Nicholas Erasmus

University: Bocconi University

Course: International Economics and Finance (BIEF)

Which year you are in: Graduated in 2020

Hometown in the UK: Cobham, Surrey

1. Why did you choose to study abroad?

I chose to study at Bocconi not only because of its high global ranking but also because of the advantages that studying abroad provides. Bocconi offers the perfect mix of world-leading business education as well as providing a full international experience to each student.

Moreover, being able to study French(or any other modern language) alongside my degree added a key differential factor for Bocconi. Being able to converse in more than 1 language, I believe is an essential skill for any economics student to have in such a global and diverse job market.

2. How would you rate the assistance of the university before you arrived (the application process, finding accommodation, sorting out financial matters)?

The assistance that the Bocconi Admissions office provides was excellent. Bocconi’s application process is seamless-in my view a much clearer process than it was with UCAS. There are also documents that Bocconi will require from each applicant that are not included in the required documents to be submitted for UCAS , but in each case the admissions office was very helpful and highly responsive to each query I had.

The university provides plenty of accommodation possibilities, which can be booked very easily (recommended for freshers).

3. How would you rate the assistance of the university when you arrived (orientation etc)?

The university provided a Welcome Week at the start and the crash courses in maths and Italian were very useful.

4. Did you feel prepared when you arrived and/or what surprised you?

Relocating to a foreign country always has its minor challenges at first( new phone contract, foreign environment etc) but given the amount of support Bocconi provides, settling into Milan was very feasible. Furthermore, given how international Milan is combined with the plethora of internationalities amongst students there was no language barrier at all.

5. How would you rate the learning environment (teaching style, studying with other international students, non-native English speaking lecturers)?

The teaching style at Bocconi (having regular lessons vs. reading weeks in the UK) is something I really enjoy. The fact that Technical Assistants and lecturers are often available to clarify concepts is highly beneficial. Moreover, one aspect I never fully anticipated before was that having international students study and work with you is an incredible asset. Having such a broad spectrum of international colleagues, plus at the same time practising a foreign language, is immensely beneficial.

6. Would you recommend studying abroad to someone your age who might never have thought about it before?

Yes. Having gone through Bocconi now I can genuinely say that the experience of studying at a top global university is one I would highly encourage. I would recommend that each student researches and compares all the different courses before their application to Bocconi given the academic pressure there is not only rigorous but also the pace is fast. It is fundamental to have a passion about the course & modules you are studying, particularly in a competitive environment.

7. Is there anything you wish someone had told you at the time you applied?

Be familiar with the Italian GPA(Graded Point Average) system, and to learn some basic Italian to get by before the start of Bocconi.

8. Would you recommend your course, university, city to British students?

Definitely. The experience of Bocconi is a unique one and certainly one that provides great value given its international aspect and global ranking. Being a top 5 European university for Economics & Finance, Bocconi attracts ambitious, self-motivated and smart students from around the globe. To be able to work with such highly driven colleagues is a uniquely beneficial experience and one I would recommend to any student.