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GUIDES TO THE UNIVERSITY

2019-2020 A.Y.
Integrated Master of Arts in Giurisprudenza (5-y; Law)



2.2.
Foreign languages

  
Last change 01/06/2019 08:00

2.2.1.
Entry requirements

In order to classify levels of language knowledge, Bocconi University follows the Common European Framework established by the European Council.

In order to be admitted to a BSc program taught in Italian the University requires, as minimum entry level (checked upon admission), a B1 general level in English and suggests to non-native Italian speakers (if any) a B2 general level in Italian.

Last change 16/07/2019 12:56

2.2.2.
Study plan: foreign languages and minimum exit levels

The study plan includes foreign languages in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd year.

All possible combinations of 1st and 2nd language are listed here below (in grey: low probability combinations):

native language (1)     1st language
1st year (2)
minimum exit level      1st language
2nd year
minimum exit level      2nd language (3) minimum exit level 
             
≠ ENG; = ITA ENG B2 general ENG B2 legal FR, SP, TD B1 general
             
≠ ENG; ≠ ITA ENG B2 general ENG B2 legal FR, SP, TD B1 general
ITA C1 general
             
= ENG FR, SP, TD B2 general ENG B2 legal FR, SP, TD B1 general
ITA C1 general
ITA C1 general FR, SP, TD B1 general

(1)   Students declare their native language during the admission process and can never change it during MA in Law studies.

(2)   English language automatically assigned. English native speakers (if any) MUST choose a language other than English immediately after finalization of enrollment (see chapter 9).

(3)   Second language is not automatically assigned; it has be chosen when enrolling in the 3rd year.

Students are allowed to change languages included in their personal study plan (see conditions and deadlines in chapter 9) without changing the native language.

N.B.: Portuguese is:

  • “curricular” language up to a.y. 2018-19: it can be chosen as second language up to a.y. 2018-19;
  • “extra” language as of a.y. 2019-20: as of 2019-20 students (any cohort) cannot choose it as second language any more.

Minimum entry levels are advised for 1st foreign languages in order to be able to reach the minimum exit levels required; for instance: when the minimum exit level is B2 general, the recommended entry level is B1 general.

No minimum entry level is required for second languages.

For further detailed information, please see “course profiles” published on the website.

 

Last change 16/07/2019 13:04

2.2.3.
Educational offer

The educational offer includes:

  • ENGLISH 1st year:
    course to prepare for internal exam: B2 general
    The duration of the course is one year (1st and 2nd semester) - 96 hours
     
  • ENGLISH 2nd year:
    students are automatically assigned to the course to prepare for the internal exam B2 legal.
    On condition that they have adequate preparation, students may ask to be admitted to the course C1 legal that prepares, at the same time, for the internal exam and for IELTS (then, it is up to students to decide whether to sit the internal exam and/or the certification).
    The duration of the course is one year (1st and 2nd semester) - 96 hours

    Moreover, a preparatory course for a C2 level Cambridge certification (CPE) is offered for students (any year) who are proficient in English; applications via yoU@B student Diary.
     
  • SECOND LANGUAGE – 3rd year:
    • French, Spanish, German: courses to prepare for internal exam B1 general
      The duration of the course is one year (1st and 2nd semester) - 128 hours

      Moreover:
       
    • For French and Spanish, courses to prepare for international certifications (free-of-charge) are offered (48 hours), namely:
      • French – DELF B1 general (1st semester)
      • Spanish – DELE B1 general (1st semester) and DELE B2 general (2nd semester)

Courses are open to MA in law students (any year) as well as students of other programs.

For further details about courses, please see “course profiles” published on the website and “course syllabi” available on BBoard via yoU@B student Diary.

All students’ study plan includes first and second language “course codes” and all students are given a class-group to attend lectures; for English (C2 level) and for French and Spanish those who are interested can apply for a course to prepare for international certification (with different course code) via yoU@B student’s Diary.

Therefore, students have the following options: to attend the internal exam course only, the certification course only or both of them (as mentioned above, the English C1 legal level course prepares – at the same time – for the internal exam and IELTS).

Certification courses:

  • are open only to students whose study plan includes the foreign language related to the certification course;
  • are for a limited number of students: students are admitted as long as places are available, on a first come, first served basis;
  • are activated only if a minimum number of students enroll.

In order to benefit from the course, the student must have a knowledge of the language (at least) equal to the level immediately lower than the level of the certification course.
At the beginning of the course, the teacher evaluates the student’s preparation in order to suggest him/her whether to go on attending it or not.

Last change 16/07/2019 14:16

2.2.4.
Knowledge assessment and recording in the academic transcript

1) Bocconi exam: mark out of thirty;
2) International certification: to be recorded in the academic transcript with conversion of the score in a mark out of thirty (convertion tables are published on the website).

The mark is included in the calculation of the Grade Point Average (GPA).

The final level of competence is mentioned in the exam report and in the student’s transcript.

Students must pass the first year language exam (upon certification/test or Bocconi exam) in order to sit the second year exam.

The following rules apply in order to have a certification for the first language recorded in the academic transcript:

  • B2 general certifications can be recorded only as first year exam;
  • C1 general, B2 legal or business, C1 legal or business and C2 certifications can be recorded (according to the student’s choice) as first year exam only, or as first and second year exam or as second year exam only.

Students holding an international certification (taken before or during university studies) whose level is equal or higher than the minimum required for the MA in Law can ask to have the result recorded in the academic transcript, provided that the certification is still valid (validation procedure).

Recording can take place as from the 1st year (even before the first available session for internal exams).

Only credit points relating to the first language – 1st year are counted for the number of credit points required to move on to the second year of studies and only if the certification is submitted by 15 July 2020.

If the certification is submitted in a year after the year of studies the language is positioned in, the student will appear to be a student who has not yet passed the exam (“in debito”) until the certification is recorded.

Students must contact the Language Center to have the certification recorded in the academic transcript and do not have to register for the internal exam.

Students can opt for sitting the internal exam only, the certification exam only or both of them; in the latter case:

  • once the result of the internal exam is recorded, the result of the certification cannot be recorded any more in the academic curriculum (it is an extra);
  • once the result of the certification is recorded, the result of the internal exam cannot be recorded any more in the academic curriculum.

Moreover, students can apply to request the Legal English curricular exam (first language) be exempted. In this case, the grade achieved in the general English (code 50127) exam or international certification (grade out of 30 converted by the Language Center in accordance with specific tables) shall be recorded in the career, only for the following exam exit levels:

  • C1 General, C2 General
Last change 20/03/2020 12:28

2.2.4.1.
Bocconi internal exam

The assessment method consists of an exam focused on reading, writing, listening and speaking competencies as well as with international certifications.

Student can sit the exam (“general” mode) as from the end of second semester (after the end of the teaching period: May).

5 exam sessions are scheduled throughout the year (May-June, June-July, August-September, October, January-February).

The exam consists of two linked parts: written (focused on writing, reading, listening) and oral (final part focused on speaking).

Please note that:

  • In order to sit for the exam, it is required to register via Punto Blu (one single registration, valid for both written and oral part).
  • Both written and oral part have to be taken in the same exam session as the oral part is the final step of a single, complete exam (the same as with international certification).
  • Final grade: result of the written part + result of the oral part + result of active participation (only for attending students; only in case of active participation).
  • The written part is the same for attending and non-attending students.

Further details in the course syllabus available on BBoard.

For each possible combination (first / second language), internal exams are organized for the minimum exit level only.

The only exception is for the English language – second year: in this case, the internal exam is available at both B2 legal and C1 legal level (although the minimum exit level is B2 legal) and students are allowed to choose their exit level, regardless of the level of the course attended.

Last change 16/07/2019 14:24

2.2.4.2.
International certifications

Here below basic information about international certifications and tests (in short “certifications”).

Further detailed info, please visit the website area Campus and services > Current Students > Service > Language Center.

International certifications can be recorded in the academic curriculum provided that they are:

  • officially recognized by Bocconi University and have been taken at an officially recognized test center in Italy or abroad;
  • submitted to the Administrative Office of the Language Center before the “expiry date” which is within 3 years after sitting the international certification exam (2 year for the international test TOEFL and – as of September 1st 2019 – for the IELTS test as well);
  • submitted by the owner of the international certification (who is required to show his/her personalized Bocconi ID card); only original certifications or statement of result (with stamp and signature of the certifying agency) are allowed for submission.

The level of the certification can be higher than the minimum required for undergraduate studies; it can date back to high school studies (provided that it is still valid) or can be taken during undergraduate studies (self-preparation or attendance in a course offered by Bocconi, when offered.

The level/typology (general, legal, business) recorded in the academic curriculum is the level/typology stated by the Certifying Body on the international certification.

In order to support students who want to earn an international certification, the Language Center offers:

  • information and orientation service;
  • courses to prepare for some certifications;
  • materials for preparation and sample examinations at the Language Lab;
  • moreover, Bocconi is accredited test center for some “British Council / Cambridge Cambridge English Language Assessment” English certifications and for some “Chambre du Commerce de Paris” French certifications. The registration procedure and the entire process strictly follow the rules established by the Certifying Body.

Registration fees for certification exams are at the student’s expense.

 

Last change 19/07/2019 15:42

2.2.5.
Self-study

In addition to attending lectures, learning foreign languages requires a constant commitment to self-study, which includes a number of activities, based on specific assignments provided by the teaching staff in class and available on the course syllabus; different tools are offered to support  learning activities (e.g. exercise books or multimedia courses/assignments available on the BBoard platform).

In addition, at the Language Laboratory students can benefit from:

  • advisory and information services;
  • tutoring service provided by the language teaching staff to support individual learning; the service is available upon reservation;
  • various materials for preparing certifications and the Bocconi exam, available at the multimedia Library of the Laboratory and/or on the BBoard platform.

In general, students are advised to spend 3-5 hours per week on self-study.

Last change 16/07/2019 14:29

2.2.6.
Foreign languages as additional courses

Curricular languages are usually recorded as included in the standard 300 cpu of the study plan but they can also be recorded as additional activities (on top of standard 300 cpu – see chapter 9), either by passing a Bocconi exam or upon obtaining a certification (see chapter 9). In this latter case, the certification must be included in the list of certifications recognized by Bocconi university, must be still valid, and the level must be equal to or higher than the level required for that specific language in graduate studies.

Moreover, also “extra” languages can be recorded in the academic transcript but only as additional activities (on top of standard 300 cpu). “Extra” languages offered by the Language Center are Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, and as from 2019-20, Portuguese.

As no internal exams are organized for such languages, it is possible to register only the result of a certification (score converted in a mark out of thirty). The certification must be included in the list of certifications recognized by Bocconi university and must be still valid.

For further detailed info on international certifications and conversion tables, please visit the website area Campus and services > Current Students > Service > Language Center.

 

Last change 17/07/2019 15:34