Student Report
Name of the University: University Bocconi
Exchange semester: Fall 2015
I. PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Before leaving Norway
- When and how did you receive information from the exchange university, and
did you encounter any difficulties?
- All the correspondence through email, no difficulties at all. First email from them with
greetings 14.05.14
Applying for a visa (if applicable)
- How did you apply for your visa, what did it cost and did you have difficulties?
- I am not EU national, I have residence permit of Norway. No visa required to Italy
therefore.
(http://www.libertaciviliimmigrazione.interno.it/dipim/site/it/documentazione/docume
nti/politiche_immigrazione_asilo/2010/Studenti_stranieri_regolarmente_soggiornanti_
in_Italia._Prosecuzione_degli_studi_allxestero as a reference).
Travel
- How did you travel to your destination?
- SAS direct flight. Remember to search for youth tickets. They are cheaper.
Housing
- Was housing provided by the university? If not, did you receive support from the
school?
- Bocconi provides a room with shared kitchen and bathroom (eventhough website says
there are rooms with nothing shared, they are not for exchange students). I rejected the
offer and found my apartment through many FB groups and websites. Normally not
many people speak English, and most agencies refuse to arrange anything by email,
they ask to call. Generally tenants make a contract with a landlord through agency,
photos taken and conditions explained.
Costs
- Approximately how much per month did you spend on rent, books, food,
transportation, and other personal expenses?
Currency is EUR, because of recent NOK depreciation.
Rent
Books
Food
Transport
Other
EUR 630
Bought 1 book for 8 EUR
Exchange student meals at school : 4.10 EUR, + approx. 10-15 eur in retail per week.
Eat outside 7-15 EUR.
22EUR
Culture and language
- Did you have any language problems with the faculty or other students?
-
-
Lecturers and students speak English fine. However, generally they are the only ones.
Normally if in a supermarket one person speaks English, you are lucky. I downloaded
a dictionary and attended a language coutrse, otherwise it is generally problematic to
have meaningful conversation with anyone not from industry/academia.
How were the possibilities to experience the country and the culture?
Milan ID card allows to travel for free in Lombardia region. Visit local small towns to
get a grasp how people live. There are many muzeums in Milan, worth visiting, and
many concerts. Check vivaticket.it .
II. ABOUT THE SCHOOL
-
-
The school (location, size, study structure, special academic areas etc.)
Located southern part of centre of Milan, tram station nearby, although 15-20min walk
from metro. Consists of several buildings, not all are connected, so take an umbrella –
it often rains. If you use public transport, don’t be surprised because of strikes, they
happen often, check atm.it. Whenever there is rain, expect a delay in all public
transport.
School is great for finance, check FT rankings for instance
Course registration
- When and how did you register for courses?
- Online. Check schedule, eventhough system gives “regular weekly schedule”: not all
weeks are same, and you may have overlaps eventhough if at a first glance the system
does not indicate that. Course selection Aug 19-28, descriptions of courses available
- When did the add/drop period end?
- Add-drop period Sep 11-18
Academic calendar
Arrival date:
First day of the semester:
Last day of classes:
Examination period:
Any special events/holidays:
Other:
1Sep
8Sep
Appox. 4Dec
Approx. 9-15 Dec
All Saints' Day
Library is closed on
Sundays, as well as the
whole building.
Although wine shops
are open.
Arrival
- Describe the introduction week
- Fruitful agenda with several go outs, students are welcome to explain anything.
The International Office
- As an exchange student, did you receive sufficient and relevant information?
- Yes, they even helped to find a dentist.
Promoting BI and Norway
- What kind of activities were you involved in to promote exchange to Norway at
your exchange university?
- No special events were there, just talking to other students
Social activities
- How was the relationship with native students and that among exchange
students?
- Pretty welcome and fun, easy to cooperate in terms of groupworks and generally going
out.
- Are there any special activities, student organisations, and gatherings for
exchange students?
- At the beginning of the semester, a special meetimg for exchange students. They also
explain how to fill out a form for a local residence permit if needed.
III. ACADEMICS
In the classroom
- Describe the teaching style (practical, theoretical, cases/lectures, formal/informal
etc.)
- Lectures with presentations, theoretic concepts explained through examples and
practice. Also computer/lab sessions exist, focusing on implementation issues.
Generally lectures cover the exam material, no additional books required, but
references always exist. Lectures publish in impact journals and/or have industry
experience, hence knowledge is very relevant. Also office hours exist, where you can
ask what you misunderstood. Sometimes professor may ask to register for it.
- How is the level and workload compared to at BI?
- More work is required and not always professor explains everything in detail, leaving
parts as homework. Asking questions hence is very welcomed and is considered as
you put effort to study.
Course materials
- Describe the course materials used (books/literature, online articles, Powerpoint,
level of course material etc).
- All books can be found in the library, 4week and 1day loads exist. Normally,
everything is available online. Relevant literature is often articles, but mostly book
chapters. Professors upload presentations, sometimes in advance.
Exams
- Was the exam based on the course materials or on the lectures?
- Presentations mostly, but ability to elaborate more is required. Also some deriviations
may be done on blackboard and not in presentation, therefore keep updated with what
was on lectures.
- How was the course evaluated (include all that apply)?
o Final exam (include form: written, oral, home assignment, presentation, etc.)
Generaly, written exams constitute a great part of the grade. At the beginning
of each course professor gives out syllabus with details explained.
o Mid-term exam
Not on every course. Failure of midterm does not mean you fail the whole
course.
o Small assignments and/or papers in a group– some courses require paper,
genrally you have several weks and may consult professor.
o Presentations – not happened.
o Attendance is not graded, but participation may be noticed and added as a
bonus. Professor will specify in advance
Library and technology
- Describe the facilities
- The library is regularly full of students, as well as study areas. No computers at
library, although a computer room exists with limited working hours. Wi-Fi coverage
is ok, so bring your laptop. There exists working area that runs to 2 a.m. Library is
closed on Sundays.
Description of courses
Course code & name
20245 Advanced
Derivatives
20251 Fixed Income
Master/
Bachelor
Master
Master
20248 Asset
Management
Master
20247 Applied
Numerical Finance
Master
20453 Venture capital
andvaluation
Master
Exam form
Comments
Written+optiona
l assignment
Written+midter
m+optional
assignment
Stochastic finance is required to understand, very
interesting and practically oriented.
Stochastic finance is also required to understand,
very interesting and practically oriented. Part
tought by Head of FI modelling at Intesa San
Paolo (Massimo Morini)
Very broad course with much literature (articles),
focuses on really relevant issues for practitioners.
Not mathematically heavy.
Mathematically heavy. Although explained in
deep detail and intuition given.
Written+groupw
ork in excel or
other soft
Written+groupw
ork in
matlab/VBA
Written+midter
m+bonus for
participation in
discussions.
Hands-on experience from the researcher (second
part of the course). Extremely relevant and deeply
explained. Very basic math.
On a final note, how will you sum up the exchange experience?
Academically most challenging semester: up-to-date knowledge packed and delivered
directly. Does require much work interms of understanding and questioning relevant issues.
Culturally and socially amazing. You’ll never find yourself bored, on the contrary, ability to
concentrate is required, since many events take place. And there’s a free piano at the
university!