GUIDES TO THE UNIVERSITY

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

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.

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.