RCS Academy

What RCS Academy does

RCS Academy is the business school division of RCS MediaGroup S.p.A., one of Italy's largest media conglomerates and owner of Corriere della Sera. Founded in January 2019 and headquartered in Milan with two education centers (Rizzoli and Solferino), the school delivers postgraduate professional education across a 135+ Master portfolio spanning seven vertical academies: Economia/Finanza/Management, Giornalismo/Comunicazione/Marketing, Fashion/Luxury/Beauty, Food & Beverage, Sport, Arte/Cultura/Turismo, and Healthcare & Pharma. Program formats include Full Time Masters with guaranteed 6-month internships targeted at Under-30 graduates, Part Time weekend Masters for working professionals, Online Masters, On-Demand self-paced courses, MBA, and Corporate Training. The academy is ISO 9001:2015 certified and is supported by 800+ faculty, 200+ RCS MediaGroup journalists, and a 700+ corporate partner network that supplies internships, project work, and placement pathways.

The underlying technology stack centers on a learning management system with live streaming capabilities enabling simultaneous in-person and remote attendance at the Milan Education Centers, paired with a multimedia library that provides permanent access (one year) to recorded sessions. The school's principal differentiator is its structural integration with RCS MediaGroup's editorial properties — Corriere della Sera, La Gazzetta dello Sport, AMICA, iO Donna, Style Magazine — which provides exclusive access to the proprietary 'Metodo Corriere' editorial methodology, 200+ journalists as faculty, and a built-in distribution channel for the Business Talk series (broadcast on Corriere.it, reaching 380,000 unique viewers per event across 90+ editions).

The business model combines B2C tuition (recurring subscription-style billing for Multi-year Master programs with promo discounts of €1,000-€2,200 for early enrollment, Payfull 5% discount, and 150 scholarships co-funded by RCS publications and corporate partners) with B2B corporate training and co-branded Business Talk events. Distribution is hybrid: self-serve online enrollment via rcsacademy.corriere.it for individual learners, plus direct enterprise sales for corporate training. Customer acquisition is anchored by a referral program ('Porta un Amico') and a multi-channel mix leveraging RCS MediaGroup's media properties, Open Days, paid search, and organic social (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok). Since founding, the school has graduated 3,000+ participants and cites 100% internship and placement rates for its flagship programs.

Name

RCS Academy

Legal name

RCS MediaGroup S.p.A.

Website

https://rcsacademy.corriere.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

RCS Academy is the Milan-based business school division of Italian media conglomerate RCS MediaGroup, offering postgraduate Masters, MBAs, and corporate training with guaranteed internships. Founded in 2019, it leverages Corriere della Sera and other RCS publications to deliver industry-authentic professional education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional & Executive Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional & Applied Skills Noncredit Certificates (Non-licensure) (EDAAAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Portfolio, Capstone & Project-Based Program Support (EDAMAKAD)

Keywords

• Professional education
• Master programs
• Executive education
• Corporate training
• Business school

Headquarters

HQ city

Milan

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Master Program Tuition: Revenue from Full Time, Part Time, and Online Master programs with varying fee structures. Programs include corporate training, Executive MBA, and specialized professional development courses. Pricing varies by program type with promotional discounts available.
2. Corporate Training: Custom corporate training programs and Business Talk partnerships with enterprise clients
3. Scholarship Programs: 150 scholarships offered in collaboration with RCS Group publications and partner companies for various Master programs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

RCS Academy is an Italian business school division of RCS MediaGroup that delivers postgraduate professional education through Full Time Masters with guaranteed 6-month internships for young graduates, Part Time weekend Masters for working professionals, Online Masters, On-Demand courses, and customized corporate training programs. Curriculum is co-developed with RCS MediaGroup journalists and 700+ corporate partners across luxury, fashion, communication, journalism, healthcare, sport, and business sectors, and is delivered via in-person instruction at Education Centers in Milan or through hybrid live streaming and a year-long recorded lesson library.

Product overview

RCS Academy is an educational business school operated by RCS MediaGroup offering a comprehensive portfolio of master's programs, online courses, and corporate training. The portfolio includes Full Time Masters with guaranteed internships for young graduates (Fashion, Beauty & Luxury Management; Digital Marketing; Communication; Healthcare; Sustainability; Sports; Food & Wine; Arts Management; Audiovisual; Business & AI Innovation), Part Time Executive Masters for working professionals (Journalism; Beauty Management; HR; Project Management; AI; Corporate Communication; Sports Journalism; MBA), Online Masters, On-Demand courses, and Corporate Training. Supporting services include scholarships, referral programs (Porta un Amico), and an Alumni Community. The institution also produces Business Talk series featuring industry leaders and hosts Open Day events. Programs are delivered at Education Center Rizzoli in Milan or via live streaming, and the school is ISO 9001:2015 certified.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fashion, Beauty & Luxury Management Master (Full Time con Stage)

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% internship confirmation rate for Fashion, Beauty & Luxury Management graduates
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Corriere della SeracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Primary media partner providing editorial methodology ('Metodo Corriere'), journalistic expertise, faculty resources, and cross-promotional opportunities across RCS MediaGroup's portfolio of leading Italian publications.
• La7coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Television partner collaborating on journalism and communication Master programs, providing access to La7 journalists and broadcast capabilities for joint educational content.
• GooglecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2019Technology and digital marketing partner for Communication Master programs, providing expertise in digital advertising, AI tools, and industry-recognized credentials.
• Havas PRcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Strategic communication partner providing full scholarship, project work collaboration, CEO participation as Scientific Director, and access to international PR network for student placement.
• JAKALAmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Marketing technology partner participating in Business Talk events and providing executive speakers for marketing and innovation programs.
• L'Oréal ItaliamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Beauty industry partner providing executive testimony from Chief Digital & Marketing Officer, company visits, and project work collaboration for Fashion, Beauty & Luxury programs.
• A2AmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Main corporate partner providing scholarship support, executive participation in Business Talk events, and talent pipeline collaboration.
• AccenturemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Global consulting partner providing business strategy expertise, executive speakers for MBA programs, and internship opportunities for graduates.
• AmplifonmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Healthcare technology partner participating in corporate partnerships and providing executive speakers for relevant Business Talk series.
• BCG (Boston Consulting Group)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Management consulting partner providing executive speakers for CEO Talk series, strategy expertise, and thought leadership collaboration.
• BlackRockmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Financial services partner providing executive participation in Business Talk events and industry perspectives on finance and investment.
• Deutsche BankmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Banking partner providing executive speakers for finance-related programs and CEO Talk series, and talent pipeline collaboration.
• EnelmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Energy sector partner providing executive speakers for sustainability and innovation programs, and scholarship support.
• EnimajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Energy corporation partner participating in Green & Net Zero Talk series and sustainability-focused Business Talk programs.
• HPE (Hewlett Packard Enterprise)majorTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2019Technology partner collaborating on 'Fabbrica Italia' and 'Italia in Rete' Business Talk series, providing technology and innovation perspectives.
• ITA AirwaysminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Airline partner providing executive participation and travel industry perspectives for relevant programs.
• L'OréalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Beauty industry leader partner providing executive testimony, company visits, and project work for fashion and beauty programs.
• MastercardminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Payment technology partner participating in sustainability and innovation-focused Business Talk programs.
• SnamminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Energy infrastructure partner providing executive speakers for sustainability and energy transition programs.
• Philip Morris ItaliaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Tobacco company partner providing executive participation and business perspective for relevant programs.
• WeBuildminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Construction and infrastructure partner providing executive speakers for relevant Business Talk programs.
• Zurich InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Insurance partner providing executive participation and financial services perspective for relevant programs.
• DeloittemajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2019Professional services partner providing legal and business advisory expertise, with contribution to Legal Talk series.
• Hogan LovellsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2019International law firm partner contributing to Legal Talk series with legal profession future perspectives.
• PVH Corp.majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Fashion conglomerate (Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger) partner providing project work collaboration and industry engagement.
• ShiseidomajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Beauty corporation partner providing project work collaboration and beauty industry expertise.
• Luisa SpagnoliminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Italian fashion brand partner providing project work collaboration and fashion industry perspective.
• EssilorLuxotticamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Eyewear and luxury conglomerate partner providing executive participation and industry placement opportunities.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MIP Politecnico di Milano: Postgraduate business school of Politecnico di Milano offering Full Time, Part Time, and Executive MBA programs in Italy. Directly comparable in format, target candidates (graduates and executives), and Milan-centric delivery to RCS Academy's Master and MBA portfolio.
• Domus Academy: Milan-based private postgraduate school specializing in design, fashion, and business. Closely comparable to RCS Academy's Fashion, Beauty & Luxury Management Master, sharing the same niche, geography, and candidate persona.
• 24ORE Business School: Business school affiliated with Il Sole 24 Ore, Italy's leading business newspaper. Directly comparable in leveraging a major Italian media brand to deliver executive and postgraduate business education with corporate access.
• Luiss Business School: Rome-based business school offering MBA, Master's, and executive programs. Directly comparable in postgraduate business education model, corporate partnership model, and Italian market positioning.
• Polimoda: Florence-based fashion school offering Master's and postgraduate programs with strong luxury industry connections. Comparable to RCS Academy's Fashion and Luxury programs in candidate profile and industry partnerships.
• Accademia del Lusso: Milan-based school specializing in luxury brand management, fashion, and design postgraduate programs. Closely comparable niche competitor to RCS Academy's Fashion, Beauty & Luxury Management Master.
• SDA Bocconi School of Management: Italy's leading business school offering MBA, Executive MBA, and specialized Master's programs. Comparable in product mix and Italian postgraduate audience, though it operates at a larger scale and with stronger international rankings than RCS Academy.
• IED - Istituto Europeo di Design: Italian network of design, fashion, communication, and management schools operating across multiple cities. Comparable in offering specialized postgraduate Master's programs targeting young graduates in creative industries.

Emerging players

• Hult International Business School: International business school with a Milan campus offering MBA and Master's programs with a strong focus on practical, career-oriented outcomes and international corporate connections.

Broad incumbents

• Università Cattolica ALTIS: Postgraduate and executive education arm of Italy's largest private university. Comparable in targeting Italian executives and graduates with management and specialized Master's programs, operating at broader academic scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCuIq6JfWjKEmMNHD9ZO2CaQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/RCSacademy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/showcase/rcs-academy-business-school/about
• Instagraminstagram.com/rcsacademy
• TikToktiktok.com/@rcsacademy

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RCS Academy