Graduate School
Master of science in Finance
September 10th, 2012
Welcome Days
a.y. 2012-2013
Bocconi University and its Graduate School
Università Bocconi …a bit of history
Università Commerciale L. Bocconi was founded in 1902 by entrepreneur
Ferdinando Bocconi.
The driving concept: to create Italy’s first institution for the rigorous study
of economics and business.
Our principles
Passion for Education
Scientific Research
Internationalism
Relevance
Rigour
Relations
Merit
Teaching model
The MSc programs employ a “dynamic” teaching model.
Learning is based on three pillars:
 Conveyance of high-level specialist content by the teachers
 High interaction between teacher and students, with deep
discussion of theoretical models, methods for action and
concrete cases
 Students are requested to make active contributions in
individual and group study.
In order to be effective, the teaching model asks students to:
 Attend lessons regularly
 Prepare case studies and other interactive materials before
entering class
 Take active part in class discussions and contribute original
thoughts to the discussion
 Study and interiorize the various concepts progressively as
lessons proceed
Assessment (I/III)
Learning objectives
We propose to develop and assess the following objectives
through the MSc teaching model:
1. Deep learning and reinforcement of the long-term memory
2. Ability to work in group
3. Capacity to solve concrete real problems (knowledge of the
working world)
4. Ability to relate to the international context
Variety of assessment methods
Given the multi-dimensional nature of the learning objectives,
there will be different ways of evaluating student progress. In
some programs the level of theoretical learning will be the
determining factor; others will turn on the ability to do group work
or individual research.
Assessment (II/III)
 Partial and final exams
 General exams: 2 regular sessions and 1 make-up
Semester I:
 2 regular sessions (January-February)
 1 make-up (September)
 [+ supplementary in December]
Supplementary periods for students participating in internship (in Italy
and abroad) and in international study programs (only for exams of the
second year)
Semester II:
 2 regular sessions (June-July)
 1 make-up (October - November)
 Withdrawing from exams : YES, allowed
 Rejection of exam grade: NO, not allowed
 Exam registration: Absolutely essential!
(within the fourth last working day before the exam)
Assessment (III/III)
 Incorrect behaviour during exams harms all UB students,
therefore are expected disciplinary measures
 Reference distribution: the distribution of grades assigned for
each exam during all the year’s exam sessions should tend to a
gaussian curve as established for international standards
(ECTS system)
Grade bracket
18 – 20
21 – 23
24 – 27
28 – 29
30 – 30L
marginal incidence
10%
25%
30%
25%
10%
cumulative incidence
at least 10%
at least 35%
at least 65%
at least 90%
100%
Studying abroad
 1 month
Campus Abroad
 1 semester
Exchange and Free mover
 1 year
Double Degree (18 agreements)
CBS – Denmark; ESADE – Spain; RSM – Holland; FGV Sao Paulo –
Brazil; HEC – France; UCL – Belgium; Sciences Po – France; Univ.
Geneva – Switzerland; MGIMO – Russia; IIM Ahmedabad – India;
SSE – Sweden; SUNY – USA; St. Gallen – Switzerland; Fudan, Cina;
Queen’s Business School; CANADA, Universidade Catòlica
Portuguesa Portugal; Hertie School of Governance - Germany;
University of Queensland – Australia.
 Master CEMS-MIM network of 26 international schools:1
semester on exchange, 1 internship abroad plus
supplementary educational activities
Internships
Second-year compulsory educational activities
Prior approval by program Director; Assessment (student’s report, evaluation from
Company Tutor); Final evaluation
Duration
in Italy min 12 weeks
abroad
min 10 weeks
part-time
min 16 weeks (by special approval)
Period
generally carried out after the end of the first year’s lessons, however must not crash with
classroom activities
Parties involved
Career Service and SRI
Program director
Students
Internship equivalents
Otherwise the following activities can be recognized:
 “other specialized work experiences” which have contracts different from those of
internships (term contract, apprenticeship, project contract, etc….)
 “field projects” activated by the MSc direction following specific agreement with a
company, an institution or a professional studio
Foreign languages
 2 foreign languages
 Language choice depends on:
 Language in which the program is taught
 Student’s mother tongue
 Teaching: Semester II of the first year and semester I of the
second year
 Exams: recognized international language certificate or,
alternatively, Bocconi exam
 Exit level:
1st language: C1/B2 business
2nd language: B2/B1 business
 Entry level: the Language Centre’s webpage provides a wide rage
of recommended topics and teaching materials. These help
students to reach the minimum levels necessary for attending MSc
lessons
Thesis (I/II)
 Concise but high value-added: 50 pages
(except Law and Economic History: 150 – 200 pages)
 Approx. 4 months of full-time work
 Thesis Advisor and possible second Advisor (for
interdisciplinary thesis and in case of long term Visiting
Professor)
 Discussant: the Discussant plays an important role especially
for “excellent” thesis
Thesis (II/II)
 Presentation and discussion in front of the Commission (minimum 5
members)
“Standard” procedure:
Candidate’s presentation (20 mins) + Discussion with the members of
the Commission
“Recommendation of excellence” procedure:
Candidate’s presentation (20 mins) + Discussion with the discussant
and the members of the Commission (10 mins)
 Assessment (acceptable 0–2 points; fair 3-4 points; good 5-6 points;
excellent 7-8 points)
Grade proposed by the Discussant in the case of “recommendation of
excellence”
Grade proposed by the Advisor in all other cases
Università Bocconi, which values the originality of the theses, has been
equipped with an ad hoc software to verify their authenticity in addition
to the methods for checking the copying of theses already in use.
Graduation grade
Assignment of the final grade takes into account the marks received
for educational activities performed during the student’s academic
career:
Weighted average
converted into a number out of 110
+
up to 8/110
As an evaluation of the thesis and overall academic career
Thesis evaluation
up to 8/110
(7-8 /110 for thesis recommended as excellent )
Overall academic career evaluation
maximum 1/110, if excellent
110 cum laude if:
evaluation of the thesis and overall academic career = at least 7/110
and
overall grade points = at least 111
Evaluation by students (I/II)
What and When and students are asked to evaluate:
 Evaluation of single courses: professor/instructor, teaching
methods, course organization, teaching facilities…(each semester
during classes: midterm – voluntary; end of semester- compulsory)
 Evaluation of assessment methods (exams): efficiency, efficacy
and fairness of the mechanisms adopted to assess student
performance, with regard to the overall assessment system and to
any individual exam (triennial; web-based procedure)
 Overall evaluation of the first-year of degree programs:
teaching staff, teaching methods, exam regulations, workload,
subjects integration in the curricula....(yearly; web-based
procedure)
 Evaluation of the overall university experience: degree
program as a whole, international and internship experiences,
extra-curricular activities, main university services
used...(close to graduation)
Evaluation by students (II/II)
Please complete each questionnaire in a serious and
consistent manner since the feedback you provide determine
relevant effects for the professor of reference:
!
!
 professor must suggest possible improvement actions when the
assessment are negative (below a set critic threshold)
 professor can receive specific merits when assessments are
particularly satisfactory (after having checked that there are
other elements of excellence).
Code of conduct – HONOR CODE (I/II)
In compliance with that principles that have always been at the
basis of academic research, teaching and the university’s manifold
activities, Università Bocconi has defined a code of conduct that
respects, protects and promotes the values of the Bocconi
community.
It being understood that the university and all its parties are
committed to applying it equally and rigorously, the code of
conduct has an instructional purpose, strengthening ties and
encouraging transparent and constructive dialogue among the
various members of the university (among all of those people who
live, work and study at the university every day)
Code of conduct – HONOR CODE (I/II)
The Code of Conduct:
 defines and applies principles and rules for a fruitful
development of educational activities and research
 explains standards of behavior and disciplinary procedures
already included in national university regulations and
Università Bocconi regulations
 specifies the figure of the “Student Ombudsman”
Further details will be provided in specific meetings on the
first days of lessons
References and information
ACADEMIC REPRESENTATIVES
Program Director
Assistent to the Program Director
School Staff
MSc Council
Course Director
Course Instructors
Teaching assistants
Student representatives
(From the 25th to 22nd of September 2012 students will be invited, via
yoU&B diary, to stand for election of class representatives; on the 9th
of October 2012 student representatives in degree program
Committees will be elected )
INFORMATION
For all further information on the MSc programs please see the
“Student’s Handbook” posted at www.unibocconi.eu/studentguide
and on the yoU@B diary which will be the best tool for
communication between you and Bocconi Graduate School
Student representatives
2 Class representatives / 2 Study program Committee
representatives
3 Graduate School Council representatives
Francesca Bonomelli
339 8502176
1255678@studbocconi.it
AFC
B.lab-Alleanza liberale
Riccardo David Battaglia 338 3407349
1240696@studbocconi.it
EMIT
AD - Alternativa Democratica
Michele Pignoli
1512524@studbocconi.it
AFC
Obiettivo studenti
388 6911812
5 Faculty Council representatives (3 of them participate in the Academic
Board, 2 participate in the Disciplinary Board)
Cofano Alessandro
338-5343228
1438001@studbocconi.it
CLEAM
B.lab-Alleanza liberale
Antonio Ceci
380 3648926
1341072@studbocconi.it
CLES
Alternativa Democratica
Daniela Del Gaudio
345 9105747
1293190@studbocconi.it
CLAPI
B.lab-Alleanza liberale
Longo Lorenzo Pasquale
329-6479969
1260967@studbocconi.it
FINANCE
Obiettivo studenti
Gianluca Nicosia
327 0044015
1478189@studbocconi.it
CLEAM
AD - Alternativa Democratica
Students are an active part in the university life and can support, through their
representatives, the activities of the University bodies.
Student representatives wait for you at the
information desks of via Sarfatti, 25
Bocconi Alumni: “talents and values in
motion”
The Bocconi Alumni Association is the community of
Graduates, Master and Phd holders from Università Bocconi
and SDA Bocconi: over 89,000 alumni in Italy and the world,
65,000 in contact via email.
Meetings, events, services:
Dedicated to Networking, Continuous Learning and Career
Service
In Milan, in Italy, abroad and online
All year long
48 territorial Alumni chapters abroad and 27 in Italy
Cultural and sports groups, professional interest clubs
More than 46,000 Bocconians on Linkedin and 14,000 among
Facebook fans and Twitter followers
Services for students
Bocconi has invested greatly in upgrading its facilities and
improving its services, in order to provide outstanding preparation
and quality study environments to all its students.
Services available to students are aimed at:
 facilitating administrative procedures and organization of classes
 completing the academic curriculum
 enriching the campus experience
Services for students (II/II)
One-stop service center
Welcome point where you can receive information, easily access the
front offices for all services, resolve doubts and complete administrative
paperwork
Aperto dalle 8 alle 18 - piazza Sraffa 11
Services supporting students throughout their university lives
Communication and Organization of Teaching Services
Tuition and Fees Office
Student Services /ISU Bocconi – Student Assistance and Financial Aid
Library
Services integrating and complementing the student’s curriculum
International Relations
Language Center
SEDIN- IT Education Services Center
Student Services – Campus life activities
Counseling and Self-Empowerment
The Service to assist students and graduates in entering the job market
Career Service
Bocconi Alumni