“The format of the program – small class size, huge workload, an intense approach – forces you to develop the capacity to truly listen to others, to truly question and not judge other questions… relational skills, decision making, problem solving, creative thinking and emotional intelligence are the reasons our students apply to our MBA and get hired.”

Francesca Roveda, a member of the recruiting and admissions team for SDA Bocconi’s MBA program, discusses what makes the SDA Bocconi MBA unique, the school’s admissions process, career opportunities and more.

Program Highlights (5:30) | Admissions (28:26) | Financing & Scholarships (48:00) | Careers (55:30)

About Our Guest

Francesca Roveda recruits candidates for the MBA, Executive MBA and Specialized Masters program for Bocconi University’s School of Management. Francesca has been with Bocconi for nearly 30 years, starting in the marketing office and then moving over to recruiting and admissions in 2008.

What is unique about the SDA Bocconi MBA? What are its key advantages?

• Located in downtown Milan, which has the third largest economy among EU cities after Paris and Madrid and is recognized as one of the world’s finance and fashion capitals; Paris, London and Barcelona are a one-hour flight away
• SDA Bocconi MBA starts in September and lasts 12 months
• 100 students per class from 30 countries; 75% of students are from outside Italy
• In addition to formal admissions requirements (academics, test scores and work experience), admissions is looking for highly motivated applicants who listen to and respect diverse viewpoints and who have strong interpersonal skills
• Students can specialize in Finance, Marketing & Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Luxury Business Management
• SDA Bocconi is celebrating its 50th birthday in 2021 
• Ranked #1 in Europe for compensation (Bloomberg Businessweek 2021) and #2 in Europe for 126% salary increase 3 years after graduation (Financial Times 2021)

Touch MBA’s SDA Bocconi MBA Fast Facts

last updated September 2021

Program Highlights (5:30)

• 1 intake/year in September
• Length: 12 months
• ~100 participants/intake
• ~30 nationalities/intake; ~75% international; class is ~35% female
• Program structure: 4-day MBA bootcamp, 9 months of class, 3-6 months of experiential internships, personal/group projects and exchange
• Rankings: #29 Financial Times 2021, #6 Economist 2021
• Accredited by AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS

Admissions (28:26)

• Rolling deadline from September to July
• Applicants get decision back around 3 weeks after submitting completed application
• Avg GMAT: 665, GMAT or GRE required, no minimum requirement
• Avg age: 29, Avg work experience: 5.5, 3 years of work experience required
• 2 recommendations required
• English proficiency requirements: TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or CPE test
• Interviews done by admissions office and external consultants

Financing & Scholarships (48:00)

• Full-time MBA Tuition: 62,000 EUR
• Estimated expenses: 1,500-1,800 EUR/month
• ~35 scholarships available up to full tuition available based on academic and professional record, nationality, and industry interest

Careers (55:30)

• Full-time placement report? Yes
• 95% of graduates employed within 3 months
• Average salary is 119,000 EUR
• Students are encouraged to study Italian if they want to work in Italy
• Top Industries: 22% Tech/E-Business, 15% Financial Services, 10% Pharma/Biotech, 8% Consulting, 7% Luxury/Fashion, 7% Industrial Goods
• Top Functions: 27% Marketing & Sales, 13% Finance, 10% General Management, 8% Consulting, 7% Operations
• Top Geographies: not available
• Italian student and work visas are different for different nationalities
• Alumni statistics: 16,000+ SDA Bocconi alumni in 110 countries

Show Notes

• SDA Bocconi MBA

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