I am currently searching opportunities for studying and living abroad, and as I know both Italian and English, I would like to study in Italy. For about 4 months I wanted to study in Bocconi, but now I have found a more preferable university-in Pisa (in terms of money). But is it as preferable in terms of knowledge and prestige? There are also some other differences. The main is that in Bocconi you only study for 14 months and in Pisa you study for 1/2 year and the other part you work in Ferrari,FIAT of somewhere else! Could you please advice me on this topic?
Thanks in advance

Since you have already decided on Italy, Bocconi is the most internationally known MBA programme at the moment.

This might not be relevant though since (from the sound of it) you want your future career to be in Italy. Other universities could do just as well for you locally as Bocconi, but may not help so much once you leave the region.

If Pisa fits your budget and the format is more interesting, then you should go for it. However don't expect more than they can offer! The reputation is fine in Italy, but it is unlikely to cut much ice in top named companies elsewhere.

Personally, I don't think much of Italy for an MBA, and would put Bocconi way down the list of target schools, but only if I were comparing it ot other top European programmes.

Thank you very much for your response. But one thing- both of them work with same companies. Pisa cooperates with Accenture
Benetton Group
Bulgari
Eni
Ferragamo
Ferrari
Fiat
Goodyear Dunlop Tires
IBM
L'Oreal
McKinsey&Co.
Microsoft
Nestlè
Piaggio
Pirelli
Prada
Valentino Group
I think it's quite good,and it means that I will get my working experience in one of the innumerated. Bocconi cooperates with the same companies,but doesn't offer working expirience in them.

its a good list for the school, but you should check a couple of things first:

1) do students pick companies, or companies pick students
2) are the internships guaranteed or is there a proportion of the class that doesn't get a spot
3) how does this translate into jobs - what proportion are offered a job after the internship.

Thank you very much! And what did you mean by saying something like: I wouldn't study on MBA in Italy? What country or better say university would you recommend?

ah, don't mind that comment, everyone has a personal preference. I just couldn't imagine trying to find a job in Italy (economy has been struggling for years) and for those who don't speak Italian, I bet it is one of the hardest places in western europe to secure a suitable post-mba job.

But from what i gather from your posts, you speak italian and are set on a job probably in italy to start with, so this shouldn't be too great an issue for you.

I am opened to all ideas,that's why I am here. Please,could you be so kind as to innumerate at least 3 best places in EU where you would like to study and find the job. Thank you very much in advance JamieO for your time and patience to me for my silly questions

Don't worry, no silly questions here. I found it quite interesting having a bit of a look in to Pisa's MBA. I had heard of the uni, but not the MBA.

There are the three classics, LBS, INSEAD, IMD. Guaranteed reputation and you aren't stuck in one place for a job. IMD clearly with the advantage here of not having too large a class. INSEAD and LBS may suffer from having too many graduates at a time when jobs are scarce - particularly since both have traditionally relied on London for a large proportion of placements. IMD is just a difficult one to get into and the atmosphere may not suit everyone.

These are popular, but I would be a bit more adventurous and look at other options:

Look at other targeted choices. The German economy is rebounding well at the moment, as is the Swiss, so I would aim for either one of the northern schools RSM in Holland or for St.Gallen in German Switzerland. (programmes actually in germany aren't really worth considering yet). With the exception of INSEAD, France is not a great place to be but Spain is tempting and I would aim for IESE at the moment (although the top three are hard to seperate sometimes).

Summary: RSM, IESE or St.Gallen

Thank you very very much! I will study all the variants

Hi, I know that another very good B-school in italy for the MBA, +EQUIS accredited is MIP in Milan. It's definetely less expensive than bocconi but more recognized than Pisa.

Crypt Teller, I've been having the same concerns and I settled on either Bocconi or Pisa, so which one did you finally go to and any feedback?

None of them,actually. I have chosen ESADE in Spain

hi guys .... I hv been selected for mba in univ of pisa ... let me know is it worth of joining there, is italy the right destination for mba graduates, job prospectus and the avg monthly expense in pisa .... looking forward for ur comments

I'm applying for the MBA in Pisa too. From my point of view the advantages of the University are the location, the prestigious name and the inexpensive tuition. You can't beat that! The counterpart is the program is brand new and has not been accredited yet, that's also why the tuition is so low!

I contacted a few students that are currently doing the program and I got good references about it. One thing I'm aware of is that the program doesn't really work with the companies that are listed in the website. Those companies are basically supporting the college by doing workshops, but, are not the ones you are going to do the internships in. I know several students have already gotten their internships outside Italy in Germany and France. Chances of getting a job after their internship are very high according to the person in charge of Admissions. Also, I was told internships are not guaranteed which is weird because it is not optional.

Hope this helps! and will appreciate any comments or advices!

hey are you sure with ur comments.. even though last year i got admission i couldn't make it .. i got applied this time too and shortlisted ..waiting for the interview .... but they said that internships are guaranteed ... wer u frm? i'm vijay from india .. u hv yahoo id?

I can forward you the e-mail Admissions sent me in which they say that internships are not guaranteed and are only for the best students. I don't use yahoo msn, but you can email me. How did the interview last year go?? was it hard?? I have my interview this coming week.

I am studying at Pisa University's MBA program, and i have till now gotten 4 interviews, this is included the biggest energy company called ENEL. I am still waiting for reply.

I think for people that dont have HUGE budgets to go to LSE or Insead PISA MBA is a great alternative.

They focus alot on the students.

Could you keep us updated about the MBA and job opportunities or internships?? I think that what Pisa is lacking is experience. I'm undecided about their program because I'm not sure how strong an MBA from them would be on my resume. Any comments would be helpful.

Job opportunities depend on your CV if you got a good CV and profile and you know Italian and you dont mess it up in the interviews, then it is not a problem. All though for the amount of money you are paying it aint that bad for sure, now im from scandinavia and here it would look good on my CV pisa university MBA degree, because it is a famous place, in europe.

All though no doubt if you can get into bocconi and you have the budget you should go there.

Hello nach2nach,iam also intersted to join university of pisa next year,i dnt have any prior work experience, but i have dne an internship in worlds 3rd biggest oil and refinery company ongc, so my questn does an pisa mba gonna help me to get job after copletion of my mba.