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 preparation stages are the following:

• assignment of the final paper title;
• graduation reservation;
• upload of the final paper;
• admission to the graduation session and communication of the results;
• ceremony.

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

Students enrolled in Italian class groups can decide to write the final paper in Italian or in English. Students enrolled in english class group (BIEMF) must 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 or a period of study abroad, 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 Bachelor 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 Bachelor 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.

Università Bocconi offers assistance as follows:

- in each Department  follows the student in the orientation phase. Graduating students can go to the Final Paper Service in the tutor Department of reference.
- in the Secretary's Office of the Undergraduate School (Via Roentgen Building, Rooms E3-01 and E3-02) - NOTICE: starting with September 2012 the location of the School has changed. Check the attached table -,helps the graduating students during the IT procedure management phase (validation of the title entered by the student and, once completed, the submission of the final paper).

The formal assignment of final papers can take place only after students have enrolled in the third year of studies.

Assignment procedure

Graduating student must:

• access to the Punto Blu function "Graduation -  Application Procedures", fill out the section "Final Paper Title submission on the web by entering:
  - type of final paper: theoretical or empirical
  - final paper language
  - final paper title;
  - name of the Supervisor (Tutor Professor).
• After submitting the title the graduating student can immediately, only upon approval of the Tutor Professor upload attached files* (relating to the chapters or to sections of his/her final paper) via the Punto Blu,‘Final paper attachments’ function.
• print out 2 copies of the Final Paper title form which is partially filled out by using the function Final Paper Title Print Form, in order to submit the final paper title;
• go to the Supervisor (Tutor Professor)for the signature and the check of information included in the "Final Paper Title Submission" form;
• go to the Secretary's Office of the Undergraduate School (Via Roentgen 1 first floor E3 Rooms 01 and 02)and hand in 2 copies  of the completed form  (to be entered in the IT procedure). 

* Uploading the attachments, in this phase, is not to be considered as final. However the contents of each uploaded file will be made available to the professor.

Final paper title cancellation/change

Students who have not yet carried out the graduation reservation can cancel the enetered title via Punto Blu by selecting Graduation>Graduation-Application procedure>Cancel Final Paper Title Function. In this case graduating students who wish to submit a new final paper title must repeat the whole assignment procedure.

Students who have already made the graduation reservation and submitted the Final Paper title form and wish to cancel the title or change it, they must print out via Punto Blu the form (Final paper Cancellation/Change) and submit it to the Undergraduate School after filling it out. 

Students who have already made the graduation reservation and wish to change the title upon the approval of the Tutor Professor at the ending phase of the Graduation procedure, can write on the Approval Form the final title that has been modified.

NOTICE: the first graduation session available for students enrolled in the third year of studies in the 2011-2012 academic year will be held in July 2012.

Students can make the graduation reservation via Punto Blu 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. Therefore they are advised to apply in advance than the sumbission of their final papers.

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;
• have paid the graduation fee (using  the MAV payment slip sent by the University to the permanent or temporary address);
• have valid qualifications for admission to the University.

In addition, third-year students enrolled in the 2010-2011 a.y. who intend to graduate:

• by the graduation session of December 2011, are not obliged to enrol in the 2011-2012 a.y.;
• in the 1st graduation session after December 2011, are obliged to enrol in the 2011-2012 a.y. and to pay the 1st installment of University fees and tuition;
• in the 2nd graduation session after December 2011, are obliged to enrol in the 2011-2012 a.y. and to pay the 1st and 2nd installments of University fees and tuition;
• from the 3rd graduation session after December 2011 on, are obliged to enrol in the 2011-2012 a.y. and pay the total amount of university fees and tuition.

Third-year students enrolled in the 2011-2012 a.y. who intend to graduate by the graduation session of December 2012, are not obliged to enrol in the 2012-2013 a.y.

After making the graduation reservation students are asked to fill in the following forms in the yoU@B student Diary:

• the placement form which goes into a "CV Book". Following graduation this CV Book   will be sent to Bocconi contacts which include companies, public and private organizations as well as professional studios, with the aim of enhancing recruitment opportunities;
• the evaluation of university experience questionnaire, 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 Punto Blu by using the function "Graduation>Graduation Application procedures>Cancel Application".

1) uploading the PDF format file of the single chapters as they arewritten by using the function Final paper attachments on the Punto Blu or

2) uploading the complete final version of thework in one-single PDF file by using the Punto Blu function Final Paper/Thesis’ final attachment’ (see also paragraph 10.2 Final paper assignment).

With reference to phase 1, once the students have uploaded the attachments via Punto Blu, the files will be made available to the Tutor professor who can read them and suggest any corrections to the graduating students.
In this phase the uploaded files cannot be considered as definitive and can be changed.


Once the contents of the final paper are definitive (upon approval of the professor) and do not need to be modified the graduating student can upload the definitive file of the completed work (see ‘Submitting the completed final paper and the approval form’ paragraph).

NOTICE: the definitive version of the Final Paper file MUST in any case be uploaded through the procedure 'Final Paper Title - Information Completion'.

With reference to phase 2, the graduating student uploads his final paper in one-single final file (thus avoiding uploadingt he various chapters); the attachment will be automatically made available to the Tutor Professor for the final reading.

In this phase the uploaded file is definitive and cannot be modified.

Graduating students after interacting with their Supervisors (Tutors) for writing the final papers:

• should access the Punto Blu to Final paper title - Information completion function and enter the abstract summarizing the final paper topic;
• attaches , through the  Final paper title - Information completion function one definitive file of his/her final paper [notice: to upload the definitive file you must follow the instructions described in NOTE]. At the same time, by clicking the appropriate flag he/she confirms that the work uploaded is definitive and complete.
• by using the function Final paper title - Information completion print (two copies) the approval form (for the submission of the final paper) through the  Punto Blu function "Print Approval". This form includes:
  - Final paper title;
  - Name of Supervisor (Tutor Professor) ;
  - Supervisor (Tutor)'s Department;
  - abstract of the final paper  
• submit the approval form for the final paper submission to the supervisor (Tutor Professor) who checks if the abstract is correct and make any changes to the title of the final paper and sign the form;
• hand in the 2 copies of the approval signed  by the Supervisor (tutor) to the Secretary's Office of the Undergraduate School (via Roentgen 1 - I floor E3 rooms 01 and 02)  by the deadline for the submission of the final paper which is indicated in the graduation session calendar. NOTICE: starting with September 2012 the location of the Schools has changed. Check the attached table.

NOTE: The definitive file must include as first pages the following 4 sheets ordered as follows:

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

The final file uploading on the Punto Blu using the Final paper title - Information completion function is to be considered as definitive and replaces CD rom thesis submission phase (thus students no longer have to submit any file on paper or CD Rom).

In addition, once the file has been uploaded on the Punto Blu, changes are no longer possible. When the student prints out the approval form, the tutor professor receives the notification of the definitive upload and can proceed with final reading.

The deadlines for submitting final papers are indicated in the Graduation Calendar.

• Maximum size of the file: 20 MB
• Paper size: cm 29x21 (A4)
• Lines per page: from 26 to 30 lines
• Recommended font: Arial/Tahoma/Verdana
• Font size (body):12 points
• Pages numbered
• Cover sheet including: student ID, surname/family name, name, Bachelor Program, final paper title and tutor

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

Once the period for making the graduation reservation has ended, the Graduation, Diplomas and Certification Office will verify that:

• the final paper has been uploaded into the procedure;
• 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 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 graduation grade is awarded by the Degree Assessment Board. Students are not required to make an oral dissertation of their final paper.

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,

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 a curricular internship and/or
• participation in the International Exchange Program (if student received credit for at least one exam passed abroad).
  

Points earned for both activities are not cumulative.

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 Italian or 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 both 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 quality of the final paper are at least 3 points.

In general, from the following days after the publication of graduation results, graduates can print the graduation certifications which are described in "Certifications and Diploma Supplement" at Punto Blu terminals or request them at the Academic Affairs Division Desk.

The graduation ceremonies are generally organized according to Bachelor Program and are led by the Program Director or his/her delegate in the presence of the graduates and their families and friends. At the ceremony graduates are awarded their degree diplomas.
If the graduate is unable to attend the ceremony, the degree diploma will be sent to the permanent address.
The Graduation Ceremony Calendar can be consulted on the website in the section dedicated to graduations.

The Graduation Calendar is displayed on the University Internet site at www.unibocconi.eu/graduationcalendar. The following information is given:

• dates of Degree Assessment Board meetings;
• period for reserving the graduation session;
• deadline for submission of the final paper;
• deadline for taking the last exam;
  

and, in the specific section of the website:

• date of the graduation ceremony .

Below please find the step-by step procedure that students must carry out to complete the graduation application procedure at best and without any issues.

For detailed information we suggest you to carefully read the chapter 10 ‘Final Paper and Graduation’ of this Guide.

Students, after deciding which is the session they wish to graduate in, must:

1. Access, via Punto Blu to the Graduation>Graduation application procedures section and fill in the Final Paper Title Submission section;
2. print the form already filled out by using the Final Paper Title-Print Form function and submit two copies of it signed by the Tutor Professor to the Secretary’s Office of the Undergraduate School (Via Roentgen 1 1st floor SECTOR e3 rooms 01 and 02);
3. pay the graduation fee;
4. carry out the graduation reservation via Punto Blu by using the function Graduation>Graduation-Application procedures>Graduation Reservation;
5. upload, via Punto Blu and only upon Tutor Professor request, the files of the final paper as soon as they are drawn that will be made available to the Tutor Professor for the reading (notice: the final paper attachments upload in the drawing phase of the final paper must be requested by the professor. If not requested the students must upload only the definitive final paper as described in point 7);
6. sit for all exams provided for in the study plan;
7. upload, via Punto Blu, in one-single attachment, the definitive file of the final paper and the flag to confirm that the uploaded final paperis the definitive one;
8. enter, via Punto Blu, the abstract summarizing the final paper topic by using the Final paper title - Information completion function;
9. print out two copies of the approval form via Punto Blu;
10. submit the approval form signed by the Tutor Professor to the Secretary’s Office of the Undergraduate School (via Roentgen 1, 1^st floor Sector E3 rooms 01 and 02) NOTICE: starting with September 2012 the location of the Schools has changed. Check the attached table ;
11. fill in the following by the relating deadlines, via yoU@B:

• the placement form;
• the evaluation of university experience questionnaire.

Students will subsequently receive via yoU@B:

• confirmation message on the admission to the graduation session;
• communication on the graduation grade and details on the graduation ceremony.

Students are invited to:

• verify in the Uploading the completed final paper and submitting the approval form the rules to be resepected for the correct upload of the work in the Punto Blu
• check the Guide for writing the Final Paper"  which has been written with the aim of giving orientation to students in writing the final paper and pay particular attention to the rules for writing citations and bibliography;
• respect the deadlines for each graduation session published on the website in the Timetable, Calendars and rooms>Graduation section;
• verify that their financial status is in line with what published in Graduation Reservation.