SDA Bocconi MBA Interview Questions 2025 - 2026

Malvika Patil
29 minutes ago
4 min read

We’re right in the middle of interview season! If you’ve applied to the SDA Bocconi Full-Time MBA, you can expect to hear soon whether you’ve made it to the interview stage.

Ranked among Europe’s leading business schools and consistently placed in the Financial Times Top 10 for international MBAs, SDA Bocconi attracts ambitious professionals from across the world. Securing an interview invite is already a strong sign; it means the Admissions Committee sees potential in your profile. But you’re only halfway there.

In this guide, we’ll help you understand the Bocconi MBA interview process, prepare for the types of questions you’ll face, and learn what the school is really assessing through the conversation.

The SDA Bocconi MBA Interview Process

After an initial review of your application, a select number of candidates are invited to interview. This is Bocconi’s chance to get to know the person behind the application: your motivations, communication style, and career vision.

The interview typically lasts around 45 minutes and can be conducted in one of three ways:

On-campus in Milan: This option gives you a first-hand feel of the school’s energy and environment. Note that SDA Bocconi explicitly mentions that choosing to interview in person doesn’t offer any admissions advantage, but in our experience, if you’re able to visit the Milan campus, you should. It tells the AdCom you’re committed and leaves a stronger impression.
In your current city: Bocconi has alumni interviewers across Italy and worldwide, allowing you to meet a school representative closer to home if you’re unable to travel.
Online: If neither of the above options is feasible, you can interview virtually via video call.

Interviews are typically led by an alum or Admissions Committee member who wants to assess your fit with the school and understand your motivations more deeply.

According to student reports, the SDA Bocconi MBA interview is conversational and relaxed. Expect the interview to feel more like a dialogue than an interrogation. Your interviewer may ask follow-up questions to dive deeper into your reasoning or test how self-aware and authentic you are in your answers.

It’s also common for interviewers to ask you to expand on your interests outside work to get a sense of who you are beyond the resume.

What SDA Bocconi is Looking For

Bocconi looks for motivated, globally minded, and goal-oriented candidates who can contribute to a dynamic, close-knit community. With a class of about 100 students representing 35+ nationalities, Bocconi values people who bring new perspectives and an openness to learn from different people.

The school is particularly interested in understanding:

Your motivation: Why an MBA, and why now?
Your reasoning: Why SDA Bocconi and why Milan?
Your career goals: What you aim to achieve in the short and long term.
Your mindset: How you’ve learned from your successes and failures.

SDA Bocconi MBA Interview Questions 2025–2026

Here’s a list of questions previous applicants were asked during their SDA Bocconi interviews:

Educational Background

Tell me about your university studies and why you chose your major.
What were your favorite courses and why?
What were your least favorite courses and why?
Did you face any challenges during your academic journey? How did you overcome them?

Professional Experience

Walk me through your professional journey so far.
What have been your most significant achievements at work?
How have your responsibilities evolved over time?
What did you learn from a time you faced a setback or failure?
What is the difference in the responsibilities of your previous and current role (after a promotion)?
What are your 3 biggest strengths and what are your 3 biggest weaknesses / things you want to work on?

Motivation & Goals

Why MBA? Why now?
Why SDA Bocconi? What stands out to you about our program?
What are your short-term and long-term career goals?
Which companies or roles do you hope to target post-MBA?
If not Bocconi, what’s your backup plan?
What is that you will are scared of about the MBA?
Which other schools have you applied to?

Personality & Leadership

How would your colleagues describe you?
What are your top three strengths and weaknesses?
Tell me about a mentor/manager who has influenced your career.
What do you do in your free time?
What personal qualities do you hope to develop during the MBA?
What can the class learn from you?
Who are you apart from your resume?

Curveballs

What is one company that you think will do best in your sector?
How is the social situation in your home country? How is the economy?
What can the class learn from you?
Why did you do this challenging extracurricular?

Tips to Ace the SDA Bocconi MBA Interview

Based on insights from previous applicants and our coaching experience, here are some key tips to help you excel:

Be authentic, not rehearsed. Interviewers can tell when you’re giving memorized answers. Focus on sincerity and storytelling (in the SCAR structure) instead.
Know your “why.” Be clear about why you want an MBA, why Bocconi, and why now in your career.
Research Milan and Bocconi’s ecosystem. Show that you understand the school’s European business focus, entrepreneurial spirit, and connections with industries like luxury, consulting, and finance.
Be prepared for follow-up questions. Bocconi interviewers tend to throw in a few curveballs, and often dig deeper into specific aspects of your profile. This could be a project, challenge, industry knowledge, your goals; so don’t get thrown off. Practice to stay composed in these situations. It’s totally okay to ask for a moment to think!
Show balance. Highlight both your professional accomplishments and your personal growth. Bocconi values candidates who are reflective and self-aware.
Have thoughtful questions ready. End the interview by asking about the program, the alumni network, or the culture, and avoid questions you could easily find on the website.