Key Takeaways
- What are the Early Session dates for 2027-28?
- How does Bocconi rank applicants?
- Why is the testing platform closed right now?
- What does the Bocconi online test look like?
- Can you use the SAT or ACT instead?
- Who is eligible to sit the Bocconi test?
Bocconi University’s Early Session for the 2027-28 academic year opens on 2 September 2026 and closes on 29 September 2026 at 3:00pm Italian time. The real calendar is tighter than it looks: at Bocconi the admission test must be taken before you submit the application, and the testing platform is closed until 23 August.
What are the Early Session dates for 2027-28?
Bocconi runs two selection sessions for the 2027-28 intake. The Early Session runs from 2 to 29 September 2026, with results in mid November 2026. The Winter Session follows from 25 November 2026 to 26 January 2027, with results in mid March 2027.
| Session | Application window | Last test date (international) | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early | 2 to 29 September 2026, 3:00pm | 24 September 2026 | mid November 2026 |
| Winter | 25 November 2026 to 26 January 2027, 3:00pm | 21 January 2027 | mid March 2027 |
International applicants can book a test slot between 13 July 2026 and 19 January 2027. If you are not admitted in the Early Session, you can still apply in the Winter Session using a score you already hold.
How does Bocconi rank applicants?
The ranking uses a fixed, published formula: 55 % for the selection test score and 45 % for school GPA. Bocconi states that the assessment rests on these two elements only.
The GPA counted is that of your third-last and second-last year of secondary school. In practice, for a student graduating in 2027, those are the two years before the final year, not the final year itself. Grades are converted to a ten-point scale inside the application portal.
The direct consequence: no recommendation letters, no personal statement, no CV are taken into account. Documents of that kind will not be read.
Why is the testing platform closed right now?
The webtesting platform is unavailable from 1 to 23 August 2026 inclusive. It reopens on 24 August, nine days before applications open, then closes again from 25 September to 13 October 2026.
Two practical rules follow. A test must be booked at least 48 hours in advance, and Bocconi warns that the last available dates are the most requested. Waiting until mid September to book means risking no slot at all before 24 September.
What does the Bocconi online test look like?
The Bocconi online test has 50 multiple-choice questions to be answered in 75 minutes. It is designed along SAT lines and splits into four areas: mathematics (24 questions), reading comprehension (11), numerical reasoning (6) and critical thinking (9).
The Bocconi online test – Law, reserved for Law School programmes, has 5 mathematics questions, 11 reading comprehension, 6 numerical reasoning, 18 logic and critical thinking, and 10 verbal reasoning.
The marking scheme punishes guessing: +1 point for a correct answer, 0 for a blank, -0.2 for a wrong answer, and -0.33 on critical thinking questions with only three options. A total below 17 removes you from the selection. The Mathematical and Computing Sciences for Artificial Intelligence bachelor additionally requires 11 points out of 24 in the mathematics area alone.
Topic lists, scoring detail and timing strategy are covered in our Bocconi test preparation guide.
How many attempts can you take?
Up to four attempts per test type per year, at 60 € per attempt. Two attempts cannot be taken on the same day or on consecutive days. The test language, Italian or English, is independent of the language your programme is taught in. The session is remotely proctored, with audio and video recording. Your score appears immediately and the full report arrives within 48 hours.
Can you use the SAT or ACT instead?
Yes. Bocconi accepts the SAT and the ACT for every programme; the LSAT and the Bocconi online test – Law only count for the Law School. If you upload several results, the portal automatically keeps the highest one.
For a student also targeting the United States or the United Kingdom, preparing the SAT serves several applications with a single effort. That trade-off is the core of our SAT coaching programme.
Who is eligible to sit the Bocconi test?
Only applicants who already hold their upper secondary school diploma or who will obtain it during the 2026-27 school year, that is, those graduating in July 2027. A younger student who sits the test anyway will have the attempt invalidated and will be excluded from future selection rounds. It is a rule worth repeating to families who want to get ahead.
One further condition: an applicant who is neither an Italian citizen nor resident in Italy must be 17 by 1 September 2027. Between 17 and 18, a legal guardian must be appointed.
How much does applying to Bocconi cost?
Each test attempt costs 60 € and each application 100 €, non-refundable. An applicant targeting both the Undergraduate School and the Law School files two separate applications and therefore pays twice. Paying the fee is not enough: the application must be confirmed and submitted through the portal before the deadline.
How many places are open for 2027-28?
Roughly 3,000 places in total. The Undergraduate School holds 2,645 of them: 690 in Management (English), 690 in Economia aziendale (Italian), 460 in Finance, 230 in Management and Computer Science, 230 in Management for the Arts and Cultures, and 115 each in Economics, Mathematical and Computing Sciences for AI, and International Politics and Government. The Law School opens 320 places, 80 of which are in the English-taught Global Law.
On English-taught programmes, 50 to 55 % of places may be reserved for international applicants. One application lets you list up to 4 preferences at the Undergraduate School and 2 preferences at the Law School. Programme detail sits on our Bocconi university page.
What should you do before 2 September?
- Book a test date as soon as the platform reopens on 24 August, without waiting.
- Gather the transcripts for your third-last and second-last school years, a valid ID, and your parents’ ID if you are under 18.
- Sit Bocconi’s free official simulation under real conditions: 50 questions, 75 minutes, timer running.
- Decide between the Early and Winter sessions. Bocconi advises applying as early as possible, particularly for scholarships and visa timelines.
Getting support
Bocconi is one of the few major destinations where everything comes down to two numbers: your test score and your GPA across the two years counted. There is no rescuing a weak file with a personal statement. That is good news for consistent students, and a real constraint for anyone starting late.
YourDreamSchool guides students to Milan every year, from choosing the right session to preparing the test. Our programmes are set out on our test preparation page. Our work is rated 5 out of 5 on Google, with 160+ reviews.
All figures verified on 19 August 2026 against Bocconi University’s official website.
Author
With a Bachelor's (LLB) from UCL and Assas, and the Grande Ecole program at HEC Paris, Adam has over 10 years of experience in education and student mentoring. Passionate about helping students achieve their academic dreams, he co-founded Your Dream School to guide students through university admissions and interview preparation for top global institutions.
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