Guides to the university

2024-2025 A.Y.

Integrated Master of Arts in Giurisprudenza (5-y; Law)



5. CURRICULAR INTERNSHIPS

The Integrated Master of Arts in Giurisprudenza [Law] (CLMG) allows students to include an educational experience of an internship/apprenticeship/training (hereinafter internship) or similar activity, worth 6 credit points, in their study plans. As an alternative to an internship, students can enter an elective course only. For the calculation of the graduation grade after participation in a curricular internship, see “Thesis and Graduation Session.”
In compliance with the same characteristics of curricular internships (see chapter Characteristics of Curricular Internships), students may participate in a second experience worth 6 credits, which will be recorded as an additional internship (see Internship Recognition). 
The credits for a curricular internship or an internship as an additional activity shall not contribute to the GPA. The first internship completed that complies with the characteristics of a curricular internship shall be recorded in the study plan within 300 CPs. Students therefore cannot choose which of the two experiences will be recognized within 300 CPs (see “Program Structure”).

In this chapter, curricular internship exclusively stands for curricular internship for credit.

It is possible to participate in other internship experiences, during your studies or after graduation, which do not have curricular value.

 


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5.1. Characteristics of curricular internships

Curricular internships must have the following characteristics regarding duration, objectives and content, location and positioning.

Duration

  • minimum 8 weeks full-time;
  • minimum 11 weeks in the case of part-time internships. 

The number of weeks is understood as continuous and non-cumulative.
For variations on duration, see paragraph 'Postponement, Suspension, Withdrawal/Interruption'.

Objectives and content
The internship is an in-the-field training experience and not an employment contract. Its regulations are valid in Italy and are set by law (national and regional law) and by the University. The objective of internships is to educate. They allow students to:

  • learn about the world of work,
  • develop professional skills and knowledge,
  • they facilitate their professional choices.

The content of internships must be aligned with the educational objectives of the degree program the student is enrolled in. The in-the-field experience includes a company tutor (professional expert) supporting students.


The university supervisor should be referred to for anything the student needs or the company needs within the University.

Location
Internships may be completed - in Italy and outside Italy - in professional firms, companies, public and private institutions, international organisms, diplomatic agencies, cultural institutions and other organizations (hereinafter company).
Internships held on the premises of the participant's family property are not accepted.
The University reserves the right to evaluate the eligibility of the internship location and any mixed (in-person/remote) or remote (distance) modes.

Positioning
Students may participate in curricular internships during their fifth year of studies.
Students may participate in an internship only after completing fourth-year lectures.


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5.2. Finding internships and application

Internships can be found through one of the following channels:

  • Employer Relations and Career Services;
  • School of Law;
  • Found by the student, at highly qualified companies only. In this case, the Program Director and the Internship Office will carefully monitor the internship request. Students should ask the company to get in touch with the University at least three weeks before the start of the internship, by accessing the JobGate Portal.

For more information, please see the Bocconi website: For Current Students > Career Services.

 


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5.3. Activating an Internship

In order to activate an internship, its must be formalized, i.e. governed by a document that regulates its aims and content and must be approved before the beginning of the experience. The document is the Internship Agreement, and it contains the internship’s training project.

Activation requires the following steps:

  1. As the sole promoter of curricular internships, the University prepares all the necessary legal documentation, checks the quality of the training project, and provides insurance coverage. This means that internships activated in Italy with host institutions other than Bocconi cannot be recognized as curricular.

  2. Once the student (hereinafter, trainee) has been selected and the internship details have been agreed, the company fills out the internship document (entering information and content) on JobGate, by the Monday preceding the start of the internship. Internships usually start on a Monday. The information relating to the internship will be visible to trainees on JobGate, in the area yoU@B "My Internship", so that they can check that the content agreed upon by with the company during the interviews are coherent with the specified content. The confirmation is valid as internship acceptance.

  3. The Internship Office checks the training project and, after checking the coherence and its quality in accordance with current laws, confirms the internship. The University can negotiate the content and conditions of the internship with the company and, in case of no agreement, may refuse to start the internship.

  4. Before starting the internship, the student must request advance authorization from the University and wait until it has been granted.

  5. On the first day of the internship, the company downloads the internship document from JobGate and it is signed by the trainee along with a company legal representative or delegated party. The original document, with a duty stamp when required (duty stamp at the expense of the company), is promptly sent by the company to the Internship Office so it can be signed by the University.

  6. The trainee must ensure that the company sends the original copy of the document to the University. If it is not returned, the internship cannot be considered valid. The internship document, completed with all signatures, is uploaded on JobGate in the area “My Internships - Attachments” by the University to be used by the company and by the trainee.

To activate an internship outside Italy, an internship Agreement in compliance with the procedure described above is also necessary.

In some cases, depending on the local laws where the experience is held, the host institution may require an agreement between the trainee and the host institution itself, or another type of document. 

This documentation, prepared by the host institution, together with a description of the internship's activities and the company tutor's contact information, must be sent by the student at least two weeks before the start of the internship to the Internship Office following the procedure described in the dedicated FAQ in B in Touch in the yoU@B student diary. Experiences without such documentation that are not communicated in advance to the Internship Office cannot be assessed or recognized as a curricular internship.

For internships completed outside Italy, student trainees must verify with the company regarding the methods for obtaining, if requested, the appropriate visa and any other required documents so that the internship can be carried out in compliance with the law of the host country.

For internships completed outside Italy, trainees must:

  • view the “Bocconi Students Travel Risk Policy” (available on the yoU@B Diary);
  • sign the “Student Responsibility Declaration” document on JobGate. With this document, students declare they are aware that the University cannot ensure the security and solvency of the institution and the country in which they have freely decided to carry out the internship;
  • comply with the measures for mitigating risk suggested in the Travel Risk Policy. It is the student’s responsibility to take out healthcare insurance through a suitable international medical policy valid in the country where the internship will be completed for the entire duration of the stay, in particular in counties not covered by the European Health Insurance Card.

Students can also refer to International SOS to receive assistance in the areas of health, safety, logistics and legal issues in emergency situations.

However, the Internship Office reserves the right to assess the feasibility of activating the internship if the situation in the destination country presents elements of risk, as set out in the Travel Risk Policy.

Participating in and ending the internship

During the internship, the university may monitor that the experience is going well by contacting the intern and the company tutor. In addition, in case of any difficulties during the internship, the intern and the company tutor are encouraged to contact the university supervisor promptly to consider possible interventions.


Shortly before the end of the internship, the following end-of-internship documents are required:

  • final evaluation completed by the student via the yoU@B student Diary, My Internships area;
  • final evaluation by the company tutor. The evaluation by the company tutor includes the skills acquired.


The student has the responsibility to make sure that the tutor has completed the evaluation. Students will be advised of the availability of documents by email and through the yoU@B student diary before the end of the internship. Both evaluations must be completed within the end of the experience.

Where applicable, the Internship Office may request additional documentation of the experience.

At the end of the internship, the company should be asked to issue an internship certification.


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5.4. Curricular internship recognition (advance authorization and final validation)

All curricular internship experiences must be approved in advance so as to guarantee the quality and consistency with the educational objectives of the Program the student is enrolled in. Internships are validated when completed so that credit points can be allocated.

In order to obtain recognition of the curricular internship, please follow the instructions below.

Advance authorization

  1. Before the beginning of the experience and after viewing the internship in yoU@B and confirming it, the student must request advance authorization, by accessing the area ‘My internships’ and clicking on ‘Request advance authorization’.
     
  2. The request is automatically made viewable to the Program Director or a delegate who can give their approval, reject it or, for more information, ask the student to schedule a meeting. 
     
  3. The student views the request outcome in yoU@B in the ‘My internships’ area.


Note: without advance authorization it will not be started as a curricular internship.

Final validation

  1. Once the internship has ended, the Internship Office checks that the intern's final evaluation and the company tutor's final evaluation (end-of-internship documentation) are present and submits the internship file to the Program Director. The Program Director views the end-of-internship documentation, and if more information is needed, a meeting with the student may be scheduled.
     
  2. Once final recognition has been obtained from the Director, students can check the credit points recording in their academic career via Punto Blu.

    Please Note: Recording of credits assumes the internship will be included in the study plan. In order to add the internship to the study plan, check How and When to Change the Study Plan.

    The University will carry out checks during the student’s internship in order to verify that the internship is actually taking place. In case the student is repeatedly missing, the internship will be annulled. The internship annulment communication will be forwarded to the student, the Program Director and the host company. In case of behavior contrary to the Honor Code or University regulations during the experience, ì the Internship Office may ì report students to the Disciplinary Board.
     
  3. The Academic Administrative Operations (Study Planning Program) Office records the internship credits by the deadline for the study plan completion set for graduation. Generally, the internship needs to be completed by that date. Recognition in the student's academic career may also be requested for uncompleted internships which have met the minimum duration requirement, only if:
  • the student has to graduate and the internship continues after the date for closing the study plan for their graduation session;
  • the student applies for a scholarship.

In these cases, to make sure the credits are present in the study plan before the deadlines, at least two weeks before the related deadline, the student must:

  • make an explicit request for early recognition by writing to the Internship Office through B in Touch;
  • complete the end-of-internship documents within the time needed for final recognition.

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5.5. Postponement, suspension, withdrawal/interruption

Postponement

Before the end of the internship, a postponement may be requested for a limit of 6 months of the duration of the internship. The Internship Office may grant a postponement after carefully evaluating the reasons for the request and only if the company demonstrates that more time to reach the educational objective for the complexity of the project is needed. The postponement period must be communicated in advance by the company to the Internship Office through JobGate in the 'My Internships' area - 'Internship Duration Changes', and the trainee must access yoU@B to confirm the postponement entered.

Suspension

In agreement with Bocconi University, a period of temporary suspension of the internship experience of a maximum of 30 days can be admitted (e.g. company closure, holiday), to be recovered at the end of the internship if this affects the minimum duration of a curricular internship. Suspensions must be communicated in advance by the company to the Internship Office through the JobGate in the “My Internships” area - ‘Internship Duration Changes’. 

Withdrawal/Interruption

Without serious and justified reasons, there will be limitations for accessing a new internship (a new internship cannot be started before two weeks from the date of withdrawal/interruption of the previous internship). Withdrawals, with related reasons, must be immediately communicated by the trainee in the “My Internships” area - ‘Internship duration changes’. Interruptions, with related reasons, must be immediately communicated by the company through the JobGate in the 'My Internships' area - ‘Internship duration changes’. The trainee must access yoU@B and confirm the interruption entered.

In case of curricular internships, interruptions that are not agreed upon and authorized by the Internship Office, even if the requirement of the minimum duration has been met, the internship may not be recognized.


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5.6. Contributions

Curricular internships are not compensated. At their discretion, companies may grant an allowance (monetary contribution).
For unpaid internships carried out abroad, for which no allowance is provided, scholarships may be given by Bocconi University.
Depending on the specific internship requirements, various types of allowances may be provided.

For more information: dedicated FAQ available in B in Touch.


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5.7. Activities similar to curricular internship and recognition

Though internships are the principal and priority educational activities for students to put their studies into practice, as an alternative to internships, other activities defined as “similar activities” can also be recognized. These include:

1. Specialized work experiences which have contracts that are different from those of internships. For example, temporary and permanent work positions (occasional work is therefore not included). The rules already set for curricular internships regarding duration, positioning and channels for finding such opportunities are applied to these experiences. The Internship Office will assess the actual educational value of the experience in relation to the student’s study path. In order to request recognition students must take the following steps:

  • at least three weeks prior to the start of the experience, students must send - via the procedure available in the dedicated FAQ in B in Touch - a copy of the contract signed with the company to the Internship Office. The minimum information that must be on the contract, or provided additionally if not included, can be verified online.
     
  • The Internship Office, having verified that the experience is in line with the student’s study path and the University’s quality standards, enters the information relating to the activity similar to an internship on JobGate and the student must request advance authorization, by entering ‘My internships’ > ‘Training Project’ area of the student diary and clicking on ‘Request internship recognition’.
     
  • At the end of the minimum of the duration for the internship recognition, students must upload, on ‘My internship’ in the ‘Attachments area’, a short report including information on the type of experience and a declaration by the company certifying the presence of the student at the company in the period specified on the request of recognition. After this has been completed, students should inform the Internship Office by writing via B in Touch, available in the yoU@B Student Diary.
     
  • After appropriate assessment, the Program Director will proceed with the final recognition in accordance with the procedure specified in paragraph Internship Recognition.

 

2. Research field project. Activity promoted by a faculty member where the student is involved exclusively in a research activity to be carried out at a Bocconi University Research Center or Department. Assuming that this activity is considered a part-time experience, the minimum duration for internship recognition is 11 weeks and the maximum is 6 months.

A research field project can be completed only as a curricular activity for credit; it cannot be activated in any other form.

The procedure for authorization and recognition is the same as for internships (see Internship Recognition) with the addition of a final report on the activity carried out with papers or reports to be uploaded to the Internship attachments section of the student diary at the end of the experience.


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5.8. Early traineeships

BAR EXAMINATION

Thanks to an agreement Bocconi University has signed with the Milan Bar Association, 6 of the 18 total months of the traineeship required by regulations for gaining access to the bar examination can be completed during the last year of studies.

Requirements for applying for an early traineeship

Students who meet the following requirements can apply for an early traineeship:

  • enrolled in the fifth year (not enrolled beyond the duration of the program) of the Integrated Master of Arts in Law;
  • have earned credits in the following subject groups: Diritto privato [Private Law] (IUS/01), Diritto processuale civile [Civil Procedural Law] (IUS/15), Diritto penale [Criminal Law] (IUS/17), Diritto processuale penale [Criminal Procedural Law] (IUS/16), Diritto amministrativo [Administrative Law] (IUS/10), Diritto costituzionale [Constitutional Law] (IUS/08), Diritto dell’Unione Europea [European Union Law] (IUS 14);
  • have earned credits for all the educational activities in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd years and recorded them in their academic career.


In addition:

  • in the event that the student did not complete a study abroad experience in the fourth year: have earned credits for educational activities in the fourth year and recorded them in their academic career;
  • in the event that the student completed a long study abroad period in their fourth year (at least one semester): have earned at least 60 credits for educational activities in the fourth and fifth years and recorded them in their academic career.


Terms and conditions of validity

In order for the early traineeship to be valid, the following conditions must be met:

  • attainment of initial authorization;
  • duration of at least 6 calendar months and at least 288 hours and student participation in at least 12 hearings.
    If the student graduates before the end of the six months, the early traineeship shall be valid if it lasted at least 5 months and, in any case, at least 288 hours;
  • attainment of final validation;
  • graduation within 12 months after the end of the early traineeship;
  • confirmation of enrollment in the register of trainee lawyers within 90 days after graduation (the graduation certificate or equivalent document must be submitted to the Bar Association).


In addition, the traineeship must be formalized as an internship (see paragraph Activating an Internship). If the experience meets all the requirements it can be recognized as a curricular internship and recorded in the study plan.

Detailed information on the regulations and procedures to follow for an early traineeship (admission requirements, conditions, roles, responsibilities, finding and formalizing a traineeship, documentation to submit to the Bar Association for authorization and steps for validation) are included in the Application Guide (Italian version only) available on the Bocconi website.

notary EXAM

Thanks to an Agreement Bocconi University has signed with the Milan Notary Council, the internship for access to the notarial profession can be moved up by one semester during the last year of a Master of Arts program in Law.

Requirements for applying for an early traineeship

Students who meet the following requirements can apply for an early traineeship:

  • enrolled in the fifth year of the Master of Arts program in Law (or possibly enrolled beyond the duration of the program);
  • have earned credits for all educational activities in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd years and recorded them in their academic career.

In addition:

  • in the event that the student did not study abroad during the 4th year: have earned credits for educational activities in the 4th year and recorded them in their academic career;
  • in the event the student did study abroad during the 4th year: have earned at least 60 credits for educational activities in the 4th or 5th years and recorded them in their academic career.

Terms and conditions of validity

In order for the early traineeship to be valid, the following conditions must be met:

  • student enrollment in the register of trainees at the Notary Council of Milan;
  • “normal” duration of 6 calendar months and at least 200 hours, with at least 8 hours per week, spread over at least two days a week. Detailed scheduling of the weekly timetable can be modified based on specific study needs and university attendance. If the duration lasts longer than six months, only six months are counted for the purposes of the early traineeship. If, on the other hand, the duration is less than six months, the missing time must be integrated into the post-graduation period;
  • the total period of the traineeship (meaning the sum of the pre-graduation period - counted as no more than six months - and the post-graduation months) must be completed within thirty months of enrollment in the register. If the aforementioned deadline expires, the period completed before graduation is not counted;
  • both the pre-graduation and post-graduation periods must be continuous. At the end of the pre-graduation traineeship period, the trainee must deliver to the Council a certificate from the notary certifying the actual duration of the experience and the beginning of any suspensions. The trainee must also communicate the graduation date to the Council to receive instructions regarding the post-graduation traineeship period, ending the suspension period;
  • interruptions of traineeships are not possible unless for reasons not attributable to the trainee, who is required to communicate any changes relating to the experience to the Council. In any case, attendance to the notary firm cannot be interrupted for a period equal to or greater than two months in the post-graduation period, even if not continuous.

In addition to activating the traineeship at the district Notary Council, the University recommends activating the experience as an internship on the University JobGate portal. If the experience meets all the requirements, it can be recognized as a curricular internship and recorded in the study plan.

Detailed information on the regulations and procedures to follow for an early traineeship and activating it with the Notary Council and on JobGate are included in the Application Guide (Italian version only) available on the Bocconi website.


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5.9. Certifications and declarations

   
 


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5.9.1. Certifications

To request certifications specifying participation in a curricular internship for credit recorded in the academic career, you must use the cert@B procedure available on the yoU@B Diary (see chapter Certifications, Self-Declarations and Diploma Supplements), except for the documents described in the following paragraphs.


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5.9.2. Declarations

  • Declaration of completed internship: interns must provide the contact information of the recipient to whom the declaration will be made out.
    In order to obtain such declaration, the internship needs to have already been recorded on JobGate with all the supporting documentation and, in the case of curricular internships for credit, it needs to have been recorded on the academic career.

  • To support a visa application or request: the student must provide the name and address of the company/intuition/diplomatic office/immigration office to address the declaration and the characteristics of the declaration.
     

These declarations are exempt from duty stamp fees. Requests for the above declarations must be sent to the Internship Office through B in Touch, available in the yoU@B Student Diary.

Employer Relations and Career Services
Internship Office

Piazza Sraffa, 11 - 20136 Milan
Tel: +39 02 5836 2478
B in Touch: available in the yoU@B Diary

Career Services Infopoint
Piazza Sraffa 11 - 20136
Ph. +39 02 5836 2711
infocareer@unibocconi.it


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