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Bsc Management - Bocconi vs Kings vs Cass

Hi,

I received offers from all three universities and am interested in your opinion which uni is the best in undergraduate for management (quality of education, job prospects, internships, possibilities of a year abroad...)

The location of the Uni will not affect my decision as I am convinced of both Milan and London as great places to study

Thanks!

Reply 1

robbiee

I am a second year Bocconi student (BIEMF, which I guess is the same degree you got accepted in).

My opinion is that in the UK a BSc in Management is not so well reputed. I would say Cass COULD be the exception as it's a good business school and could look good on the CV. However I don't know enough about it or the quality of teaching (I once read campus life wasn't so great).

BIEMF gives you a more "economical" degree. For instance, in third year you get to chose a major between Economics, Management and Finance.
Even though I chose the Management major, this semester I have a course in International Economics (International Trade and Monetary economics) and European Economic Policy. In third year I have my real concentration, where I will be able to study subjects like Marketing, Managerial Accounting, Public Management, Innovation management.

So, even though kind of challenging, I'm glad to have this economical approach to my degree in business.
Looking at the King's bachelor I must say that the program is quite ridiculous, in my modest opinion, and I am convinced it can't lead you to any good master (apart from a King's master which I guess, from an "ambitious career" point of view, is useless)
Can't speak for Cass, as I don't have information on the program or what students do in their further studies.

Bocconi students do get access to great masters (of course you need the grades), so my suggestions are

1) Bocconi
2) Cass
3) King's

Of course Milan and London are two different realities, and student life changes considerably. Looking at my friends in the UK I am absolutely glad to be living a Milanese lifestyle, but that is subjective and needs careful consideration! :smile:

Reply 2

Lorenzo.S

As a current Italian student currently reading Business Management at King's I must say your claims are quite ridiculous, certainly not the course at King's. It pisses me somewhat when people judge things they do not really know on the grounds of weak observations and assumptions.

We do not have an actual business school but that's because no college of the University of London has one (apart from LBS, which is, in itself, a business school). We do have a Department of Management though, just like LSE and UCL. Although small, the department is good enough for providing you with all the career and studying resources you need, along with a great business education. The caliber of the staff is absolutely remarkable and you can see that in teaching and courses' structure and content. The number of PhDs from Ivy League schools and Oxbridge working in the department is absolutely impressive.

I had offers from Cass, KCL and Warwick but ultimately opted for King's because, as a university, it is better than Warwick and way ahead of City. In terms of prestige and international recognition, KCL is in its own league compared to the other two, especially City. Also, it is one of the very best unis in the world for social sciences and management, disciplines which of course include Business and Economics. Also, King's is London's most central university, which means you got the world at your doorstep and invaluable exposure to employers.

As to the course, the first year is pretty standard, but from the second one onward you can specialise in the subject you like, whether finance, banking, economics, marketing, accounting, HR. The course offers a very good combination of academic rigour and practical focus and, as long as you put the work in, it will give you the opportunity to get the City job you want. You can also take advantage of a full year abroad on the 2nd year (which will be a replacement year), and spend time at one of top global unis such as The University of Hong Kong, the University of Toronto, UC Berkeley etc.

In terms of preparation for postgraduate studies, the course at King's seems to be great as well. I know 3rd year students who got offers for MSc Finance from ESADE and LSE, MSc Investment and Wealth Management from Imperial, MSc Real Estate Finance from Cambridge...your assetion that "it can't lead to any good master" thus seems quite silly. Also, I wouldn't "guess" that King's masters are useless, since I met people from Warwick and other top british unis who came here for postgrad and did really well in any career afterwards.

Lastly, in terms of career prospects I must say I cannot complain either. The university has an amazing reputation across pretty much all industries and, if you are interested in banking and finance, there are big employers (JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, hedge funds, investment management firms) coming over all the time, whether for presentations, career fairs or student challenges.

You said you can't speak for Cass because you didn't have enough info and, please, do not do that for King's either because you have no idea of what you're talking about.
Bocconi is a great school and I truly esteem it but you "Bocconians" should really redimension yourself because you are not the only business and finance students in this world and there are people of your same value, if not often much better than you, at quite a few universities around the globe.

Enjoy Milan and, since you are particularly glad of your "Milanese life", do not come to beg for a job here in London after graduation, just like many of your university peers do.

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 3

gr8wizard10

Boconni > Cass > KCL

Taking this totally from a banking perspective, from my own insight and experience.

Reply 4

Lorenzo.S

Original post by Abdul-Karim

Boconni > Cass > KCL

Taking this totally from a banking perspective, from my own insight and experience.

My argument wasn't about which uni is better for getting into banking mate. Bocconi (not "Boconni") and Cass have an obvious edge because King's, as said, is not specialised in and known for business and finance.

My point was criticizing people who, without any thorough knowledge, judge a university which has global recognition for academic excellence and a Business course which is actually one of the UK's most competitive to get into, and that provides high starting salaries and great post-graduation prospects, in terms of both career and master studies.

Nothing against either Bocconi or Cass. I know they're both very good schools (Bocconi more than Cass as you highlighted), especially for people looking to enter the finance and investment sector.