Bachelor in Business Economics at University of Bologna
Three-year bachelor at the University of Bologna's Rimini campus whose English curriculum, Financial and Business Management, covers accounting, finance, ESG auditing and strategy, with an internship. Entry is by document evaluation and an interview in English.
Bachelor
3 years
Bologna
Multiple
University of Bologna
Business Economics is a three-year, 180 ECTS bachelor's degree (class L-18 R) at the University of Bologna's Rimini campus, with an English-taught curriculum in Financial and Business Management. Entry needs 12 years of schooling, English at B2 and a pass in a document evaluation and interview. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Bologna's Financial and Business Management curriculum asks for a school-leaving qualification after at least 12 years of schooling, English at B2, and a pass in a two-part selection: a document evaluation and an interview in English, with 60 places for 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
School-leaving requirement
You need one of the following qualifications: [1]
- A foreign school-leaving qualification obtained after at least 12 years of schooling, valid under Italian rules and the Ministry of University and Research guidelines for 2026/27. It must give access to university in its own country, and any extra requirements for that country must be met.
- An Italian five-year secondary diploma or four-year experimental diploma. A four-year diploma without the additional year brings extra learning requirements to complete by 31 March 2028.
- A bachelor's degree.
You can apply before you finish school, but for 2026/27 the qualification had to be obtained by 31 December 2026, or you were excluded even if ranked and enrolled. The suitability of a foreign qualification is only verified after enrolment. [1]
What this means for your school results
Your school record carries up to 50 of the 100 evaluation points, and up to 20 of those rest on your mathematics grades. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a completed Class 12 or Higher Secondary certificate after 12 years of schooling (CBSE, ISC or a state board, Pakistan's HSSC, Bangladesh's HSC), or A levels, with mathematics among your subjects.
- Check carefully: a Class 12 in commerce or humanities without mathematics. The call does not ask for a set stream, but your certificate must list all subjects, particularly mathematics, and the maths points weigh on your score.
- Often short: a school-leaving certificate after fewer than 12 years, such as O levels or Class 10 alone, which does not meet the 12-year rule on its own.
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher, shown by one of these: [1]
- a language certificate such as IELTS or TOEFL, from the list on the degree programme website;
- a diploma taught in English;
- English exams or language proficiency from previous studies, or 6 credits in English language in a previous degree at B2;
- native speaker status;
- a SAT certificate, since the test is taken in English;
- the Oxford Online Placement Test run by the University Language Centre, subject to availability.
The call does not state minimum scores. English counts for up to 10 points in the evaluation. [1]
Selection
There is no compulsory entrance test. An admission board scores you in two parts, and you pass with 110/200 or more and at least 55 in each part. [1]
- Part 1, evaluation (minimum 55/100): merit and study background up to 50 points, English up to 10, SAT, English TOLC-E, TOLC-E or CEnT-S scores up to 10, CV up to 15, and significant study or work experience abroad during school or within two years of leaving school up to 15.
- Part 2, interview in English (minimum 55/100): fit of your profile with the programme up to 50 points, and motivation, attitude and skills up to 50. International candidates may be allowed an online interview on the same dates.
For 2026/27 there were 60 places: 30 for Italian, EU and equivalent applicants and 30 for non-EU citizens living abroad, ranked separately. Ties go to the younger candidate. [1]
After enrolment, everyone takes a maths test (OFA) unless they hold a TOLC-E or English TOLC-E score of 3.5 or more in maths, a SAT maths score of 400 or more, or a CEnT-S maths score of 4.05 or more, taken from 1 January 2025. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
These dates come from the 2026/27 call. [1]
- First round: applications opened in February 2026 and closed on 21 April 2026 at 12.00 pm (GMT+1). Interviews ran on 13, 19 and 22 May 2026, and the ranking came out on 28 May 2026.
- Second round: applications ran from 22 June to 21 August 2026, with interviews on 3 and 4 September 2026 and the ranking on 10 September 2026. Successful candidates enrolled by 17 September 2026.
After the first round, one place remained for non-EU citizens living abroad in the second round. [2] The 2027/28 call is not yet published, and it will set the new dates.
Documents and non-EU steps
You apply on Studenti Online and upload, in PDF and in English: [1]
- a signed CV on the call's CV form;
- your passport;
- a school certificate with your overall grade and final-year grades, or penultimate-year grades if you have not yet graduated, listing all subjects, particularly mathematics;
- a B2 English certificate.
Optional uploads are TOLC-E, SAT or CEnT-S results, proof of study or work abroad and one or two reference letters, which are not scored. The application is valid only once the €50 fee is paid, and it covers both rounds. [1]
Non-EU citizens living abroad also submit Universitaly pre-enrolment for one programme only and must be admitted to it. After enrolment they upload their qualification and student visa and show the originals at the Rimini campus International Desk. [1][3]
Sources and verification
Checked by the ApplyAZ admissions team against the university's official documents listed below. Entry rules can change with each new call, and we re-check them before every application.
- University of Bologna, Rimini Campus. Call for applications to the bachelor's degree programme in Business Economics, curriculum Financial and Business Management (restricted access), academic year 2026/2027. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Bologna, Student Administration Office Rimini. Notification for second round selection, Business Economics curriculum Financial and Business Management, academic year 2026/2027. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Bologna, Financial and Business Management programme page, how to enrol, academic year 2026/2027. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Business Economics (Economia dell'impresa) is a three-year laurea in class L-18 R, Business administration, run by the Department of Management (DiSA) on the University of Bologna's Rimini campus. It is worth 180 ECTS, is taught in English and Italian, and has restricted access: for 2026/27 the English-taught curriculum had 60 places, 30 of them for non-EU citizens living abroad. [1] Maria-Gabriella Baldarelli is the degree programme director.
This page covers the Financial and Business Management curriculum, the degree's English-taught path. The degree also has two other curricula, Management dell'Ospitalità and Percorso manageriale. The university describes it as offering tools and methods to promote innovation, sustainability and competitiveness in companies.
What you will study
In the 2026/27 study plan for Financial and Business Management, the first year covers accounting, mathematics, microeconomics and law, the second year moves to statistics, strategy, marketing and management accounting, and the third year focuses on finance, sustainability reporting and auditing. Units include:
- Business Administration and Accounting (12 CFU)
- Models and Methods for Finance
- Financial Reporting
- Strategic Management
- Management Accounting
- Commercial Law (12 CFU)
- Corporate Finance
- Financial and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Auditing
How the programme is taught
Practical skills are built in early: first-year students take Digital and Informatics Skills (3 CFU) and Excel for Business (6 CFU). The third year adds Cross Cultural Management and Sustainability and Social Reporting, includes an 8 CFU internship and ends with a 3 CFU final examination.
Career paths
The university states that the degree prepares financial analysts, accounting experts and staff for the economic and statistical offices of companies. Graduates can also continue to a laurea magistrale, including DiSA's English-taught master's degrees such as Service Management on the same Rimini campus.
Fees and scholarships
Tuition at Bologna depends on family income. For 2026/27, families with an ISEE up to €27,000 pay only the fixed €157.04 (regional tax, stamp duty, insurance), so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students; the standard ceiling for first-cycle degrees is €2,040. Income held abroad is declared through ER.GO, the regional right-to-study body, which also runs the scholarship. Citizens of non-OECD countries, a list that includes countries like India, can choose a reduced flat fee of €1,000 plus €157.04, or €500 plus €157.04 for particularly poor countries.
How to apply from outside the EU
Entry is by selection: an evaluation of your school record, English, CV and experience abroad, then an interview in English. A TOLC-E, SAT or CEnT-S score is optional and adds up to 10 points. For 2026/27, the first round closed on 21 April 2026 and the second round on 21 August 2026; the 2027/28 call is not yet published. Applications and enrolment run on Studenti Online. [1]
Once admitted, non-EU applicants who need a visa submit the Universitaly pre-enrolment, which the university must validate without conditions before the consulate issues a study visa; no validations are made during the August closure. Bring your school qualification with translations and legalisation where required, and request a residence permit within eight days of arriving.
How ApplyAZ helps
ApplyAZ is an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities. We can include this programme in a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes that fit your profile, so your plan never rests on a single application.
For eligible students who start with us, a named person owns each stage, from A to Z:
- We check your school results against Bologna's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your Studenti Online application, selection documents and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your ER.GO Emilia-Romagna scholarship application at the right time and in the right format.
- We prepare your visa file.
With operations in all 20 Italian regions, we follow each region's scholarship rules and deadlines as they change. The university decides admission, the region decides the scholarship and the consulate decides the visa, so no one can promise an outcome. You pay in milestones, and every service you pay for is either delivered or its fee is refunded (terms apply).
Programmes at Italian public universities can be tuition-free for eligible students. Check if you are eligible and book a one-to-one consultation session with one of our Italy experts, or see how ApplyAZ works.
Questions and answers
What school results do I need for Business Economics (FINMA) at Bologna?
A school-leaving qualification after at least 12 years of schooling that gives university access in your country. Your school record carries up to 50 of 100 evaluation points, and up to 20 of those rest on mathematics grades. [1]
Do I need the TOLC-E or the SAT?
No. Selection is a document evaluation and an interview in English. A TOLC-E, English TOLC-E, SAT or CEnT-S score is optional and adds up to 10 points, and a good maths score also exempts you from the maths test after enrolment. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2. IELTS or TOEFL is one way to show it, and the call also lists a diploma taught in English, earlier English exams, native speaker status and the SAT. No minimum scores are stated, so we check which proof your file can use. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, the first round closed on 21 April 2026 and the second round on 21 August 2026, with 30 of the 60 places for non-EU citizens living abroad. The 2027/28 call is not yet published. [1]
Can I apply before I finish Class 12?
Yes. You apply with your penultimate-year grades, but for 2026/27 the qualification had to be obtained by 31 December 2026, or you were excluded even if ranked and enrolled. [1]
I studied commerce without maths in Class 12. Can I apply?
Possibly. The call does not ask for a set stream, but your certificate must list all subjects, particularly mathematics, and up to 20 merit points rest on maths grades. We check your full file before you apply. [1]
Is the Bachelor in Business Economics taught in English?
The degree runs in English and Italian. Its Financial and Business Management curriculum is the English-taught path, with units such as corporate finance, financial reporting and ESG auditing, so choose that curriculum to study in English.
What jobs does it lead to?
The university names financial analyst, accounting expert and roles in the economic and statistical offices of companies. Graduates can also continue to a master's degree.
Can someone handle my whole application to Business Economics (FINMA) at Bologna?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your school results against Bologna's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the ER.GO Emilia-Romagna scholarship application at the right time and in the right format, and prepares your visa file, for eligible students. Start by checking your eligibility.
I'm applying from India. What is the route into Business Economics (FINMA)?
A completed Class 12 after 12 years of schooling can meet the school rule, with your maths grades weighed in the merit score, and you need English at B2. Selection is a document evaluation and an interview in English. The steps are the Studenti Online application, the selection and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1] Indian students apply for the type D study visa at the Italian embassy or consulate that covers their state, such as New Delhi, Mumbai or Bengaluru.
Is the route different from Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka?
No. The academic rules for Business Economics (FINMA) are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: the Studenti Online application, the selection with an interview in English and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa from the Italian mission for their country of residence. Read our guide for students in Dhaka.
I live in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman or Bahrain. Where do I apply for the visa?
At the Italian embassy or consulate responsible for the country where you legally live, after Universitaly pre-enrolment. The academic rules for Business Economics (FINMA) are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: the Studenti Online application, the selection with an interview in English and Universitaly pre-enrolment. Read our guides for Dubai, Riyadh and Doha.
I'm applying from the UK, US, Canada, Singapore or Malaysia. Is anything different?
The academic rules are identical. Non-EU applicants who live abroad, including citizens of these countries, follow the same route: the Studenti Online application, the selection with an interview in English and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa. Read our guides for London, New York, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
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