Preparing to Apply

Bocconi University hereby announces the Public Call for Applications to the 43^rd cycle (academic year 2027/2028) of the following PhD programs: 

1. Business Administration and Management (BA&M)

   Short Call
   Study Plan 2027-28

2. Economics and Finance (EC-FIN)

   Short Call
   Study Plan 2027-28

3. Legal Studies (LS)

   Short Call
   Study Plan 2027-28

4. Social and Political Science (SPS)

   Short Call
   Study Plan 2027-28

5. Computing Sciences and Artificial Intelligence (CS-AI)

   Short Call
   Short Call BioCore-Pathomics
   Short Call TOLD-Agents
   Study Plan 2027-28

6. Mathematics and Applications (MATH)

   Short Call
   Study Plan 2027-28

7. Statistics and Machine Learning (STAT-ML)

   Short Call
   Study Plan 2027-28

Please carefully read the Full Official Call in order to get detailed information about the set of rules and guidelines to apply for the PhD you are interested in. Read Annex 1 carefully, as it provides detailed information on each PhD program offered by Bocconi University. 

• Download the Full Official Call for the PhD programs of Bocconi University

The enrollment of the qualified candidates can take place under one of the following conditions:

1) with fellowship

2) with payment of tuition fees

3) with tuition waiver

The places available for the academic year 2027-28 are as follows: 

Fellowships are awarded to the best ranked students, up to the number of available fellowships. 

The fellowship amounts to € 27,000/year for the official duration of the program (4 years for BA&M, EC-FIN, CS-AI, MATH, SPS and STAT-ML; 3 years for LS only). PhD students with fellowship are exempted from the payment of tuition fees.

Fellowships are renewed in the following years if the requirements to be admitted to the following year are met.

The amount of the fellowship is gross and subject to INPS contributions (INPS = National Social Security Institute).

Part of contributions are covered by the University (currently 23.35%) and part by the PhD student (currently 11.68%) and is directly deducted from each monthly gross installment of the fellowship and transferred to INPS.

Moreover, PhD students with fellowship can be granted a fellowship extension decided by the PhD Faculty Board for scientific reasons to cover their “PhD candidate” period, at the following conditions:

• for BA&M, SPS, EC-FIN PhD candidates: twelve-month extension of the fellowship = €27,000 (gross).

• for STAT-ML, CS-AI and LS PhD candidates: six-month extension of the = €13,500 (gross). 

• for MATH no extension of the fellowship can be granted.

The fellowship extension is automatically interrupted when PhD students successfully defend their thesis.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FOR ALL PHD STUDENTS (with and without fellowship):

• International Mobility allowance corresponding to 50% of the ministerial amount of the fellowship (€ 16,243) in proportion to the duration of the stay for study and research activities abroad of at least one-month, full months only and authorized by the PhD Program Director; 

• Annual budget of 1,650 € per year for study and research activities. The use of the budget is always subject to the PhD Program Director approval. Upon enrollment, first-year students are required to decide whether to use their first-year budget to receive a laptop (no return at PhD conferral), or to allocate the funds toward goods and services that support academic study and research activities in Italy and abroad. The budget of the following years is meant to allow the purchase of services and goods to support study and research activities.

• Financial support for placement (i.e. travel expenses to relevant events and workshops). The PhD School offers training and procedural support to be successfully placed on the job market (Academia). PhD students are given the opportunity to attend conferences to present their papers, meet scholars of other universities and participate in job markets events. 

• Health Insurance Policy provided by Bocconi which includes accidents occurring in work-related activities at Bocconi and while travelling (the travel must be previously authorized by the Program Director).

Furthermore, PhD students can supplement their income with part-time remunerated work for the university; in particular:

• research assistantship from the second year (as an exception, during the first year, subject to Dean’s approval); 

• teaching assistantship /teaching from the second year.

These activities must be authorized in advance by the PhD Director, as students are primarily committed to their PhD research and activities. 

TUITION FEES:

PhD students admitted with tuition fees are required to pay the applicable fees according to the following schedule:

Bocconi University will not refund the tuition fees paid by students who enrolled and then withdrew; tuition fees will be refunded only to enrolled students who replace a withdrawn student who had been awarded a fellowship or a tuition waiver. 

All PhD students (with fellowship, with tuition waiver and with tuition fees) are required to pay the current annual regional tax of € 190, whose amount may be modified by law at a later date.

Applications can be submitted by candidates of any citizenship who:

• have completed or are completing their graduate studies and
• have at least a “proven” B2 (CEFR) level of competence in English.

Graduate qualifications accepted:

• Italian degrees: second level degrees (“laurea magistrale/specialistica, laurea magistrale a ciclo unico, laurea vecchio Ordinamento”);
• non-Italian degrees of equivalent level (eg. level 7 European Qualification Framework) recognized by the Admission Board.

The suitability of foreign qualifications is verified by the Admission Board in conformity with the applicable Italian and foreign rules, or in conformity with international treaties or agreements on the validity of qualifications for post-graduate education.

Candidates whose Italian or non-Italian degree qualifications have not yet been awarded by the final application deadline can take part in the selection process and will be admitted conditionally. 

They must be awarded the required degree qualifications by 31^st October 2027, or their enrollment will be void. Certifications of required qualifications must be produced by 10^th December 2027. 

Competence in English must be shown by a recognized international English language certificate/test; in case of international test (TOEFL, IELTS) the result must be still valid (not expired).You will have to upload the English language certificate/test to the on-line application procedure (click here to check the list of recognized  international certificates/tests and the minimum scores required - at least a B2 (CEFR) level) or, if you do not have a recognized international certificates/tests, you will have to self-declare in the online application procedure that you:

- are an English native speaker
- attended a University program in English
- attended a secondary school program in English (please, upload the certificate)
- passed the internal English exam in a Bocconi degree program
- have other reasons (please, specify them).

For the PhD programs in Business Administration and Management, Economics and Finance and Statistics and Machine Learning, the assessment is based on a candidate’s:

• curriculum vitae (mandatory);
• academic records (mandatory);
• international graduate admission tests scores (GMAT or GRE);
• statement of purpose (mandatory);
• up to three reference letters*.

For the PhD programs in Economics and Finance and Statistics and Machine Learning, the assessment criteria are as follows:

• a maximum of 50 points for the applicant’s curriculum vitae and academic records;
• a maximum of 10 points for GMAT/GRE;
• a maximum of 40 points for statement of purpose and reference letters.

For the PhD program in Business Administration and Management, the assessment criteria are as follows:

• a maximum of 50 points for the applicant’s curriculum vitae and academic records;

• a maximum of 15 points for GMAT/GRE;

• a maximum of 35 points for statement of purpose and reference letters.

For the PhD programs in Mathematics and Applications and Computing Sciences and Artificial Intelligence, the assessment is based on a candidate’s:

• curriculum vitae (mandatory);
• academic records (mandatory);
• statement of purpose (mandatory);
• up to three reference letters

And with the following criteria:

• a maximum of 60 points for the applicant’s curriculum vitae and academic records;
• a maximum of 40 points for statement of purpose and reference letters

The Admission Board may decide to conduct a brief online interview or request video-recorded interview through the admission portal to clarify aspects of a student’s qualifications. No additional points are given to the interview.

A minimum of 60 total points is required to be eligible for admission to all the above PhD programs.

For the PhD programs in Social and Political Science and Legal Studies, the Admission Board will first evaluate the suitability of the applicants’ qualifications, and, after a first step of selection, the Board will interview some candidates in order to better assess their qualifications (second step of selection).

For the PhD program in Social and Political Science, the first step assessment is based on a candidate’s:

• curriculum vitae (mandatory);

• academic records (mandatory);

• international graduate admission tests scores (GMAT or GRE);

• statement of purpose (mandatory);

• up to three reference letters.

The qualifications assessment criteria are as follows:

• a maximum of 50 points for the applicant’s curriculum vitae and academic records;

• a maximum of 10 points for GMAT/GRE;

• a maximum of 40 points for statement of purpose and reference letters.

The Admission Board will interview (online) candidates who have obtained at least 70 points in the qualifications assessment. 

The second step assessment is based on the online interview, whose maximum score is 50 points.

A candidate will be eligible for admission if he or she has obtained at least 70 points out of 100 in the qualifications assessment and at least 25 points out of 50 in the interview.

The purpose of the interview is to better assess candidates’ qualifications, discuss their statement of purpose; test their aptitude for the program, ascertain their proficiency in English. 

After completing the interviews, the Admission Board will rank the applicants.

For the PhD program in Legal Studies, the first step assessment is based on a candidate’s:

• curriculum vitae (mandatory);

• academic records (mandatory); 

• statement of purpose (mandatory);

• research proposal (mandatory);

• up to three reference letters;

• other relevant documents (e.g. thesis’ abstract, publications).

The qualifications assessment criteria are as follows:

• a maximum of 50 points for the applicant’s curriculum vitae and academic records;
• a maximum of 40 points for statement of purpose, research proposal and reference letters;
• a maximum of 10 points for other relevant elements.

The Admission Board will interview (online) candidates who have obtained at least 70 points in the qualifications assessment. 

The second step assessment is based on the online interview, whose maximum score is 30 points.

A candidate will be eligible for admission if he or she has obtained at least 70 points out of 100 in the qualifications assessment and at least 20 points out of 30 in the interview.

The purpose of the interview is to better assess applicants’ qualifications; discuss their research proposal (relevance, international approach, issues involved) and their publications, if any; test their aptitude for the program; ascertain their proficiency in English and other foreign languages (when only self-certified), and ascertain their competence in a subject of their choice, which is part of the PhD curriculum.

After completing the interviews, the Admission Board will rank the applicants. 

A wide range of information is needed in order to assess the applicants' strengths and potential for academic success. In particular, the following elements are considered (details available in the Full Call for Application):

• Personal curriculum: Full CV (education, work experience, language skills, study/work abroad, other relevant skills and experiences);
• Academic records: transcript of exams and certification of undergraduate (6 EQF) and graduate (7 EQF) degrees awarded and final grade (if any); if the graduate program has not been completed*, an enrollment document with the full study plan, the exams taken and the grades achieved; 
• International Graduate Admission Tests scores: Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) with date and results. These tests are not relevant for the PhD programs in Legal Studies, Mathematics and Applications, Computing Sciences and Artificial Intelligence. IMPORTANT: date of the test: not before 3 November 2021. GMAT/GRE score reports must be uploaded by the candidates in the online procedure. GMAT: you can designate Bocconi University as official recipient and indicate your appointment ID. GRE: you can designate Bocconi University as official recipient using GRE ID Code: 1517;
• Statement of purpose: short description (max 1200 words) of your motivation for enrollment in Bocconi PhD programs, your research interests and professional goals; only for the PhD in Legal Studies: short description (max 1200 words) of your motivation for enrollment in Bocconi PhD program and of your professional goals;
• Reference letters: up to three reference letters uploaded by referees appointed in the on-line application procedure. Referees can be academic (first best) or non-academic (second best);
• Research proposal (only for the PhD in Legal Studies): detailed description of research proposal coherent with one of the curricular disciplinary;
• Other relevant documents (maximum five and only for the PhD in Legal Studies): e.g. abstract of the thesis, publications, other programs attended, etc.
  
  *Applicants who have not achieved a degree are allowed to apply, but they must obtain the degree by 31 October 2027 or their enrollment will be void.

All documents have to be in English, except for those regarding the academic records, which can be in Italian, and publications, which can be in any language. All documents must be submitted by the application deadline. Documents received after the deadline will not be accepted.

In order to close the application and be evaluated, the following documents (sections: personal details, language requirements, academic records, statement of purpose, research proposal) are strictly required:

• Personal CV;
• Documentary evidence of English language competence (except English native speakers): international certification/test, university or high school studies in English, …;
• Academic records;
• Statement of purpose;
• Research proposal (only for the PhD in Legal Studies);
• Copy of the international passport;
• Passport format photo.

Documents of the remaining sections (e.g. GRE/GMAT and Reference letters) contribute to increase the score in the final ranking, but they are not mandatory. 

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE DO NOT PROVIDE PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENTS OF APPLICATIONS. The Admissions Board will review the applications once the Call has closed.

Applicants must apply exclusively through the on-line application procedure which is available here from 3 November 2026. The deadline for submitting the application is 18 January 2027 at 23:59 CET (8 February 2027 at 23:59 CET for Statistics and Machine Learning and Computing Sciences and Artificial Intelligence). This deadline is not negotiable.

In order to complete your application, you will have to:

• register in order to obtain Personal ID and password; please note that Bocconi students already have the required credentials;
• enter the information in the spaces provided;
• upload the required documents;
• submit the application.

For technical issues and information, please contact phdadmission@unibocconi.it

Applicants are ranked according to merit. 

The ranking of each public competition is published on Admission Results a.y. 2027-28 in compliance with data privacy laws (privacy is guaranteed).

For the PhD programs in Business Administration and Management, Economics and Finance, Statistics and Machine Learning, Computing Sciences and Artificial Intelligence, Mathematics and Applications:

By 15th March 2027 each candidate will receive a personal email at the address provided during the online application, informing them about the outcome of their application. 

For the PhD programs in Social and Political Science and Legal Studies:

Admission to the interview:

By 19 February 2027 you will receive a personal e-mail to the address you provided on your on-line application in which you will be informed about your admission to the interview.

Final ranking: 

By 15th March 2027 each candidate will receive a personal email at the address provided during the online application, informing them about the outcome of their application. 
 

Admission Boards for the a.y. 2027-2028 intake will be published before the start of the selection process

1. How and when do I apply?

Applicants must apply exclusively through the on-line application procedure: Apply online! - Bocconi University from 3 November 2026. The deadline for submitting the application is 18 January 2027 at 23:59 CET (8 February 2027 at 23:59 CET for Statistics and Machine Learning and Computing Sciences and Artificial Intelligence). This deadline is not negotiable

Detailed information about how to start your PhD application can be found in the website section Submitting your application - Bocconi University

You may apply to more than one PhD program using the same ID and password. However, a separate online application must be submitted for each program. The application is free.

2. What are the requirements for application?

Applications can be submitted by candidates of any citizenship who:

• have completed or are completing their graduate studies and
• have at least a “proven” B2 (CEFR) level of competence in English.

Graduate qualifications accepted:

• Italian degrees: second level degrees (“laurea magistrale/specialistica, laurea magistrale a ciclo unico, laurea vecchio Ordinamento”);
• non-Italian degrees of equivalent level (eg. level 7 European Qualification Framework) recognised by the Admission Board.

The suitability of foreign qualifications is verified by the Admission Board in conformity with the applicable Italian and foreign rules, or in conformity with international treaties or agreements on the validity of qualifications for post-graduate education.

Candidates whose Italian or non-Italian degree qualifications have not yet been awarded by the final application deadline can take part in the selection process and will be admitted conditionally. 

They must be awarded the required degree qualifications by 31^st October 2027, or their enrollment will be void. Certifications of required qualifications must be produced by 10^th December 2027. 

Competence in English must be shown by a recognized international English language certificate/test; in case of international test (TOEFL, IELTS) the result must be still valid (not expired).You will have to upload the English language certificate/test to the on-line application procedure (click here to check the list of recognized  international certificates/tests and the minimum scores required - at least a B2 (CEFR) level) or, if you do not have a recognized international certificates/tests, you will have to self-declare in the online application procedure that you:

- are an English native speaker
- attended a University program in English
- attended a secondary school program in English (please, upload the certificate)
- passed the internal English exam in a Bocconi degree program
- have other reasons (please, specify them).

3. What are the selection criteria?

Read carefully Art.5 of the Full Call for application and/or see the section above Selection criteria 
 

4. What are the documents for the selection?

Each PhD program may require different documents to be uploaded.
The detailed list of documents required for the evaluation of admission to each PhD program, including information on which documents are mandatory, and which are optional, is provided in Annex 1 of the Full Call for Applications.

Please note that all documents must be in English, except for academic records (which may be in Italian) and publications (which may be in any language).

5. Do I need to secure an advisor before the application?

No, an advisor and a co-advisor will be assigned only after admission to the PhD program.

6. How will I be informed about the final result of my application?

Applicants are ranked according to merit. 

The ranking of each public competition is published on https://www.unibocconi.it/en/programs/phd/admissions in compliance with data privacy laws (privacy is guaranteed).

By 15^th March 2027 each candidate will receive a personal email at the address provided during the online application, informing them about the outcome of their application.

Please read carefully the Full Call for application-art. 9-of the PhD you are interested in for detailed information about the organization of the ranking.

7.  Can I get financial support if I am admitted?

The enrollment of the qualified candidates can take place under one of the following conditions:

1) with fellowship

2) with payment of tuition fees

3) with tuition waiver

Fellowships are awarded to the best ranked students, up to the number of available fellowships. The funding is provided either by Bocconi University or the Tech Europe Foundation (TEF), as specified in Annex 1 of the present Call.

The fellowship amounts to € 27,000/year for the official duration of the program (4 years for BA&M, EC-FIN, CS-AI, MATH, SPS and STAT-ML; 3 years for LS only).  PhD students with fellowship are exempted from the payment of tuition fees.

Fellowships are renewed in the following years if the requirements to be admitted to the following year are met.

ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR ALL PHD STUDENTS (with and without fellowship):

• International Mobility allowance corresponding to 50% of the ministerial amount of the fellowship (€ 16,243) in proportion to the duration of the stay for study and research activities abroad of at least one-month, full months only and authorized by the PhD Program Director; 
• Annual budget of 1,650 € per year for study and research activities. The use of the budget is always subject to the PhD Program Director approval. Upon enrollment, first-year students are required to decide whether to use their first-year budget to receive a laptop (no return at PhD conferral), or to allocate the funds toward goods and services that support academic study and research activities in Italy and abroad. The budget of the following years is meant to allow the purchase of services and goods to support study and research activities.
• Budget for placement (i.e. travel expenses to relevant events and workshops). The PhD School offers training and procedural support to be successfully placed on the job market (Academia). PhD students are given the opportunity to attend conferences to present their papers, meet scholars of other universities and participate in job markets events. 
• Health Insurance Policy provided by Bocconi which includes accidents occurring in work-related activities at Bocconi and while travelling (the travel must be previously authorized by the Program Director).

TUITION FEES:

PhD students admitted with tuition fees are required to pay the applicable fees according to the following schedule:

Bocconi University will not refund the tuition fees paid by students who enrolled and then withdrew; tuition fees will be refunded only to enrolled students who replace a withdrawn student who had been awarded a fellowship or a tuition waiver. 

8. Are PhD students eligible for housing applications?

Yes. Please find here some information about housing options available for Bocconi students.

9. I am an international student, where can I find information about the visa and residence permit?

Information about how to apply for a student visa and how to apply for the residence permit are available on the dedicated section of the website To do for international students.

10. Can I contact you for a preliminary assessment of my application before applying?

We are unable to review individual applications or assess applicants’ eligibility in advance. All applications will be considered by the Admissions Board after the call has closed as part of the official selection process.