Details

• Italy
• MAMark-21
• Graduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 10 months
• Contact: Login to see contact information

1. Preparation

In terms of preparation, there isn’t too much for students to worry about. I travelled by plane to Milan. If possible I recommend going to Linate Airport, as this is very close to the city center. The most important aspect is choosing to live close to the university, as it’s a good area and convenient. I recommend staying in Porta Romana. Beyond that, it may be helpful to start thinking early about a thesis topic, since at Bocconi there are no pre-defined thesis topics—you choose based on your interests. Research professors and align your ideas accordingly. Also, look at the curriculum and consider which specializations interest you, as these often help connect you with the right professors.

2. Accommodation

When it comes to accommodation, I strongly recommend staying close to the university, such as in Porta Romana. While I initially heard concerns about Navigli at night, I also knew people who lived there and found it fine—just a personal choice. Additionally, there's a WhatsApp group for German-speaking students (DACH-Gruppe) at Bocconi. I recommend reaching out to them—they’re usually happy to add you, and some former double degree students might even offer their apartments for the next year. In fact, I found my own apartment through this network, so it’s a great resource.

3. Academic life at host university

The next section is the academic life at the host university. Here I want to say that I really enjoyed my time at Bocconi. Of course, it's a different institution than WU. They offer different specializations and you already have to prepare yourself that the courses are, I would say, if you're not talking about the specialization courses, but especially the first few courses, courses, pretty similar to bachelor courses, that there's a lot of emphasis on the final exam. But that is not too bad and the courses were really, really interesting and especially the courses you get from WU are super cool and I enjoyed them a lot. When it comes to the specializations, choosing the three specializations, it was very, very interesting and I would recommend just going for the ones that interest you the most. What I have to say, some people that I know were able to fit all courses into the first semester, however, so all the specialization courses, however, I splitted to one and it was actually nice. You also have to look out, sometimes the courses are just offered in one semester. You have to do the Italian course and there's nothing to worry much about. However, I would recommend doing it in the first semester, especially the language courses, English and Italian, I would recommend doing them in the first semester. You have multiple tries and the sooner you do it, the easier. Exactly. On top, yeah, I would say prepare also for a lot of group work and when you are trying to reach out to professors concerning your thesis, it might be interesting to choose specializations that align with your interests, that the professors teaching courses that are close to your thesis might already be the ones assisting you.

5. Every day life in the host country

Everyday life in Italy is wonderful. At Bocconi, people study quite a bit, so expect to spend a lot of time at the university, especially for big exams. It’s just part of the teaching style, but it’s not a bad thing—you’ll just be prepared. Beyond that, Milan is fantastic. There’s a lot happening, from design and fashion weeks to everyday activities. You can do lots of sports, including through Bocconi, though while the Bocconi gym is nice, cheaper gyms are popping up. There are plenty of bars around campus, and while the university may not directly help you meet other double-degree students, start your own group early to connect. Outside of that, just enjoy Milan—it’s an amazing experience!

6. Testimonial

For me, the exchange was an incredible experience, blending the strengths of WU and Bocconi—one more theoretical, one more practical. I’m truly grateful for the chance to experience both worlds. Milan is a fantastic city, and I’d recommend everyone seize the opportunity!