Economics: behavior, data and policy
In-person programme
Economics: behavior, data and policy
Course sheet
A.Y. 2026/2027
Bachelor
L-33 R - Scienze economiche
The Bachelor's Degree Programme in Economics: Behavior, Data and Policy is a three-year programme, entirely taught in English, that aims to provide a basic but solid knowledge of economic theory, its principles, and its quantitative and statistical tools. This knowledge is aimed at developing the ability to produce analysis and research in all the fields of economics. Students will acquire the ability to analyze the behavioral mechanisms that lead individuals to make decisions that influence the organization and functioning of markets. At the same time, they will understand economic systems, also from an international perspective, and the policies that regulate them. The programme also aims to provide critical awareness of social issues in contemporary reality, which are closely related to economic development, like public policies to counter inequality. The programme also offers an applied approach, with constant use of data analysis, and includes innovative branches of economics such as behavioral economics and experimental methods. The programme's strongly internationally-oriented perspective is finally granted by the use of English as the language of instruction.
The first two years of the study programme aim to ensure basic knowledge in different disciplines, with a solid training in quantitative methods and the development of reasoning and critical thinking skills. Furthermore, students will grasp the basic principles of economics in order to acquire tools for analysing individual choices, market functioning, dynamics underlying economic activities and the labor market. Through targeted teaching, students will develop the ability to collect, process and interpret statistical data, with an early focus on consumer behavior. In the third year of the program, students take advanced courses and apply the tools and skills acquired earlier. They also have the opportunity to further enrich their competencies in analysing the behavioral mechanisms influencing consumer choices.
The knowledge and skills acquired are useful both for graduates intending to continue their academic career with a Master Degree and for graduates entering the job market in positions and professional profiles such as operative marketing technician; strategic marketing technician, market analyst, and data technician.
The first two years of the study programme aim to ensure basic knowledge in different disciplines, with a solid training in quantitative methods and the development of reasoning and critical thinking skills. Furthermore, students will grasp the basic principles of economics in order to acquire tools for analysing individual choices, market functioning, dynamics underlying economic activities and the labor market. Through targeted teaching, students will develop the ability to collect, process and interpret statistical data, with an early focus on consumer behavior. In the third year of the program, students take advanced courses and apply the tools and skills acquired earlier. They also have the opportunity to further enrich their competencies in analysing the behavioral mechanisms influencing consumer choices.
The knowledge and skills acquired are useful both for graduates intending to continue their academic career with a Master Degree and for graduates entering the job market in positions and professional profiles such as operative marketing technician; strategic marketing technician, market analyst, and data technician.
The Degree Programme in Economics: Behavior, Data and Policy aims to train the following professional figures.
1. Profile: Data Technician
Function in a work context: assist specialists in experimental research and in demographic, epidemiological, social and economic surveys; verify and apply research and data acquisition procedures; quality control of collected data and statistical processing and analysis of the data.
Skills associated with the function: solid quantitative and methodological basis for collecting data and conducting statistical analysis.
Employment outlets: enterprises, public and private organizations.
2. Profile: Market Analyst
Function in a work context: to assist specialists in defining marketing strategies; carry out researches on consumer reactions and market conditions; evaluate commercial penetration opportunities for products or services; identify competitive situations, prices and types of consumers; apply established procedures to collect relevant information; organize and analyse collected information, and present it in a relevant and meaningful way to specialists and managers.
Skills associated with the function: solid quantitative basis for conducting statistical analysis, in-depth knowledge of market systems and behavioral mechanisms of consumer choices.
Employment outlets: enterprises, public and private organizations.
Employment statistics (Almalaurea)
1. Profile: Data Technician
Function in a work context: assist specialists in experimental research and in demographic, epidemiological, social and economic surveys; verify and apply research and data acquisition procedures; quality control of collected data and statistical processing and analysis of the data.
Skills associated with the function: solid quantitative and methodological basis for collecting data and conducting statistical analysis.
Employment outlets: enterprises, public and private organizations.
2. Profile: Market Analyst
Function in a work context: to assist specialists in defining marketing strategies; carry out researches on consumer reactions and market conditions; evaluate commercial penetration opportunities for products or services; identify competitive situations, prices and types of consumers; apply established procedures to collect relevant information; organize and analyse collected information, and present it in a relevant and meaningful way to specialists and managers.
Skills associated with the function: solid quantitative basis for conducting statistical analysis, in-depth knowledge of market systems and behavioral mechanisms of consumer choices.
Employment outlets: enterprises, public and private organizations.
Employment statistics (Almalaurea)
The Department of Economics, Management and Quantitative Methods offers opportunities for study experiences abroad thanks to several agreements with European universities, where students will be able to attend lectures and obtain credits valid for their didactical path.
Partners are selected from the most prestigious academic institutions in the European area. The Department also stipulated agreements with prestigious University in United Kingdom and Switzerland. The courses offered by partner universities cover all the core topics and disciplines of Economics. The choice of courses is made before departure together with the Erasmus coordinator and the credits earned are officially recognized at the end of the exchange period and included in the study plan.
Partners are selected from the most prestigious academic institutions in the European area. The Department also stipulated agreements with prestigious University in United Kingdom and Switzerland. The courses offered by partner universities cover all the core topics and disciplines of Economics. The choice of courses is made before departure together with the Erasmus coordinator and the credits earned are officially recognized at the end of the exchange period and included in the study plan.
Attendance is highly recommended.
Enrolment
In order to be admitted to the Bachelor's Degree programme in Economics: Behavior, Data and Policy, prospective students must hold an upper secondary school diploma or equivalent qualification obtained abroad after at least 12 years of schooling; they also must have an adequate educational background and possess basic skills in the area of language comprehension, logic and mathematics.
Pursuant to Art. 2 of the Law 264/1999, in order to ensure high quality education (in particular with respect to the capacity constraints necessary to run laboratories, and to hold individual and group presentations in some courses), the maximum number of students who can enroll in the Bachelor's Degree programme in Economics: Behavior, Data and Policy is set at 100, plus 15 places reserved for international non-EU candidates residing abroad.
Assessment of basic knowledge and skills will be ascertained through an online admission test, held in English language - CISIA English Test - Sciences (CEnT-S) admission test, the Online Test organized by CISIA (Interuniversity Consortium for Integrated Access Systems; see the following link for further information: https://www.cisiaonline.it/en/cent/all-about-CEnT/all-about-CEnT). The admission ranking will be exclusively based on the score obtained in the following two sections: "Mathematics" (15 questions) and "Reasoning on texts and data" (15 questions). When finalizing the ranking, candidates may be subject to further evaluation in the form of tests and/or interviews. After the ranking has been finalized, students will be admitted starting from the top of the list until all available places have been filled.
Applicants who want to transfer from other Degree programmes or who already hold a degree and request its recognition (partial or total) must also sit for the test and rank sufficiently high.
The admission process is organized in one session open to all candidates (opening and closing dates will be specified in the Call for Applications).
Additional Learning Requirements (OFA)
Admitted candidates who fail to reach a minimum score (the minimum level will be defined in the Call for Applications) in the "Mathematics" Section of the CEnT-S will be assigned Additional Learning Requirements (OFA, Obblighi Formativi Aggiuntivi) in the area of logic and mathematics, that must be fulfilled within the first year; students who do not fulfil OFA within this deadline will not be able to take the exams of the second or third year. Further information on these OFA is available online on the Bachelor Degree programme website.
Additional Learning Requirements in English Language proficiency (OFA B2)
To be able to sit the exams included in the degree programme, students are required to have a B2 level of proficiency according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
This level of proficiency can be certified as follows:
- by submitting a language certificate at B2 level or higher, issued no more than three years before the submission date. The list of language certificates recognized by the University is available at https://www.unimi.it/en/node/39322. The certificate must be uploaded during enrolment or later through the portal http://studente.unimi.it/uploadCertificazioniLingue;
- by submitting a secondary school diploma with English as teaching Language. The diploma must be uploaded during enrolment in the Language Certificate section, or later through the portal http://studente.unimi.it/uploadCertificazioniLingue;
- by taking a placement test administered by the University Language Centre (SLAM) during the first year, in October. Students who do not pass the test will be required to attend a language course offered by SLAM.
The Placement Test is compulsory for all students who do not already hold a valid certificate, or a secondary school diploma with English as teaching language. Students who do not take the Placement Test by October or who fail the SLAM end-of-course test after six attempts, must obtain a language certificate privately to be able to register for and sit any exam included in the degree programme
Pursuant to Art. 2 of the Law 264/1999, in order to ensure high quality education (in particular with respect to the capacity constraints necessary to run laboratories, and to hold individual and group presentations in some courses), the maximum number of students who can enroll in the Bachelor's Degree programme in Economics: Behavior, Data and Policy is set at 100, plus 15 places reserved for international non-EU candidates residing abroad.
Assessment of basic knowledge and skills will be ascertained through an online admission test, held in English language - CISIA English Test - Sciences (CEnT-S) admission test, the Online Test organized by CISIA (Interuniversity Consortium for Integrated Access Systems; see the following link for further information: https://www.cisiaonline.it/en/cent/all-about-CEnT/all-about-CEnT). The admission ranking will be exclusively based on the score obtained in the following two sections: "Mathematics" (15 questions) and "Reasoning on texts and data" (15 questions). When finalizing the ranking, candidates may be subject to further evaluation in the form of tests and/or interviews. After the ranking has been finalized, students will be admitted starting from the top of the list until all available places have been filled.
Applicants who want to transfer from other Degree programmes or who already hold a degree and request its recognition (partial or total) must also sit for the test and rank sufficiently high.
The admission process is organized in one session open to all candidates (opening and closing dates will be specified in the Call for Applications).
Additional Learning Requirements (OFA)
Admitted candidates who fail to reach a minimum score (the minimum level will be defined in the Call for Applications) in the "Mathematics" Section of the CEnT-S will be assigned Additional Learning Requirements (OFA, Obblighi Formativi Aggiuntivi) in the area of logic and mathematics, that must be fulfilled within the first year; students who do not fulfil OFA within this deadline will not be able to take the exams of the second or third year. Further information on these OFA is available online on the Bachelor Degree programme website.
Additional Learning Requirements in English Language proficiency (OFA B2)
To be able to sit the exams included in the degree programme, students are required to have a B2 level of proficiency according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
This level of proficiency can be certified as follows:
- by submitting a language certificate at B2 level or higher, issued no more than three years before the submission date. The list of language certificates recognized by the University is available at https://www.unimi.it/en/node/39322. The certificate must be uploaded during enrolment or later through the portal http://studente.unimi.it/uploadCertificazioniLingue;
- by submitting a secondary school diploma with English as teaching Language. The diploma must be uploaded during enrolment in the Language Certificate section, or later through the portal http://studente.unimi.it/uploadCertificazioniLingue;
- by taking a placement test administered by the University Language Centre (SLAM) during the first year, in October. Students who do not pass the test will be required to attend a language course offered by SLAM.
The Placement Test is compulsory for all students who do not already hold a valid certificate, or a secondary school diploma with English as teaching language. Students who do not take the Placement Test by October or who fail the SLAM end-of-course test after six attempts, must obtain a language certificate privately to be able to register for and sit any exam included in the degree programme
Places available: 100 + 15 reserved for non-EU citizens
Call for applications
Please refer to the call for admission test dates and contents, and how to register.
Application for admission: from 12/03/2026 to 06/07/2026
Application for matriculation: from 09/07/2026 to 22/07/2026
Online services
Learn more:
Notice for prospective students for Academic Year 2026-27
All information on the CEnT-S, including the test calendar, is available on the CISIA website at: CEnT-S structure and syllabus | CISIA :: Consorzio Interuniversitario Sistemi Integrati per l'Accesso.
For admission to the Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Economics: Behavior, Data and Policy (ECON), only the scores obtained in the following sections will be considered valid: Mathematics and Reasoning on Texts and Data (when taking the test, applicants should thus skip the sections on Biology, Chemistry and Physics).
The tests may be taken at any university that offers the CEnT-S starting from Thursday, 27 November 2025.
Programme description and courses list
Compulsory
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | Lesson period | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Economics and Marketing | 9 | 60 | English | Third trimester | ECON-06/A ECON-07/A |
| Coding | 6 | 40 | English | First trimester | INFO-01/A |
| Data Protection and Consumer Law | 9 | 60 | English | Third trimester | GIUR-01/A |
| Mathematics | 12 | 80 | English | First trimester | STAT-04/A |
| Microeconomics | 12 | 80 | English | Second trimester | ECON-01/A ECON-02/A |
| Philosophy of Science | 6 | 40 | English | Third trimester | PHIL-02/A |
| Probability and Statistics | 9 | 60 | English | Second trimester | STAT-01/A |
be activated by the A.Y. 2027/2028
Compulsory
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | Lesson period | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Causal Inference and Policy Evaluation | 6 | 40 | English | Third trimester | ECON-01/A ECON-05/A |
| Competition and Advertising Law | 6 | 40 | English | Third trimester | GIUR-02/A |
| Econometrics | 9 | 60 | English | Second trimester | ECON-05/A |
| Experimental Economics | 9 | 60 | English | Third trimester | ECON-01/A ECON-02/A |
| Macroeconomics | 9 | 60 | English | First trimester | ECON-01/A |
| Microeconomics of Uncertainty | 9 | 60 | English | First trimester | ECON-01/A |
| Public Economics | 9 | 60 | English | Second trimester | ECON-03/A |
be activated by the A.Y. 2028/2029
Compulsory
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | Lesson period | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Behavioral Economics | 9 | 60 | English | First trimester | ECON-01/A ECON-02/A |
| Consumer Behavior and Marketing Strategy | 9 | 60 | English | Second trimester | ECON-07/A |
| Development and Sustainability | 6 | 40 | English | Second trimester | ECON-01/A |
| Labor Markets and Migration | 6 | 40 | English | Second trimester | ECON-01/A |
| Machine Learning for Economics | 9 | 60 | English | First trimester | STAT-01/A |
| Final exam | 3 | 0 | English | Open sessions | NN |
Optional activities and study plan rules
1 - Elective Courses and Laboratories (12 ECTS):
12 ECTS must be obtained from elective courses and laboratories. No more than 3 of these 12 ECTS may be earned from a laboratory.
12 ECTS must be obtained from elective courses and laboratories. No more than 3 of these 12 ECTS may be earned from a laboratory.
2 - Additional Elective Activities (6 ECTS):
The remaining 6 ECTS must be obtained from additional elective activities. The choice depends on whether the student holds an Italian or a foreign qualification:
1) Students holding an Italian qualification may choose any combination of the following activities (for a total of 6 ECTS):
- Computer skills
- Additional language skills (max 3 ECTS)
- Transversal Skills
- Laboratories (max 3 ECTS)
- Internship
2) Students holding a foreign qualification:
- must earn 3 ECTS in Additional Language Skills: Italian (level A2);
- and obtain the remaining 3 ECTS by choosing one of the following activities:
(a) Computer skills
(b) Additional language skills
(c) Transversal Skills
(d) Laboratories
(e) Internship
The remaining 6 ECTS must be obtained from additional elective activities. The choice depends on whether the student holds an Italian or a foreign qualification:
1) Students holding an Italian qualification may choose any combination of the following activities (for a total of 6 ECTS):
- Computer skills
- Additional language skills (max 3 ECTS)
- Transversal Skills
- Laboratories (max 3 ECTS)
- Internship
2) Students holding a foreign qualification:
- must earn 3 ECTS in Additional Language Skills: Italian (level A2);
- and obtain the remaining 3 ECTS by choosing one of the following activities:
(a) Computer skills
(b) Additional language skills
(c) Transversal Skills
(d) Laboratories
(e) Internship
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | Lesson period | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Additional Language Skills: French (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | French | Open sessions | NN |
| Additional Language Skills: German (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | German | Open sessions | NN |
| Additional Language Skills: Italian (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | Italian | Open sessions | NN |
| Additional Language Skills: Spanish (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | Spanish | Open sessions | NN |
| Ai Literacy | 3 | 30 | Italian | Open sessions | INFO-01/A |
3 - Beyond these 18 ECTS, students can attend additional elective activities "fuori piano" (i.e. outside the study plan). However, they do not count towards the 177 ECTS required for admission to the final examination.
The fulfilment of the Additional Learning Obligations (Obblighi formativi aggiuntivi - OFA) of the disciplinary entry requirements is propaedeutic to the second and third year exams.
For the Undergraduate Course in Economics: Behavior, Data and Policy, some courses are preparatory and the related exams must be passed before being able to take the exam in other courses, as detailed below:
- 'Microeconomics' is mandatory before taking the following exams: 'Behavioral Economics', 'Microeconomics of Uncertainty', 'Public Economics', 'Experimental Economics', 'Development and Sustainability' and 'Labor Market and Migration'.
- 'Business Economics and Marketing' is mandatory before taking the following exam: 'Consumer Behavior and Marketing Strategy'.
- 'Mathematics' and 'Probability and Statistics' are both mandatory before taking the following exams: 'Econometrics'.
For the Undergraduate Course in Economics: Behavior, Data and Policy, some courses are preparatory and the related exams must be passed before being able to take the exam in other courses, as detailed below:
- 'Microeconomics' is mandatory before taking the following exams: 'Behavioral Economics', 'Microeconomics of Uncertainty', 'Public Economics', 'Experimental Economics', 'Development and Sustainability' and 'Labor Market and Migration'.
- 'Business Economics and Marketing' is mandatory before taking the following exam: 'Consumer Behavior and Marketing Strategy'.
- 'Mathematics' and 'Probability and Statistics' are both mandatory before taking the following exams: 'Econometrics'.
Prescribed foundation courses
| Learning activity | Prescribed foundation courses |
|---|---|
| Behavioral Economics | Microeconomics (compulsory) |
| Consumer Behavior and Marketing Strategy | Business Economics and Marketing (compulsory) |
| Development and Sustainability | Microeconomics (compulsory) |
| Econometrics | Mathematics (compulsory), Probability and Statistics (compulsory) |
| Experimental Economics | Microeconomics (compulsory) |
| Labor Markets and Migration | Microeconomics (compulsory) |
| Microeconomics of Uncertainty | Microeconomics (compulsory) |
| Public Economics | Microeconomics (compulsory) |
Learn more
Guidance:
Admission, ranking and enrolment
Milan
Academic guidance tutor
Erasmus and international mobility tutor
Internship tutor
Quality Assurance Delegate
Reference structures
Contacts
- Didactic Secretariat
Via Conservatorio, 7 - 20122 Milano (MI) Italia
[email protected] - Student Registrar
Via S. Sofia 9/1 - 20122 Milano (MI) Italia
https://www.unimi.it/en/node/359/
+39+39 02 5032 5032 - Disability Referee
Prof. Francesco Maria Fasani
For students enrolled in Bachelor's, Master's and single-cycle degree programmes, tuition fees are to be paid in two instalments:
- the amount of the first instalment is the same for all students and is due upon enrolment
- the amount of the second instalment varies according to each student's ISEE University value and the degree programme in which they are enrolled
- for international students with income and assets abroad, the second instalment varies according to their country of origin.
Education incentive programmes and other benefits
The University offers scholarships, cafeterias, subsidised accommodation and other forms of financial support to students meeting specific economic and merit requirements.
More information
Official documents