Bocconi Bachelors: How to Choose the Right Programme

Bocconi's bachelor programmes for 2027-28 are eight in total: seven in the Undergraduate School (Economia Aziendale - Management, Finance, Economics, Management for the Arts and Cultures, Management and Computer Science, Mathematical and Computing Sciences for AI, International Politics and Government) plus the Law School (Law and Global Law), with the World Bachelor in Business and the HEC-Bocconi Double Programme as international tracks with separate selection. Only Economia Aziendale - Management and Law are taught in Italian: all the others are in English. The choice rests on three dimensions: subject area, language of instruction and expected career profile.

In this guide:

• The 2027-28 lineup at a glance
• Italian or English: the first decision that matters
• The Undergraduate School programmes, one by one
• Law School: Law and Global Law
• International programmes: WBB and HEC-Bocconi
• What changed compared to the historical acronyms
• How to choose: a practical checklist
• FAQ

The 2027-28 lineup at a glance

For 2027-28 Bocconi presents a consolidated lineup of bachelor programmes. Several acronyms historically known on the Italian market (CLEAM, CLEF, BIEM, CLEACC, BESS, BAI, BIG, BEMACS) no longer appear under those names in the official admissions listing: programmes have been renamed and, in some cases, consolidated. The source is the official Bocconi admissions page, updated for the next cycle.

The bachelor programmes (plus 5-year integrated Law) for 2027-28:

Bocconi states: "In addition to the mentioned degree programmes, the offerings also include the World Bachelor in Business and the Double Degree HEC-Bocconi, which have dedicated selection procedures and timelines." World Bachelor in Business and HEC-Bocconi have their own application processes, separate from the "standard" selection.

The university also notes: "Bachelor's programmes are taught predominantly in English; the programmes in Economics and Management and in Law are instead offered in Italian." In other words, English is the dominant language of instruction: the only two Italian-taught tracks are Economia Aziendale - Management and Law.

For the full picture of the selection (test, sessions, academic record): Bocconi Test Prep: Complete Guide 2026.

Italian or English: the first decision that matters

Before picking the programme, pick the language. Bocconi offers two Italian-taught bachelor tracks: Economia Aziendale - Management (Undergraduate School) and Law (Law School). Every other programme is in English.

The practical implications:

For the admission test. The Bocconi Test can be taken in Italian or in English regardless of the chosen programme. There is no "harder English test" for English-taught programmes — it is the same exam. What changes is the years that follow: you will study for three years in English, and Bocconi still requires English certification. A ready certification (TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge) simplifies the process.

For seats reserved to international candidates. On English-taught programmes, "up to 50–55% of places may be reserved for international applicants." Italian candidates therefore compete for the remaining seats. On the two Italian-taught programmes (Economia Aziendale - Management and Law) the international share is far smaller.

For your career profile. An English-taught programme connects more naturally to an international career (investment banking, multinationals, postgraduate studies abroad); an Italian programme remains very competitive for Italy and Southern Europe, and is on average the more common choice for the domestic market — including many careers in consulting, local finance and corporate roles.

There is no objectively "best" choice. There is a choice consistent with where you want to be in five to ten years. For a high-school student with no clear preference yet, English is the least restrictive option on future options — provided the language level is in place.

The Undergraduate School programmes, one by one

The seven Undergraduate School programmes span everything from generalist management to mathematics for artificial intelligence. A practical synthesis of what distinguishes each:

Economia Aziendale - Management (Italian)

The flagship Italian-language programme: generalist management, accounting, organisation, marketing, strategy. The natural choice for students wanting a broad managerial education in Italian, working in Italy and accessing the most sought-after Bocconi master programmes (MBA, Master in Management, Italian finance). With around 1,265 seats it is by far the largest cohort.

Finance (English)

A bachelor's programme dedicated to finance, in English. Quantitative profile: financial mathematics, economics, accounting, statistics, markets. Natural choice for students aiming at investment banking, asset management, international financial consulting or a quantitative master's (MSc Finance, MSc Quantitative Finance). Around 575 seats.

Management for the Arts and Cultures (English)

Management applied to the cultural and creative sector: museums, festivals, publishing, fashion, media, cultural industries. For students who want to combine a solid managerial foundation with an interest in culture, without sacrificing the typical Bocconi opportunities. Around 230 seats.

Economics (English)

Theoretical economics with a social-sciences orientation: micro and macro, econometrics, economic policy, development. More academic profile, an excellent base for masters in economics in Italy, Europe and the USA (LSE, Bocconi, Tilburg, top US schools). Around 115 seats.

Management and Computer Science (English)

A hybrid of business and computer science: programming, databases, information systems alongside management, accounting, statistics. For students who want to understand technology well enough to make managerial decisions on digital products, or work in product management, fintech, tech consulting. Around 230 seats.

Mathematical and Computing Sciences for Artificial Intelligence (English)

The most STEM-oriented programme at Bocconi: advanced mathematics, statistics, computer science, machine learning, AI. The profile is closer to a Data Science / Applied Math degree than to a classical economics degree. For students who want to work on models, algorithms and quantitative research, inside Bocconi and with access to both technical and managerial masters. Around 115 seats.

International Politics and Government (English)

International politics, political science, international law, political economy. For students aiming at international institutions, diplomacy, policy and public-affairs research. Also offers a double-degree track with HEC Paris. Around 115 seats.

Law School: Law and Global Law

The Law School is separate from the Undergraduate School and is governed by the Bocconi Law Test, a variant of the standard exam with a much lower weight on math and a stronger emphasis on logic and verbal reasoning. Two programmes:

Law (Italian, 5-year integrated) — the traditional integrated master in Law, in Italian. Around 240 seats. For students aiming at the Italian Bar, the judiciary or the notary profession.

Global Law (English, bachelor) — an English-language programme with an international scope, focused on comparative and transnational law. Around 80 seats. For students who want an international legal education, masters abroad and careers in international law firms or supranational organisations. Note that Global Law is a bachelor programme: to practise law in Italy the Italian-track route is still required.

For the breakdown of the Bocconi Test and how scoring works: Bocconi Test: Structure, Sections and Scoring.

International programmes: WBB and HEC-Bocconi

Two stand-alone programmes, with separate selection processes and dedicated timelines.

World Bachelor in Business (WBB) — 4 years, three cities (Los Angeles → Hong Kong → Milan), three degrees (USC Marshall + HKUST + Bocconi). Around 50 seats, application via USC's Common App process. For students who want a genuinely international experience and a global network from day one. Highly competitive selection.

HEC-Bocconi Double Programme — a double-degree programme with HEC Paris, up to 110 seats, with a dedicated separate selection process. Typically associated with the International Politics and Government track or selected business combinations.

For both, Bocconi notes that they have "dedicated selection procedures and timelines" — that is, deadlines, requirements and application channels distinct from the standard test.

What changed compared to the historical acronyms

Anyone who learned about Bocconi through older forums, blogs or open days from a few years ago will still remember the historical acronyms. Most no longer correspond to an official 2027-28 programme name:

Note on CLEF. The Italian-language Economics and Finance (CLEF) programme, for years the dedicated Italian finance track, was deactivated starting from the 2024-25 cohort: there are no longer any first-year admissions for CLEF. Only the cohorts already enrolled in prior years remain active and complete their studies. For 2027-28, a student looking for a finance focus has two routes: Finance in English (575 seats, a dedicated and consolidated bachelor), or Economia Aziendale - Management in Italian with finance-oriented electives across the three years.

Note on BIEM (International Economics and Management). The 2027-28 official admissions listing no longer features a programme under this exact name. The areas BIEM historically covered (international economics + management) are now distributed across Finance, Economics and Management and Computer Science, without a one-to-one mapping. If you see BIEM referenced on older pages or posts, treat it as historical context, not as a currently enrollable programme.

The operational takeaway: students preparing the bachelor choice in 2026-27 should look at the new programme names on the official site, not at the legacy acronyms.

How to choose: a practical checklist

Three questions that, in order, narrow the option space down to one or two.

Question 1 — Which language do you want to study in, and where do you want to work?

Italian + Italy / Southern Europe → Economia Aziendale - Management (or Law if it's law). English + international career → one of the six English-taught programmes, or Global Law.

Question 2 — What do you concretely want to do in 5 years?

• Investment banking, asset management, financial consulting → Finance
• Strategy consulting, generalist corporate, master in management → Economia Aziendale - Management (Italian) or Finance / Management and Computer Science if you prefer English
• Tech, product management, fintech, digital product → Management and Computer Science
• Data science, AI, machine learning, quantitative research → Mathematical and Computing Sciences for AI
• Culture, museums, publishing, fashion, media → Management for the Arts and Cultures
• Master in economics, economic research, PhD → Economics
• Diplomacy, politics, international institutions → International Politics and Government
• Italian Bar or judiciary → Law
• International legal career → Global Law + master abroad
• Genuinely global experience → World Bachelor in Business or HEC-Bocconi Double Programme

Question 3 — How much does the competition for seats reserved to Italian candidates matter to you?

On English-taught programmes up to 50-55% of seats may be reserved for international candidates. The effective "Italian" seats are therefore fewer than the headline number. Programmes with the largest total seat counts (Economia Aziendale - Management with 1,265, Finance with 575) remain the broadest options even after the international share; the smaller programmes (Economics, MACSAI, IPG with 115 seats each) have highly selective cohorts.

A secondary point: if you're torn between two programmes, internal switches in the first semesters are sometimes possible but not guaranteed. Better to pick the right programme at the test stage, also because each application costs 100 euro — the details on preparation costs and on a dedicated Bocconi prep pathway are the right frame to plan calmly.

Once the programme is chosen, the real bottleneck becomes test preparation — and math in particular, which is 48% of the 50 questions inside a single 75-minute timer. The speed tactics are in Bocconi Math: Why Speed Decides the Score.

FAQ

How many bachelor programmes does Bocconi offer for 2027-28?

Seven in the Undergraduate School (Economia Aziendale - Management, Finance, Economics, Management for the Arts and Cultures, Management and Computer Science, Mathematical and Computing Sciences for AI, International Politics and Government), plus Law and Global Law in the Law School. The World Bachelor in Business and the HEC-Bocconi Double Programme complete the picture, each with separate selection processes.

Which programmes are taught in Italian?

Two: Economia Aziendale - Management (Undergraduate School) and Law (Law School). Every other bachelor programme is in English.

Can I still apply to CLEF?

No. CLEF (Economia e Finanza) was deactivated starting from the 2024-25 cohort: there are no longer any first-year admissions. For a finance focus in 2027-28, the options are Finance in English or Economia Aziendale - Management in Italian with finance-oriented electives.

What happened to BIEM (International Economics and Management)?

The 2027-28 official admissions listing no longer features a programme under that name. The areas BIEM covered are now distributed across Finance, Economics and Management and Computer Science, without a one-to-one mapping. Older blogs and forums may still reference BIEM, but for a current application refer to the new programme names on the Bocconi site.

Can I apply to multiple programmes at once?

Yes. Each application carries a 100 euro fee. You can submit separate applications for multiple programmes, each evaluated independently. It is strategically useful if the programmes are related (e.g. Finance + Economia Aziendale - Management) and if your profile is competitive for both.

Is the World Bachelor in Business worth it?

Only if you genuinely want the three-continent, three-degree experience, you are ready for the workload (and the cost) of such a path, and you are willing to face a more complex selection through USC's Common App. It is a separate route, not an "easier" alternative to the others.

Do post-Bocconi careers depend on the chosen programme?

In part, yes. Finance leads more naturally to investment banking; Management and Computer Science to tech and product management; MACSAI to quantitative roles and data science. That said, many companies that recruit at Bocconi (strategy consulting first) consider the whole cohort regardless of programme. The Bocconi brand and network matter as much as the specific bachelor.

How much does the test weigh relative to the programme choice?

The test weighs 55% of the evaluation and the academic record 45%, the same for every programme. Operational score thresholds depend, however, on the programme: smaller and more selective tracks (Economics, MACSAI, Finance) tend to require higher scores on average. Preparation for the test itself remains the same, and the detail is in Bocconi Test Prep: Complete Guide 2026.

Want to figure out which Bocconi bachelor fits your profile and prepare the test on that target? With Up to Ten you get a dedicated tutor who works on the pathway and the deadlines of the session you're aiming at, plus our adaptive simulation platform to measure progress on every test area. Discover the Bocconi prep pathway →