GUIDES TO THE UNIVERSITY

     

To be admitted to the graduation session students must earn all the credit points provided for in the program structure except for those credits of the thesis.
Students are awarded the degree after passing the Degree Final exam and after earning at least 300 credit points.
The thesis is worth 12 credit points.
The thesis preparation is divided into the following phases:

• completion of the whole Graduation application procedures
• admission to the graduation session
• thesis oral presentation and awarding of the graduation grade.

In order to obtain the Combined Bachelor and Master of Science degree a final exam is required.The exam requires students to present and defend their written theses to the Degree Board.

The thesis shapes the student's educational experience in a significant way. It is the result of research carried out under the supervision of the thesis advisor on a topic linked to the main subject area of the graduating student's curriculum. The topic of the thesis does not necessarily need to be associated with a course in the student's study plan. It can be based on work experience (internship) or a period of study in Italy or abroad.

The thesis must demonstrate the student's command of the basic methodologies of the subject areas he/she has studied. Students must also prepare an in-depth analysis of a specific topic addressing the theoretical, practical and empirical aspects in a critical and original way.

The thesis requires approximately 4 months of full-time preparation.

Students can opt to write the thesis in either Italian or English. The defence language is the same as the language in which the thesis is written.

Theses associated with the Angelo Sraffa Department of Law and the historical-economic area of the Department of Policy Analysis and Public Management generally consist of 150/200 pages (around 50,000/70,000 words). Theses associated with the other Departments generally consist of 50 pages (about 18,000 words).

The thesis also has an abstract which concisely summarizes the main topic of the thesis.

It is possible to download the "Guide to writing a degree thesis Combined Bachelor and Master of Science Program" (Italian version) designed to aid students in writing their theses from the website.

Any additional information will be given by the Combined Bachelor and MSc Program Director and will come out when writing the thesis from the contact between Advisor and student.

We invite you to carefully check the correct procedures for the use of citations, in the above guide.

The University pays particular attention to the originality of the students’ thesis.It must be the result of a personal contribution, must not be carried out with the aid of outside consulting firms, special attention must be paid to citations and must not contain texts taken from other sources. To this end the University has adopted ad hoc software in order to verify the originality of the work.

Should copying of work be discovered, the student will be referred to the disciplinary board and appropriate measures will be taken.

The Graduation application procedures process is structured into the following compulsory phases:

1. assignment of the thesis title
2. Graduation reservation
3. Entering the information relating to the thesis title completion and upload the definitive file of the thesis
4. Approval request to the Advisor 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 School of Law (Location Table).

The thesis is formally assigned by the thesis advisor, who will supervise the progress of the work.
The advisor may nominate a second advisor:

• the thesis covers more than one field of study; the second advisor is chosen from a Department which is different from the advisor's, and collaborates in supervising the work;
• in case of long term Visiting Professor.

In case of selection of a Second Advisor, before entering the title into the IT procedure, please contact the Communication and Organization of Teaching Services Office through the Help&Contact procedure (upon selecting the topic Graduation: procedures and deadlines).

Once the thesis has been assigned, the thesis advisor will nominate a discussant to act as the interlocutor during the presentation (defence) of the thesis. There is only one discussant.

The discussant is chosen from among the professors who can assume the role of thesis discussant according to rank and qualifications, as defined by the University.

Title Assignment procedures 

Thesistitle assignment can be made only if the student is enrolled in the fifth year of studies.

After having agreed upon the thesis title with the Advisor professor the Graduating student must:

• access to the Punto Blu function "Graduation -  Application Procedures"and fill out the section "Thesis Title entering on the web by specifying:
  - type of thesis: compilative or not specified
  - thesis title
  - thesis language;
  - the authorization and not authorization for the thesis consultation
• and, in the following screen (Choice of Advisor professor) the name of the Discussant professor.
  
  

The information entered on the Punto Blu are immediately made available to the Advisor Professor who, via web, continues with assignment of the thesis and any change of the Discussant professor.

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

Modifying the title of the thesis

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 Advisor professor is still valid.

The student can change the title entered at the Punto Blu until request of approval to the Advisor professor: once he/she has forwarded the approval request, the function ‘Change title’ is no longer available on the Punto Blu.

Cancelling the title entered

If the student wishes to modify the Advisor 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 Advisor professor.

The student can cancel the title entered at the Punto Blu until request of approval to the Advisor professor: once he/she has forwarded the approval request, the function ‘Cancel title’ is no longer available on the Punto Blu

Uploading Thesis attachments

Only upon approval of the Advisor 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 ‘Thesis attachments’ available on the Punto Blu.

The attached files in progress are made available to the professor.

NOTICE: uploading the files in ‘Thesis attachment’ function DOES NOT replace the upload of one-definitive file which MUST be made in any case by using the function ‘Thesis title Information completion’>Thesis 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 thesis title and continue with the upload of the definitive file of the thesis.

 

The first graduation session available for fifth year regular CLMG students 2014-2015 academic year will be held in July 2015.

Graduating students make the graduation reservation via Punto Blu, by selecting the "Graduation Reservation" option. Students must respect the deadlines and timelines indicated on the Graduation Calendar that will be available later in year.

Students do not need to have passed all the exams in the program structure in order to make the graduation reservation. In fact, it is advisable to make the graduation reservation in advance than the submission of the thesis.

When making the "Graduation Reservation" the procedure checks the regular administrative and financial status* of the student and that:

• the thesis title has been assigned;
• students have paid the graduation fee (through the MAV available on the Punto Blu in Financial status>payments);

* Students are advised to carry out the payment about one month before making the graduation reservation.

Students' regular administrative status implies:

• enrolment in the 2013-2014 a.y. for those students enrolled in the fifth year who intend to graduate within the first session of 2015 (March). They do not have to enroll in the 2014-2015 acdemic year;
• Fifth year students enrolled in the 2013-2014 academic year who intend to graduate after the first session of 2014 (generally the first session is held in March) must enroll for the 2014-2015 a.y. Specifically:

• in the second session of 2015 solar year (June) must pay the first instalment of tuition and fees;
• starting with the third session of the 2015 solar year (July) must pay all instalments of tuition and fees.

Once the registration has been carried out students must print, through the Punto Blu, the receipt of the graduation reservation made.

Via the yoU@B student diary, on the subsequent days than the graduation reservation, n students must fill out the following forms:
- the placement form which goes into a "CV Book" that will be sent to Bocconi contacts for recruitment purposes. These contacts include companies, public and private organizations as well as professional studios.
- the evaluation of university experience questionnaire. This questionnaire makes up part of a national survey and is designed to discover the perceptions of students who are about to graduate with reference to their overall university experience.

Students who have carried out the graduation reservation but who do not graduate anymore in the session they reserved for can cancel their reservation, in accordance with the deadlines set in the graduation session calendar, by using the function Graduation>Graduation Application procedure>Cancel Application. 

After having completed the first phases of the graduation application procedure, the graduating student must enter via the web -all information still missing to complete the title of the thesis.

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

• makes any changes to the title he/she was assigned to
• enters the abstract summarizing the thesis topic for a maximum of 250 words - see NOTE
  
• confirms the thesis language
• confirms the authorization/non authorization for thesis consultation

In addition, once the data entered have been confirmed,

• can continue in the upload of the Definitive file of the attachment, i.e. the single file, in the definitive version and PDF format of his/her thesis.

The student must upload the definitive file of the thesis by the deadlines specified in the graduation calendar published on the website at www.unibocconi.eu/graduationcalendar.

NOTICE: the upload of the definitive file must be EXCLUSIVELY carried out through the function Thesis title information completion>Thesis definitive attachment.; the function Thesis Attachments must therefore not be intended as an alternative function to upload the definitive file of the thesis.

In addition, once the definitive version of the thesis has been uploaded and the approval has been requested on the Punto Blu no changes are accepted.

The information entered and the thesis definitive attachment on the student Punto Blu are immediately made available to be viewed by the Advisor Professor.

 

The information entered and the final attachment of the thesis uploaded on the Punto Blu are immediately made available for being viewed by the Advisor professor.

It is possible to change the entered data through the function ‘Make again the title information completion’ until the student requests the approval.

The graduating student must upload the definitive file of the thesis by the deadlines specified in the graduation calendar published on the website at www.unibocconi.eu/graduationcalendar.

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 ordered as follows:

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

The text of one’s work (index,introduction, contents and so on) must start after the 4 pages above.

NOTICE: the definitive file of the Thesis must exclusively be uploaded through the Thesis Title - Information completion; the function Thesis attachments’ MUST NOT be considered as an alternative for the upload of the definitive file of the thesis.
In addition, once the definitive file has been uploaded and the approval has been requested on the Punto Blu, changes are no longer possible.

 

The approval is the declaration of approval released by the professor regarding the thesis written by the student and it represent the final phase of the Graduation application procedures .

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 thesis.

The approval request must be carried out via the Punto Blu 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 release by the advisor professor, the student receives a message on the yoU@B Diary and can consider the graduation application procedure correctly completed.

 

  

The Thesis must be uploaded in a single file, PDF format and the name of the file will be TS, followed by the student ID number e.g., if the student ID number is 1234567, the name of the file is TS1234567.pdf.
In the thesis content no reference to personal details must be entered.
The definitive file must include as first 4 pages the following ones:

• first page: a white page
• second page: a white page
• third page: thanks or a white page
• fourth page: a white page

The text of the thesis must start after the pages described. In addition the following parameters must be respected: 

 

• Maximum size: 10 MB
• Paper size: cm 29X21 (A4);
• Right and left margin: 2.5 cm;
• Lines per page: from 26 to 30 lines;
• Recommended font: Arial/Tahoma/Verdana;
• Front size (body): 12 points;
• Pages numbered;
• The thesis must start from the right page (odd), because it will be back-and-front printed.

It is not possible to include any personal detail (name, student ID...) in other sections of the thesis (headings or notes at the bottom of the page) other than the front page.
It is not possible to use the Università Bocconi seal on the cover sheet or within the Thesis.

After the period for submitting the thesis has closed, the Study Plan office  will determine whether or not the student meets all the criteria to graduate.
In particular, the following checks are carried out:

• the procedure contains the abstract and approval from the thesis advisor;
• the thesis has been uploaded;
• all educational activities included in the study plan are registered (except for the credit points for the thesis) - the appropriate offices periodically check the grades recorded in the academic career of all students;
• there are no pending obligations with the ISU Office;
• there are no pending obligations with the TCA (Tuition and Fees Office);
• there are no outstanding obligations with the Library.

The thesis will be submitted to the Degree Assessment Board for assessment only if all the criteria to graduate are fulfilled.

Students will receive notification about acceptance to graduation via an online message sent to their yoU@B student Diaries.

In order to submit and present their theses before the Board, graduating students must have earned all the credit points foreseen by the program structure, with the exception of those which are awarded for the thesis.
The defence language is the same of the thesis one. The graduation (thesis presentation) includes:

• the student's oral presentation (approximately  20 minutes);
• the defence, which includes answering questions and discussing issues raised by the members of the Degree Assessment Board. Those theses considered to be excellent will involve the participation of the discussant.
• On completion of the presentation the candidate exits and the Board determines the student's graduation grade. Then, in the student's presence, the Board will proclaim that the student has graduated and announce the graduation grade.
  The overall classification is expressed out of 110.
  Students pass the final exam if they obtain a grade of at least 66.
  The graduation grade takes into account all the educational activities included in the graduating student's academic career. The grade point average (GPA) is calculated by the weighted mathematical average on the credit point values of all marks expressed out of 30 and converted into a mark out of 110. Up to 6 points (out of 110) may be added to this score based on evaluation of the thesis and the student's overall curriculum. 

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

• in calculating the graduation grade 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);
• for exams passed at other Italian or foreign universities with a mark that is not expressed out of 30, the marks are converted to a mark out of 30 on the basis of a specific conversion table.

The thesis is evaluated on contents, presentation and defence.

The contents of the thesis are evaluated on clarity and accuracy of the written work as well as the student's ability to summarize. The points awarded are based on the complexity of the topics covered, the thoroughness and depth of analysis, literature cited, methodology applied and quality and accuracy of empirical analysis. Originality and degree of innovation are also important factors. In addition, the adequacy of the conclusions reached is also assessed.

The presentation is evaluated on the ability to express oneself clearly, plan and organize a well- structured presentation, apply critical reasoning and analytical skills, and respond appropriately to the questions and issues raised by the Board.

A high GPA does not guarantee that the student will receive a high score for the thesis. On the other hand, a comprehensive and original thesis can be awarded a high score regardless of the student's GPA.

The Board calculates the rounding of the graduation grade; if the decimal point is equal to or higher than 5 then the score is rounded up, whereas if the decimal point is lower than 5 it is rounded down.

The Board can unanimously award "lode"(cum laude) to students who satisfy the following conditions:

• the Degree Board evaluates the thesis as"excellent";
• students have a curriculum that is considered excellent i.e. students who have passed at least two exams with a grade equal to 30 cum laude (some particular international experiences such as participation in the Themis or Moot programs can be compared to a 30 cum laude);
• graduation grade of at least 110;
• lack of any disciplinary action. 

• The thesis presentation agenda (day, time, room and Degree Assessment Board) can be checked in the yoU@B student diary. It is also posted on the bulletin boards located on the ground floor of the University building at via Sarfatti 25. It is released around one week prior to the presentation.
• After the presentation students can ask the Board to return the printed copy of the thesis. The Graduation, Diplomas and Certifications Office will not return any copies.
• In general, in the following days after the thesis defence, graduates can print the self declaration sample specifying the graduation at Punto Blu located at the University or by accessing the function 'Print Self-declaration' available on the yoU@B Diary. Graduates who require a certification with "marca da bollo" (pre-paid stamp duty) can make the request through the appropriate procedure on the yoU@B (starting from November 2012).
• The degree diploma will be sent to the graduate's address which he/she provided when the graduation session was reserved. If the graduating students, when making the graduation reservation, has opted to collect the Diploma at the University must wait for specific communication on it.
• As a general guide the pictures taken during the degree defence will be available on the yoU@B student Diary 15 days after the graduation session. It is also specified that such pictures (no more than 15) are free of charge.

After reserving a graduation session students can no longer enrol in the new academic year unless they renounce the graduation reservation. Renouncement must be done in writing and handed in to the Academic Affairs Division Desk.
After re-enrolling in the new academic year and settling any pending financial obligations, students can make another graduation reservation.

As a general guide, on the days following the publication of grades, graduating students can:

• print out, by accessing the function 'Print Self-declaration' available on the yoU@B Diary or through the Punto Blu terminals located at the University, the self-declaration sample demonstrating the award of the degree;
• request certifications ‘in bollo’ only by using the cert@B available on the yoU@B student Diary.

The graduation calendar (that will be available later in the year) can be consulted on the website in the section "Graduation sessions; calendars and ceremonies".
It also contains the following information:

• period for reserving the graduation session;
• deadline for taking the last exam;
• deadline for uploading of the thesis.