Bocconi admissions:
which test to take and the scores the school reports

Which tests do Bocconi programs require?

Each Bocconi program has its own online application, and the admissions test is one component among several. Two entities are involved. The Full-Time MBA is offered by SDA Bocconi, the university’s business school, with an eight-step process (form, résumé, pre-interview video, standardized test, transcripts, two recommendations, English test, and interview). The MSc programs are offered by the university, which accepts international applicants through the Apply2B portal with a €100 application fee.

For MSc applicants, the school says it will not evaluate an application missing any of three items: a selection-test result (GMAT, GRE, or online Bocconi test), the undergraduate exam average, and the application with motivation statement. PPA and GLOBE do not require this test in the standard international process. Standard International Management and Finance tracks have four rounds for 2027/28. IM Global Experience and Finance Global Experience each have a separate application, two rounds, and a required video; Bocconi applicants and Incoming Exchange students are exempt from the test. IM CEMS MIM, IM Asia tracks, the ESSEC Luxury Management dual degree, and GLOBE also require a video.

French applicants deciding between a master’s program such as the MSc in International Management and an MBA can first read “MiM or MBA: choose your program before choosing your test.”

GMAT, GRE, or online Bocconi test: which should you choose?

For the standard international MSc process, the school accepts any one of these three tests. You may submit multiple scores; the system automatically selects the most competitive. Your choice depends on your schedule, which test suits you better, and other schools you are targeting. GMAT and GRE scores can also be used for other international applications, which is less often the case for a school-specific test; the “GMAT or GRE” article outlines comparison criteria.

The online Bocconi test has 50 multiple-choice questions in 75 minutes: Verbal (24 questions), Data Insight (16), and Quantitative (10). It costs €60 per attempt, with a maximum of three attempts per academic year; it can be purchased from July 14, 2026, to April 26, 2027. The page is for MSc and MA applicants, and the Full-Time MBA test list does not mention it; do not confuse this university test with the “SDA Tests” mentioned on the MBA scholarship page. The MBA accordion allows applicants, exceptionally and for specific reasons, to ask admissions for permission to take the online SDA test instead of the GMAT or GRE; it costs €100 and is booked after submitting the application.

For MSc programs, Università Bocconi accepts GMAT scores from the current and previous editions if they are no more than five years old. For the GRE, only Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning count; Analytical Writing is not required, the institution code is 1517, and the GRE General Test at Home is not accepted, so the GRE must be taken at a test center. The “Taking a test at home: check acceptance before booking” article explains how schools differ. The TAGE MAGE and TOEIC do not appear on any test list reviewed.

Which English test, and what is the minimum?

For standard MSc programs, no certificate is required for selection, but valid proof of B2 proficiency must be submitted before enrollment and no later than June 30, 2027, or enrollment will be canceled. Minimums are TOEFL iBT “88 or 4.5,” IELTS Academic 6.5 with at least 6 in each section, Duolingo English Test 110, and Cambridge scores of 173 on CAE, 180 on CPE, 173 on FCE, or grade B. IM Global Experience, Finance Global Experience, IM CEMS MIM, and the two ESSEC dual degrees require C1 by July 23, 2027: TOEFL iBT 100/120 or 5/6, IELTS Academic 7, or another accepted credential listed on the program page.

The TOEFL iBT requirement is written as “88 or 4.5” without naming the scales. The 88 is on the 0–120 scale and 4.5 is on the 1–6 scale used since January 2026; the school offers the two figures as alternatives, and we do not convert between them. Compare your score with the requirement that matches the scale on your report.

For standard B2 requirements, a university or secondary-school degree earned in English, or a university English exam at B2 or higher, may replace the certificate. Citizens of a majority English-speaking country automatically meet the requirement. For C1 tracks, check the specific accepted credentials; a bachelor’s degree taught entirely in English is accepted, with additional institution requirements for CEMS. For the Full-Time MBA, the admissions accordion accepts five English tests and may waive the requirement for native English speakers, holders of a degree taught in English, or applicants with substantial work experience in an English-speaking country or a company where English is the official language. No numerical minimum is listed there. The FAQ mentions only the first two waiver groups; confirm if relying on work experience.

Which scores does Bocconi publish?

This table follows a strict rule: it includes only what the school itself publishes, within the stated scope. “Not published” means only that the cited source and scope do not give a figure; an inaccessible section does not support that conclusion. Figures are never converted between scales or editions.

For the Full-Time MBA, the 2025/26 class page gives the number of students (129), their countries (40), the proportion of women, average age, and average experience, but no test scores. The MBA admissions accordion requires a test but sets no minimum; scores must still be valid when applying and no more than five years old. The 2027/28 scholarship page gives a preferred reference score of 615 or higher, described as a GMAT/GRE/EA equivalent, for awards covering 70–100% of fees; it does not specify the GMAT edition here. This is neither an admissions minimum nor a scholarship guarantee, and SDA Tests are excluded from these award levels. For both MSc programs, the school publishes thresholds for taking part in selection under the standard international process, not program-specific figures for Finance or Management. The GRE page sets no section minimum; it lists Verbal and Quantitative combinations that meet the threshold, from 170 Verbal with 141 Quantitative to 130 Verbal with 165 Quantitative.

What happens after the test?

For MSc programs, the application includes undergraduate transcripts and a review of the application and motivation by the program director. A video in English is optional in the standard process, except for the specific tracks already mentioned, where it is required. For the Full-Time MBA, the eight-step process ends with the admissions interview; applicants may also apply through a sponsoring company.

Standard MSc programs have four rounds for 2027/28. Round 1 runs October 1–29, 2026, with results on December 17, 2026; Round 2 runs October 30, 2026–January 26, 2027 (results March 4); Round 3 runs January 27–March 11, 2027 (results April 13); Round 4 runs March 12–April 29, 2027 (results June 10). IM Global Experience and Finance Global Experience have two dedicated periods: September 16–October 15, 2026, at 3 p.m. Italy time, and February 10–April 22, 2027, at 3 p.m.; results are November 19, 2026, and May 25, 2027. For the Full-Time MBA, each round lists an application deadline, interview invitation, and decision date: October 15, 2026, October 29, and December 15; January 14, 2027, February 4, and March 17; March 11, April 1, and May 10; April 28, May 18, and June 16. Work backward from your target date to take the test and leave time for a retake if needed; the article about retaking a test or moving ahead with your application can help.