
Bocconi University in Milan: A Guide for International Applicants
Fees, tests, deadlines and visa steps for the next intake, with the limits most guides leave out.
Bocconi University is a private university in Milan, founded in 1902, focused on economics, management, finance, law and political science. Most bachelor's programs are taught in English, and the university says about 3,700 of its roughly 15,000 students come from 124 countries. There are around 3,000 first-year places, decided mainly by a test score and school grades.
It suits students who want business, economics or finance with strong subject rankings and who can fund the budget or qualify for an income-based waiver. It is a weak fit for engineering, medicine or design, or if your family cannot cover €17,000 a year plus Milan living costs without a waiver.
You submit the application yourself in Bocconi's online portal. AcademGo checks your grades and documents, plans the test, reviews the application before you send it and builds a backup list.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
Founded | 1902 |
Type | Private university |
Schools | Undergraduate School, School of Law, Graduate School, PhD School, SDA Bocconi School of Management |
Bachelor's programs in English | 8 BSc programs + Bachelor in Global Law |
First-year places | About 3,000 (all bachelor's and law programs) |
Tuition, bachelor's and law | €17,000 per year |
Tuition, Master of Science | €18,550 per year |
Application fee (bachelor's) |
Bocconi University tuition fees
Bocconi charges one flat fee for EU and non-EU students, with no lower band based on income. Family income matters only if you apply for a tuition waiver. The fee for the next academic year has not been published yet ("will be defined soon"), so plan with the current figures.
| Item | Amount (current price list) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Bachelor's and law, 1st year | €17,000 / year | Same for EU and non-EU students |
Master of Science, 1st year | €18,550 / year | With a 20% waiver €14,840, with 60% €7,420; indexed to inflation during the program |
Application fee (bachelor's) | €100 | Non-refundable |
Bocconi online test | €60 per attempt | Up to 4 attempts per cycle |
Graduation fee (BSc) |
There is no separate deposit. To confirm your place, you pay an advance on the first installment about three weeks after results; it can be refunded if you withdraw within each session's deadlines. For first-year students, the rest of the first installment is due October 15, the second January 31 and the third April 28.
Tuition waivers and scholarships
For bachelor's and law, support is income-based. One application, Bocconi4Access to Education, covers 100%, 80% and 60% waivers and 40% and 20% waivers (Boost Your Future), and international first-year candidates can apply. Bocconi reviews your family's income and assets documents and awards waivers from the top level down until the budget runs out. Income thresholds are not published.
A 100% waiver covers tuition and fees, not housing. Waivers renew each year if you meet the merit requirements. Early and Winter applicants apply in separate windows, with results about 10 weeks after each deadline. Other options include the Women Award, a sibling discount, a sports scholarship and student loans; master's students can apply for merit awards such as the Bocconi merit award.
What a year at Bocconi costs
EUR per year, current price list
- Master of Science, 1st year€18,550
- Bachelor's and law, 1st year€17,000
- Master of Science with a 20% waiver€14,840
- Master of Science with a 60% waiver€7,420
Programs and the degree you receive
Bachelor's programs (BSc) last 3 years. The English-taught options are:
Bachelor's programs taught in English
- Economics
- Finance
- International Politics and Government (including a HEC-Bocconi double degree)
Economia aziendale (BSc) and the 5-year Integrated Master of Science in Law are taught in Italian. First-year classes have around 115 students. According to the university, most Master of Science and MA programs are in English.
Bocconi describes itself as a legally recognized non-state university. Graduates receive Italian degrees: a Laurea (bachelor's) and a Laurea Magistrale (master's). For regulated professions at home, check with your national authority how the degree is assessed.
Admission requirements for international students
For the bachelor's intake, the decision is 55% test score and 45% average of your school grades from the two years before your final year. You apply with those grades; the final diploma is needed by July of the intake year. You must be at least 17 on September 1 of the intake year, and 17-year-olds need a legal guardian in Italy.
Bocconi accepts the Bocconi online test, the SAT or the ACT. Law applicants can also use the LSAT or the Bocconi online test – Law. No minimum SAT or ACT score is published.
How to apply for the bachelor's intake
Check your grades — We look at how your board's marks (FSc, CBSE, WAEC, Thanaweya Amma) fit Bocconi's average and whether your profile is realistic.
Take the test — Booking for the proctored Bocconi online test runs July 13 – January 19. It has 50 questions in 75 minutes: 24 math, 11 reading, 6 numerical reasoning, 9 critical thinking. Below 17 points, the application is not assessed.
Choose a session — Early: September 2–29 (15:00 Italian time), results mid-November. Winter: November 25 – January 26, results mid-March. Early applications leave more time for the visa.
Apply — Submit in Bocconi's portal, pay the €100 fee and file the waiver application in its window.
Prove your English — IELTS Academic 6.5 (6.0 in each part), TOEFL iBT 88, Cambridge 180 (CPE) or 173 (CAE/FCE), or Duolingo 110. Needed for enrollment, not for the application.
Master of Science applicants have four rounds, from October 1 to April 29. According to the university, it considers a GMAT, GRE or Bocconi test score, GPA, dossier and motivation.
What to know before you apply
- Budget is the main filter. Tuition is €17,000 a year, and Milan costs roughly €1,100–1,400 a month with a room.
- Waivers are not guaranteed and do not cover housing. Have a plan that works without a full waiver.
- The consulate checks money separately: at least €10,179.85 per year in traceable funds, yours or a relative's up to the 4th degree.
We check your budget, grades and English against these points before you pay any fee, and plan parallel applications where the numbers work.
Rankings and accreditation
As a specialized university, Bocconi is not in the overall QS or THE world rankings. Look at subject tables instead.
| Ranking | Subject or program | Position |
|---|---|---|
QS by Subject | Social Sciences & Management | #12 (4th in Europe) |
QS by Subject | Marketing | #9 |
QS by Subject | Business & Management Studies | #10 |
QS by Subject | Economics & Econometrics | #18 |
QS by Subject | Accounting & Finance |
Housing and student life
Bocconi runs 7 residences (Bligny, Bocconi, Castiglioni, Dubini, Isonzo, Javotte, Spadolini) with single rooms only, around 1,700 places. For the current academic year, the full rate is €770–1,050 a month for 10 months, plus a €600 deposit; a reduced rate of €380–650 depends on income. Next year's prices come by the end of January.
A private single room in Milan averages about €704 a month. The university reports more than 280 partner universities for exchanges.
Student visa
Non-EU students pre-enroll on Universitaly, then apply for a type D visa at the Italian consulate in their country of residence, with proof of €10,179.85 for the year. Pakistan, India and Bangladesh use the apostille; Nigeria, Egypt, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait need consular legalization. The deadline is October 31, and the residence permit application is due within 8 working days of arrival. Full steps are on our Italy student visa page and in the Universitaly pre-enrollment guide.
Other options
If Bocconi's budget or test is a stretch, compare it with public universities. Politecnico di Milano and the University of Bologna charge roughly €160–4,000 a year, depending on family income and fixed rates for international students, and you can apply for a DSU scholarship. For design and fashion, NABA and Istituto Marangoni cost around €22,000–30,000 a year for non-EU students. The full picture is in our guide to studying in Italy.
14 questions to ask before you pay the deposit
Deposits are almost never refundable. Ask these by email before paying — and keep the university's answer on record.
- What to ask about the programme, accreditation and the degree
- What tuition does not include and when a deposit is refunded
- Who files the visa application — you or the university
- Five red flags that mean you should not pay
Book a free consultation. We check your documents against Bocconi University's requirements and compare 2–3 alternatives in Italy where your profile is strong. Write to us through the form, WhatsApp or Telegram.

