Economia dei mercati e degli intermediari finanziari

/ Overview

The degree programme in Economia dei mercati e degli intermediari finanziari )Economics of Markets and Financial Intermediaries) offers a multidisciplinary preparation that integrates business economics and political economy, quantitative methods and legal disciplines, with a focus on financial markets and the management of intermediaries, such as banks, insurance companies and asset managers.

Teaching is application-oriented: lessons are accompanied by business cases, projects, exercises, role playing and technological simulations, to develop operational and decision-making skills.

The programme is divided into four curricula, designed to offer specialisation paths consistent with the different areas of finance:

Financial Markets and Institutions*
FINANCIAL AND INSURANCE CONSULTANT
QUANTITATIVE METHODS FOR FINANCE AND INSURANCE FINANCE
Finance

*With the possibility of carrying out the course in agreement with the Order of Chartered Accountants and Accounting Experts of Milan.

The programme maintains a structured link with the financial community through the Faculty Board-World of Work, which contributes to the updating of content, the design of activities and the creation of internship opportunities.

Particular attention is paid to data literacy, digital tools and language skills (English and second language).
An all-English curriculum and the possibility of accessing international double degree programmes are also available.

This undergraduate degree offers a path designed to train professionals capable of understanding and interpreting financial markets, using quantitative tools and making informed decisions in complex and constantly evolving contexts.

Curriculum in lingua inglese: Finance

Why choose Economics of Markets and Financial Intermediaries at Università Cattolica?

Choosing this programme means building a complete and flexible profile, able to meet the needs of a constantly evolving financial sector.

Multi-disciplinary training

Integration of business administration, political economy, quantitative methods and legal disciplines, with a focus on markets and financial intermediaries

Application teaching

Use of case studies, projects, exercises and role playing, with constant discussion with professionals in the sector

Route customization

Choose from four curricula and numerous optional training activities

Connection with the world of work

Collaboration with the Faculty Board – World of Work, Talent Project, internships and dedicated initiatives such as Internship Day and Investment Banking Day

International dimension

Curriculum Finance in English, double degree with Bangor Business School and international mobility programmes (Erasmus+, Overseas, ISEP Exchange, Study Abroad)

Comprehensive training experience

Combination of theory and practice, international openness and close dialogue with the professional world.

95

%

Overall student satisfaction with the degree programme

Source: Satisfaction of those who completed the course of study detected in the latest Undergraduates survey, calendar year 2025

/ Study Plan

Programme structure

The degree programme in Economia dei mercati e degli intermediari finanziari is designed to offer progressive and flexible preparation, allowing students to orient themselves towards different areas of finance thanks to distinct curricula, each with specific training objectives.

Curriculum: Economics of Markets and Financial Intermediaries

A generalist and highly customizable address, which allows you to build the profile according to your interests.

Cross-cutting approach: broad view of financial markets and intermediaries
Flexibility of the study plan: 15 ECTS of your choice to customize the course

Possibility of carrying out the course in agreement with the Order of Chartered Accountants and Accounting Experts of Milan, orienting it to the profession of accounting expert.

Preparation for professional activity: content aimed at entering the world of work
Facilitations for the State Examination: exemption from the first written test
Field experience: mandatory internship at a professional firm

Curriculum: Financial and insurance consultant

A professionalizing curriculum, focused on financial and insurance products and services.

Specialized skills: teaching on financial and insurance markets, instruments and products
Job orientation: development of operational skills required by the sector
Compulsory internship: direct experience in professional contexts

Curriculum: Quantitative Methods for Finance and Insurance Finance

A path with a strong quantitative and actuarial orientation.

Mathematical and statistical training: advanced tools for data analysis
Insurance and actuarial field: sector-specific courses
Analytical skills: preparation for highly specialized roles

Curriculum in English: Finance

An international curriculum, entirely delivered in English and focused on finance.

Teaching in English: development of language and technical skills
Global perspective: content geared towards international markets
International slant: preparation for global professional contexts

Go to the curriculum

View the study plan

Teaching approach

The teaching methodology of the programme combines lectures with a highly applied and interactive approach, aimed at integrating theoretical knowledge and operational skills.
The training programme integrates testimonials from professionals in the financial sector, simulations with computer and telematic tools, the study of English and a second foreign language, as well as structured activities for comparison and practical application.
Teaching is enriched by experiential and active learning methodologies, such as case discussions, project work, problem sets and role playing.

The course is further qualified by:

Internships and internships: training experiences in Italy and abroad that promote direct contact with the world of work
Testimonials and clinical lectures: speeches by managers and experts in the financial sector for a constant comparison with professional practice
Experiential teaching activities: business cases, projects, problem sets and role playing to apply knowledge to real situations
Initiatives with companies and institutions: activities co-designed with the Faculty-World of Work Board, including training pills on soft and digital skills, Internship Day, Investment Banking Day and Women in Finance
Progetto Talenti: project paths developed with important corporate partners such as Banca Sella, Intesa Sanpaolo and Deloitte.

International dimension

Three-year Double Degree with Bangor University: third year in the UK and achievement of the double degree

International exchange programmes: Erasmus+, Overseas and ISEP Exchange

Summer programme, internship and international thesis

/ Admission

The admission process

You can find here the information on admission, which varies according to your qualification (Italian or foreign) *

Places on the Economia dei mercati e degli intermediari finanziari programme are allocated through several admission phases. Each phase has specific dates for the submission of the application, the publication of the rankings and the reservation of the place.

Here are the main steps to follow:

01

See admission dates and procedures

For the academic year 2027-28, the new procedures will be available soon, with admission procedures and deadlines.

The first admission phase for candidates enrolled in the last year of secondary school with a grade point average in the penultimate year of secondary school ≥ 7.5/10 is open from 3.00 p.m. on 2 November 2026 and until 11.59 p.m. on 15 December 2026.

02

Prepare the required documentation:

Make sure you have all the necessary documents for the submission of the application:

In-depth analysis: Required documents

Passport photo - format: jpg, jpeg; Maximum size: 10MB
ID - ID card, passport, driver's license are accepted. Format: png, jpg, jpeg, tiff, pdf; Maximum size: 10MB
Tax code - format: png, jpg, jpeg, tiff, pdf; Maximum size: 10MB
Report card from the penultimate year of high school with an average of at least 7.5/10 (for the first phase of admission), 7/10 (for the second phase of admission)
Residence permit - if required. Format: png, jpg, jpeg, tiff, pdf; Maximum size: 10MB
For the final phase of enrolment*: Baptismal certificate or, if you do not have one, replacement documentation, which you will have information about later. *read: Complete enrolment

03

Register on the Enrolment Portal

If you do not already have an account, you must register in the Enrolment Portal.
Once you have logged in, you must upload the required documentation

04

Reserve your place
If you are among the candidates admitted to the ranking list, pay the first instalment of the university fees via the Enrolment Portal, respecting the place reserve deadlines indicated in the procedures for each admission phase.

It is possible to do this even before graduating

05

Complete your enrolment

After graduation, complete enrolment.

At this stage you will be asked for your baptismal certificate. If you do not have one, you can submit replacement documentation by choosing from these possibilities:

If you've been baptised but can't find your original certificate, you can fill out a self-certification.

If you have not been baptised, you can make an appointment for an interview with the campus pastoral assistant. After the interview, you will receive a valid certificate as replacement documentation. In case you have already made your appointment but are still waiting for the interview, you can temporarily submit a self-certification attesting to this situation.

It is necessary to enter one's income data by the end of November through the "Compila redditi" application, accessible from the personal iCatt page.

* The information provided is subject to the approval of the competent bodies and may be subject to change

Useful information

Practical information to help you enrol and get started at Università Cattolica.

Students with penultimate year of high school abroad

For admission to the programme, you can declare in the Enrolment Portal the average obtained in the penultimate year of secondary school.

Further reading: Penultimate year of high school abroad

To enrol in the admission ranking list for this programme, you must declare in the Enrolment Portal:

- the average obtained in the penultimate year of secondary school;

- the grades obtained in the subjects of Italian, mathematics and first foreign language in the penultimate year of secondary school.

If you are about to obtain or have obtained an Italian diploma and have attended the entire penultimate year of secondary school abroad, you must declare in the Enrolment Portal the average and grades converted according to the Italian voting system and upload the report card issued to you by the Italian school.

If you are unable to retrieve the converted report card, but you have the average in tenths relating to the year spent abroad, declare the average in tenths of the penultimate year and the grades obtained in the third-to-last year. Then upload an official document issued by the school attesting to this information and the report card of the third to last year in a single file.

If, on the other hand, you are only in possession of a document indicating the school credits, declare the average according to the following table and the grades obtained in the third to last year:

School credits fourth year

8

Average grade assigned

6

9

6,5

10

7

11

8

12

9

13

10

Then upload an official document issued by the school certifying the credits obtained in the penultimate year and the report card of the third to last year in a single file.

If you do not have one of the above documents, declare the average and the grades obtained in the third to last year and upload, in a single file, the relative report card and the transcript of the penultimate year spent abroad.

PLEASE NOTE:

If you have only spent the 1st semester abroad, declare the average and the grades obtained in the second semester, expressed in tenths and upload the report card of the penultimate year showing the average obtained in the final examination in tenths.

If you have only completed the 2nd semester abroad, declare the average and the grades converted according to the Italian grading system and upload the report card with the grades of the final scrutiny issued by the Italian school.

If you are unable to find the report card with the converted final exam grades or a document showing the average or credits obtained at the end of the penultimate year, declare the average and the grades obtained at the end of the 1st semester spent in Italy and upload, in a single file, the transcript of the semester spent abroad and the report card of the first semester attended in Italy.

ATTENTION: under no circumstances will translations of foreign transcripts or self-certifications of conversion of grades be accepted.

Foundation Knowledge Assessment test (VPI)

The Foundation Knowledge Assessment test (VPI) is a compulsory test for all students enrolled in the first year of an undergraduate and integrated degree programme.
After completing your enrolment, you will find on your personal iCatt page the convocation with the date to carry out the VPI.
The VPI is used to ascertain your initial level of preparation and to offer you useful suggestions to face university studies with greater awareness.
The positive outcome of the test is achieved with at least 50%+1 of the correct answers.
In the event of a negative result or absence from the test, an Additional Training Obligation (OFA) is assigned to fill the gaps found.
Any OFA assignment is communicated after enrolment on the personal iCatt page.

Applicants with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Applicants with disabilities and/or SLD may request compensatory tools and/or dispensatory measures at least seven days before the test.

Applicants with a certified disability of 66% or higher, or who are recognised under Law 104/1992, are exempt from university tuition fees but must pay the €100 fee to reserve their place.

Learn more about Services for Inclusion

Transfers, programme changes and second degrees

Applicants who wish to transfer from another university, apply for a second degree programme or resume their studies must meet the admission requirements.

Find out more

Notices

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Rankings

Discover the rankings

/ Fees and funding

Tuition fees and financial support

Tuition fees and scholarships

Starting university often involves questions about fees, deadlines and the support available. Clear information about financial support and accommodation options helps students plan their studies with confidence, allowing them to focus on their academic progress and personal development.

Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, through EDUCatt, offers income- and merit-based scholarships and graduation awards, providing financial support to help students continue their studies.

Visit the dedicated section for information on tuition fees and other costs, use the online fee simulator, and find out about available financial support.

Find out more

Student accommodation

Università Cattolica offers a range of housing options to support students throughout their studies.

On campus residences

Nine residences are located on or near Università Cattolica campuses. They offer an educational experience that goes beyond accommodation, with cultural activities, meetings and workshops that complement university study. Residence life also provides opportunities to be part of an active community, exchange ideas and share experiences.

Explore on-campus residences

Residences in the city

Residences located across the city are well connected to Università Cattolica campuses. They offer students greater independence in their day-to-day life, while providing comfortable accommodation and the flexibility to balance study, social life and personal time.

Explore city residences

/ International experiences

Study, internships and volunteering abroad

During your studies at Università Cattolica, you can gain international experience as part of your academic journey. Studying, doing an internship or volunteering abroad gives you the chance to experience new academic, professional and cultural environments, improve your language skills and develop an international perspective that can enrich your studies and support your future career.

Discover the opportunities to study, undertake an internship or volunteer abroad:

Semester abroad

Double degrees

Language courses and certifications

Summer programmes

Internships abroad

International volunteering

Thesis abroad

Short programmes

Virtual programmes

You can include an experience abroad as part of your studies. For programmes involving exams abroad, you can check in advance whether they can be recognised, following the guidance provided by your Faculty and discussing this with the relevant academic staff.

Find out more

/ Internships and careers

Internships and career opportunities

The Faculty offers several internship and apprenticeship opportunities, allowing students to apply the skills acquired in concrete work contexts.

Internships and professional training

An internship is a training experience in a company aimed at acquiring professional skills.
It is optional for some programmes, while it is mandatory in specific programmes (e.g. the Financial and Insurance Consultant profile and for degrees in agreement with ODCEC).
If carried out according to certain requirements, it can allow the replacement of one or more exams of your choice.

Internships can be carried out in Italy or abroad, with companies with a proven reputation and active in the banking, financial and insurance sectors or listed on regulated markets.

The Career Service supports students and graduates as they prepare to enter the job market, providing career guidance and resources to help them navigate different professional and organisational contexts. It supports the development of transversal skills, creates opportunities to meet employers and helps students develop an informed and coherent career path.

Every year, more than 20,000 students take part in events organised with over 100 partner companies, and more than 9,500 undertake an internship with support from the Career Service and internship tutors.

Find out more

Learning outcomes

The programme provides solid and transversal skills to operate in the financial and insurance markets, with a preparation oriented towards both analysis and decision-making processes.

Analysis of financial and insurance markets and products

Understanding and evaluation of industry dynamics and tools

Knowledge of financial and insurance intermediaries

Analysis of the role and functioning of banks, insurance companies and other operators

Corporate Finance and Derivatives

Evaluation of corporate financial decisions and understanding of complex instruments

Analysis of economic and financial data

Use of quantitative methods and digital tools for data processing and interpretation

Risk, compliance and audit

Risk management and regulatory compliance verification in financial contexts

Financial and insurance regulation

Knowledge of the regulatory framework of the sector

Problem solving and teamwork

Practical application through case studies and project work in collaborative contexts

Communication and language skills

Effective communication and public speaking skills, with mastery of technical English and a second foreign language (French, Spanish or German)

Career prospects

Graduates in Economia dei mercati e degli intermediari finanziari find opportunities for employment in various areas of the financial, insurance and consulting system, thanks to a versatile and labour market-oriented preparation.

Banks and financial intermediaries: asset and wealth management, analysis and management activities
Insurance and pensions: risk management, insurance and pension products
Consulting firms: audit, risk management and compliance
Fintech and financial innovation: data analysis and development of digital solutions
Supervisory Authority: Bank of Italy, ECB, CONSOB, EIOPA and other regulatory bodies
Corporate: treasury and financial management functions

The main career opportunities include roles such as:

Risk manager

Asset manager

Financial Analyst

FINANCIAL AND INSURANCE CONSULTANT

Actuary

Data analyst

Specialist in compliance and audit

Employability is further strengthened by the Faculty Board-World of Work, internships and project initiatives with companies, including the Talents Project developed with partners such as Banca Sella, Intesa Sanpaolo, Deloitte, PwC and MDOTM.

Career opportunities for the degree programme: percentage of employed

3 years later

5 years later

Source: The percentages relating to employment opportunities refer to graduates in 2024 (if 1 year after graduation), 2022 (if 3 years after graduation) and 2020 (if 5 years old)

Our Alumni

After graduating, graduates can work in banks, investment firms, insurance companies and financial intermediaries, both in national and international contexts.
They also find opportunities in consulting firms and large enterprises, in roles related to financial analysis, risk management and strategic decision support. Among the most popular companies are companies such as PwC Italy, Deloitte, KPMG Italy and Mediobanca.

Continuing your studies

After obtaining a three-year degree in Economia dei mercati e degli intermediari finanziari, the programme allows a natural continuation of studies in the economic, financial and quantitative fields, both in Italy and abroad.

The multidisciplinary preparation acquired, which integrates business and political economics, quantitative methods, legal profiles and language skills, constitutes a solid basis for access to graduate degree programmes oriented towards finance, markets, intermediaries, consulting, risk management and data analysis.

The structure of the course and the presence of differentiated curricula make it possible to consciously orient the subsequent specialization, enhancing different profiles:

Finance and banking systems: paths oriented towards markets and financial intermediaries
Insurance and actuarial sciences: areas related to risk management and actuarial sciences
Quantitative and data-driven approaches: paths focused on data analysis and mathematical models
International courses: programmes also entirely in English

Thanks to the strong focus on quantitative tools, data literacy, digital skills and internationalization, graduates can successfully access graduate and Master of Science degree programs in Italy and Europe.

/ Advising and support

Choosing your programme

Advising events

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Find out about Università Cattolica Open Days for prospective students who want to learn more about the University and its programmes.

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