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New ZelandRossana Camera
Head of Recruiting & Admissions Service
Admissions
Doctorate in Business Administration
The DBA admission process is rigorous and designed not only to determine whether you are qualified for the DBA program, but also whether the program will meet your expectations and goals. The selection process is based on an overall analysis of various factors including skills, talents, and formal pre-requisites.
To apply to the SDA Bocconi DBA, candidates must be fluent in English, have a University degree and, most of all, substantive (15+ years) professional experience.
A key piece in the application process is the statement of purpose in which prospective candidates reflect on their professional trajectory, current professional state and describe their research interests, objectives and motives for pursuing the SDA Bocconi DBA.
The statement of purpose should not be longer than 2500-words and include all the elements that the candidate deems noteworthy and relevant to support his/her candidacy.
In addition, two references commenting the candidates' quality and motivation will be required. They must be from people who know you well and can comment knowledgeably on your professional and/or academic background, providing a detailed evaluation of your qualifications for our DBA.
The contact details of your referees (name, surname and email address) will need to be uploaded on the automatic tool of the online application form. The referees will then receive a form to be filled out and submitted to us.
Once received, applications will be screened for fit and quality by the Admission Committee and candidates could be invited for an interview with the Selection Committee and for the final interview with the DBA Program Director.
The application must also be accompanied by:
- Scanned passport
- Passport photo
- Updated CV
- Official transcripts of grades of all Degrees Achieved
- Official Certificate/Diploma of all Degrees Achieved
- Statement of Purpose highlighting the research interests
- Two References
- 120 euro application fee payment
How to apply
Fill out and submit the online application through our website and upload all required documents to the specific section of your application.
In order to apply to DBA, candidates must meet all requirements, must complete the application form and upload all required documents.
Kindly notice the application portal is an independent system, therefore your SDA Bocconi website (www.sdabocconi.it) credentials are not to be used. Please proceed with a new registration.
The online application for DBA (9th edition, 2025-2028) will be available from 30th January 2025.
Tuition Waiver Application Deadlines
1st round: 27 March 2025
2nd round: 29 May 2025
Application Deadline
29 May 2025
We invite you to apply on time.
Enrollment
Upon confirmation of your admission, you will have access to the enrollment online application that must be completed through our admission portal by the deadline indicated in the admission’s letter. To complete the enrollment process, you have to pay the first sub-installment payment.
To complete your enrollment, we need to verify your diploma and transcript with your former university. If they offer a digital document delivery service or can confirm your diploma by email, please let us know, as either option will be accepted.
When this is not possible, in some remaining cases (more frequently for extra UE students), you may be also required to send by land mail the official/original or certified degree certificate/transcript to:
SDA Bocconi,
Recruiting and Admissions Service
Via Sarfatti, 10
20136 Milano - Italy
Tel. +39 02 5836 3115
admissions.dba@sdabocconi.it
Costs and Fees
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The fee for the entire DBA program is 96,000 EUR payable in three installments as follows: |
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Academic Year 1 |
€ 32,000 |
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Academic Year 2 |
€ 32,000 |
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Academic Year 3 |
€ 32,000 |
The fee includes all academic materials, use of the Bocconi and SDA Bocconi libraries and online resources, lunches and coffee breaks during residential modules. Candidates are responsible for covering their travel and lodging expenses while in Milan.
Logistics
The program is run in four weeklong residential modules (October 2025, May 2026, October 2026, May 2027) and four virtual learning modules (Jan-Mar 2026, Jun-Jul 2026, Jan-Mar 2027, Jun-Jul 2027).
Each residential module will take place in Milan at SDA Bocconi School of Management. Residential modules will start on Monday afternoon and end Friday afternoon of the same week.
Virtual learning modules will take place between residential modules and will be conducted remotely with participants connected from their respective locations (in case of scheduling conflicts, virtual learning modules will be recorded and remain available to participants on the learning platform).
SDA Bocconi School of Management offers a number of merit-based scholarships and tuition waivers for candidates with outstanding profiles. Admission to the program is independent of of the awarding of any scholarship or tuition waiver.
For candidates admitted to the DBA 2025-2028, SDA Bocconi offers seven "Outstanding Candidates Merit-Based Tuition Waivers" of up to €32,000 (33% of tuition fees).
The waivers are awarded in two rounds:
- 1st Round: 3 waivers for candidates who apply by the first deadline of March 27, 2025
- 2nd Round: 4 waivers for applications submitted by the final deadline of May 29, 2025 (including those submitted by the first deadline of March 27).
To be considered for a tuition waiver in either round, candidates must both select the tuition waiver option in the DBA application and submit the application itself by the corresponding deadline listed above.
Applications are evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Analysis of the requirements indicated in the specific notice of competition
- Analysis of academic and professional record
- Results of the DBA selection process
TUITION WAIVERS 2025-2028 DBA EDITION
Outstanding candidates 33% Tuition Waivers
Loans and Funding
For candidates
SDA Bocconi provides opportunities for low-interest loans to admitted students, thanks to agreements with Italian Banks for residents of Italy. Loan applications to Italian Banks must be submitted by the end of month that follows your Master starting date.
Furthermore, the University provides international students with information about possible sources for financing in several countries. For further information, please visit the Università Bocconi website.
Recruiting & Admissions Service
A whole team of experts is here to assist you during your decision process: our recruiting people will be meeting you during our events in Italy and abroad; a team of professionals will then assess and select your profile and also guide you throughout your admissions process.
Recruiting
Giorgia Bava
Recruiting Coordinator
Diana Mendonça Ajuz
Fabrice Charlot
Priscilla Gatto
Tyler Henderson
Valentina Mardegan
Tommaso Panzavolta
Marta Tettamanti
Summer Wu
Admissions
Mario Adamo
Tamara Kolundzija
Gaia Laudicina Rossi
Giusy Marchesano
Viviana Puricelli
Vlad Serban
Lorenzo Starita
International Student Care
Francesca Roveda