Criteria for awarding degree grades and grade bonus points

Criteria for awarding degree grade

Resolution of the Academic Senate (24 January 2017)

The Examination Commission, appointed by the Dean of the School, is independent and sovereign. The Commission’s assessment is unappealable and takes account of the following for the purposes of awarding the degree score:

• the topic and content of the thesis/final work;
• the Supervisor’s assessment and proposal for a grade, from which the Commission may however depart;
• the student’s academic career;
• the effect on a student’s weighted average expressed in thirtieths –  irrespective of the grade obtained – of the marks obtained in a maximum of 2 additional courses chosen exclusively from among those on the list (other types of additional courses, for example those attended as part of Erasmus or not on the list will not count towards a student’s grade average in any way);
• the starting grade expressed in one hundred and tenths, which will be rounded off (up to the next whole number if the first decimal place is 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 and down to the previous whole number in all other cases);
• the maximum points that can be awarded:

      - a maximum of 6 points for 3-year bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and 4-year bachelor’s degree programs;

      - a maximum of 7 points for single-cycle master’s degree programs (the category of thesis of “particular merit” no longer exists);

• in order to obtain a cum laude distinction, the starting grade must be at least 105.00/110 (inclusive of any bonus points), without considering any rounding up and thus taking into account just the exact starting grade;
• solely in cases of 110/110 cum laude can the Commission unanimously award the distinction of "special mention" (exclusively for master’s degree, 4-year bachelor’s degree and single-cycle master’s degree programs).

Bonus points on the starting grade for graduation

Bonus point for graduation on track

On the basis of Academic Senate resolutions, the following rules govern bonus points granted when awarding the degree grade: 

• 1 BONUS POINT for those who graduate on track, i.e. within a number of academic years not greater than the standard duration of the degree program, which time runs as regards 3-year bachelor’s degree and single-cycle master’s degree programs from the year of first university enrolment and as regards master’s degree programs from the year of first enrolment at LUISS. Please note that no bonus points are awarded in the event of a double registration for the same program year or for registration as a repeat student;
• commencing from the summer degree exams session for the 2019/2020 academic year (July 2020), as resolved by the Academic Senate on 24 January 2017, students registered for master’s degree programs  will no longer be awarded a bonus point simply for graduation on track.

Bonus for International Programs

• Bonus for international programs - rules applicable to international programs up to the 2015-2016 academic year 
• Bonus for international programs - rules applicable to international programs from the 2016-2017 academic year onwards 

Bonus for Summer School abroad 

• Bonus for Summer School abroad - rules applicable to summer schools attended by the end of summer 2016 
• Bonus for Summer School abroad - rules applicable to summer schools attended from summer 2017 onwards