GUIDES TO THE UNIVERSITY

To be admitted to the graduation session students must have earned all credits for the educational activities provided for in the program structure, except for the credit points for the final exam.

The degree is awarded when the final exam has been passed and at least 180 credit points have been earned.
The final paper is worth 4 credit points.

The final paper preparation stages are the following:
 

• Completion of the graduation application procedures;
• admission to the graduation session;
• final paper assessment and grade awarding by the Degree Assessment Board
• communication of the results;
• graduation ceremony.

There is no oral defence of the final paper and therefore, he/she has not to be present during the graduation days.

The final paper is a concise paper which develops a topic which may be supported by empirical evidence, taking as a starting point work experience (seminars, field trips, internships etc) or study periods in Italy or abroad (preferably abroad for BIEMF students).

Students enrolled in English programsmust write the final paper in English.
The contents of the final paper must be related to one of the subject areas of the Università Bocconi Departments. However, it does not necessarily have to be related to one of the courses in the student's study plan.

Final papers are written under the supervision of a tutor.
If students want to base their final papers on either an internship, the tutor and student must agree on the topic before the student starts such experience.

As a general guide, the paper is around 30 pages and may require about one month of work.
The final paper must be accompanied by the abstract of the final paper that summarizes the main topic.

It is possible to download the "Guide for writing the Final Paper" which has been written with the aim of give orientation to students in writing the final paper.

For each Degree Program additional information could be provided for in, for the peculiarity of the courses of the Program. Any additional information will be given by each  Program Director and will come out when writing the final paper  from the contact between Tutor Professor and student.

We invite you to carefully check the correct procedures for the use of citations, in the above guide. Please note that Università Bocconi which values the originality of the final papers, has been equipped with an ad hoc software to verify their authenticity in addition to the methods for checking the copying of final papers already in use. An improper use of citations or any excessive use of them in the final papers may be reported to the Disciplinary Board.

The Graduation application procedures process is structured in the following phases:

1. assignment of the final paper title
2. Graduation reservation
3. Entering the information relating to the final paper title completion and upload the definitive file of the final paper
4. Approval request to the tutor professor.
   

The student who does not complete all the phases of the Graduation application procedure cannot be admitted in the graduation session.

Università Bocconi offers assistance at the Secretary’s Office of the Undergraduate School (Location Table).

Title assignment procedure

After having agreed upon the final paper title with the tutor professor the Graduating student must:

• access to the yoU@B function "Graduation -  Application Procedures" and fill out the section "Final Paper Title entering on the web by specifying:
  - type of final paper: theoretical or empirical
  - final paper title*(see note);
  - final paper language;
• and, in the following screen (Choice of Tutor professor) the name of the tutor professor.

The information entered in the Graduation>Applications procedures by the student are immediately made available to the Tutor Professor who, via web, continues with assignment of the final paper title.

Upon title assignment the student receives a notification via yoU@B Diary and can continue with the following phases of the Graduation Application procedures.

NOTE: The final paper title approval by the Tutor professor is compulsory requirement for carrying out the graduation reservation. Therefore, you are invited to enter the title well in advance than the deadline scheduled for the graduation reservation (for deadlines check www.unibocconi.eu/graduationcalendar).

Any change on the title entered

If the student wishes to modify the data relating to the title entered only, he/she must use the function Graduation Application procedure>Change title: in this case, if done already, the final paper title assignment by the tutor professor is still valid.

The student can change the title entered online up to the approval request to the Tutor Professor: after the approval has been requested, the function ‘Change title’ can no longer be available at the Punto Blu.

Any cancellation of the title entered

If the student wishes to change the tutor professor and enter a new title, must use the function Graduation application procedures>Cancel title: in this case he/she must repeat the whole procedure of title entering and must wait the title assignment by the new tutor professor.

The student can cancel the title entered online until request of approval to the tutor professor: after the approval has been requested, the function ‘Cancel title’ can no longer be available.

NOTICE: the student who does not want to graduate in that session and continues with title cancelling, must also cancel the graduation reservation.

Uploading Final paper attachments - non definitive files

Only upon approval of the Tutor Professor to a specific request, the student can forward NON DEFINITIVE files of his/her work (e.g. single chapters of temporary sections) by using the appropriate function ‘Final paper attachments - non definitive files’ available online in the Graduation>Application procedure function.

The attached files, as soon as they are uploaded, are made available to the professor.

NOTICE: uploading the files in ‘Final paper attachment non definitive files’ function DOES NOT replace the upload of one-definitive file which MUST be made in any case by using the function ‘Final paper title Information completion’>Final paper final attachment Once the title has been assigned by the tutor professor, the student can:

• make the graduation reservation
• enter the information to complete the final paper title and continue with the upload of the definitive file of the final paper.

Students can make the graduation reservation online via the yoU@B function "Graduation>Graduation-Application Procedure>Graduation Reservation" by reserving a graduation session from the Graduation Calendar.

Students can sit exams during this period. Students do not need to have passed all exams in order to make the graduation reservation.

When making the graduation reservation, the system will check online that both the student's financial and administrative positions comply with the graduation session.

In addition, the system also checks that students:
 

• have submitted a valid final paper title assigned by the tutor professor;
• have paid all due fees including the graduation fee* (using  the MAV payment slip available on the Punto Blu in Administrative Area>Financial status>Payments).

*Students are suggested to pay the graduation fee (see 'Other costs') around one month before making the graduation reservation.

In addition, last-year students enrolled in the 2017 2018 a.y. who intend to graduate by the graduation session of December 2018, are not obliged to enrol in the 2018-2019 a.y.;

after la the 1st graduation session after December 2017, are obliged to enrol in the 2017-2018 a.y.

Third-year students enrolled in the 2017-2018 a.y. who intend to graduate by the graduation session of December 2018, are not obliged to enrol in the 2018-2019 a.y.
 

For information on financial status and payments to be carried out, students are invited to check with the Tuition and Fees Office (TCA) www.unibocconi.eu/fees.

Once the graduation reservation has been made, students are suggested to print out the relating receipt via yoU@B Student Diary> Graduation Application Procedure> Print reservation. 

• enter Cv@B in the "CAREER SERVICE" section of yoU@B and to upgrade their Profile and Default CV. The updated Profile and curriculum will be used to create the Graduants Cv Book and, after graduation, the Graduate Cv BOOK. Both cv books will be shared with Bocconi contacts which include companies, public and private organizations as well as professional studios, with the aim of enhancing recruitment opportunities.goes in the Graduates CV BOOK.
• fill out the evaluation of university experience questionnaire on the yoU@B Diary, that forms part of a nation-wide survey aimed at gathering feedback on university study from graduating students.

Students who have carried out the graduation reservation for the graduation session but who do not want to graduate in the chosen session anymore can, by the set deadlines scheduled for the graduation sessions, cancel their graduation reservation via yoU@B Diary by using the online function "Graduation>Graduation Application procedures>Cancel Application".

Through the function Graduation>Application procedure>’Final paper title information completion’ the student:

• makes any changes to the title he/she was assigned to
• enters the abstract (summarizing the final paper topic for a maximum of 4000 characters - see IMPORTANT NOTE)
• confirms the final paper language.

In addition, once the data entered have been confirmed,

• can upload the Definitive file one single file in the final version and in PDF format of his/her final paper.

The students must upload the definitive file of the final paper by the dates specified in the graduation calendars published on the website at www.unibocconi.eu/graduationcalendar.

Uploading the final paper definitive file
the definitive file of the Final Paper must exclusively be uploaded through the Final Paper Title - Information completion; the function Final Paper attachments non definitive files’ MUST NOT be considered as an alternative for the upload of the definitive file of the final paper.

In addition, once the definitive file has been uploaded and the approval has been requested online, changes are no longer possible.

The information entered and the final attachment of the final paper uploaded online are immediately made available for being viewed by the tutor professor.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
 

1. the text of the abstract MUST BE digited in the box of the procedure and NOT copied and pasted from a file;

2. the definitive file, in PDF format (max 10 MB) must include, as first pages, 4 sheets (see paragraph 10.3 for format specifications).

The student can request the approval when:

• He/she has a title assigned
• He/she has carried out the graduation reservation
• He/she has uploaded the definitive file of one’s final paper and abstract.

The approval request must be carried out via yoU@B Diary upon selecting the function ‘Graduation>Application procedure>Request approval by the dates specified in the graduation calendar published on the website at www.unibocconi.eu/graduationcalendar.

Upon approval relese by the tutor professor, the student receives a message on the yoU@B Diary and can consider the graduation application procedure correctly completed.

• 1st page: white sheet
• 2nd page: white sheet
• 3rd page: thanks (if not included a white sheet)
• 4th page: a white sheet.

• Maximum size of the file: 10 MB
• Paper size: cm 29x21 (A4)
• Lines per page: from 26 to 30 lines
• Wright and Left Margins: 2.5 cm
• Recommended font: Arial/Tahoma/Verdana
• Font size (body):12 points
• Pages numbered

It is not possible to use the Università Bocconi seal on the cover sheet or within the Final Paper.  

• the graduation reservation has been carried out;
• the definitive file of the final paper and abstract have been uploaded into the procedure;
• the approval has been requested and obtained;
• all the educational activities provided for in the study plan have been registered (except for credits relating to the final paper) - the appropriate offices periodically check the grades recorded in the academic career of all students;
• students do not have any pending obligations with ISU;
• students do not have any pending obligations with TCA (Tuition and Fees office);
• students do not have any outstanding obligations with the Library.

Final papers will be submitted to the Degree Assessment Board only if all of the criteria to graduate above are fulfilled.
Graduating students will receive notification of acceptance to graduation via an online
message sent to their yoU@B student Diaries.

After reserving a graduation session students can no longer enrol in the new academic year unless they cancel the graduation session that they have reserved.

If the graduation reservation is made when the deadline is expired, this must be done by handing in the renouncement in writing to the Academic Affairs Division Desk.

After enrolling in the academic year and paid the fees and tuition due, it is possible to carry out a new graduation reservation.

The Degree Assessment Boards are appointed by the Rector or by his delegates, and are presided over by a tenured professor. The Boards are comprised of professors, researchers and experts in the subject of the final paper.

The Boards are made up of at least 3 members, shared out as follows: 2 teachers, one of which is elected President, from the Department which has supervised the final papers, and a teacher outside the Department.

Calculation of the graduation grade:

• Grade Point Average, weighted on the credit point values and converted into a mark out of 110, of all the "educational activities with marks expressed out of 30" indicated  in the study plan (only educational activities which have an equivalent in the Bocconi study plan will be considered),

to which is added:

• from 0 to 4 points (out of 110) for the assessment of the "quality of the final paper";
• 1 point (out of 110) for:
  • participation in the International experiences.

With reference to the "GPA" it should be noted that:

• a mark of 30 "cum laude"is expressed as 31;
• a maximum of 2 additional exams are taken into consideration (in cases where students have passed more than 2 additional exams, the  2 best results will be used);
• if students have passed exams at other foreign universities with a mark not expressed out of 30, it is converted on the basis of a specific conversion table.

With reference to the quality of the final paper it should be noted that:

• 4 points (out of 110) are awarded for excellent work;
• 3-2 points (out of 110) for good work;
• 1-0 points (out of 110) for satisfactory work (final papers that are judged to be unsatisfactory cannot be presented).

Based on the points proposed by the teacher following the final paper   the Board assesses the quality of the final paper.

The minimum graduation grade is 66 and the maximum grade is 110. The Board calculates the rounding of the graduation grade; if the decimal is equal to or higher than 5, then the graduation grade is rounded up, if the decimal is lower than 5 it is rounded down.

The Degree Assessment Board may unanimously award lode (cum laude) only if there are all the following conditions:

• the total of the 3 elements used to calculate the graduation grade is equal at least to 111;
• the points awarded for the final paper is equal at least to 3 points
• the student has not been charged any disciplinary sanction of more than 6 months.

the points awarded for the quality of the final paper are at least 3 points.

• dates of Degree Assessment Board meetings;
• period for reserving the graduation session;
• deadline for uploading the final paper definitive file and request approval;
• deadline for sitting the last exam;

and, in the specific section of the website:
 

• date of the graduation ceremony.

• print the self-declaration samples specifying the graduation by accessing the function 'Print Self-declaration' available on the yoU@B Diary or at the Punto Blu terminals located at the University. 
• Request certification only by using the cert@B procedure available on the yoU@B student Diary.

The Graduation Ceremony Calendar can be consulted on the website in the section dedicated to graduations.