You can substitute your free choice credits with the recognition of the competencies that you acquired with other learning activities undertaken at Politecnico or outside the university.

The activities that can berecognized are the following:

A learning activity can be recognized even if it exceeds the number of credits required for graduation (credit overload), but within the limit of 12 extra credits. An external activity is recognized on a pass-or-fail basis (i.e. it has no grade, it is simply recorded with a “pass” in your transcript). 

A specific board is in charge of evaluating students’ requests.

If your request is accepted by the board, you need to accept its approval:

Politecnico can recognize up to a maximum of 3 credits, only one time during your Bachelor’s degree programme
If you have a certificate of a foreign language other than the compulsory languages of your degree programme, you can ask for its recognition at any time during your Bachelor's studies. Send your request using a specific procedure called Approval of external activities available on your personal page of the Teaching Portal - Online services section. 
Upload a copy of your language certificate. If your request is approved, you must present your original certificate to the staff of the Language Centre (CLA). The table of foreign languages and certificates accepted by Politecnico is available on the CLA website. 

Competitive sports activities

Politecnico can recognize up to a maximum of 6 credits, only one time during the entire duration of your studies (Bachelor’s or Master’s degree programme). 
If you achieve outstanding results in sports competitions while you are studying at the university, you can ask for the recognition of this activity at any time during your university studies. 
The term “competitive sports activities” refers to: 

1. athletes called into the Italian national team of disciplines with a federation approved by CONI and recognized as Olympic sports;
2. absolute champions or champions of division in Italian championships, or medalists in European/World championships in one of the disciplines with a federation approved by CONI and recognized as Olympic sports;
3. athletes, couches or referees who participated in top level national and international championships;
4. athletes who achieved sport results of the utmost excellence.
   

After completing the procedure and filling out all the required fields, your credits will be automatically recognized as soon as  you accept the approval of the board.

Student team activities
Politecnico can recognize from 2 to maximum 12 credits, only one time during your Bachelor’s degree programme and only one time during your Master’s degree programme
If you are actively involved in a student team, you can ask for the recognition of this activity after completing your collaboration with the team.

The leader of your student team must certify the nature of your collaboration and the amount of time that you dedicated to it. Based on such information, the Academic Advisor of your degree programme decides if your request can be accepted and how many credits you can be awarded.

You can ask for the recognition of your activity in a student team at any time during your studies, but the credit recognition process must be completed before you register for the Final Examination. After you register for the Final Examination, pending request will not be evaluated.

You can always check the status of your request on your personal page of the Teaching Portal – Online services – Approval of external activities portlet.  

If your student team activity is approved by the board, you must “accept” the approval of the board. After this operation, your activity will be displayed with status “RECORDED”. This means that the corresponding credits have been recognized. The board may suggest that your student team activity should substitute a specific optional course (free choice credits). If this is the case, Politecnico will automatically substitute your optional course with your student team activity.

You can ask for the recognition of learning activities undertaken outside Politecnico provided that they are relevant to and coherent with your degree programme.You can ask for the recognition of activities undertaken before or after your enrolment at Politecnico. For activities undertaken before you began your studies at Politecnico, you must request their recognition before the end of your first year.

Politecnico does not recognize any activity which lasted less than 50 hours (2 credits).

Politecnico does not have a specific list of recommended activities.

As a general rule, Politecnico can award you some credits if:  

• you participated in lecture series / conferences/ courses, provided that the teaching contents, duration and testing methods can be clearly identified;
• you won or were selected for a competition for ideas/design:
• you attended a specific School (i.e, Summer School)
• you have professional skills which are in line with the learning objectives of your degree programme
• you took part in workshops;

Follow the procedure and fill out all the required fields. Wait until the Academic Advisor of your degree programme decides if your request is accepted and how many credits you can be awarded. 

You need to upload the necessary supporting documents (activity description, duration and certificate of participation). The number of credits awarded cannot exceed the yearly credit limit imposed by your enrolment workload (part-time or full-time) nor the overall credit limit of your Personal Study Plan. 

If your activity is approved, you must “accept” the approval of the board. After this operation, your activity will be displayed with status “RECORDED”.  This means that the corresponding credits have been recognized. The board may suggest that your activity should substitute a specific optional course (free choice credits). If this is the case, Politecnico will automatically substitute your optional course with your external activity.