SDA Bocconi School of Management

The University

Founded in 1971 by Università Bocconi, SDA Bocconi School of Management was first a pioneer in Italy and today enjoys international recognition as a leading management school. Its mission is to educate men and women ready to act anywhere in the world, using their knowledge and imagination.

SDA Bocconi dedicates energy and resources to creating value and spreading values. Proof of this are its research, teaching and relations with the scientific, business and institutional communities. It is exemplified by its exchanges, international approach, critical spirit, pragmatism, curiosity and innovative strength. Knowledge and imagination are the shared pride and heritage of the faculty, its students, and thousands of alumni around the world.

The Business School

SDA Bocconi School of Management is designed to optimize resources following the canons that drive successful businesses everywhere. In designing new offerings we encourage the fast, flexible and creative interaction of these canons by unleashing the entrepreneurial spirit of our faculty. The knowledge they impart and the imagination they bring to their efforts in turn enables individuals and organizations to improve their management culture, to more efficiently oversee resources, and to inspire the full potential of each employee. Our education involves both the exploration of theoretical models and the day-to-day reality of running a successful enterprise, and we instil in our students skills, knowledge and tools they can use every day when facing the challenges of an evolving marketplace.

Five Divisions are responsible for the various market areas. They work with the Departments to update open enrollment programs and to develop new products according to demand. Since companies often require multidisciplinary courses drawing from more than one Department, Project Groups follow the evolution of demand for education on particular issues.

This flexible system of widespread entrepreneurship means that the SDA Bocconi School of Management can respond quickly with custom executive programs that complement an already extensive portfolio of educational products. Companies, institutions and individuals who come to us find we are passionately committed to inspiring the professional and personal growth of each and every student.

The Program

MBA FULL-TIME

The SDA Bocconi MBA is an ambitious undertaking. While it requires drive and motivation, it offers you a unique opportunity to improve, personally and professionally. From day one and throughout the Program, you will be plunged into a very intensive period of full-time work that progresses in set stages.
It is demanding, sometimes stressful, but it is also sustainable, allowing to set a proper balance between career aspirations and personal life.

The SDA Bocconi MBA: an integrated and innovative curriculum
• is based on real world management knowledge;
• draws directly on our faculty's current research work;
• blends together the analytical and social dimensions of managerial issues and instills ethical values;
• takes place in a unique learning environment: academic as well as practice-based; diverse, teamwork oriented; open to the outside world and fostering interpersonal communication.

The MBA also involves you outside the classroom and after hours: extra-curricular activities actually belong to the mainstream program and offer an unrepeatable opportunity to make life-long friends and to network.

GLOBAL EXECUTIVE MBA

Program comprehensiveness is a key factor ambitious individuals often cite to account for their decision to pursue the SDA Bocconi Global Executive MBA. The School has gathered all its expertise in Executive education to deliver a remarkable program dedicated to experience molding.

A TRIP OF SUCCESS
As a Global Executive MBA student, you will take your trip of success over a period of 20 months, taking 8 highly concentrated one-week modules + 2 ten-day modules delivered every other month. One-week modules are run from Monday through Saturday, ten-day modules from Thursday to Saturday of the following week. This is a format that compresses maximal learning opportunities into a compact amount of time.
Two modules are conducted at two partner schools:
• UCLA Anderson School of Management in Los Angeles
• Fudan University in Shanghai

This scheme enhances thinking through a cross-nations context. More importantly, this diversity of locations is meant to be a channel for interacting with various industries. We also intend to create a milieu for participants to gain tangible insights into how management theories and practices play out in different business settings.
During the first year of your academic trip, SDA Bocconi's core Program will be a series of focused and relevant courses that provide you with a strong foundation of fundamental business skills, which makes up a substantive portion your academic experience at SDA Bocconi.

The Faculty

The SDA Bocconi faculty is well established in the field of research. Research is demanding, silent and continuous: it is the litmus test of the vitality of an institution and its members. Often it becomes a necessary requirement for visibility and competitive ability, as well as being a guarantee of expansion and the basis for continuity at an international level. And when accomplished lecturers interact with an excellent group of students, the result is a unique experience, a cultural legacy for the School itself.

Entry Requirements

MBA FULL-TIME

Selection process is based on an overall analysis of various factors. Skills, talents and formal pre-requisites: enthusiasm, ability to listen, concentration and involvement, responsability, motivation to grow as a manager and a person. You must also score well on the formal admissions requirements:
• Degree in any discipline
• Minimum of 2-3 years professional experience
• Proficiency in English

GLOBAL EXECUTIVE MBA

• Degree in any discipline
• Minimum of 5-6 years professional experience
• Proficiency in English
• Strong motivation
• IT competency and laptop with Internet connection
• Good leadership skills and interpersonal skills

Application Procedure

MBA FULL-TIME

Application form
The application form must be submitted by April 30th 2009.
The application is available exclusively on-line, and must be completed in English.The application includes several short-answer questions which will allow us to understand more about your personal and professional experiences and your reasons for wanting to attend this MBA program.

• DEGREE CERTIFICATE, TRANSCRIPT AND DETAILED CV

• PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH
All applicants must be highly proficient in written and spoken English. If English is not your mother tongue, you must take the TOEFL or IELTS tests.
Candidates for the 2009/10 edition of the MBA must take the test by April 30th, 2009. At the test site, you will need to specify that you want your results sent directly to SDA Bocconi by indicating our School Code (0698). If you have already taken the test, the original results must be sent directly to the school. Any test results from before January 2004 are no longer valid.

• GMAT
This is mandatory for all candidates.GMAT is an internationally recognized test in English that evaluates your quantitative, verbal, and analytical skills. Although there is no required minimum score for admission, a high score is expected.Candidates for the 2009/10 edition of the MBA must take the test by April 30th, 2009.
When the test is taken, the name of the School should be specified allowing our Admissions Service to receive the results directly. The identification code for our MBA program is 3WJ-L8-42. GMAT results prior to January 2004 are no longer valid.
As an exception, and for very specific reasons, candidates fluent in Italian can ask the Admissions Service the authorization to take the SDA Test as an alternative to the GMAT.
This test, offered only in Italian, is organized by SDA Bocconi, and assesses quantitative, logical and verbal skills. Enrolment for the test is organized directly through the Admissions Service after submission of the application for admission.
The fee for the SDA Test is EUR 100.

• TWO LETTERS OF REFERENCE
These letters must be from people who know you well enough professionally and/or academically to supply an exhaustive evaluation of your professional and/or academic performance and provide a detailed evaluation of your qualifications for an MBA. The SDA Bocconi reference form (available online with the application form) must be used.

• APPLICATION FROM SPONSOR COMPANIES
In the case that your company intends to financially support your participation in the program (through partial or total payment of the tuition fee), an application must be completed by a company representative (using the specific form in the application form).

• INTERVIEW
After an initial review of your application, a select number of candidates will be invited for an admissions interview. This allows you to show that you possess the essential skills and talents that are the key to getting the most out of the MBA experience. The interview may be held:
- In Milan at SDA Bocconi. You will have the chance to get to know us better and assess the environment which could soon see you as an MBA student.
- Abroad (or in another Italian city) with an alumni interviewer collaborating with the Admissions Service.

The application must be accompanied by:
• 4 passport-size photographs on a light background and signed on the back
• payment of Euro 100 fee for the admissions procedure (using the special form in the application form).

GLOBAL EXECUTIVE MBA

Application form
The application form for the Global Executive MBA must be submitted by July 15 or November 20, 2009.
The application form is available exclusively online. The application form must be completed with accurate and precise information regarding your personal and professional experiences, your reasons for desiring to attend the Program.
The application form must be completed with:

• A DEGREE CERTIFICATE and A DETAILED CURRICULUM VITAE

• GMAT (preferred requirement) or SDA Test
GMAT
The last date an applicant can take the GMAT and still be considered for the 2010/2011 Global Executive MBA is June 2009 according to the first deadline, and October 2009 according to the second deadline. The identification code for our MBA program is 3WJ-L8-63. Results obtained before 2004 are no longer valid.
SDA Test
As an exception candidates can ask the Admissions Service the authorization to take the SDA Test as an alternative to the GMAT. This test, offered in English, is run by SDA Bocconi and assesses quantitative, logical and verbal skills. Enrolment for the test is organized directly through the Admissions Service after submission of the application. SDA Test sessions will take place on:
- 04 May 2009
- 15 June 2009
- 13 July 2009
- 24 July 2009
- 14 September 2009
- 19 October 2009
- 23 November 2009
- 16 December 2009
- 22 January 2010

• PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH (TOEFL or IELTS)
All applicants must have good written and spoken English. Candidates for the 2010/2011 edition of the Program must take the test by June 2009 according to the first deadline, and October 2009 according to the second deadline. Results obtained before 2004 are no longer valid. A test result may be waived for mother-tongue English speakers and for students who took their degree in English or can document significant professional experience in an English-speaking country.

• INTERVIEW
Candidates will be required to have an interview with a member of the SDA Bocconi Admissions Committee. In special cases the interview may take place remotely (by telephone or with webcam).

Tuition and Fees

MBA FULL-TIME

The total fee is Euro 38,500, to be paid in four instalments:

• 1st instalment: 9,625 € upon acceptance of your admission to the Program
• 2nd instalment: 9,625 € by 13 October 2009
• 3rd instalment: 9,625 € by 29 January 2010
• 4th instalment: 9,625 € by 30 April 2010

GLOBAL EXECUTIVE MBA

The total fee for the Global Executive MBA is Euro 46,000 to be paid through five instalments:
• 1st instalment: 9,200 € upon acceptance of admission
• 2nd instalment: 9,200 € by 31 March 2010
• 3rd instalment: 9,200 € by 30 September 2010
• 4th instalment: 9,200 € by 31 January 2011
• 5th instalment: 9,200 € by 31 May 2011

Financial Aid

The School assists candidates with their funds search by placing at their disposal the documentation required for financial support applications.
In particular, Bocconi grants opportunities for low-interest loans available to admitted students, thanks to agreements with some partner banks.
Furthermore the University provides international students with information about possible sources for financing in several countries.

Location

The school is positioned at the heart of Milan. Such a location has its perks. Indeed, Milan represents a major capital of industry, finance, arts, media and fashion. Milan is a real-life laboratory for SDA Bocconi. The city is home to a myriad of companies and stock markets to which students are directly exposed via a series of facilities and opportunities the school provides.

Accommodation

SDA Bocconi does not provide on-campus accommodation

Student Life

Seminars, workshops, cultural, leisure and team-building activities which provide new perspectives and challenges. All these activities are not considered “extra-curriculum”. They belong to the mainstream MBA Program, contributing to refine soft-skills and broaden your contacts and experience. They also offer a stimulating opportunity to network.
Extra-curricular activities include:
• Club activities: privileged laboratories for new ideas and initiatives, networking opportunity, where you can put your managerial skills to the test.
• Sports activities, in Italy and abroad: European MBA Tournament ("Masteriadi"), MBA Ski Cup, international regattas, MBA Golf Challenge and soccer competitions.
• Charity events and competitions, such as the Benefit Event (fund raising organized each year by MBA participants in collaboration with UNICEF; thanks to this initiative SDA Bocconi is recognized as a "UNICEF ambassador") or the Business Plan Competition among top international B-Schools.
• Free access to all of Università Bocconi's initiatives: concerts, conventions, conferences, art exhibitions, charity events.

Pre-MBA Course

MBA FULL-TIME

In September, the School offers a package of courses to provide some basics essential to success in the MBA itself.
Not compulsory, pre-courses may be demanded for those without a background in economics and finance.