Admissions

Doctorate in Business Administration

Requirements for Admission

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.

 

Deadlines

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.

In order to properly complete the enrollment procedure, we need to double check your diploma and transcript with your former University. If they have a digital document delivery service or if they confirm the obtention of your diploma by email is 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

The fee for the entire DBA program is 96,000 EUR payable in three installments as follows:

Academic Year 1

€ 32,000

Academic Year 2

€ 32,000

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 one-day mini virtual learning modules (February 2026, July 2026, February 2027, July 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).

Scholarships and Tuition Waivers

A number of scholarships and tuition waivers are offered by SDA Bocconi School of Management: these are awarded on the basis of merit to candidates with an outstanding profile. Admission to the Program is independent of the awarding of any scholarship or tuition waiver.

SDA Bocconi School of Management offers 7 "Outstanding candidates merit-based tuition waivers" up to 32,000 € (33% of the Tuition Fee) to 2025-2028 DBA candidates with an outstanding profile who send their application within 27 March 2025 (1st round: 3 tuition waivers available) and within the final deadline set on 29 May 2025 (2nd round: 4 tuition waivers available).

In order to be considered for a tuition waiver, not only you must flag the tuition waiver option in the application, but also you must submit your DBA application within the deadlines indicated 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

 

 

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.

Funding for International Students

 

North America

Latin America

Europe

Asia

Oceania

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.

Rossana Camera

Head of Recruiting & Admissions Service

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