Enrolling at Bocconi from France (for the 2027 academic year): Advice from an International Admissions Officer

Italy university June 11, 2026

Bocconi has become the most sought-after university in Europe among French high school students. Every year, families try to understand what really goes on behind the doors of the admissions office in Milan. Barbara, a member of Bocconi’s international recruitment team since 1999, answered all our questions as part of the Anywhere Uni podcast. Here’s what she told us.

 

 

Why Bocconi Is So Popular Among French High School Students

 

French students are now the largest group of international students enrolled at Bocconi. This is no coincidence: Bocconi and ESSEC signed the university’s very first exchange agreement in 1974, laying the foundation for a historic relationship between the two institutions. Since then, the relationship has only grown stronger, leading to the Bocconi/Sciences Po Paris andBocconi/École Polytechnique dual master’s programs,as well as the Bocconi/HEC Paris dual bachelor’s program.

Today, 46% of Bocconi's students are international. Founded in 1902, the university launched its first program taught entirely in English in 2001, well ahead of most of its European competitors.

 

 

 

Bocconi—a business school? Not just that.

 

A common misconception is to think of Bocconi as just a business school. Today, the university offers bachelor's degrees in:

  • Economics (1 classroom with 115 seats)

  • Finance (575, or 5 classes of 115 students each)

  • International Politics and Government(1 classroom with 115 seats)

  • Management(1,265, or 11 classes of 115 students each)

  • Management and Computer Science(230 students, or 2 classes of 115 students each)

  • Management for the Arts and Culture(230 students, or 2 classes of 115 students each)

  • Mathematical and Computing Sciences for Artificial Intelligence(1 class with 115 seats)

  • Global Law(1 classroom with 80 seats)
  • World Bachelor in Business (USC Los Angeles, HKUST Hong Kong, Bocconi Milan)(1 classof 50 students)
  • Sciences Po Paris / Bocconi Dual Bachelor's Degree (Data, Society, and Organization)(1 classof 110 students)
     

Applications for programs in artificial intelligence and computer science have skyrocketed over the past two years. Bocconi only launches a program if its partner companies request it: this is the philosophy that guides its development.

 

 

The Intake System: What Few People Know

 

The 55/45 split: the most important point

Admission to Bocconi is based on two pillars:

  • 55% of the application: scores on standardized tests (SAT, ACT, or Bocconi Entry Test)
  • 45% of the evaluation: report cards

And here’s what most families don’t know: Bocconi only requires report cards from Seconde (10th grade) and Première (11th grade). Grades from Terminale (12th grade) are not taken into account in the admissions application. The university wants to assess the applicant’s overall academic profile, not their performance under pressure during the year of the baccalaureate.

 

No cover letter, no resume

For its regular programs (Management, Finance, Economics, Computer Science, AI), Bocconi does not require a statement of purpose or a resume. The application focuses solely on academic performance and test scores. This is a fundamental difference from British or American universities.

Exceptions: The Sciences Po/Bocconi dual bachelor's degree program and the World Bachelor in Business program require a statement of purpose, a resume, and an interview.

 

 

Standardized tests: SAT, ACT, or Bocconi Entry Test

 


Which test should you choose?

Good news: you don't have to choose. If an applicant takes both the SAT and the Bocconi Entry Test, the admissions team automatically uses the higher of the two scores. So it's possible to take both.


Target Scores

The average SAT score for admitted applicants in recent admission cycles was approximately 1,480 out of 1,600. Some applicants with scores as low as 1,400 were admitted, but in such cases, their academic record must be particularly strong to compensate (a GPA of 18/19+).


The Bocconi Entry Test

It is taken entirely online and can be taken up to two times. The test-taker chooses the date and time.However, we recommend preparing for and taking the SAT, as there are many more resources available to help you prepare for it.


Is an English test required?

For regular programs, no English proficiency test is required, as language proficiency is assessed through Bocconi’s standardized test or the SAT.


The Global Law Case (80 seats)

For the Global Law program, applicants have two testing options:

  • The Bocconi Entry Test for Law (without a significant math component)
  • The LSAT (Law School Admission Test), which is typically used for law school admissions in the United States

 

 

Math: A Strong Piece of Advice

 

Bocconi does not require a specific level of math proficiency for admission. However, Barbara emphasizes: take as many math courses as possible.Senior year with Math Specialization and Advanced Math, Math AA HL in the IB program. Mathematics is at the heart of Bocconi’s curriculum, regardless of the program you choose. Students who arrive without a solid foundation in math feel the impact right from their first year.

 

 

Admissions Sessions and the Strategy to Adopt


NEW: Bocconi now holds only two admission rounds per year:

  1. Early Session (Fall, applications accepted September 2–29, 2026)
  2. Winter Session (winter, applications accepted from November 25, 2026, to January 26, 2027)
  3. Spring Session (not recommended; available only for the dual bachelor's degree program with HEC)


90% of spots were filled during the Early and Winter application rounds. The longer you wait, the more competitive the process becomes and the scarcer the spots get. The recommendation is clear: apply during the Early round, at the beginning of your senior year.

 

The Four Program Options

An applicant may list up to four programs in order of preference. If the first choice is not available, an offer may be made for the second or third choice. And if a student accepts a spot in a program that was not their first choice, they may request a transfer during their first year. Bocconi even allows transfers to programs that were not on the initial list.

 

 

 

Tuition and Scholarships


Fees

Tuition fees are capped at 17,000 euros per year, with four brackets based on family income. The same fee schedules apply to both European and non-European students: there is no difference in treatment based on nationality or passport.


Scholarships

Bocconi recently revised its scholarship system. Merit-based scholarships are no longer offered; the university now focuses exclusively on need-based scholarships, covering 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, or 100% of tuition costs.

There are also specific scholarships available for young women pursuing careers in STEM fields (Computer Science, AI, Economics).

Please note: For the World Bachelor in Business program, tuition fees vary because they are billed separately by each of the three universities. Scholarships covering 25% or 50% of the tuition fees are available for this program.

 

 

Housing

 

Bocconi has 7 student residence halls with a total capacity of 2,000 beds, all located near the campus in central Milan. International students are given priority.

The system operates on a first-come, first-served basis: as soon as you receive an admission offer, you must immediately submit a housing application. Don't wait.

New residential developments are expected following the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.

 

 

How to Apply for Each Program

 Apply directly through the Bocconi portal, except for the World Bachelor in Business (USC, HKUST, Bocconi), for which applications are submitted via the Common App (U.S. system).

 

 

Campus Life and Career Opportunities

 

The Bocconi campus is urban and compact. Days typically begin around 8:30 a.m. and can extend into the evening with classes, studying in the library, and student club activities. More than 100 student clubs and organizations are active on campus.

In terms of career prospects, the numbers speak for themselves for Master’s students: 86% have already secured a job one year before graduation, and 97% are employed upon graduation. The majority of Bachelor’s students go on to pursue a Master’s degree at Bocconi or elsewhere.

Every year, the Bocconi Jobs event brings together companies that come directly to campus to offer interviews to students.

 

 

What Bocconi Really Expects from You

 

Barbara sums it up in one sentence: Be motivated, energetic, flexible, and a good student. There’s no typical profile, no set path. Bocconi looks at the numbers, but the students who succeed are those who know why they’re applying—and, above all, those who will stick with it during their first year.

And his personal advice to applicants: don't compare yourselves to your peers. Your application is your own—put it together honestly.

 

 

Next Steps If You're Applying to Bocconi

 

  • Prepare for the SAT or the Bocconi Entry Test Starting in 11th Grade
  • Maintain strong grades in 10th and 11th grade (the only grades that count)
  • Visit the campus or attend an online Open House
  • Apply during the Early Application Round at the beginning of your senior year
  • Submit a housing application immediately after receiving an offer of admission

 

 

This article is based on an exclusive interview with Barbara, a member of Bocconi University’s international admissions team, conducted as part of the Anywhere Uni podcast. For a consultation to assess your chances of admission to Bocconi, contact [email protected]