Elective Learning Activities (AFS) Regulations

General Specifications

Elective Learning Activities (in Italian Attività Formative a Scelta: AFS) represent a category of activities within the study plans of various undergraduate and graduate degree programs. They correspond to a minimum amount of University Learning Credits (CFUs) that can be earned through activities other than graded exams. Specifically, each department may offer different AFS, based on the specificities of the study programs and agreements established by the department itself.

Department of Agriculture and Forest Sciences – DAFNE

AFS correspond to a total of 12 ECTS credits (CFUs), 50% of which can be obtained through internships and exams resulting in a pass/fail outcome rather than grades. Additional activities can be proposed by the student for approval by the Course of Study Council (CCdS) and/or the Department Council (CdD). The remaining 50% of the required University Learning Credits (6 ECTS) must be earned through graded exams, which can be sourced from courses within the same degree level (undergraduate or graduate) offered by the DAFNE, DIBAF, and DEB Departments.

In case a student intends to take exams as AFS from a different degree level (e.g., an undergraduate student taking a graduate-level exam), the same procedure must be followed by submitting the request to the aforementioned bodies. Exams that significantly duplicate content from other academic activities within their respective syllabi or activity plans will not be permitted.”

Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences – DEB

The AFS amount to a total of 12 ECTS credits, which can be acquired in accordance with the methods and deadlines stipulated by one’s study plan:

• By selecting any graded exam scheduled by this Department or other Departments within the University, not present in one’s own study program, provided it belongs to degree programs of the same level (e.g., if the student is pursuing an undergraduate degree, the chosen course must necessarily be part of an undergraduate program). The selected exam must align with the educational plan and will be subject to approval by the assigned tutor, allocated to each student upon enrollment.
• • • Any activity undertaken at another university or cultural institution, as long as it is certified and accompanied by a grade. The approval of this AFS proposal will be at the discretion of the President of the Course of Study Council, following a formal request. Additionally, with the President’s approval, there is the option to convert the grade received for such AFS to a pass/fail outcome.”
    • Activities scheduled within the University or within the Department itself (seminars, conferences, theoretical-practical courses) for which the Department has determined the corresponding credit allocation. In this case, it is sufficient to submit an appropriate recognition request to the Academic Secretariat, accompanied by the certification of participation in the indicated activity. The activity will require a final evaluation, which, as mentioned before, can be converted to a pass/fail outcome. N.B. Recognition can also be sought for activities already completed, even prior to university attendance, as long as they have not been used to earn academic credits. Each Course of Study Council (CCS) will annually offer additional optional courses (AFS). The list of these courses will be published on this page at the beginning of the academic year. For these courses, students will not need approval from their tutor; they can directly include the chosen course in their study plan.

Department of Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forestry Systems – DIBAF

Within the elective learning activities (AFS), there are 12 ECTS credits allocated for courses that students can freely choose. However, these AFS must adhere to the following criteria: they should be courses graded on a scale of thirty, offered in the undergraduate programs of the University, not overlapping with other courses in the study plan, and importantly, align with the educational path of a graduate in Biotechnology.

In line with the proposed study path of the program, it is recommended to select AFS from the third year, focusing on the BIOLOGICAL-INDUSTRIAL and AGRO-ENVIRONMENTAL profiles. These choices should encompass courses that have not already been included by the student in their mandatory study plan.”

Department of Economics, Engineering, Society and Business Organization – DEIM

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Department of Linguistic and Literary, Historical, Philosophical and Legal Studies – DISTU

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Department of Humanities, Communication and Tourism – DISUCOM

The AFS within this department vary for each study program, so it is advisable to consult the study plan related to the degree program you intend to pursue (or are enrolled in) to better understand how to fulfill these AFS.