Bocconi ➡️ IB?
Hi everyone,
I’m a high school student from Madrid trying to make a big decision and would really appreciate some honest advice from people in IB or familiar with European targets.
I come from a Spanish-French school in Madrid and my clear long-term goal is Investment Banking in London. I know it’s extremely competitive, which is why I’m trying to optimize my path as early as possible.
Right now, I’m seriously considering Bocconi (BIEF), but I’m also weighing the option of staying in Madrid and going to ICADE, which would obviously be the safer and more comfortable choice but harder to go to IB.
What attracts me to Bocconi is its reputation in finance and the idea that it’s one of the strongest feeders into IB in Europe outside the UK. At the same time, I don’t have any family or professional connections in finance, so I’m trying to understand how much Bocconi’s brand + being a strong student can realistically compensate for that when recruiting for London.
A few things I’m specifically struggling with:
• From Madrid, is Bocconi really a “top” option for IB London, or is its strength overstated compared to UK targets?
• If I perform very well academically but I don't have any pre-network, how realistic is it to land IB interviews from Bocconi?
• How do banks actually view Bocconi undergrads vs Spanish schools like ICADE for London roles?
• Is it smarter to take the risk, move abroad at 18, live alone and push hard at Bocconi… or stay “safe” in Madrid and accept potentially weaker exits?
• If IB doesn’t work directly after undergrad, does Bocconi → MSc (Finance) significantly improve the odds for London?
To be honest, one of my biggest doubts is personal: leaving Spain so young. It’s exciting, but also scary. That said, I’m very willing to take a high-risk - high-reward path if the upside is meaningfully better.
I’m not looking for validation, just straight opinions, especially from anyone who went through Bocconi → IB, or chose to stay in Spain and later moved to London.
Honestly, I’m quite set on going to Bocconi, but I still question whether leaving my friends and family to live on my own in Milan is truly worth it.
If I do go, I’m confident it will pay off, as it would place me significantly closer to my goal than any Spanish university realistically could. Just as importantly, Bocconi would push me to grow as a person; living comfortably at home in Madrid is very different from leaving everything behind to seriously pursue a long-term dream.
Thanks a lot in advance.
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's what you need to know about Bocconi and its potential for breaking into Investment Banking (IB) in London:
1. Bocconi's Reputation for IB in London
2. Landing IB Interviews Without a Pre-Network
3. Bocconi vs. ICADE for London IB
4. Risk vs. Reward: Moving Abroad at 18
5. Bocconi → MSc (Finance) as a Backup Plan
6. Personal Considerations
Final Thoughts:
If your ultimate goal is IB in London, Bocconi is the smarter choice. It offers a stronger brand, better placement opportunities, and a more direct path to your dream career. While the decision to move abroad at 18 is challenging, the potential rewards—both professionally and personally—make it worth considering.
Sources: Bocconi AFC vs ESCP MiM, Physics undergrad admitted to top b-school, UK Target Universities Discussion Thread, European IBs & Commercial Banks, Investment Banking University Recruiting Report – 7 Key Takeaways
I'd say stick to ICADE since you're from Madrid. My university has an exchange partnership with ICADE, so anytime I filter for people on LinkedIn, lots of ICADE graduates come up who've landed great roles in London. Bocconi is also excellent—especially the BIEF program—but most Bocconi graduates who break into London roles either completed their master's at Bocconi (mostly Mfin, which is very competitive for Bocconi students) or at a top UK/French business school. (LBS, LSE, HEC etc.)
Thanks a lot for your perspective, I really appreciate it. I totally understand your point and the fact that ICADE has a strong network, especially for Spain.
That said, for my personal goals and the kind of path I want in Investment Banking, Bocconi is infinitely better than ICADE. I see it not just as a school, but as an environment that will push me academically, professionally, and personally, living abroad, competing with top students from all over Europe, and building my network from within a recognized feeder school.
I’m aware that doing a master after Bocconi is a common route for London IB, and that’s part of the plan I’m willing to take. For me, the upside of Bocconi outweighs the comfort and safety of staying in Madrid, and I want to take that path even if it’s harder.
I know the question is ICADE vs Bocconi but if your goal is London IB, I would consider a London uni (LSE, UCL, LBS, etc.).
Bocconi’s a great school and has historically been a feeder for London IB, but its become a tougher path with Brexit. The London unis will give you a graduate visa which will make your life much easier.
If you don’t want to study in London, I’d recommend doing your degree in Madrid and recruiting hard for IB there, then you can move to London after a few years of experience (Banks will sponsor you if you have strong experience)
Financially, attending a UK university isn’t feasible for me at this stage.
That’s why Bocconi is the best option outside the UK for my goals. It’s widely recognized by London banks and historically the top #1 feeder into IB from continental Europe. For me, it combines a realistic path to London with the high-level academic and professional environment I’m looking for, making it far more aligned with my ambitions than staying in Madrid. Moreover, I think attending Bocconi will improve me personally, because it force you to mature due to the distance to my family, the initial loneliness etc.
Bocconi grad here who comes from a non-target undergrad background. Bocconi MSc Finance opened all the doors for me, had no issues whatsoever recruiting for summer internships and full time positions in London with Bocconi on my CV (note I did require visa sponsorship). It will be even easier in my view if you do the undergrad ie BIEF as you’re on a „target“ path from the start. As you say, the environment is another factor. You’ll find yourself surrounded by people working towards the same goal of breaking into IBD (a lot of whom will aim for London), which really helps. I have never come across any CV or know anyone in my bank from Icade either so if London IBD is your goal would definitely do Bocconi.
Yeah that’s very helpful.
I’m still in high school so I have time to think about it but if I have to decide now, I will choose Bocconi without doubt.
My thoughts are going to BIEF at Bocconi, do good internships and after finish it, looking forward to an IBD job in London. In case I don’t receive any offer, I’ll do a MSc in Finance also in Bocconi so with that, I think, I ensure a full time offer.
What do you think about this path? If you were me, would you do it?
For what you said, I assume you are an international student (?), so, what’s your experience as it in Bocconi? Would you recommend the Bocconi environment, network opportunities, education?
I would love the opportunity to speak with you further, as your path could teach me a great deal. I would greatly appreciate it if you could respond to the questions I asked.
Thank you very much; it’s a pleasure.
What about the biem program? Is that a competitive one? Does it make a big difference in cv screenings?
I am British but have a lot of Spanish/Italian colleagues so can give some insight at a top BB.
ICADE or ESADE both top and the most represented Spanish unis. I think you have a good chance of breaking into IB from both.
Bocconi is also probably one of the strongest European universities up there with HSG and HEC. Very smart people everyone I have met from there, but most don't just do undergrad and do MiM or MiF somewhere else afterwards.
Assuming you are not absolutely minted or nepo because you said you can't afford UK Targets financially. Either way I think they are great universities and the difference is marginal if you are a good candidate anyways you can break in from either.
Should come down to whether you want the journey of Bocconi and living in a different country vs staying close to home. Also imagine the network you develop at Bocconi would be greater than staying in Madrid. Personally I would say go for Bocconi
Thanks a lot for your insight, I really appreciate it.
Taking everything into account, I’m leaning strongly towards Bocconi. Not only because it’s a top-tier European university with strong recognition and networking for IB, but also because of the personal growth aspect. Living abroad, being independent at a young age, and building a truly international network feels like something that would push me much further than staying comfortable at home in Madrid.
Both paths seem solid if you’re a strong candidate, but given my long-term goals and the kind of person I want to become, Bocconi feels like the right journey for me.
Thanks again for taking the time to respond.
Bocconi is great as a brand. However keep in mind that it will be hard to get some work experience during it as the academic level is quite high and time consuming. Most bocconi bachelor kids are doing a pre experience master right away. Bachelors only are not enough anymore for London, especially if you couldn't do internships during. Banks would rather have masters students from hec escp bocconi etc who have stacked a few relevant internships already.
That’s a very fair point, and I completely agree. I’m fully aware that London IB recruiting has become increasingly competitive and that a bachelor alone is often not enough, especially without strong internship experience.
I wouldn’t have any issue at all with doing an MSc in Finance at Bocconi if needed. I see the undergrad + MSc path as a very solid and realistic strategy, especially given Bocconi’s strength at the master’s level and its placement into London IB once students have built relevant experience.
Thanks a lot for pointing that out, it’s very helpful.
Bocconi is such a great target school. As someone at one of the largest bb in the world a lot of my colleagues are from there and it is looked at very highly. If you got here they have good investment societies and you should be fine getting into IB if you perform well in interviews. Just maintain at least a 67% average grade and join the investment societies actively. You will see interviews will come your way guaranteed
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