Milan - Business Studies

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Overview

Quick Facts

City:

Milan [1]

Country:

Italy [2]

Program credits:

15-19 per semester (5-6 courses)

Language(s) of Instruction:

English

Italian

Language prerequisites:

None

Known as the business capital of Italy, Milan is the place to study abroad for Business majors. This great city is home to Italy’s main stock exchange, the Borsa Italiana, and famous international businesses like Giorgio Armani, Bugatti, and Pirelli. Our Business Studies Program allows you to take courses in Business, Finance, Marketing, Economics, and Banking at the top Italian universities.

We provide one-of-a-kind courses that explore the world of business, as well as a wide variety of courses focusing on contemporary issues in Italy. Take an elective in Art History, Political Science, or Photography to create a diverse course load, or combine your coursework with a hands-on internship. Take a course in Italian economics at one of the top business schools in the world. All IES Abroad courses are taught by well-known experts in their fields, and are conducted in English. We also offer a guest lecture series and an extensive list of field study opportunities that help you learn more about the Italian business culture.

Round out your study abroad education with the required Italian language classes that are tailored to your skill level. You can also enroll in a local university course to learn about international business alongside Italian and international students.

Milan will also be your classroom. When you’re not in class or at your internship, discover why high-end designers want to be here and corporations conduct business here—everything you do will be part of your learning experience. Welcome to study abroad!

With an international internship, you’ll have hands-on work experience with major global companies like Ernst & Young and Cargill. Or, perhaps you’ll learn how to manage fashion and luxury brands in the city known for its couture fashion houses. No matter what internship you choose, the experience will not only be valuable to your study abroad experience, but to your career as well.

Program Dates

These dates are preliminary and are subject to change. Students should not book flights according to these dates.

Academics

Our mission is simple: to provide you with the best study abroad program possible—which includes the highest quality academic and cultural experiences.

We offer unique courses in Business, Italian Language, and Culture, along with a wide array of electives, taught by our world-class professors. Course options at prestigious local universities enhance not just what you learn, but how you learn it, and provide you with new perspectives each day in class. As a student in the Business Studies Program, you will have the option of taking courses at a number of renowned Italian universities.

You create your own academic experience by selecting from the following required and optional program components:

IES Abroad Italian language course (required, 6 credits or 4 credits for Advanced Italian)
English-taught IES Abroad area studies courses (3 credits)
Business courses (in English or Italian) at a local university (3 credits)
Internship (3 credits)
IES Abroad Italy Today Program elective course (3 credits)

Courses

The IES Abroad Milan Business Studies program offers an exciting combination of academic opportunities.

To learn more about IES Abroad’s innovative theoretical and pedagogical approaches to teaching language abroad, refer to the IES Abroad MAP for Language & Intercultural Communication [3].

IES Abroad Italian Language Courses

English-taught IES Abroad Business area studies course (3 credits)

IB 355 - Managing Fashion And Luxury Companies (Fall, Spring) [11]

Business courses (in English or Italian) at a local university (3 credits)

Sample offerings at the Università Bocconi:

Brand Management
Business History
Business Strategy
Corporate Finance
Decision Making and Negotiation
Development Economics
European Economic Policy
Financial Statement Analysis
Innovation Management
International Economics
International Trade
Investment Banking
Management of International and Supranational Organizations
Product Innovation and Market Creation

Sample offerings at the Università Cattolica:

English-taught business courses

Italian-taught Business courses are also available at Università Cattolica in the following disciplines:

Accounting
Business
Economics
Finance and Insurance
International Economy and Relations

Business Internship (3 credits)

IN 395 - Internship Seminar (Fall, Spring) [20]

IES Abroad Milan Italy Today Program elective courses (3 credits)

Art History

Communications

Cultural Studies

CU230 - Italian Conversation: Culture And Cuisine Of Italy (Fall, Spring) [25]

Environmental Studies

ES330 - Social Innovation: Strategies Of Social And Environmental Sustainability (Fall, Spring) [26]

Film Studies

History

Italian Electives

Literature

Music

Photography

PG300 - Photography: A Critical Introduction (Fall, Spring [43]

Political Science

Psychology

Sociology

Partner Institution(s)

Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
www.unicattolica.it [50]
With five campuses throughout Italy (Milano, Brescia, Piacenza-Cremona, Roma, & Campobasso), Cattolica enrollment nears approximately 42,000 students. From 68 students in 1921 to the 30,000 currently enrolled, the Cattolica campus in Milan fosters a major academic community of 12 departments, 19 internal departments, and 35 research centers. Located in the old city center and founded in 1921, the Cattolica is one of the largest private universities in Europe.

Note: The Corsi Singoli application is not required for enrollment at the Cattolica.

Courses
English-taught courses are available in:

Business, Government and the Global Economy
International Relations and the Middle East: A European Perspective
Luxury You Must Afford: Communication, Persuasion and the Made in Italy Survival Strategies
Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship
The Italian Economy: Economic Miracles and Malaise
The Political Economy of European Integration
The Globalization of Finance: Managing Returns and Risks
Total Business Communication

Italian-taught Business courses are available in the following disciplines:

Communications
Economics
International Business
International Economy and Relations

For further information on Italian-taught courses and to get an idea of what types of courses may be offered, click here [51]. Choose the facoltà you are interested in, and you may see a list of courses for each laurea listed on the Guide delle Facoltà.

Location & Commute Time
The Università Cattolica, located in the old city center, occupies the former cloister of the medieval church of Saint Ambrose, Milan’s most famous basilica. It is also a short walk from Santa Maria delle Grazie, the church where Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper” is located. The surrounding neighborhood of winding, narrow streets blends with the Renaissance architecture of the Cattolica and its charming courtyards. The Cattolica campus is a short five-minute walk from the IES Abroad Milan Center.

Università Bocconi
www.unibocconi.it [52]
Voted “number one worldwide in the specific category of value for money” by Forbes, Università Bocconi is one of the most prestigious European schools of Business, Economics, and Finance. You may apply to enroll in up to three courses each semester. Università Bocconi offers a wide range of English- and Italian-taught business courses, which are taught on a semester basis; thus, courses are available to both semester and academic-year students.

After acceptance to IES Abroad, you must complete additional steps to be eligible for admission to Bocconi.

Bring an official, sealed transcript, issued by your home university, to Milan.
Complete an online application for Bocconi prior to arrival in Milan. Course selection can still be modified once on-site. This application is released in mid-July for fall students and early to mid-November for spring students.

Courses
Sample offerings at the Università Bocconi:

Brand Management
Business History
Business Strategy
Corporate Finance
Decision Making and Negotiation
Development Economics
European Economic Policy
Financial Statement Analysis
Innovation Management
International Economics
International Trade
Investment Banking
Management of International and Supranational Organizations
Product Innovation and Market Creation

Registration & Advising
Course offerings vary from semester to semester. Exact course availability is determined shortly before the start of each semester. For this reason, it will not be possible for you to officially register until your arrival in Milan.

Internships

While adding study abroad to your resume is impressive enough, adding an international internship experience is even more powerful, and can help distinguish your application for graduate school or a job opportunity in today’s competitive job market.

An internship provides an invaluable cultural experience, and helps you develop professional and personal skills. Placement depends upon availability, your background skills, your resume, and language ability.

Placement Examples:

Business – Intern at Attila & Co., Baba Consulting, Cargill, Ceriani e Associati Sudio Legale, Crawford & Co., E-consultant, Ernst & Young, Fineurope, Mandarin Capital Partners, Warnaco
Law – Studio Ceriani & Associati
Media – Intern at Havas Media, Hello Milano, Easy Milano, Kernel Studios, Reply-Bitmama, Neri Pozza
Fashion - Intern at Calvin Klein, Boom Model Agency, Future Models, Independent Men, Jeckerson, Joy Yaffe, Mint, Why Not?

Field Study

We organize field study trips that complement IES Abroad courses and contribute to a better understanding of the Italian culture and society. Past field study excursions include:

Siting in on IES Abroad Milan’s prestigious guest lecture series with noted local scholars and public figures who are invited to give talks to students on various subjects.
Studying the work of Leonardo da Vinci, then see his painting, “The Last Supper.”
Conducting a comparative study of the Italian and American approaches to mental health through a visit to the prison of S. Vittore and to health care and legal clinics serving the needy.
Visiting the headquarters of Italian daily newspapers (Corriere della Sera and Gazzetta dello Sport).
Visiting the Swarovski museum and factory.
Attending a fashion show in one of the fashion capitals of the world.

Housing

Our job is to make sure that your greatest challenge is deciding what landmarks to see first or discovering the best café—not finding a place to live where you feel comfortable. We do our best to locate housing that is reflective of how the local students are living. Our goal is that when you leave Milan, it will feel like home.

Homestays - A limited number of placements are available in Milanese homes. This is a priceless opportunity to learn about Italian families first-hand and engage directly with Italian culture.

You will have a private room at your homestay, where you will receive breakfast and dinner daily, and you can eat your other meals at the university cafeterias, bars, or restaurants. Commuting time from a typical homestay to the IES Abroad Milan Center can range from five to 30 minutes.

Apartments - Share a furnished apartment in the city with four to seven students. These apartments are single-sex, and you generally share a bedroom with another student.

You can request to live with an Italian roommate who is either a college student or young working professional called a Community Assistant (CA). These assistants can help you with directions to scenic sites, lend a hand with Italian homework, share advice on the best places to go shopping, and offer many other useful hints and tips.

Not only do the Italian CAs live in roughly half of the apartments, but they also spend time at the IES Abroad Center answering questions and working for the program. If improving your Italian is your highest priority, you may also ask to live in an Italian-language only apartment.

Meals are not included, so you normally eat lunch at a local café or a university cafeteria, and prepare your own breakfast and dinner at home. Located on main public transportation routes near the Center, apartments are fully equipped with washing machines, Internet access, and other amenities.

Collegio di Milano - This residence for Italian and international honors students offers single rooms with private bathrooms and balconies. The facilities include a computer room, library, small gym, cafeteria, private park, and an auditorium for special cultural programs. Three meals are provided daily. Space is limited, and students are chosen by the Collegio based on academic merit. Because of the extra amenities, this option carries an additional fee. Visit their website [53] for details.

Student Life

Part of making you feel at home in Milan is doing our best to help you feel safe and cared for. Whether it is an orientation program that prepares you, housing that is well-located and comfortable, or the field trips that take you to places off the beaten path—we’re all about our student services. This is just one of the things we’re known for.

Orientation

The program begins with a four-day orientation to get you familiar with the IES Abroad Milan staff, your fellow students, and the city of Milan. Topics such as academics, housing, transportation, and health and safety are covered during orientation.

Additionally, CORE™, IES Abroad’s Comprehensive Orientation & Re-entry Experience, begins during orientation and continues throughout the semester with activities focusing on cultural adjustment, goal achievement, and preparing for the return home.

After orientation, you will participate in a two-week intensive language program designed to help you gain practical language skills and acclimate to the local environment. IES Abroad schedules several field studies and tours to introduce you to the history, culture, and surroundings of Milan.

Extracurricular Activities & Cultural Events

Redefine the way you live and learn in Milan through cultural events, such as:

Gaining insight into the local business world through field studies and guest lectures
Participating in a language exchange with local Italian students and young professionals
Engaging in fun activities sponsored by Italian peers, such as visits to museums, attending sport events, local fairs in the Navigli area, and aperitivi
Playing informal soccer
Learning Italian folk group dances
Taking part in a “cook along” with fellow Italian students

Field Trips

Although your adventure begins in Milan, our field trips take you to other great cities in Italy to provide contrast and context for what you are learning in Milan. You share a portion of the cost with IES Abroad. Past destinations are listed below.

Lake Maggiore
1 Day | Fall
Don’t miss the beautiful city of Stresa, located on the shores of Lake Maggiore. It’s here you’ll take a ferry to the Borromean Islands to see enchanting houses and gardens of Isola Bella.

Tuscany
3 Days | Fall
Tour the Tuscany countryside and visit the medieval towns of Pienza, Siena, Montalcino, and Arezzo. Hear the Gregorian chant of the monks of Sant’Antimo Abbey and soak up the knowledge you will learn at the museum of wine.

Sicily
4 Days | Fall
Experience the cradle of Western Civilization, the home of Magna Grecia, a unique place full of art, archeology, myth, history, folklore, and breathtaking sceneries. Visit baroque Catania, Europe’s highest active volcano, Etna; and the magical mountaintop town of Taormina.

Northern Italy
3 Days | Spring
Dive into the culture and cuisine of Northern Italy with guided tours of Cremona, Parma, and Mantova.

Ski Trip
3 Days | Spring
A charming town in the Alps is your destination for skiing, ice skating, and hiking on Europe’s highest mountain.

Lombardy
1 Day | Spring
Explore the Romanesque and Gothic heritage of Lombardy by visiting abbeys and castles located on the outskirts of Milan.

Center

IES Abroad Milan [54]

IES ABROAD MILAN
Via Carducci, 26 | 20123 Milano, Italy
The IES Abroad Milan Center is located in the city’s bustling historic center, near the prestigious Università Cattolica.

Features include:

High-quality multimedia classrooms
Fully equipped music practice rooms
Student lounge
Digital photo facilities
Library and reading rooms
High-speed wireless Internet access

Center staff:

Roberto Andreoni
IES Abroad Director
Roberto Andreoni, Director, IES Abroad Milan, holds a doctorate in Music Composition from the University of California, Berkeley. His undergraduate degrees were earned at the Conservatorio G. Verdi in Milan and the Accademia Internazionale della Musica. He previously served as the Director of the Civica Scuola di Musica in Assago and of the Accademia Internazionale della Musica in Milan. Dr. Andreoni is an active composer whose works are regularly performed and recorded. In addition to his responsibilities as Program Director, he also serves as the Music Coordinator for IES Abroad Milan.

IES Abroad Staff

Irene Baldoni
Assistant Director

Laura Carrera
Internship Coordinator

Luca Blumer
Academic Advisor for Outside Institutions & Customized Programs

Maria Bond
Academic Assistant

Walter Muto
Student Services Coordinator

Manuela Nigrelli
Housing Coordinator

Anna Salandini
Fiscal Administrator

Faculty

Costanza Asnaghi
Italian
Master’s in Teaching Italian to Foreigners, Università Ca' Foscari, Venezia. Degree in Foreign Languages and Literatures (Specialization in Information Sciences and Social Communication), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano

Anna Belloni
Italian
Degree in Foreign Languages and Literatures, Università Statale degli Studi di Milano

Chiara Bodini
Italian
Master’s in Intercultural policies, Università degli Studi di Firenze; Degree in Foreign Languages and Literatures, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano

Daria Cantù
Social Innovation and Sustainability
Master’s in Service Design, Politecnico di Milano; Doctoral Student in Design and Innovation for Sustainability

Marco Capovilla
Photography
Degree in Information Sciences, Università di Pisa; Doctorate from the Scuola Normale di Pisa; Researcher at the University of California – Berkeley

Gianluca Capuano
Music
Musicologist, Conductor, Director, Orchestra Milano Classica

Laura Carrera
Internship Seminar
Worked for Hewlett-Packard for 16 years as Marketing Communication Specialist, responsible for magazines, catalogs and the Italian website. Now a Consultant in various areas: website start-up, stock exchange market, marketing communication, accounting, new media advertising, luxury merchandising. Degree in Economics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano

Gabriele Cavallini
Art History
Doctorate from the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano; Degree in Art History, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano

Francesco Colombo
Music
Conductor; Conducted orchestras in Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Albania, South Korea, the United States, Mexico and Argentina. Works regularly with the Orchestra Sinfonica Giuseppe Verdi in Milan

Erica Corbellini
Managing Fashion and Luxury Companies, International Business
Degree in Business Administration, Università Bocconi, Milano; Professor at the Università Bocconi

Simone Fontanelli
Music
Composer and Conductor; Degree in Composition, Conservatorio "G. Verdi", Milano

Silvia Francalanza
Italian
Degree in Foreign Languages and Literatures, Libera Università di Lingue e Comunicazione (IULM), Milano; Professional Translator with a specialization in Insurance and Medicine

Giovanna Fungi
Psychology
Master’s in Clinical Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano, Doctorate in Transcultural Psychotherapy, Fondazione Cecchini-Pace (Milano)

Enrico Girardi
Music History
Doctorate in Musicology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano; Degree in Modern Literature, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano; Post-doctorate work at the Università Cattolica, Conservatorio "Giuseppe Verdi", and Accademia Internazionale della Musica, Milano; Music Critic for "Il Corriere della Sera"

Silvia Gobbi
Italian
Degree in Foreign Languages and Literatures, Instituto Universitario di Lingue e Letterature Moderne, Milano; Master’s in Italian, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano

Silvana Greco
Sociology
Degree in Economics from Università Bocconi, Milano; Doctorate in Sociology, Università degli Studi di Milano

Angela Lazzaroni
Music
Degree in Piano and Harpsichord, Civica Scuola di Musica and Conservatorio “G.Verdi”, Milano

Sante Maletta
Italian History
Doctorate in Philosophy, Università degli Studi di Roma; Degree in Philosophy, Università degli Studi di Milano; Lecturer, Philosophy, Università degli Studi della Calabria

Elena Marangione
Italian
Degree in Foreign Languages and Literatures, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano

Nazzareno Mazzini
Cinema
Degree in Philosophy, Università Statale, Milano; Professor of Graphics adn Digital-Virtual Design, IED (Istituto Europeo di Design), Milano

Kevin McManus
Art History
PhD program at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano, Master’s in Art History, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano

Renata Palermo
Italian
Degree in Communication Sciences, Università degli Studi di Catania and in Culture and Languages for Communication, Università degli Studi di Milano; Master’s in Italian Literature, University of Virginia, USA

Francesco Parrino
Music
Violinist, PhD in Italian Music, Royal Holloway College, University of London; Master’s of Music, Royal Academy of Music, London; Degree in Music, Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Utrecht; Degree in Violin, Conservatorio “Giuseppe Verdi”, Milano

Mara Perbellini
Film Studies
Master’s in Screenwriting, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano; Degree in Letters and Philosophy, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano; Founder of Studio metaphora, script development and consulting company

Marco Pisoni
Modern Art and Design, Music
Degree in Letters and Musicology, Università degli Studi di Pavia; Degree in Guitar, Conservatorio; Professor at the Scuola Politecnica di Design, Milano

Francesca Pola
Art History
Doctorate in Contemporary Art History, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano; Degree in Modern Letters, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano; Lecturer, Contemporary Art History, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Brescia

Stefano Procacci
Political Science
Doctorate in Political Representations and Behaviors, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano

Liat Rogel
Social Innovation and Sustainability
Doctoral program at Politecnico di Milano; Master’s in Service Design, Politecnico di Milano

Rocco Ronza
Political Science, Sociology
Doctorate in Sociology and Social Research, Università degli Studi di Trento; Degree in political Science, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano; Professor, Centro Interuniversitario Italiano, Pàsmàny Peter Catholic University, Budapest and the Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca

Maria Sepa
Italian Literature
PhD in Italian Literature, Brown University; Degree in Letters, Università degli Studi di Roma; Consultant, Bompiani publishing company, Milano

Carlotta Soffiantini
Italian
Degree in Modern Letters, Università Cattolica di Milano; Diploma DITALS (Teaching Italian to Foreigners),Università per Stranieri di Siena; Master’s in Italian, Università Cattolica di Milano; Doctoral Program in Linguistics, Università Cattolica, Milano

Francesco Tanzilli
Italian Politics
Doctorate in History, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano; Degree in History, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano; Visiting Scholar, Notre Dame University and New York University

Luca Toccaceli
Communications
Degree in Philosophy from the Università degli Studi di Milano; Music consultant and publisher

Caterina Zaiontz
Psychology
Doctorate in Psychoanalytical Psychotherapy, Scuola di Psicoterapia psicoanalitica (IPA), Milano; Degree in Clinical Psychology, Università degli Studi di Padova; Degree in Applied Linguistics, Institute of Linguists of London; Director, International Studio of Mental Health, Milan Clinical Psychologist/Psychoanalyist

Patrizia Zanardi
Voice
Soprano - Extensive international performances, Diploma Conservatorio "G. Verdi" Torino, Cum Laude, M.A Verdi's Repertoire, Conservatorio "G. Nicolini" Piacenza, Cum Laude, M.A Art Song and Vocal Chamber Music, Conservatorio "G. Nicolini" Piacenza, Cum Laude, Voice Prof. Conservatorio "G. Frescobaldi" Ferrara.

Donatella Zappieri
Managing Fashion and Luxury Companies, International Business
Degree in Foreign Languages (English and French), Geneva University; PR manager and design director

Cost