Guides to the university

The study plan for all 3-y degree program, with the exception of BAI and BGL, includes:

• First year: first language
• Second year: second language

The study plans for BAI (the Bachelor of Science in Mathematical and Computing Sciences for Artificial Intelligence) and BGL (Bachelor in Global Law) includes only one language in the second year, whose rules coincide with those of the second language for the other 3-y degree programs.

The choice of languages depends on a combination of the following variables:

• The language of instruction of the 3-y degree program;
• The student’s native language (as declared during admission to the program, which cannot be changed for the entire duration of the program).

The languages included in the study plan must be:

• different from the student’s native language
• different from each other.

In addition:

• English as a first language is mandatory for students who are non-native English speakers enrolled in 3-y degree programs in Italian (except for BAI and BGL);
• Italian as a first or second language is mandatory for students who are non-native Italian speakers enrolled in 3-y degree programs in English.

When it is possible to choose as language the vehicular language of the program, the minimum exit level is higher than the required entry level (see table below).

All possible combinations are listed below, with the exception of BIG Double Program HEC students enrolled in the Data, Society and Organisations track. These students must follow ad hoc regulations and complete the second language at HEC: see paragraph 3.1.1.1 Languages and Minimum Exit Levels for BIG-DSO Students.

* Second language is not assigned automatically; it has to be chosen when enrolling in the second year. The course level is assigned automatically. 

** A2 is required for Double Degree incoming students and for students enrolled in WBB (World Bachelor in Business). Students are allowed to change languages included in their personal study plan (see conditions and deadlines in chapter 9 "Administrative Rules, Procedures and Deadlines".

For BIG students enrolled in the Data, Society and Organisations track (students in the Double Program with HEC), there are ad hoc rules for choosing the language on the study plan. These students complete the first language at Bocconi and the second language at HEC. The choice of languages depends on the student’s native language, declared during the admissions process according to the indications below:

Italian native speakers
- First language: English (C1) or Spanish/German (B2) at BOCCONI; 
- Second language: French (B1) at HEC

French native speakers
- First language: Italian (B1) at BOCCONI
- Second language: English (C1) or Spanish/German (B2) at HEC

Students who are not Italian or French native speakers
- First language: Italian (B1) at BOCCONI
- Second language: French (B1) at HEC

The educational offer includes the following:
For English (first year) - except BAI and BGL:

• B2 (3-y degree Programs in Italian) and C1 curricular courses (3-y degree Programs in English) - second semester
• Preparatory courses - first semester

For other curricular languages:
First language (first year) - except BAI and BGL:

• B2 curricular courses (except B1-level Italian, which can be selected only by BIG students who are not Italian native speakers in the HEC Double Program - students enrolled in the “Data, Society and Organisations” track) - second semester
• Preparatory courses - first semester

Second language (second year) - only language for BAI:

• B1 curricular courses - second semester
• Italian: A2 curricular course (for specific categories of students enrolled in international programs) - second semester;
• Preparatory courses - first semester 

The educational offer will be preceded by an entry-level readiness assessment test. This will direct students to the most suitable educational path (the test will not be offered to students enrolled in the Italian A2 level curricular course reserved for specific categories of students enrolled in international programs). 

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

Knowledge may be assessed through an internal exam or recognition of a language certificate. In both cases:

• the grade will be recorded as a score out of thirty and will be included in the calculation of the Grade Point Average (GPA);
• the level of competence acquired is mentioned in the exam report and in the student’s transcript.

After passing the internal exam, a certificate can be completed at a later date, but the certificate cannot be recorded in the student's transcript. However, after a certificate for a specific language is recorded on the transcript, the internal exam can no longer be taken.

The assessment method consists of a Bocconi exam focused on assessing four skills, in line with international certifications:

• reading comprehension
• writing skills
• listening comprehension
• speaking skills

Students can sit the exam (“general” mode) starting from the end of second semester (after the end of the teaching period: May).
5 exam sessions are scheduled during the following periods:

1. May-June
2. June-July
3. late August-September
4. October
5. January-February

The exam consists of a written part (focused on writing, reading, listening) and an oral part (focused on speaking), which are generally held on the same day (subject to possible extensions due to the number of students registered for the exam).

Please note that in order to sit the exam, students must register through the exam registration tool in the yoU@B Student Diary.

With reference to the English internal exam, we remind you that it is only offered:

• at level B2 (students enrolled in Bachelor Programs taught in Italian)
• at level C1 (students enrolled in Bachelor Programs taught in English).

Further details on exam methods and assessment criteria are available in the course syllabus posted in Blackboard.

Regarding the recording of a language certification as an alternative to the internal exam, please note that:

• credits for the first language (except BAI and BGL) shall be calculated in the number of credits required for enrolling in the second year, only if the certificate is submitted by 11 July 2025;
• in order for it to be recorded in the transcript, students must submit the request using the online procedure available in the yoU@B student diary in the Language Center widget (see submission methods at the page www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter “Certification Recognition”) and do not need to register for the Bocconi internal exam;
• students can apply to convert a certification only after enrollment in the program year when the language course being recognized is taught;
• BIG students enrolled in the Data, Society and Organisations track may convert language certifications as an alternative to the first and second language curricular exam by using the conversion procedure available in the yoU@B student diary, in compliance with the conversion rules listed on the Language Center website under Certification Recognition.

For the purpose of submitting certifications as an alternative to the Bocconi internal exam, please note that

• officially recognized by the University and have been taken at an officially recognized test center in Italy or abroad;
• equal to or higher than the minimum exit level requirement;
• submitted for recording within 3 years after sitting the international certification exam (2 years for the TOEFL and for IELTS, according to the provisions of the certifying agency);
• submitted by the student; only original certifications or, as an alternative, statement of results;
• verifiable by the University

NB: Please note that for some certificates, the Language Center must be authorized to view the results in order to verify the authenticity of the certificate. Authorization must be requested before sitting the exam. If this authorization is not provided, the necessary verification operations cannot be completed and, as a result, the certificate conversion request submitted by the student will not be taken into consideration.

More detailed information (list of recognized certificates, conversion tables, etc.) is available on the website www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter, in the “Certification Recognition” section.

Under his/her responsibility, the student must carefully check the certifications which can be recognized, the relating conversion rules and the instructions for submitting an application, before forwarding the certification recognition request. 
In order to support students who want to earn an international certification, the Language Center offers:

• courses to prepare for some certifications (details available on the website at www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter in the “Supplementary Activities” section);
• test center service for some certificates, including:
  • for English: IELTS Academic
  • for French: DFP Affaires

Detailed information and the list of certifications that can be completed are available on the page www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter in the “Certifications” section.

In addition to attending lectures, learning languages requires a constant commitment to self-study.
The Language Center offers:

• tutoring service, i.e. practice sessions for students taking preparatory courses for curricular languages (except English), that can only be accessed by reservation through the “Appuntamenti/Appointments” procedure available on the yoU@B student diary;
• various materials for improving language skills;
• digital applications and tools to enhance language study.

A Language Exchange activity for students is also organized, along with a film festival for movies in their original language (Movies & Languages Film Festival).

For more information: www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter in the “Self-Study" and "Other Activities” sections.

Curricular languages can be recorded as additional activities (see chapter 9 “Administrative Rules, Procedures and Deadlines”), either by passing a Bocconi exam or through recognition of a certificate.

Moreover, also non-curricular languages (Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, and Portuguese) can be recorded in the academic transcript but only as additional activities.
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). 

For further detailed info on recognition of certifications, please see the website at www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter in the “Certification Recognition” section.

Bocconi University is a Test Center issuing ECDL/ICDL Full Standard and Advanced (ICDL Full Standard or ECDL Core), EPM (European Project Management), Digital Marketing and MOS (Microsoft Office Specialist) certifications.

Exams are held each week according to a calendar which is updated regularly. Students may purchase ICDL products (at a discounted cost) online, view the exam calendar and enroll directly through their yoU@B student Diary, using the IT certifications box.

In order to register for the Computer Science exam (second partial or general exam), students must first complete the full ECDL/ICDL certification (ICDL Full Standard or ECDL Core) or one of the equivalent certifications recognized by the University.

For more information on IT Certifications, please refer to the website at www.unibocconi.eu/itec in the 'IT Certifications' section.

To improve IT skills, students can attend extracurricular IT Skills courses organized by the IT Education Center, which are part of the extracurricular activities (see chapter 8. Other activities: supplementary activities, courses and seminars).

These courses, held in English and/or Italian, have limited spots and a duration ranging from 10 to 24 hours. Participation is recognized through the issuance of an Open Badge, a digital certificate that can be shared online (LinkedIn) or on a CV.

Supplementary IT activities, which are optional and cross-curricular for all degree programs (BSc, MSc, IMA, Specialized Master, PhD) focus on a variety of topics, including:

• Microsoft Office at an advanced level;
• Applications for Mathematical, Statistical and Econometric Analysis;
• Programming in Visual Basic for Applications, MATLAB and Python;
• Data Analysis, Business Intelligence and Big Data;
• Project Management;
• Social Media, Web Analytics, Digital Marketing and Website Creation;
• Generative Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Realty;
• Bitcoin, Blockchain and Cyber Security.

Registration for courses must be completed through the yoU@B Student Diary, in the "Sign Up for Various Activities" box. Registration will be available approximately four weeks before the start of each activity.

For more information, see the website at www.unibocconi.eu/itec, Supplementary Activities' section.