Double Degree: More than an International Experience

INTEGRATING INTO ANOTHER COMMUNITY, BECOMING QUALIFIED FOR TWO LABOR MARKETS AND INCREASING ONE'S REPUTATION: THESE ARE THE REASONS TO TAKE A DOUBLE DEGREE ACCORDING TO STEFANO CASELLI, VICE RECTOR FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS. AND ALSO ACCORDING TO STUDENTS

A double degree, in Italy and abroad, is always of extra value. Everyone can see it browsing through the job ads: companies and organizations often look for international and open-minded profiles, able to work in multicultural teams and to address global and new challenges: these are the future managers. Bocconi University offers a very wide range of Double Degree programs in partnership with 25 universities in Europe, Russia, India, Brazil, USA, Canada, Australia and China. The program consists in spending one year of a master's degree at Bocconi and the other one in a partner school, to specialize in a particular area of ​​interest. At the end of the program, students are given both the Bocconi and the partner university degrees.

"Three aspects make the Double Degree an important and special experience. First, compared to an internship or an exchange, it is a more challenging and complete experience: the student lives abroad for a long time and become part of a different reality. He is not just a guest", says Stefano Caselli, Vice Rector for International Affairs. "Secondly, the fact of obtaining two degrees makes students eligible for two labor markets, the Italian one and in the country of the partner university. Also, it is an opportunity to expand their network, having access to two different alumni networks", says Caselli. "Finally, it is good for the reputation: having a DD on the curriculum is definitely a plus".

Alessia Fontanari took the China Master in International Management (China MIM) in Shanghai at Fudan University: "It was a great learning experience, and very different from the traditional exchanges. This kind of situation allows you to truly integrate into the host country (and university)", she says, "Most of the case studies were on Chinese companies, it was an opportunity to analyze every side of Chinese entrepreneurship, which is difficult to understand from the outside. It was also useful to understand the issues of western companies trying to enter China". Armando Cilento, a recent graduate in International Management, has just obtained his Double Degree at HEC Paris: "This experience was an occasion to put myself to the test, to become part of another culture, it was like having a double passport", says Armando, who now works in the markets division of an investment bank. "One of the best moments was the graduation ceremony: I really felt part of the HEC community. It was touching to sing the university anthem together with all the other students".

For further information on the Double Degree contact: phone +39 02 5386.2234 – doubledegree@unibocconi.it or (for the Double Degree with Fudan University, China): phone +39 02 5386.2474 – chinamim@unibocconi.it

To learn more about all the study and work abroad opportunities offered by the University, attend the Bocconi International Fair (BIF), which will take place on February 11 in Via Roentgen 1. BIF is an annual event, during which, among other things, students and graduates can get more information about international programs and submit their CVs to Bocconi representatives. 

by Benedetta Ciotto