GUIDES TO THE UNIVERSITY

Assessment methods such as exams and other types of tests are designed to assess the students' required level of preparation in order to be awarded the credit points for the various educational activities. Assessments are marked out of thirty (exams) or given a pass/fail grade and are always individual.

Exams, like lessons, are based on the topics described in the course program, available in 2 versions: the course profile and the course syllabus.

The course profile includes the main topics dealt with in the course and is divided into following sections: Course Objectives, Course Content Summary, Textbooks, Detailed Description of Assessment Methods and, were applicable, prerequisites. Students can access the course profiles on the Bocconi Internet site (at page http://www.unibocconi.eu/courses). To help students in choosing courses on the basis of the course contents, the course profiles are published on the site well before the start of lessons. Substantial variations to the course profiles are not envisaged during the year, except for some changes to the textbooks that may be made as a consequence of new publications or updated material that were not available when the profile was finalized.

The purpose of the course syllabus together with the information published online is to explain in more detail the topics covered. For every learning session of the course, if possible the reference materials necessary for an in-depth consolidation of the concepts dealt with in the lessons and assessment methods are specified and tutors are available (see "Teaching assistants"). The course syllabus is prepared by the Course Director in conjunction with the views of the Program Director. The syllabus is generally distributed during lessons and generally is also available online (yoU@B student Diary, in the course profile, e-learning).

The assessment methods are indicated in a summarized form in the course profiles and are explained in further detail in the course syllabuses. In addition, they are also explained by the teachers during lectures and generally available online.  
The assessment methods may be different for attending and non-attending students. Furthermore, some exams can only be taken by attending students.
Students are considered "attending" if they fulfil the course attendance requirements established by the teacher.

Exams may be written or oral or a combination of a written exam with either an obligatory or optional oral part. In this case, sitting for the oral exam is subject to passing the written exam.

Generally the exam assessment methods include partial exams (one or more) and/or a single general exam.
Partial exams are not compulsory, although they are strongly recommended.

The results of partial exams are taken into account to pass the complete exam and to be awarded the credit points; passing two partial exams can, if the assessment methods allow, be equivalent to passing the general exam.

Oral exams are open to the public, while for written exams (either general or partial exams) students have the right to inspect their exam paper, which they are advised to do before the mark is registered.

For courses with multi-class groups in the same Bachelor of Science Program, the exams are organized in the same way.

It is important to always check how exam marks are registered either with the teacher or with the secretary's office of the Department  (whether or not it is necessary to sign up for other exams to complete the requirements, etc.) and to check the expiration date of the mark of those written exams that are followed by an oral exam.

The Course Director will decide on the availability of past exam papers, together with the correct answers. The course director can do it through:

- the Teaching box available in the yoU@B student Diary;
- his personal page available on the website;
- e-learning platform.

Past exam papers which are released are available for 12 months, unless otherwise stipulated by the teacher. 

The exam timetable is organized in periods that do not coincide with the lessons . Each exam period consists of one or more sessions.
The exam timetable (October 2016 - September 2017) allocates 4 exam sessions for all courses and when necessary also includes partial exams. For foreign language courses and for the course ‘Computer Science /Computer Skills 6 exam sessions are scheduled.

As a general rule, students can take exams in all sessions as long as they satisfy the attendance requirements (semester course lessons in the study plan must be finished). For some courses there can be limitations to access the exams.

Lessons are suspended at mid-semester in both the first and second semester for 1st partial exams. 2nd partial exams are held at the end of the semester (as a general rule, for the first semester it is scheduled after the Christmas holidays). However, for 1/2 first semester compulsory courses per Degree program/year of studies, the second partial exam and/or one general exam are held before the Christmas holidays.
Partial exam dates may or may not coincide with those fixed for general exams.

The exam periods and exam sessions (reference period: October 2016 - September 2017) are scheduled as follows:

• "session" refers to both exams of the current academic year and the previous years;
• the fourth exam session for II semester courses will be held in February 2018;
• There are 6 exam sessions for foreign language courses and of Computer Science/Computer Skills for Economics are scheduled for: October 2016; January, March - April, June, July and September 2017.
• An additional exam session has been scheduled in December (12-21 December 2016), for 1st semester courses, reserved for students who:
  1. are participating in: Exchange and Free Mover programs abroad in the 2nd semester 2016/2017 academic year;
  2. are Incoming 1st semester (Exchange and single courses for visiting students)
  3. are participating in a curricular internship abroad or in Italy in January/February 2017 period.

The exam timetable for the October 2016 - September 2017 period is published in the second half of September on the University Internet site at www.unibocconi.eu/exams.

During the year the timetable of an exam session may be changed (only to a later date or time), in which case students do not need to re-register for the exam since their registration is automatically transferred to the new timetable.
Exam dates are updated daily on the Internet site. In addition, any changes to the exam timetable can be viewed on the yoU@B student Diary.

The exams are identified in the exam timetable by the following letters:

• I Partial exam
• S Written exam
• O Oral exam 

Students can check the classroom assigned and time for their exam via yoU@B student Diary generally in the afternoon of the working day prior to the exam date.

If the exam is held in more than one classroom and in more slots, students are allocated following criteria set by the Department the course refers to and they receive an appropriate message via the yoU@B Diary (Exams>Breakdown of students in the classroom).

In any case,the student must follow the instructions relating on time and room specified on the message.

The list of classrooms assigned for exams is also published on the website (following the same timelines explained above) at www.unibocconi.eu/rooms.

It is also available:

• on the ground floor in via Sarfatti 25 on the "Today's exams and activities" bulletin board;
• on the ground floor in piazza Sraffa 13, on the monitors and on the bulletin boards.

Registration for written, oral and partial exams can be carried out via the yoU@B>Exam dates>Registration exam sessions up to the fourth last working day before the exam itself. The following days and periods are classified as non-working days:

• Saturdays and Sundays;
• Holidays and periods when the University is closed, as indicated below:
  - for 2016: 7 and 8 December, 25 and 26 December;
  - for 2017 (up to the September exam period): 6 January, 17 April, 25 April, 1st May, 2 June, 15 August.

Registration for the exam session and for partial exams can be allowed only if the student is not suspended (e.g. if the payment of tuition and fees and/or any penalty fees has not been recorded, for a disciplinary sanction, for any irregularities checked by one of the University Services etc).

To register, after accessing to the yoU@B student Diary, student must use the function "Exams>Registration Exam sessions": a list of the un-passed courses included in the study plan appears.

Via the function above students can register for only one of the two exams which follow the displaying date, for each code and type of exam.

By clicking on the appropriate icon beside the exam session, according to the deadlines for the exam registration, the following operations can be carried out:

• Exam registration
• Exam cancellation

If the exam calendar includes in the same day both a written exam and a partial exam or both a oral exam and a partial one students cannot register to both types of exams at the same time. Therefore students must choose which of the 2 types of exam they want to register for (written or partial exam; oral or partial exam).

If the exam timetable shows both a date for the written exam and a date for the oral exam, students must register for both (even if they are on the same day). If students do not register for both, they cannot sit the exam.

In some cases when registering for an exam students will be asked to make a specific choice from among a group of alternatives ("registration to the groups"), for example "attending students". After selecting the type and date of exam for which they want to register/cancel, a window will automatically appear giving students the possibility of selecting the group they want to register for.

The registration/cancellation operation is carried out only if confirmation prompt asked for by the system is given. If confirmation is not given, registration for the specific activity will NOT take place.

After registering for the exams it is possible to print the receipt for every operation carried out via the yoU@B Exams>Registration Exam sessions by clicking on the appropriate icon besides the selected session.

If the system does not allow you to register for or cancel from an exam, it may be as a result of one of the following:

• the registration deadline has expired;
• the course is not included in the study plan;
• the exam has already been passed;
• the student is suspended for non-payment of university fees and tuition;
• the student does not have the right to sit the exam because the exam is scheduled before lessons finish (end of semester); this does not apply to partial exams.

When the registration to the session has closed, the above criteria will be checked again. If the criteria has not been met the student cannot sit the exam. Students who are suspended after registering for one or more exams and/or partial exams are sent a message on their yoU@B student Diary informing them that they cannot sit the exam. Students who clear their position before registration closes have the right to sit the exam. Once students clear their position they will receive a message via the above channels.

Examining boards are appointed by the Rector or one of his delegates. They consist of at least 2 members, including a President, and are presided over by the Course Director. When necessary, exam commissions may be divided into sub-examining boards.

On the basis of Proposal by the Head of the Department of reference of the subject, examining Board members can be:

• All members who have teaching commitments on the course of the academic year, excluded the Visiting Professors short-term and/or those only engaged in guest speaking or seminars;
• Teaching Assistants assigned to the course;
• All those who were part of the Examining Board of the previous years even if they do not teach in the current year;
• Other Bocconi teaching staff (tenured staff and no tenured) expert in the subject
• The Head of the Department of reference of the course.

Students will generally sit exams with the teacher(s) of their assigned class group if they take the exam in the first exam period after the end of the course. In successive exam sessions, exams may also be organized for various class groups, in which case students sit exams with a teacher or teachers of one of the class groups, or with an expert in the subject. The class groups may not be the same that were assigned to the students.

ONLY students who have regularly registered for exams can be admitted to sit for them.
Students must come to exams equipped with:

• unofficial academic transcript;
• personalized Bocconi ID card.

Students must sign in to certify their presence at the exam (this does not refer to mark acceptance).
For written exams, students certify their presence by signing the exam paper. Written exams must be written only by using indelible ink ballpoint pen in black or blue color.

During exams students may decide to withdraw, in which case their papers are not considered valid and the exam result is not registered.
For written exams students are deemed to have withdrawn if they hand in their exam papers with "withdrawn" written on them.

As a general guide, in case of written exams, students who withdraw must stay in the room until the end of their exams; for oral exams, students may only withdraw before the teacher declares the mark. Withdrawing from an exam is equivalent to not taking the exam.
Handing in written exam papers (whether they are partial or general exams) specifically means accepting the mark the teacher gives the paper, no matter what it is.

Exams are official assessments which must be taken in full compliance with the rules.

During an examination students:

• cannot offer or receive any assistance from students or any other party, nor can they use notes unless authorized by the teacher;
• cannot attempt to obtain confidential information about the specific questions of the exam;
• cannot assume the identity of another nor allow others to assume their identity during an exam; nor can students present as their own a piece of work which has been entirely or partially copied;
• cannot keep mobile devices on their desks (e.g. mobile phones, mp3 readers, smartwatches ecc).
  

Violation of the above rules or instructions given by the teacher during exams, is cause for cancellation of the exam, and the start of disciplinary procedures.
The disciplinary sanctions applied in this University include:

• official warning;
• temporary ban from one or more courses;
• exclusion from one or more exams for one or more exam periods;
• temporary suspension from the University and loss of exam periods (not more than three years). 
  

All disciplinary sanctions are registered in the student's academic career, written in the transfer form, and in all university documents used in determining the student's graduation grade. A disciplinary sanction more serious than a warning precludes any student benefits (scholarships, housing etc.).

These rules do not substitute the university in the monitoring of the exams. The university will maintain strict exam procedures. The university moreover will do its best to ensure that the exams are taken in adequate rooms, with enough space and silence to allow students to concentrate. Teachers are required to set clear questions and to mark exams following clear rules, allowing students to show their ability and degree of understanding of the subject area.

Finally students are strongly recommended to carefully read the content of the Honor Code, which is published on the website at www.unibocconi.eu/honorcode where they can find a summary of the unfair and illegal behaviors and the relating sanctions.

A mark of between 0 and 17 out of thirty is considered unsatisfactory.
A mark of between 18 and 30 out of thirty is considered satisfactory.
The examining board may award "lode" (cum laude) to students who are awarded thirty out of thirty (30/30).
Exams that are awarded a satisfactory mark are considered to have been passed and cannot be retaken (whether they are partial exams or general exams).
Exams that are awarded an unsatisfactory mark are considered to have been failed and must therefore be taken again.

Exams or other assessments are public.
The results of written exams are available from the Secretary's Office of the Department the courses refer to.
The results are also generally published on the yoU@B student Diary>Home page>Exams. Marks are communicated for informational purposes only, therefore once the result of an exam has been registered, students are advised to check that it has been correctly recorded in their academic career by using the "Career>Study plan" menu at Punto Blu (via the yoU@B Diary).
Results of written exams are also available via the SMS Bocconi service if students have entered their mobile phone number in the yoU@B Diary.

In compliance with the Honor Code, the Bocconi teaching staff are committed to carry out the assessment in a fairy way and to be available to analyze the quality of the exam taken with the student. In this context, as part as the teaching staff autonomous initiative, for written exams  also a date dedicated to review the exam paper can be scheduled. This is aimed at allowing the students to understand any mistakes made and to improve their learning. 

The final results of exams are recorded with a mark out of thirty and are registered in the student's academic career by the Study Planning Office.
The exams of course subdivided in modules are considered passed, and may be recorded in the academic career and certified, only after passing both exams of which the course is made up. The final grade is obtained by the grade point average (compared to the credit points of each module) of the two marks achieved.

The appropriate offices periodically check the grades recorded in the academic career of all students.

Each student's "Official academic transcript" available only through the cert@B procedure available on the yoU@B Diary>Certifications, contains all the exams included in the study plan, together with the date when the exam was passed, marks and credit points awarded and subject groups for the exams that have been recorded.

The "unofficial academic transcript, which can be printed accessing the yoU@B Diary>Punto Blu menù via the terminals located at the University only, contains all exams including those that have been passed, i.e. the exams for which students have been awarded a sufficient mark.

The positive mark of the exams of each module (if included in the program structure) can be viewed. Such document (NOT valid as certification) is valid only within the University (e.g. ISU Scholarship ranking, exchanges, etc.).

Only passed exams are certified.

For the first and second foreign language courses, some international language certifications (the mark is converted into a mark out of thirty) are recognized as an alternative to Bocconi exams.
For more detailed information see "Foreign languages and Computer Skills"

The Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated by the mathematical average weighted on the credit point values of all courses with marks expressed out of thirty recorded in the student's academic career.
A 30 "cum laude" is awarded the value of 31.
A maximum of 2 additional exams can be included in the calculation of the GPA. If a student has passed more than 2 additional exams, the 2 best results are considered (those for which students received the highest marks, if grades achieved are the same the ones with an highest number of credit points are considered).
The exams ratified for students transferring from other Italian universities are assigned the mark awarded by the university where the exam was originally taken.
The exams ratified for students transferring from universities abroad are assigned the mark awarded by the university where the exam was originally taken. If the original marks are expressed in different numerical scales or in letters, they are converted to marks out of thirty on the basis of the specific conversion table.
The exams taken at other universities that have an agreement with Università Bocconi are assigned the mark awarded by the university where the exam was originally taken. If the original marks are expressed in different numerical scales or in letters, they are converted to marks out of thirty on the basis of conversion tables.

Exam sequence indicates the sequence that must be followed in terms of time and prerequisites in preparing exams, requiring students to pass some exams before sitting for others.

Students can sit for prerequisite exams in the same period ("session"). At the end of every exam period checks will be carried out to ensure that the regulations have been adhered to. Any exams taken in breach of the sequence will be annulled.
There are language prerequisites for the 2016-2017 academic year:

• For the first foreign language: the first-year exam is a prerequisite of the second-year exam (only for students initially enrolled up to the 2013/2014 academic year);
• for BIG students: the exam code 30320 ‘Quantitative methods for social sciences - module 2 (Statistics)’ is a prerequisite of the exam code 30337 Policy evaluation;
• for BIEM students (students initially enrolled from the 2015-2016 academic year): the exam code 30001 Statistics is a prerequisite of the exam code 30280 Applications for Management;
• for BIEF students (students initially enrolled starting the 2015-2016 academic year): the exam code 30001 Statistics is a prerequisite of the exams codes 30284/30285 Empirical methods for economics/finance (depending on the major chosen).

In addition, notice that in order to take the exam for Computer Science/Computer skills for Economics students must have already passed the complete ECDL (see "Foreign Languages Computer skills").

In any case, for courses where there is no pre-ordered sequence in sitting the exams of programs, students are advised to sit exams following the teaching activities sequence in terms of year of studies and semester.
Furthermore, in order to continue studies in the second year, students must have acquired a minimum of 24 credits in the first year of studies by the July exam period (see "Continuing studies").

Students enrolled in the programs can obtain credit recognition (grade and credit points)for exams taken as part of activities carried out abroad in the Exchange and Campus Abroad (*) Programs, which are promoted and coordinated by the Study Abroad office of the Markets and External Affairs Division, the Free-Mover Semester and Free-Mover Summer.

Specifically:

• as part of the above programs carried out abroad, students can have a maximum of 5 exams recognized for the Exchange or Free-Mover Semester programs and not more than 1 exam for the Free-Mover Summer;
• student must convert minimum 1 exam so that the Exchange Program or the Free Mover experience (Semester or Summer) can be recognized in the student’s academic career;
• the following exams, if taken abroad, cannot be recognized:
  - the banned courses: see list of compulsory courses which cannot be recognized
  - list of compulsory courses which cannot be recognized (for students initially enrolled from the 2016-2017 academic year);
  
• the exam of foreign language and computer skills
  - the compulsory courses specific of other Bachelor of Science programs;
• students cannot sit for ‘in proctoring’ exams relating to courses attended abroad.

(*) Exams passed as part of the Campus Abroad program do not include the phase of Credit for exams taken in foreign universities as they are Bocconi courses. See paragraph 7.14.2

Credit recognition for exams taken as part of Exchange, Free-Mover Semester and Free-Mover Summer Programs is not usually automatic and depends on the following credit approval procedure.

After being selected (Exchange and Campus Abroad programs) or authorized by the Study Abroad office (Free Mover Semester) and before leaving students, after assessing the offer of the host university, check or request authorization in advance to have the courses they wish to sit abroad recognized in their academic career to the Bocconi professors.

The courses can be:

• With Bocconi correspondence, if the course taken abroad has a corresponding Bocconi course;
• Without Bocconi correspondence, if the course taken abroad does not have a corresponding Bocconi course.
  

The students participating in a mobility program as a Free Mover Summer student can have 1 exam recognized - with Bocconi correspondence - only.

The in-advance authorization request, together with the foreign course profile, must be sent:

- to the Course Director of the corresponding Bocconi course in case

- when the foreign course os without Bocconi correspondence, the request of authorization will be sent to the Program Director or his/her delegate.

The in-advance authorization request must be sent through the appropriate procedure available on the yoU@B Diary ‘Recognition’ – International Mobility section.

Two or more exams can be merged to cover a Bocconi exam upon approval of the Course Director or the Program Director. A foreign exam cannot be used to cover two or more Bocconi exams.

The request of recognition of a foreign course with a Bocconi one (with or without any Bocconi correspondence) DOES not allow any in-advance change/structure of the study plan which must be made in accordance with rules and timelines specified in Paragraph 9.3.4 'Administrative rules, procedures and deadlines'

After the period abroad, the Foreign University issues the certifications of the exams taken. On the basis of this certifications and upon student’s request, the Study Abroad office carries out the appropriate checks to prepare the grade recording of exams taken abroad that students wish to have recognized.

For further details check the website http://www.ir.unibocconi.eu/, paragraph Academic Recognition of the relevant section.

Exams passed in other university by Bocconi students is assigned the grades of the university of origin. If the grade is expressed in other scales (letters of numbers) the grade is converted out of thirty on the basis of special tables of correspondence.

In case two or more foreign exam cover one Bocconi exam, the final grade is obtained by the grade point average of the corresponding Bocconi grades obtained. Using the foreign credit points specified on the Transcript issued by the host university as coefficient of ponderation.

Students can also recognize additional exams (see chapter 9.4 'Additional courses').

NB: The program structure of the Programs taught in Italian include at least one course in English (compulsory or elective one): this limit is not applied in case the student participates in the Exchange Program or Free Mover at a University where the language requested by Università Bocconi with the purpose of the selection/acceptance is different than English.

Credit is granted for all exams taken as part of the Campus Abroad Program as they are considered as Bocconi exams.
On completion of the program, the Markets and External Affairs Division - Study Abroad sends a list of students who have passed exams along with marks to the Study Planning Office. The course is automatically registered in the student's academic career, if it conforms to the program structure regulations.

• students participating in the Exchange or Free Mover program during the 2016-2017 first and second semester (provided that they return by 31 May 2017)
• students engaged in curricular internships with credit points in Italy or abroad - start of the experience before 4 February - in the period January-February 2017 (as long as they reach the minimum duration required for the internship recognition request by 31 May 2017)