Graduate School of Management, SDA Bocconi

The A-Z of Business schools

Age: 17

History: Graduate arm of Bocconi University, Italy's main business university founded in 1902, the management school was created in 1971 offering full- time masters programmes and executive education. Before that the university had run two-year evening courses in management.

Address: Centre of Milan, the nerve centre of Italian business.

Ambience: Housed in a newly refurbished convent and chapel (10 modern classrooms, 58 special group work areas) close to the main university. Students use the facilities of the university - restaurant, cafeteria, bar, library, language lab. No on-site library or campus accommodation. But Milan is a great place in which to live and you can nip into the Alps or over to the French Riviera if you need to breathe fresh mountain/sea air.

Vital statistics: A leading European business school which combines Italian flair with an international outlook, it offers two masters programmes, the MBA and the Masters of International Economics and Management (Miem). The former is a full-time bilingual management programme (one class in Italian, another in English) lasting 16 months. The latter is full-time, taught exclusively in English, lasts 12 months with emphasis on international finance and industry analysis and marketing.

Added value: The school has special expertise in IT and, as befits Milan, fashion and design. You can focus on one or other of these areas. It runs a joint MBA and Masters in International Affairs with John Hopkins University.

Easy to get into? You need a degree, two years' work experience, GMAT or an equivalent test in Italian and an interview.

Association of MBA's accreditation: Yes. Has also won the new European quality seal of approval, Equis.

Glittering alumni: Pierfranco Nebuloni, managing director, ERG Petroleum; Vittorio Terzi, partner, McKinsey; Marco Airoldi, general manager international activities, Autogrill.

International connections: Those who choose not to focus on IT or fashion can go on an exchange. The school has links with institutions in Australia, US, Spain, Japan, France, the Netherlands and UK - Columbia in New York, Wharton at the University of Pennsylvania, Rotterdam School of Management.

Gurus: Claudio Dematte, expert on markets and president of FS, National Railways; Enrico Valdani, marketing expert; Michael J Ginzberg, professor of management information.

Student profile: Average age of MBA students is 29; average age of Miem students is 26. Male/female mix on MBA is 72:28; on Miem is 57:43. On the MBA 60 per cent are Italian, 21 per cent from the rest of Europe; and 19 per cent from outside Europe. On Miem 22 per cent are Italian; 43 per cent from the rest of Europe; and 35 per cent from outside Europe.

Cost: Around pounds 11,000 for the MBA (17,500 euros) and pounds 9,000 (15,000 euros) for the Miem.

Return on investment: Fifty per cent increase in salary.

Who's the boss? Elio Borgonovi, whose interests are public administration, health care and non-profit organisations, and who supports Juventus football club.