This BSc is a unique program, at the cutting edge of today’s digital revolution. Among the first bachelor programs internationally, it aims to train the new generation of digital talents, a generation in which the combination of quantitative skills and rigorous thinking is essential for success.

This program addresses young talents who wish to play a leading role in the data-driven era. The overall objective is to comprehend – and enable decision makers in firms and institutions to grasp – the strategic implications of quantitative information for economic, managerial and financial decisions.

New technologies and social media are revolutionizing the economy. Artificial intelligence and Big Data are changing decision and policy-making and creating new business opportunities. New professional roles are steadily emerging. The EU Coalition for digital jobs estimates 825,000 jobs in the digital economy by 2020 in Europe alone. Responding to the challenge requires talents that combine quantitative and computer science skills, with the rigorous thinking of the economic and management sciences.

It provides a solid grounding in quantitative disciplines (mathematics, statistics, and informatics), combined with the teaching of economics, management, and law, to acquire, organize and process data.

You will study in a small class of selected international students and you will be able to personalize your study plan by choosing electives in your preferred subjects, by spending a semester abroad in one of the several prestigious partner universities of Bocconi, and by part taking into seminars with partner companies that will provide insight from the real world.

Program Structure

First Year

Main topics

• Mathematics
• Statistics
• Computer Science
• Microeconomics
• Management
• Accounting
• IT law
• First foreign language

During the first year, you will be exposed to the fundamental notions that will accompany you during the next years of your degree. Mathematics and Statistics will provide you with the basic quantitative tools that will allow you to read the structure of mathematical models and apply them for data analysis. Fundamentals of Computer Science will provide you with the basic notions of computer programming, computer architecture and an introduction to the world of algorithms. In Microeconomics you will study the foundations of economic behavior and markets and learn how powerful the rational choice framework is to understanding human behavior. The Principles of Management course introduces to the broad field of economics and management of firms, presenting the basic concepts and theories of modern management.

The course of Accounting will introduce you to the fundamental concepts and measurements underlying financial statements, the use of double-entry systems to report corporate transactions and the use of this information to make proper business decisions. Finally, you will be offered an overview on the fundamentals of IT law (ISP liability, protection of freedom of speech and personal data on the Internet) in both a domestic and a broader European and comparative context.

Second Year

Main topics

• Applied and Advanced Math
• Econometrics
• Macroeconomics
• Computer Programming
• Machine Learning
• Finance
• Second foreign language

In the second year, you will delve deeper into concepts assimilated in the first year and, at the same time, you will be lead to discover new and exciting subjects. The courses in mathematics and statistics will deal with more advanced approaches, strengthening your quantitative skills. Computer Programming will provide you with advanced notions in computer languages and bring your computer programming ability to a higher level. Machine Learning will introduce you to the principles of artificial intelligence to extract quantitative information from data. In Econometrics, you will learn the main statistical methods for economic analysis with time series and cross-sectional data. The course of Macroeconomic will give you the knowledge needed to understand the functioning of the economy as a whole and the changes implied by globalization and digitalization. Finally, the Principles of Finance course will allow you to understand the theories and mechanisms at the basis of modern financial evaluation of firms and startups.

Third Year

Main topics

• Big Data and Databases
• Marketing Analytics
• Computational Economics
• Game Theory
• IT Management
• Electives
• Exchange program
• Internship
• Final report

During the third year, you will be exposed to advanced subjects such that Big Data and Databases, that will allow you to acquire familiarity with the use and interpretation of big data, or Marketing Analytics, that will expose you to the advanced instruments of modern marketing techniques. The courses in Mechanism Design and Game Theory will introduce you to the advanced concepts in strategic thinking and rational decision making. The IT Management course will introduce you to principles of the management of Information technologies, the engine of the data-driven economy and how they make a difference in modern organizations. You’ll have also the opportunity to study at leading universities abroad and/or take part in internships in Italy or elsewhere. A wide choice of elective courses will allow you to deepen your favorite subjects. Seminars with partner companies (Amazon, Microsoft, SAS, IBM, CISCO, Oracle, etc.) will provide insights from the real world that will help you understand how important people can be in the midst of all this data.

Program requirements are subject to change.

International Opportunities

Studying abroad can be a great opportunity for growth both academically and personally, allowing you to challenge yourself in a multicultural environment. The Exchange Program gives you the chance to spend one semester abroad at a partner university, starting in your Bachelor of Science program.

Exchange Programs

One-semester programs with prestigious partner universities, including:

• Universidade Nova de Lisboa (Portugal)
• University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business (USA)
• National University of Singapore (Singapore)
• Tecnológico de Monterrey (Mexico)
• University of Sydney (Australia)

Career Opportunities

After this BSc program, most students continue their studies with a graduate program. This program may be an appropriate choice for students who would like to complete a master program focused on business analytics, data science, technology, and innovation.

Students can also access the job market directly, in which case their typical professional profile is a data analyst, collecting and processing data and delivering the information needed for decision-making. There is high demand in both the private and public sectors for professional figures that merge computational and statistical skills with rigorous economic and management thinking.

Graduates may work at companies in support of market analysis, planning activities strategic choices; research departments of public and private institutions or consultancies, analyzing and studying various aspects of the economic system and of the market; and financial institutions, analyzing and managing financial data.

Admission

Every year, Bocconi University selects the best candidates and sets a number of students who can be admitted to its programs in order to guarantee the best welcoming conditions and success in the academic path and to facilitate the entrance of our Graduates in the professional world.

Usually, a total of 2700 places are available for Bachelor of Science and Integrated Master of Arts in Law programs' first-year students. Classes are made up of approximately 100 students for BSc programs taught in English and approximately 120 students for BSc programs taught in Italian. The Integrated Master of Arts in Law classes (taught in Italian only) are made up of around 140 students.