Candidates with significant sports or cultural arts accomplishments
Amount not disclosed in brochure
Dean's Scholarship
Academically strong candidates · awarded at admission · REDEEMED based on academic performance in first year
Amount not disclosed in brochure
Education loans available from public + private banks.
SDA Bocconi Asia Admission 2026-27 — Eligibility, Cutoffs, Selection Process & Important Dates
SDA Bocconi Asia Center runs the 2-year International Master in Business (IMB) for the 2026-28 batch — the 15th edition of the programme. The degree is awarded by SDA Bocconi School of Management, Italy (FT #4 Global MBA 2025, FT #1 ROI Global 2024) with 105 ECTS credits, and includes a compulsory 4-month immersion term at the Milan campus. Total fees ₹20.75 L (excluding taxes). Selection is profile-based across 4 application rounds; SDA Bocconi accepts CAT, GMAT, NMAT by GMAC, GRE — or candidates can take the Bocconi Test for free. The IMB Class 2025-27 has 391 students with 55% female representation — the highest gender diversity among Indian MBA programmes.
Programme & degree
Programme name
International Master in Business (IMB) — 15th edition for batch 2026-28
Duration
2 years · structured as two 11-month modules + 4-month international immersion at SDA Bocconi, Milan
Degree awarded by
SDA Bocconi School of Management, Italy · 105 CPUs under European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), recognised by European laws
Target candidates
Freshers + early-career professionals with up to 5 years of work experience
Programme calendar
June (Year 1 start) → 2-month internship Apr-May + 2-week CSR internship June → Year 2 Milan term Sept-Dec → final term Jan-Mar
Eligibility (per Admission Section, brochure p26)
Undergraduate degree
Any discipline · OR currently in Final Year while applying
Academic minimum
Minimum 55% across 10th, 12th and undergraduate (each separately)
Academic aggregate
Aggregate average ≥ 70% across 10th + 12th + UG combined
Final-year applicants
Allowed — provisional admission until final UG marksheet is produced
Entrance tests accepted
CAT
CAT 2024 or CAT 2025 score accepted
GMAT
GMAT taken after 1 January 2023
NMAT by GMAC
NMAT 2024 or 2025 score accepted
GRE
GRE taken after 1 January 2023
Bocconi Test
No-fee in-house test. Offered to candidates without competitive scores. Best of multiple scores is considered.
No official cutoff is disclosed. Based on prior cycles and applicant feedback, competitive shortlist profiles typically have CAT ≈ 80-90 %ile, GMAT ≈ 600-650, NMAT ≈ 200+. Selection is profile-based across all factors, so test score alone does not guarantee or rule out a call.
Selection process — 5 steps (brochure p26)
Step 1
Online Application Form (₹3,500 application fee)
Step 2
Submit valid test score + CV + transcripts + essays
Step 3
Bocconi Test (if applicable — only if no other competitive score)
Step 4
Personal Interview — profile-based across Academic, Work-Ex, Test Score, Extra-Curricular & Soft Skills
Step 5
Offer Letter / Result · fees paid in instalments per the offer schedule
Application rounds — IMB 2026-28 (15th Edition)
Round 1 deadline
21 November 2025
Round 2 deadline
22 January 2026
Round 3 deadline
23 March 2026
Round 4 deadline
TBD (to be announced)
Application fee
₹3,500
Placement disclosures (across Class 2023 / 2024 / 2025)
Class 2025 (graduating 2023-25)
Avg ₹14.10 L · Top-25% avg ₹18.21 L · 70+ recruiters · the school did NOT publish highest CTC, median, top-50% avg, or placement rate for this batch
Class 2024 (full disclosure)
Avg ₹15.01 L · Median ₹13.51 L · Highest ₹36.50 L · Top-25% avg ₹21.88 L · Top-50% avg ₹18.33 L
Class 2023 (full disclosure)
Avg ₹14.30 L · Median ₹13.00 L · Highest ₹39.24 L · Top-25% avg ₹20.01 L · Top-50% avg ₹17.11 L
Trajectory read
Average has stayed in the ₹14-15 L band over three batches. Highest CTC dropped from ₹39.24 L (2023) to ₹36.50 L (2024) and was not disclosed for 2025. Top-25% softened from ₹21.88 L (2024) to ₹18.21 L (2025).
Fees & scholarships (per brochure p27)
Admission Fee
₹2,75,000
Tuition Fees
₹18,00,000
Total Fees
₹20,75,000 (excluding taxes) · paid in instalments
Tuition waiver
Up to 80% MERIT-BASED tuition waivers available
Women in Leadership Scholarship
Available for selected female candidates
Sports & Cultural Arts Scholarship
Available for candidates with sports/cultural accomplishments
Dean's Scholarship
Awarded to academically strong candidates · redeemed based on first-year academic performance
Additional costs
Accommodation, airfare, food and other expenses during the international immersion are NOT included. Hostel accommodation is limited.
Class 2025-27 batch profile
Cohort size
391 students — the largest 2-year private master in Indian-MBA equivalent space at Bocconi tier
Female representation
55% — highest gender diversity among Indian MBA / Master in Business programmes
Average age
23 years
Geographic spread
25 Indian States & Union Territories represented
Work experience mix
45% Freshers · 11% (1-11 mo) · 20% (12-23 mo) · 24% (24+ mo) · 55% with some work-ex
Education background
Engineering 29% · Management 27% · Commerce 25% · Arts/Humanities 10% · Science 9% — one of the most balanced UG distributions among Indian B-schools
Includes Big 4 Consultants · CFA Level 1 & 2 · Chartered Accountants · International/National Athletes · ISSF Rifle Shooter · National Classical Music Champions · Patent Holders · President-recognised National Awardees · Published Researchers · University Toppers
Contact (brochure p32)
Phone
+91 8879048338 · +91 7506311223
Email
info@sdabocconiasiacenter.com
Address
9th Floor, Hiranandani Knowledge Park I, Powai, Mumbai 400076, Maharashtra
Application portal
sdabocconiasiacenter.com
Detailed selection process — what to expect at each stage
01
Step 1 — Online Application Form
Apply at sdabocconiasiacenter.com. Application fee for IMB 2026-28: ₹3,500.
02
Step 2 — Submit valid test score, CV, transcripts and essays
Required documents include 10th/12th/UG transcripts, valid CAT/GMAT/NMAT/GRE score, CV, and essays. In case of multiple test scores, SDA Bocconi considers the best one provided.
03
Step 3 — Bocconi Test (if applicable)
Candidates without competitive entrance test scores can be invited to take the Bocconi Test. No additional fee for the Bocconi Test.
04
Step 4 — Personal Interview
Profile-based interview evaluating Academic Ability, Work Experience, Test Scores, Extra-Curricular & Soft Skills.
05
Step 5 — Offer Letter / Result
Final admission decision communicated. Fee payment in instalments per the offer letter.
Important dates — 2026-27 admission cycle
round 1 deadline
21 November 2025
round 2 deadline
22 January 2026
round 3 deadline
23 March 2026
round 4 deadline
TBD
programme commencement
June 2026
edition note
IMB 2026-28 is the 15th edition of the programme
Batch profile
23 years
Avg age
SDA Bocconi Asia Financial Aid 2026 — Loans, EMI Options & Scholarships
SDA Bocconi Asia scholarships — published categories
Candidates with significant sports or cultural arts accomplishments
Amount not disclosed in brochure
Dean's Scholarship
Academically strong candidates · awarded at admission · REDEEMED based on academic performance in first year
Amount not disclosed in brochure
SDA Bocconi Asia Programs — Fees, Duration & Eligibility
Program
Duration
Total Fees
Intake
Exam
Notes
International Master in Business (IMB)
2 years · two 11-month modules + 4-month Milan immersion
₹20.75 L (₹2.75 L admission + ₹18 L tuition, ex-taxes)
June
CAT 2024/25 · XAT NOT mentioned · GMAT post-1 Jan 2023 · NMAT by GMAC 2024/25 · GRE post-1 Jan 2023 · Bocconi Test
Awarded by SDA Bocconi School of Management, Italy (105 CPUs under European Credit Transfer System — ECTS). For freshers and early-career professionals with up to 5 years work-ex.
International Executive Master in Business (IEMB)
Executive programme
—
Executive programme at SDA Bocconi Asia Center · IEMB Academic Director: Prof. Veronica Vecchi (Bocconi University). Detailed fees/eligibility not in the IMB brochure — contact info@sdabocconiasiacenter.com.
SDA Bocconi Asia Campus — Infrastructure, Hostels & Student Life
Campus facts
Area
Dormitories
null dorms · null students
Architecture
Heritage
SDA Bocconi Asia Center has operated in Mumbai since 2012 — the pan-Asian hub of SDA Bocconi School of Management, Italy. Italian B-school SDA Bocconi has 50+ years of management-education history (founded 1971) and Bocconi University itself dates back to 1902.
Student clubs
null+ active clubs
Life highlights
Located at 9th Floor, Hiranandani Knowledge Park I, Powai, Mumbai 400076 — a major Mumbai corporate hub close to Powai Lake
State-of-the-art classrooms designed to maximise student interaction
Spacious, amphitheatre-style classrooms with excellent acoustics for industry-leader sessions
Digital Media Library + Data Access — Bocconi has the largest European archive of business and economics books and articles, most accessible online
Areas for group work, individual study, plus a Recreational Area and Game Room
Compulsory 4-month international immersion at SDA Bocconi's Milan campus during Year 2 (Sept-Dec)
Access to SDA Bocconi's parent network — 5 schools · 15,200 students · 280+ partner schools worldwide · 9 departments · 400+ core faculty · 36 double-degree agreements · 8 research centres · 140,000+ global alumni · 550+ adjunct professors
Asia Center clubs and committees: Placement · Media & Admissions · Alumni Relations · Finance · Operations · Consulting · HR · Marketing & Sales · Business Technology · Luxury · Case Circle · Entrepreneurship · Sports · Cultural · Photography · Social Responsibility · Toastmasters · Hult Prize · 180 Degree Consulting · TEDxBocconiUMumbai
Conclaves: Leadership Summit · Luxury Panel · Insurance Summit · HR1 — Talent for India
Centres of Excellence at Bocconi (accessible via the global network): Insurance · Retail & Luxury · Corporate Social Responsibility · India Lab
Is SDA Bocconi Asia Worth It? — Honest Pros, Cons & Who Should Apply
SDA Bocconi Asia is genuinely best for
✓
Candidates seeking a foreign-degree credential (SDA Bocconi School of Management, Italy) without leaving India for the whole programme — degree carries 105 ECTS credits recognised by European law
✓
Female candidates — Class 2025-27 has 55% female representation, the highest among Indian master-in-business / MBA programmes
✓
Freshers and early-career professionals (up to 5 years work-ex) targeting roles in FMCG/Retail/E-Commerce, BFSI/Fintech, IT/ITES, or Consulting — these four sectors took 83% of Class 2025 placements
✓
Marketing and Sales-leaning careers — 45% of Class 2025 went into Sales / BD / Marketing / Account Management roles
✓
Candidates who want a 4-month Milan immersion + access to the global Bocconi alumni network (140,000+ globally, 1,400+ in India)
✓
Profile-led applicants who do not have a 99+ %ile CAT but have strong academics (≥70% aggregate across 10th/12th/UG) and other test or extracurricular strengths
Watch out for
!
Class 2025 average CTC ₹14.10 L is lower than top IIMs (~₹30-35 L) — ROI math vs ₹20.75 L fees is positive but tighter than the headline Bocconi-Italy ROI ranking suggests
!
NIRF does not rank the IMB programme since the degree is awarded by an Italian institution — Indian B-school ranking comparisons are not apples-to-apples
!
Milan immersion adds airfare + 4 months of European living costs ON TOP of the ₹20.75 L fee. Brochure notes hostel accommodation is "limited"
!
Top-25% Class 2025 averaged ₹18.21 L vs Class 2024 top-25% ₹21.88 L — outcomes have softened year-on-year
!
Highest CTC dropped from ₹39.24 L (Class 2023) to ₹36.50 L (Class 2024); Class 2025 highest was NOT disclosed by the school. Top-end opportunities exist but the ceiling is well below top IIMs (₹70 L+)
!
Class 2025 placement report skipped median, highest, top-50% avg and placement rate — only avg and top-25% were published. Less transparency than Class 2023 / Class 2024 reports
!
Bocconi Test is offered to candidates without competitive CAT/GMAT/NMAT/GRE scores — useful for some, but does not signal a high entry bar relative to top Indian B-schools
Apply if
You want a globally-recognised SDA Bocconi degree with a Milan immersion, you are comfortable with a Marketing/Sales/Consulting outcome at ₹14-18 L levels, and you value a balanced cohort (55% female, 25 states, no engineering monoculture).
Consider alternatives if
You can target IIM A/B/C with CAT — pure-India top-IIM brand and average CTC are meaningfully ahead. Also skip if your career goal is investment-banking front-office or MBB consulting — those routes are thin at IMB Mumbai.