My Exchange at Bocconi University
I first found out about the study abroad program when I started my degree. It seemed like a really interesting idea, and before I knew it, I was applying! Bocconi hadn’t been my first choice, it had been my second, and while this was the case, honestly, I’m glad I ended up going there.
Milan is a lovely city. There is quite a bit to do, it is located pretty centrally in Europe for travel, and while summer is quite warm and winter is quite cold, I wouldn’t say the weather is too crazy.
Accommodation was the biggest struggle for me, as Bocconi tells you that they have residences available for exchange students, but really these barely take a fraction of the people going on exchange. Most people that I met on exchange were in a similar boat to me, and weren’t accepted into the residence, so instead, we all had to find a place to live independently. I lived in Navigli, about 20 minutes by foot from Bocconi, and it was a great area! However, rent in Milan is a little expensive.
With regards to courses, I will not lie, Bocconi is tough. The general consensus around the university is that studying is life, and there would be times on the way to the gym that I would see a full library at 8 am on a Sunday morning. The grading itself is even tougher, and I will warn you, if you don’t put a lot of work in, passing will be a mission.
One of my big questions before I arrived on exchange, was what grades were needed to pass. I couldn’t find a clear answer from anyone so I’ll just speak about my personal experiences. 2 of my classes were graded on the basis of “partial exams.” One was like a mid-sem exam, and the other, a final. You needed 18/30 or more on both of these to pass the course. However, you could also take just one general exam at the end, and get a 18/30 to pass as well. The partials were about 1 hour long, while the general was about 2. My other 2 classes were a bit different, where we had group projects that gave us points during the year. For example 12/30 points would be available via group projects, therefore, the remaining exam only made up 18 points. These classes didn’t have a required exam grade, but you just needed 18 points total in the class to pass. Of course, each class has different requirements and structures.
One other thing to note about Bocconi, is that the timetables change A LOT. Unlike Auckland, Bocconi does allow timetable clashes (not exam clashes though unless you take them in different periods). Even if you don’t schedule a timetable clash, they eventually do happen as teachers can change their classes to whatever time fits them. Therefore, while I initially had a nice schedule of 2 classes a day for the most part, by the end there were some days where I was on campus from 8am – 8pm.
Attendance was another thing that confused me before I arrived so here is the general rundown. Attendance is required if the teacher says so. Generally, it’s 75% + of the scheduled classes, however, it can change. Some teachers don’t care, some just assume you to be attending if you do class work, and others may say you have to attend specific lectures to be considered an attending student. For the most part, being an attending student gives you the advantage of taking the partials (non-attending can’t), and also doing class work if available. However, it is a mission, and sometimes you will have to miss classes or mark yourself as attending in order to make sure you stay on track.
I would say that is a good rundown. Essentially, attend classes, be smart with your timetable, and study hard, and the classes should be all good. Now for the things outside of school!
As I said before, Milan is great, and I really enjoyed my time there. It is a beautiful city with your classic Italian architecture, decent nightlife, good restaurants, and really a good amount of things to do. The city also has flights to pretty much anywhere in Europe, and most places are only a couple of hours away. For shorter distances, Milan Central Station also has plenty of trains to Switzerland and Italy. I must warn you though, Milan is expensive. An average Italian pizza or pasta will set you back the equivalent of about 20-25 NZD, and a gelato about 6-7 NZD. Not terrible prices, but not great either. However, some cheaper options are available, especially fast food, which in Milan, is great!
To wrap up, I highly recommend doing an exchange to Bocconi. I do warn, the classes and the school are tough, much much tougher than Auckland, so do be prepared to spend most of your days, especially later on studying. Unfortunately, Auckland also weighs Bocconi classes less than classes at home, which means you’ll be taking on an extra workload just to stay on track to graduate. With that being said, it is still definitely worth it for the experience.
If you plan well, you can definitely get plenty of time to explore. On my exchange I visited 16 different countries, travelled by train, bus, metro, plane, really anything you can think of. I would recommend planning as much as you can early on, as past the mid-sem break, you really don’t find that much free time.
In all honesty though, the highlights of the exchange are really the people that you meet, the experiences that you share, and all the new things you get to see. It is quite a stressful process, but, once you are into the swing of things it all becomes worth it! I hope you enjoy your exchange as much as I enjoyed mine.
Q&A
What were some of the highlights of the academic experience at your host university?
Honestly, I wouldn’t say that I had any academic highlights. The classes were tough and not super exciting, but the people that you met made it worth it. It’s just the cost of doing business essentially, when you’re on exchange. That being said, we did have a M&A simulation in one of my classes which was pretty cool, but at the end of the day I was on exchange for the overall experience, not particularly the classes.
Would you recommend any particular activity/activities unique to your host country or university?
I would recommend taking part in a lot of the opening week events, the nightlife scene, and some of the organized trips. I didn’t get too involved in clubs at Bocconi, but I met so many people through ESN-organized trips, and events, along with the gym, the cafeteria, and anywhere else on campus.
What are your top 3 tips for future students attending your host university or going on exchange to your host country?
- 1. Don’t rely on Bocconi housing. Get situated early, find a place or roommates to find a place with, and sort it out. I waited for the housing that they claimed was for exchange students, but it filled up within minutes. If you do want this housing, I know some people who used multiple devices to secure a place in it. I got lucky, as I had a family friend who runs a rental agency in Milan help me find a place.
- If the course sounds hard, it probably is. My classes were on the average side, where about 4-6 hours of studying a day could get me by. However, some people I know in some of the tougher-sounding classes would be buried in books all semester. I would say, pick relatively easy classes and enjoy your time. Unlike most other schools, Auckland does require a course approval form, which means you won’t be chilling as much as other students, but, if you play your cards right you’ll be fine.
- A little lesser-known tip, but watch out for the airports. Milan has 3 airports: Linate is pretty central, and accessible by metro, Malpensa is an hour away by train or bus, and Bergamo is an hour away by train or bus. Do not make the mistake of assuming that they are all in the city. On my first trip I booked a 6 am flight from Bergamo, which meant I was leaving my apartment at 3 am to get to the bus station (the train station is where the buses go from).
How much did you budget for your exchange? Was this enough? Were there any lessons learned that would help future students budget for their own exchange?
Honestly, I budgeted about $3,000 NZD excluding accommodation as I was looking to have a good time. Throughout my four months, I spent about $12,000 give or take, and another $1,800 per month on my apartment. Look, you’re gonna spend money. I could’ve saved more by flatting (but maybe only saving about 600 a month), however, if you find good people to flat with I would consider it. Also, share hotels with people or go the route of hostels. My first few trips I was soloing in hotels, and I was spending a minimum of $150 a night, as European hotels are expensive. My last trip to Greece, I shared a room with 2 friends, and I was paying $20 a night to stay 10 minutes from the Acropolis.
What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?
Just go for it. We often feel scared of the unknown, but it’s worth just diving right in. I booked random trips, did random things, met random people, and I don’t regret any of it.
Do you want to share anything about travels you did outside your host city/country?
My two favourite trips I did in Europe were a train trip through Spain for 10 days (mid-sem break), and a long-weekend in Greece. Highly recommend checking out these destinations: Good Food and Decent prices.
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