Bocconi Early, Winter or Spring: When to Apply
Bocconi runs three admission rounds — Early, Winter and Spring — and which one you target has a real effect on your chances. The headline: most places are gone before Spring, and the test closes before each application deadline. Plan accordingly.
Exact dates shift each cycle and all deadlines fall at 3:00 PM Italian time. Treat the dates below as the most recently published schedule and confirm the current ones on Bocconi's site.
Why the round matters
Places are filled on a rolling basis, so the earlier rounds have far more seats — and scholarships — available:
| Round | Approx. share of places filled |
|---|---|
| Early | ~60–70% |
| Winter | ~25–30% |
| Spring | ~5–10% |
By the Spring round you're competing for a small remainder. If you're ready, applying early is almost always the stronger move — and even if you're not sure you're ready, remember you can take the test up to four times and use your best score.
The deadline trap: the test closes first
For each round, the last day to take the test is at least two days before the application deadline, and you must book your slot a few days before that. The web-testing platform also closes a few days ahead of each application deadline. Recently published deadlines looked like this:
| Winter | Spring | |
|---|---|---|
| Last day to book the test | ~19 Jan | ~7 Apr |
| Last day to take the test | ~21 Jan | ~9 Apr |
| Application deadline | ~23 Jan | ~13 Apr |
The Early round runs much earlier (around September). Test slots close to the deadlines are the most popular and sell out fast, so book your date well in advance.
A simple plan
- Pick your round now. Aim for Early or Winter if you can — that's where the seats are.
- Work backwards from the test date, not the application deadline. The test closes first.
- Book your slot early to avoid sold-out dates near the deadline.
- Leave room for a retake. With up to four attempts a year, plan so a second try still fits inside your target round's window.
- Prepare before you book. Sit the test when your practice scores have stabilised, not on a deadline scramble.
Lock in pacing and strategy with timed mocks, or add a live crash course scheduled ahead of the main rounds.
See the Crash CourseSource: Bocconi University official admissions pages (Online Bocconi Test, sessions and deadlines). Seat-distribution percentages are approximate, derived from Bocconi's guidance that the large majority of places fill in the first two rounds. Confirm current dates before planning. BocconiPrep is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by Bocconi University.
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