Categories of Applicants

The categories of applicants depend on the secondary school the applicant has attended.
Based on this categorization, the modalities, timelines, and selection procedures may differ.


 

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

Students are considered international applicants if they are attending or have attended:

  • a secondary school abroad, or
  • an international school (in Italy or abroad).

This also includes students enrolled in international schools located in Italy that follow a non-Italian educational system, even if these institutions may, under certain conditions, award final qualifications recognized as equivalent within the Italian system.

International schools operating in Italy listed in Annex 1, point 8, of the ministerial procedures published on Universitaly follow a foreign educational system and adopt non-Italian grading schemes.

This category includes, for example, British schools (St. George’s British International School, The New School in Rome, Sir James Henderson School in Milan), French lycées (Chateaubriand in Rome, Stendhal in Milan, Jean Giono in Turin), the Spanish Liceo Cervantes, Swiss schools (Swiss School of Rome and Swiss School of Milan), and German schools (Deutsche Schulen) in Milan, Genoa, and Rome.

Students graduating from these institutions are therefore considered international applicants for the purposes of the Bocconi admission process.

This classification applies regardless of whether the final qualification obtained may be recognized as equivalent to the Italian upper secondary school diploma (Diploma di Maturità).
 

ITALIAN APPLICANTS

Students are considered Italian applicants, if they are attending/have attended an Italian secondary school in Italy: please visit the Italian website for information on the selection process.

 

TRANSFER STUDENTS 

Transfer students without credits recognition

Applicants who have graduated or transferred (as already enrolled) from Italian or foreign universities and DO NOT intend to request a career abbreviation through the recognition of previously earned university credits will participate in the selections (in any session) according to the methods identified based on their high school diploma. 

If the applicant has obtained an Italian high school diploma from a school in Italy, they will be considered an Italian applicants. Otherwise, they will be considered an international applicant. 

In this case, it will not be possible to request recognition of previously acquired credits after admission or enrollment.

 

Transfer students with credits recognition

Candidates who have graduated or transferred (as already enrolled) from Italian or foreign universities and wish to request recognition of university credits already earned during other academic paths for a career abbreviation will follow dedicated selection timelines.

After admission, they will follow dedicated rules for the recognition of previously acquired credits (info available starting from October 2026). 

 

Please note! Applicants using university years as integration to their secondary school diplomas, and/or candidates attending Classes Préparatoires aux Grands École CANNOT request credits recognition.