Guides to the university

To classify language competence levels, Università Bocconi follows the Common European Framework established by the Council of Europe.
 

Language skills for each level are available in the Language Centre section of the website in Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

The program requirements of all Bachelor of Science programs in the "Management" and "Economics" fields of study (respectively 17 and L-18, 28 and L-33) include a first and a second European language.
For both the first and the second foreign language, the assessment method include a grade out of thirty which is included in the calculation of the grade point average.

The credit points relating to the first and second language can be earned, upon student’s choice, after:

• Registering an international certification from among those recognized by the University (see Method of assessing foreign language knowledge).
• Passing the Bocconi exam.

In addition to the final compulsory exam, for both the first and second language there will be a partial exam (optional exam, only one date) in the first semester.

Positioning of the language for BIG program students initially enrolled until the 2015-2016 academic year

The choice of foreign languages follows the same criteria for both first and second languages. This depends on:

• the language of instruction of the Bachelor of Science Program class group: Italian or English; 
• the native language of the student declared upon student’s initial enrollment: chosen languages must be different from the student's native language.

If students have more than one mother tongue language (e.g., coming from or residing in a multilanguage Country or living with parents from two different nationalities) they must choose one language as their mother tongue language for the whole duration of their studies.

English is always taken as the first language for students who are not English native speakers and it is:

• compulsory for class groups taught in Italian;
• optional for class groups taught in English.

Italian can be taken as either the first or second language for students who are not Italian native speakers and it is: 

• compulsory for class groups taught in English;
• optional for class groups taught in Italian.

The table below shows first and second language availability:

(*) Students whose mother tongue is English must choose from the other curricular languages.
(**) For students whose mother tongue is not Italian, one of the two languages must be Italian.
(***) Notice that the Portuguese language (Bocconi teaching and exam) is exclusively offered as second language for students enrolled in the second year of studies. In the other cases, it is only possible to register in the study plan one of the international certifications recognised by the University. Materials for individual study are available at www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter in Self-Study > Online materials.

Course codes

First-year students will have English assigned automatically as their first language in their study plan.

English native speakers students must change the language at Punto Blu when they finalize enrolment . 

English non-native speakers students enrolled in Bachelor of Science Programs taught in English can change the first language when they finalize enrolment via Punto Blu.

With reference to the periods relating to the language courses change after the finalization of the enrollment and subsequent period, check chapter 9 Administrative Rules, regulations and deadlines.
Students are advised to start following the teaching activities of their preferred language which they intend to add to their study plan as soon as possible and carry out the change of the foreign language in the first available period to change the study plan.

Students choose their second language when enrolling in the year of studies in which the course is positioned.

For English first language, the students choose the desired exit level when registering for the exam via the yoU@B Diary Registration for exam session function, in accordance with what provided for in the program structure, no matter which was the path attended. For all languages, higher exit levels are possible, verified only through international certifications from among those recognized by the University.

The Double Degree programs include the participation of both students enrolled at Università Bocconi and students enrolled at partner Universities (incoming students).

For students enrolled at Università Bocconi, all rules and indications specified in this chapter (see Foreign Languages) are applied.

For students coming from other Universities (and not Italian native language students) the rules and indications specified in this chapter (see Foreign Languages) are valid except for:

• language choice procedures;
• exit levels.

Language choice procedures

(*) One of the two language courses must be Italian.
(**)Notice that in the 2016-17 academic year the Portuguese language (Bocconi teaching and exam) is exclusively offered as second language for students enrolled in the second year of studies. The Bocconi exam is offered for all students initially enrolled starting the 2014-15 academic year. In the other cases, it is only possible to register in the study plan one of the international certifications recognised by the University. Materials for individual study are available at www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter in Self-Study > Online materials.

Exit levels
All programs include, as exit levels, the general-academic language and they are:

The educational activities designed to assist students in learning foreign languages offered by the Language Centre includes:

A. Classroom teaching to prepare the students to

• International language certifications (only for English, first language); French and Spanish (second language); 
• Bocconi exams (for curricular first and second foreign languages)

B. guided individual study.


A. teaching

The educational activities are organized by the Language Center and are offered only when an adequate number of students is reached.

Teaching for preparing the students to English, French and Spanish certifications

In addition to the teaching for the preparation of the Bocconi exam, the Language Center proposes courses for preparing the students to the following certifications, recognised as an alternative to the Bocconi exam. Specifically for English - first language:

• IELTS, International English Language Testing System, general language, B2 and C1 levels, Examination Center British Council, IDP - IELTS Australia, Cambridge English Language Assessment
• BEC, Business English Certificates, specialized language/business, B2 and C1 levels, Examination Center Cambridge English Language Assessment.

For French second language:

• DELF, Diplôme d’Etudes en Langue Française, general, livelB1, Examination Center Ministère de l’Education Nationale

For Spanish second language:

• DELE, Diploma de Español Lengua Extranjera, Nivel Inicial, general, livello B1, Examination Center Instituto Cervantes

Each course lasts a semester with a total number of hours equal to 48 hours, except for IELTS C1 with a total number of hours equal to 24.

Teaching, as alternative to preparatory courses for the Bocconi exams, is offered:

• for English certifications, in the second semester of the first year of studies
• for French and Spanish certifications, in the second semester of the second year.

The courses are offered only to the students who have the code of the language in their study plan.

Courses have a limited number of places available and are addressed to students with adequate level of knowledge verified through an online test.

Students admitted in a course receive the relating class group allocation, students who are not admitted remain allocated to of a class group of preparation to the Bocconi exam, given in the first semester.

Periods and methods to sit for the test and for enrolling in the course are communicated via yoU@B student Diary before the start of each semester (further information is available at www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter in Language Teaching> IELTS, BEC and ILEC courses).


Teaching for the preparation of Bocconi exams of curricular language courses

The aim of the foreign language course is to provide the students with adequate language knowledge for an appropriate use of the language in a general/academic context.

The course attendance for the first and second language is strongly recommended: the courses are offered as ideal path to learn the language and preparation for the final exam.
For courses aimed at preparing for the Bocconi exam, the positive participation in the course together with specific individual study activities can be considered in the calculation of the final grade for the Bocconi exam (detailed information is available in the course syllabus and profiles at www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter in Exams - certificates>Bocconi exam).
Summarized course profiles of the first and second language courses are available at www.unibocconi.eu/courses.

First language

Lessons are scheduled in the first year, and is structured in paths on the basis of the student’s initial preparation (see 3.1.7 Initial evaluation of English and Italian) and on what included in one’s study plan (see 3.1.4. Exit levels):

(*) For first year students of intermediate level with the need of consolidation of the English knowledge, a cycle of exercise sessions as for an integration of the curricular course assigned.
(**) Students who are not Italian native language and who are enrolled in an English program are offered an Italian introductory intensive course in the first semester.

At the beginning of the first semester, all first year students are automatically assigned the English and the relating class group on the basis of the initial language preparation and on the exit level provided for in one’s study plan.

At the end of the second semester of the first year all students can register for the test for the admission in the courses for the English certifications suggested as alternative to the courses of preparation to the Bocconi exam (see the start of this paragraph Teaching for the preparation of English, French and Spanish certifications).

Second language

The class language teaching om the second year of studies last one year and includes a single typology of path which is automatically assigned to each student when choosing the language upon enrollment in the second year and in accordance with what provided for in one’s study plan (see 3.1.4. Exit levels).

At the end of the first semester of the second year, student, with French and Spanish language included in the study plan as a second language, can register for the test for the admission in the courses of preparation for the Bocconi exam (see A teaching> Teaching).

The class timetable cam be viewed on the yoU@B by students of the first year, only after the finalization of the enrollment, by students of the following years when the courses start.

 

B. Guided individual study

The study of foreign languages requires students to be committed to individual study  in addition to regular attendance of lessons.

Guided individual study involves students carrying out a series of activities based on the specific instructions given by teachers in class. These instructions may include the use of student's own materials (e.g. exercises in books specified in the course syllabus and exam program), assistance which is available at the Language Lab (e.g. multimedia courses) and recommended materials which are available online.

The detailed course programs (course syllabuses) are available at www.unibocconi.eu/languagecentre in Exams-Certificates. In addition to information about classroom teaching they also provide information about guided individual study.

As a general guide the recommended number of hours per week that should be dedicated to individual study is 3-5 hours.

The Language Centre also offers a service which provides information and guidance on language study and suggests ways for utilizing different tools (multimedia library) for exam preparation, which are available at the Language Labs and online. (See www.unibocconi.eu/languagecentre in Self-Study).

In order to seek for the correct learning path, all non-English native speakers enrolled in class groups taught in Italian must assess their initial level of English knowledge, according to one of the methods below:

• when enrolling, students must show that they have at least one of the language requirements indicated by the University, stated when they applied for admission online (see www.unibocconi.eu/admission) or
• when making the selection "Italian candidates", students take the aptitude test entirely in English, or
• when making the selection "Italian candidates", students take a test for the language positioning together with the aptitude test (in Italian).

For English, Università Bocconi suggests the B1 (intermediate) minimum preparation level needed to attend courses successfully in the class groups taught in Italian.

For information on language competence and knowledge required and self-study paths to be followed to reach the desired levels, check www.unibocconi.eu/languagecentre in "Minimum level required". 

Students who are not native Italian speakers, non-EU citizens who do not have Italian residency and enrolled in a class group taught in Italian must take a compulsory test online to evaluate their initial Italian knowledge (first or second language), in accordance with current Ministerial regulations.

All students with Italian in their study plans will have their language path assigned automatically.

Knowledge is assessed by one of the following methods:

• international certification from among those recognized by the University, or
• Bocconi exam.

International certifications

Students can choose to take an exam for only one of the international certifications recognized by the University instead of the Bocconi exam. Students will then apply to have the result converted into a mark out of thirty by the Language Centre Secretary's Office upon presentation of the original certification and recorded in their academic career.

The level of the international certification must at least correspond to or be higher than the exit level set for the language in question (see "Exit levels").

For the purpose of registering international certifications in the academic career, certifications are valid for a period of 3 years from the date they were obtained (except for some international tests which are valid for less time, see www.unibocconi.eu/languagecentre in Exams-Certificates).

The list of the international language certifications and tests recognized for the different exams is published on the website at www.unibocconi.eu/languagecentre in Exams-Certificates.

In addition to the list of international general language certifications, the University also recognizes special language certifications for MSc programs published on the same website section.

International certifications can be presented even in the first year of studies; this applies to both 1st and 2nd languages. In any case, students will have the credit points and marks expressed out of thirty registered for the year of studies in which the course is placed in the program structure.

Only the credit points referring to the first year language exam are considered in the calculation of the 24 credit points needed to pass to the second year of studies, and only upon submitting the certification by 14 July 2017.

If the certification is submitted in a subsequent moment than the year of studies in which the course is positioned, the student will turn out not to have yet passed the exam until the recording is made.

All students must take the exams for international certifications through an official Examination Centre recognized, either in Italy or abroad.

Students are responsible for the costs associated with sitting the exams for international certifications.

The certifications submitted for the admission procedures can also be used as an alternative to the Bocconi exam. These certifications can only be submitted if they satisfy the exit level requirement and are among those recognized by the University (upon presentation of the original certification to the Secretary’s Office of the Language Centre within 3 years from the conferral date, except for some international tests which are valid for less time, see www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter in Exams - Certificates).

The Language Centre offers a service which is designed to give guidance and information on the exam assessment methods and to provide specific preparation materials and past exam papers which are available at the language laboratories. This service is offered to all students interested in taking the Bocconi exams or in international certifications.

Università Bocconi is test center for some English certifications of British Council / Cambridge English Language Assessment recognized as an alternative to the Bocconi exam. Registration for exam session is made via the yoU@B Diary upon paying the relating costs. The whole procedure follows the rules provided for in the Appropriate Institution.

Bocconi exam

Language knowledge is assessed by an exam. This exam is designed to test the student's comprehension and knowledge of both written and spoken language adapted to the appropriate language level of competence required. The exam is structured in a written exam and a compulsory oral integrative one; admission in the oral exam is subject to passing the written exam with a grade equal to or higher than 18/30.

The first language include one compulsory exam in the first year and a partial exam (optional and on one date) in the first semester (for information on the partial exam see www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter in Exam - Certificates> Bocconi exams).
For the second language, there is one final exam (compulsory) in the second semester and also one partial exam (optional and on one date) in the first semester (for information on partial exams check the website at http://www.unibocconi.eu/languagecentre in Exams - Certificates> Bocconi exams).

Exams are prepared in accordance with the same language standards relating to international certifications.

The final grade is given on the basis of the final exam grade and other elements such like the learning progress(see 3.1.8 www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter in Exams-Certificates> Bocconi exams.

Specifically:

• positive results for active class participation and for guided individual study each year;
• passing of the partial exam (only when scheduled) and passing the written and oral exam in the first two sessions available
• sitting and passing the written and oral exam for the first time in the same session.

The exam final grade is out of thirty and is included in the calculation of the Grade Point Average (GPA).

The language level achieved when recording a certification or passing an exam (structured in written and oral exam) is specifically indicated on the official exam report and official academic transcript.

Students can achieve higher exit levels than the curricular courses for both 1st and 2nd languages. This is only possible through the registration of one of the international certifications recognized by the University in the student's academic career.

Also foreign languages can be recorded as additional exams. With reference to the additional curricular languages it is specified that:

• the same rules which are valid for additional exams are applied (see 9.4 Additional courses)
• the recording of the grade earned through the Bocconi exam or the conversion in a grade out of thirty of the score achieved upon international certification from among the ones recognized by the Univerisity in accordance with the same methods for the recognition and recording valid for the first and second foreign language (see 3.1.8. Method of assessing foreign language knowledge, International certifications);
• the minimum exit level and linguistic field specified for second language (see 3.1.4 Exit levels).

In addition students can record in their study plan, only as an additional course, also Russian and Chinese, which are non curricular language. For the recording of them:

• the same rules valid for all additional exams (see 9.4 Additional exams) are applied;
• it is only possible to record an international certification from among the ones recognized by the university in accordance with the same methods for recognition and recording valid for curricular languages (see 3.1.8 Language choice procedures, International certifications)*;
• a minimum exit level  equal to B1, and the linguistic area is general or business.

*Notice that Russian and Chinese are not included in the educational offer, therefore there are no Bocconi exam or curricular lessons.