn semester or the entire academic year. These will be substantive courses chosen from the Bocconi course catalogue. Students may also elect to take part in an intensive Italian language presession that runs three to four weeks before the beginning of the semester. While this presession, which is available for a small fee, is a noncredit exercise, it does play a valuable role in preparing students for living in Italy.
Bocconi’s housing office offers places to exchange students at Bocconi residence halls. The number of places is limited and rooms are assigned on a first-come-first-served basis. You will have the chance to apply for Bocconi housing when completing the online application for the program. Alternatively, you may choose to secure an apartment or a student residence, though you will have to do this on your own. There are many resources available online and on campus for finding a local apartment. Whatever living situation you choose, you must make direct payment in Milan. Chicago does not act as a billing agent, go-between, or guarantor in these transactions.
Participants in the Milan Exchange Program remain registered as full-time students in the College. You will receive full credit for your work at Bocconi, for four (maximum) courses. Course titles, units of credit, and grades are placed on the College transcript. Since the use of these credits in a specific degree program is variable, students should consult with their academic adviser and program chair to determine exactly how credits may be distributed toward degree progress. All students are required to read and follow the Direct Enrollment Credit Guide ahead of committing to a direct enrollment program in order to fully understand the process.
Students may take such courses as those listed below, among others.
- Applications for Economics, Management, and Finance
- Business Strategy
- Economics (Poverty, Inequality, and Income Distribution)
- Financial Markets and Institutions
- Industrial Economics
- International Demography
- Introduction to Options and Futures
- Leadership
- Management of International and Supranational Organizations
- Managerial Accounting
- Marketing Communication
- New Product Development and Open Innovation
- Political Science
- Product Management
- Public Finance
- Risk Management with Derivatives
- Strategic Management for Small and Medium Enterprises
Information for Economics Majors
Students pursuing the standard economics track and data science specialization may petition to count up to two courses outside of the University of Chicago Department of Economics (whether through a different UChicago department or through a College-sponsored Study Abroad program) toward the economics electives requirement. Business classes will not be approved to satisfy the ECON elective requirement. The remaining electives must be completed with the UChicago Department of Economics. Petitions must be submitted prior to course enrollment to be considered.
Students pursuing the business economics specialization may petition to count up to two courses outside of the University of Chicago Department of Economics (whether through a different UChicago department or through a College-sponsored Study Abroad program) toward the major requirements. One study abroad course may be petitioned to count toward the Perspectives requirement, and one study abroad course may be petitioned to count toward the ECON elective requirement. Business classes will not be approved to satisfy the ECON elective requirement. The remaining ECON elective must be completed with the UChicago Department of Economics. Booth School does not approve course substitutions from other departments or from other institutions. As such, study abroad courses may not be applied toward the BUSN course requirements of the business economics specialization. Petitions must be submitted prior to course enrollment to be considered.
The Milan Exchange Program participants pay regular College tuition and a nonrefundable study abroad administrative fee. The tuition is paid in conformity with the home campus payment schedule, and a deposit toward the nonrefundable study abroad administrative fee is submitted when accepting a place in a program. Students pay living expenses, including housing, food, books, travel, and incidentals while in Milan. Precise figures for the Milan Exchange Program for the 2024-2025 year are listed below:
Academic year tuition: as set by the Bursar’s Office
Study abroad administrative fee: $675
Out-of-pocket expenses include:
- round-trip airfare to and from the program site
- passport/visa fees
- transportation on site
- accommodation
- meals
- course materials
- personal entertainment and travel
- communications (most students bring or buy a cell phone)
- health insurance and upfront payments for care
- other miscellaneous expenses
Study abroad students retain their financial aid eligibility. For more information about financial aid resources, please see our Tuition, Fees, and Funding section.
The Milan Exchange Program is open to University of Chicago undergraduate students only. Applications from outside the University are not accepted.
The program is designed for undergraduates in good academic and disciplinary standing. For most students the third or fourth year is the most appropriate time to participate in this program. While it will be most attractive to Economics or Political Science majors, students not majoring in these fields but who have a strong interest or background in either field are eligible to apply. Because you may attend Bocconi courses in English, there is no language requirement. However, basic knowledge of Italian or participation in the presession is recommended to enhance your experience living in Italy. While the program specifies no minimum overall grade-point average, the admissions process is competitive, and you will be expected to present a transcript showing solid and sustained work in your major courses. In general this is a challenging program, which assumes a high level of independence and resourcefulness.
In order to apply to this program you must first complete Chicago’s study abroad profile via the online application. Once you have completed this profile you will then select “Milan: Bocconi University Exchange Program” under the program list for program applications and click “apply.” Here you will be able to submit your intent to apply and will be given explicit instructions for completing the Milan Exchange application.
To discuss the Bocconi University Exchange Program and the possibility of participating, please contact Xhesika Bardhi.
