Early Session Bocconi: The Complete Guide for Students

Are you in your fourth year of high school and dreaming of a place at Bocconi? Or have you just started your fifth year and want to secure your place early at one of Italy's most prestigious universities? Then the Early Session Bocconi could be the key to your future: it lets you go through your final year of high school already knowing you have a guaranteed place, without the last-minute anxiety of admission tests.

What the Early Session Bocconi Is

The Early Session is the first of Bocconi's three admission rounds for the three-year (and single-cycle) degree programmes, and it is open to fourth-year high school students. Together with the Winter Session, it fills the vast majority of available places — which is exactly why applying early is the most strategically advantageous choice.

Bocconi runs two separate selection tracks: one for the business and economics area (Economics, Management, Finance, Political Science, Data Science…) and one for the law area (Giurisprudenza and Global Law), each with its own test. When you apply, you choose the track that matches the programme you are interested in.

The Three Admission Sessions

Applications to Bocconi are spread across three windows over the course of the academic year:

• Early Session — the first, between late summer and early autumn. Reserved for students in their fourth year or who have just started their fifth.
• Winter Session — between late autumn and winter.
• Spring Session — in spring, the last one available.

The figure that matters: together, the Early and Winter Sessions fill around 90-95% of places, while only a small share is left for the Spring Session. The rule is simple: the earlier you apply, the more places are still available and the higher your chances.

The exact dates for applications and tests change every academic year. For the up-to-date calendar of the current session, always check the official Università Bocconi website.

Why Choose the Early Session: 5 Advantages

1. More Places Available

With the Early Session you tap into the largest pool of places in the whole year. More open places means, quite concretely, more chances of being admitted.

2. Your Final Year Without the Weight of the Test

By passing the selection in your fourth year, you go through your final year of high school without the stress of university entrance tests: you can focus on your Maturità and on the most demanding subjects.

3. More Attempts Available

You have several attempts at the test over the course of the year. Starting with the Early Session lets you use them strategically, with time to improve between one attempt and the next.

4. Flexibility

The test takes place online, from home, within a window of a few weeks: you choose when to sit it, when you feel most ready.

5. A Sign of Maturity

Passing a university test a year early shows determination and planning ability — qualities that are valuable well beyond admission.

How the Bocconi Test Works

Bocconi offers two types of test, depending on the area you choose.

Bocconi Test (Business and Economics Area)

This is the test that applies to most programmes. In its typical structure it has around 50 questions in 75 minutes, broken down as follows:

• Maths and problem solving — the largest part, over half the test
• Reading comprehension
• Logical reasoning
• Critical thinking

Bocconi-Law Test (Law Area)

For programmes in the law area (Giurisprudenza and Global Law), with a similar structure but content tailored to the legal field.

Good to know: there is a minimum score to qualify, but to get into your first-choice programme what counts is scoring as high as possible. There are no official Bocconi manuals: the key is targeted preparation, with practice exercises and mock tests in the real exam format. The exact structure (number of questions, threshold, attempts) may be updated from year to year: check the details of the current session on the Bocconi website.

How to Prepare

Preparing for the Early Session takes strategy, method and consistency. Here are the areas to work on:

Maths and Problem Solving

Maths is the heaviest part of the test. Key topics:

• Basic algebra and geometry
• Probability and elementary statistics
• Mathematical logic
• Numerical reasoning problems

Reading Comprehension

• Analysis of complex passages
• Identifying theses and arguments
• Summarising and reworking

Logical Reasoning

• Syllogisms and deductions
• Numerical and alphabetical series
• Analogies and proportions

Critical Thinking

• Evaluating arguments
• Spotting logical errors
• Analysing causes and effects

Our advice: effective preparation should start at least 3-4 months before the test. If you have gaps in maths, tackling them early with a structured path keeps them from becoming an obstacle in the exam.

Requirements and Costs

To apply for the Early Session, you generally need to:

• Be enrolled in the fourth year of high school (or have just started the fifth) and obtain your diploma in the expected year;
• Sit at least one valid admission test (the Bocconi test, or the SAT or ACT);
• Demonstrate a B2 level of English, through a recognised certification (IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge…), the Bocconi English test, or a diploma obtained in English.

There is also a fee for each test attempt and a fee for the admission application (non-refundable). The exact amounts and deadlines for the current session are listed on the official Bocconi website: check them before you apply.

How Your Application Is Assessed

Bocconi uses a holistic assessment: the test carries the most weight, but it is not the only factor. Other factors also count:

• Your school record (grades in the key subjects: maths, Italian, a foreign language, history/geography, science);
• The consistency between your background and the programme you have chosen;
• Your motivation and goals.

A good test score, combined with a solid school record, is the combination that maximises your chances of getting into your first-choice programme.

FAQ

Your Future Starts with Preparation

The Early Session Bocconi is a valuable opportunity to secure a place early at one of Italy's most prestigious universities. But the result is built through preparation: assess your starting level, plan a study path, close your gaps before they become obstacles, and train with regular mock tests. If you want to arrive at the test in the best possible shape, targeted preparation for the Bocconi test can make the difference.