Academic regulations of the School of Communication and International Relations
1.1. Students starting their studies must enroll for the first full academic year, except as indicated in Point 1.6.
1.2. Students must enroll for the credits of pending courses during the 1st and 2nd years. From the 3rd year onwards, enrolling for pending courses is not obligatory, although it is advisable.
1.3. From the second academic year onwards, students must enroll for a minimum of 40 ECTS credits and a maximum of 75 ECTS credits each academic year, except as indicated in Point 1.6. Enrollment for a higher or lower number of credits can only be formalized with the prior authorization of the Academic Secretary of the School. Prior to enrollment, and at the request of the student, the School will give an indication of the number of credits required to enroll in each academic year and complete the bachelor degree in four years.
1.4. The tuition fee for enrollment in an academic year will be calculated according to the number of credits for which the student is enrolled, taking into account the courses for which recognition is sought or for which recognition has been obtained. Courses recognized once the academic year has started must be paid for. Recognized courses that are used to access the bachelor degree, once started, do not have to be paid for, up to a maximum of 120 credits. Use of self-study classrooms, English classes and access to the library are considered general services included in the enrollment fee, and are non-refundable. If it is detected that a student has failed to pay more than 3 installments of the tuition fee and does not rectify the situation before the fourth installment, after their case has been studied, their username may be blocked for access to SCALA and the Blanquerna network and, in exceptional cases, to the School.
1.5. When a student enrolls in a course (core, compulsory or elective), they will not be able to make any changes and must pass this course for their record to be finalized. Only when a course is no longer offered will the option of taking another equivalent course be studied. Any requests for changes must be made no later than the second day after the start of the semester in which the course is studied.
1.6. Part-time studies. The School offers students the option of studying the bachelor degree program part-time so that they can balance academic life with work or family life, or with any other duly reasoned and/or documented circumstances. If this option is chosen, the student must enroll for a minimum of 30 ECTS credits per academic year. In all cases, students must demonstrate their need to study part-time by applying to the Academic Secretary. Once authorized, they will be given personalized orientation and follow-up through an advisor who will ensure the correct fulfillment of their part-time plan. In these cases, the arrangements for internships and the presentation of the thesis may be modified. In the case of university master degrees, part-time enrollment is available, with 30 ECTS in the first academic year and from the second year onward a maximum of 30 ECTS or the number of credits the student needs to graduate.
Students from other centers
2.1. Students coming from another university who wish to transfer their record to the Blanquerna School of Communication must fill in an application for the record to be transferred.
Applications for transfers must be made between June 15 and July 15. If the transfer is accepted, the student will be notified of any courses still pending in their studies.
2.2. Students who have not passed all the courses in the first year at the school of origin must apply for a place and will be subject to the selection criteria of the School for students entering the first year.
3.1. Undergraduate, graduate or diploma students or those with an initial cycle completed will have their core subjects automatically recognized, provided they are from a degree in the same branch of knowledge as our studies. Recognition of other subjects will be considered.
3.2. Having enrolled in the School, students may only apply once for recognition of the subjects they have completed and passed at other universities in a different course from the one they wish to take at the School. In this case, it is not possible to re-apply for the recognition of credits already recognized in order to access the bachelor degree they have started.
The application must be accompanied by a certified photocopy of the academic transcript or a certificate of studies stating the qualifications obtained in each course passed, as well as the program - with the stamp of the center - for each course taken, with the number of credits and class hours. All documentation must be submitted to the Secretary's office.
3.3. Applications for recognition of credits must be submitted before October 5.
3.4. The Credit Recognition Committee will consider each application, studying the programs of the courses and the skills obtained, and will send its recommendation to the Ramon Llull University Recognition Committee for validation. Their decision will be final and the applicant will be informed accordingly.
3.5. The grade for the subject recognized will be the same as that of the center of origin, or proportional depending on the credits recognized.
3.6. Students must enroll for recognized courses. Courses recognized once the academic year has begun will have a 25% discount on the tuition fee for the credit. Courses considered to be part of admission pathways are free of charge up to a maximum of 120 credits. Points 12.7 and 12.8 of these regulations specify how a student may or may not access a degree that has already commenced.
Blanquerna students wishing to study at the same time at another Ramon Llull University center, or at another university, must apply to the center they wish to join and to the Dean of the School of Communication and International Relations. Students from another Ramon Llull University center or from another university who wish to study at Blanquerna at the same time must apply to the Dean.
Students can obtain academic recognition in the form of credits for participating in certain academic activities. Delegates may obtain one credit per academic year but may not accumulate more than four during their studies at the School. In order to obtain these credits, delegates must meet their obligations and submit a report at the end of the academic year that reflects all the activity completed, as indicated in Point 14 of these regulations.
The participation of students in Blanquerna Solidarity Action activities, Blanquerna Sports, URL Summer University or any other university activity, may entitle them to credits. The School will establish the requirements for each academic year and will publicize them. The maximum number of credits that can be obtained for such activities is 6, and they will be counted as elective credits. In the case of Communication degrees, these credits cannot be recognized for track elective courses, but only for 4th year free electives.
Students must pass at least 25% of the credits for which they are enrolled in each academic year. If students fail to reach this minimum limit, their case will be analyzed by the Academic Secretary and, following an interview with the student, a decision will be made as to whether they can continue studying at our Center.
7.1. Payment for enrollment in a course within the curriculum entitles students to two assessment sittings, as stated on the enrollment form, provided that the course program does not state otherwise. This does not apply to seminar courses, theses and internships, which, according to their academic specifications, only have one call per academic year. If they need to be repeated, this can only be done in the following or subsequent years, the student being required to enroll and pay the relevant fees.
7.2. During the first two academic years, students must enroll for any pending courses in groups compatible with their 2nd year schedule, preferably in a different shift.
7.3. 3rd and 4th year students should preferably enroll for all pending courses from the first two academic years.
7.4. No student may enroll for the 3rd year if they have more than 29 ECTS credits pending from the first two academic years. For these purposes, in Communication degrees, not having passed the fourth level of English or any other level in this subject is equivalent to having a course pending.
8.1. Students have an indefinite number of examination sittings to pass the courses for which they have enrolled, except in the case of study plans that are discontinued.
Students' academic records include the number of the examination sitting when the course is passed.
8.2. Students who have completed all the academic years in their degree and have no more than three courses pending in order to complete their studies will be entitled to an extraordinary examination sitting in January for the June courses, for which they must apply to the Secretary's office before November 30th.
8.3. Students are entitled to receive information on the programs, the basic bibliography, and the assessment criteria and systems for each course at the time of enrollment. They are also entitled to information on the exam schedule at least one month in advance.
8.4. Students with provable disabilities may ask the corresponding department for a form of assessment that allows for their physical limitations, if they will have difficulty completing the type of test normally used.
8.5. Exam questions will be given in writing, even if the exam is oral. The professor must deposit a copy of the exam questions with the School Secretary's office at least 24 hours before the exam. The teaching staff of each course must keep the assignments, exams and other exercises used to assess students for one academic year.
8.6. Students can sit examinations in any of the School's three official languages (Catalan, Spanish or English), except for language courses, which will be examined in the corresponding language (Catalan, Spanish, English, French, Arabic, Mandarin, etc.), and those courses in which the program requires answers to be given in the language in which the course was taught.
8.7. Students must attend exams with a document that proves their identity: the School student card, a national ID card, passport or driver's license. Faculty must verify the identity of all students taking the test. Any irregularity in identification or in the conduct of the examination will be considered a serious infraction. The school Disciplinary Committee will assess the penalties corresponding to such offenses.
8.8. If, for reasons of force majeure, the exam has not started 45 minutes after the time established in the exam schedule, it will be held on a date set by the Academic Secretary and the Director of the Bachelor Degree to which the course corresponds, after consultation with the delegates of the students affected. Any disagreement about the new date will be settled by the Dean.
8.9. Once the exam has started, no one can enter the room. Students can ask the professor/s for a written note certifying they have taken the exam.
8.10. If a student speaks, copies or uses any other means not authorized by Faculty during the exam, they will be expelled from the room and will be considered to have failed the sitting. If authorship of the work required for the assessment is improperly attributed to students, they will also be failed. In these cases, the student may be subject to a penalty following disciplinary proceedings.
8.11. When, for a very serious reason, a student has been unable to sit the exam on the official date, they may apply to the Academic Secretary, requesting a new date for an individual test. Very serious reasons do not include absence because of work, group activities or travel. This application can only be submitted within the exam period. If the application is accepted, the professor of the course, after consultation with the Director of the Bachelor Degree, will set a new date for the exam, which will be final and must be before grades are recorded.
8.12. If the exams are oral, the professor of the course must be accompanied by at least one other professor from the Bachelor Degree.
8.13. Students are entitled to an individual review of their exam. When grades are announced, the professor will indicate the place, date and times of the review at least 24 hours in advance. It must be conducted at the same times as the course is taught.
8.14. The Academic Secretary will inform Faculty of the deadline for finalizing the record of each exam sitting. Teaching staff must strictly observe this deadline. Once the record has been finalized, no changes can be made. Requests for any modification of the record after the scheduled completion date, except for cases in which an extension is established, such as those involving Internships, must be submitted in advance to the Dean. Non-compliance with the deadlines for finalizing records will be considered a minor offense, as set out in Article 36 a).5 of the collective bargaining agreement. A second offense of this nature will be considered a serious offense, as set out in Article 36 b).4.
8.15. After the second exam sitting for the same course is assessed, and once the review has been completed, students may file a complaint with the Director of the Bachelor Degree if they disagree with the grade obtained for any of the following reasons:
— Inconsistency between the contents of the exam and the teaching program.
— Use of assessment criteria and procedures other than those established.
When the student's complaint has been received, the Director of the Bachelor Degree will decide whether it corresponds to the cases described above. If the complaint is accepted, a committee formed by three professors of the same Bachelor Degree, excluding the professor who assessed the student, will review the exam and issue a decision within 15 working days. The committee will listen to the student and the professor beforehand. If the decision involves changing the grade initially awarded, a note to this effect, signed by the Dean, will be entered in the record.
8.16. The assignments given by the professor of a course must be submitted as and when indicated by that professor. Assignments that do not meet these requirements will not be assessed and will be considered not submitted. Assignments completed and submitted for grading will be the intellectual property of the students listed as authors. Professors may only use these assignments with the express consent of the author(s).
8.17. A subject which is made up of different parts will not be deemed passed if each part has not been passed separately. Students can resit a part they have failed at a second sitting, as established in the course program and in accordance with Article 7.1 of these Regulations. If students fail any of the parts a second time, they will be deemed to have failed the course and the entire course will have to be repeated in the next sitting, unless one (not two) of the units is failed with a grade of four or above. In this case, the final grade would be the average of this result and the other two marks for the subject (the whole group and the other unit). If the resulting average is 5 or more, the subject as a whole will be passed.
8.18. In the case of plans aligned with the EHEA, students who have only one course left to complete their studies may apply for a pass by compensation when at least six calls have passed, or three for seminars. This also applies to old plans, when students have sat all the exam sessions to which they are entitled. To apply, students must have a minimum grade of 4 on a scale of 0-10, with 5 as a pass, in the course that has yet to be passed. If the grading system follows a different scale from the above or the average marks for the entire group in that course are lower than a pass (5 or equivalent), the body responsible for assessment by compensation may consider passing students with a lower grade, statistically equivalent to 4 (on a scale of 0-10 with 5 as a pass). The Academic Secretary and the director of the bachelor degree of the course will study the application, taking into account the student's entire record and their progress in their studies. They will assess the curriculum and may make the decision to pass the student for the course in question in view of their merits and the special circumstances. This pass, when it occurs, will be called "by compensation" and will be indicated in the student's record. It will be considered equivalent to a grade of 5. In the case of a negative decision, the student will be able to enroll and retake the course that has been assessed in the new curriculum.
8.19. Students who only have one level of English remaining to obtain a degree may apply for recognition of this course by following the procedure described in point 11.6 of these Regulations.
8.20. Students with a maximum of 9 ECTS remaining, with a maximum of 2 courses, to graduate after having completed 4 academic years and who are unable to attend in-person classes in the 5th year for justified and proven reasons (work, academic reasons or because they no longer live in Catalonia, etc.) may submit a request to the Director of the Bachelor Degree, before classes commence, to authorize a form of assessment which is not in-person during the year. However, under no circumstances does this exempt them from attending the final exam.
8.21. Regulations for extraordinary and second examination sittings for mobility students. For details see this link.
8.22. In view of the government's announcement of a state of alarm due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have added a series of indications and recommendations regarding the verification of exams and recording images of them.
Student identification and verification:
To guarantee the student's identity, please note that if the examination is taken via Scala or any Google product, the student must log in using their personal Blanquerna account. Impersonating a student is grounds for sanction according to the Disciplinary Regulations. If the exam is held by videoconference, and professors deem it appropriate, they may require students to have their camera turned on during the exam in order to verify their identity. In the event of any uncertainty, the student may also be asked to display their identification document on camera.
Exam evidence:
Evidence of assessment materials, including video recordings, must be kept. Documents, in whatever medium and format, must be kept for at least one year, in accordance with academic regulations. If any of the exams, such as oral exams, are held by videoconference, these may be recorded. The purpose of the recording must be to ensure that the student is present and performing the test, respecting the principle of proportionality and guaranteeing the dignity and rights of the student at all times, without exception. It may also be used for possible future reviews. As with all data processing, its use involves complying with the basic objectives of transparency and students must be informed beforehand and at the commencement of the test. Under no circumstances may these images be used for any purpose other than the student's assessment. If the recording is for the purpose of attendance verification only, it must be destroyed once the grades are recorded.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that, if students are being recorded during the exam, they try to occupy most of the screen frame and place themselves against a neutral backdrop so that the image shows the minimum amount of personal details from their setting. It is also recommended that no-one else appear on the screen during recording.
9.1. Students who achieve a distinction (matrícula de honor) in any bachelor degree course will be exempt from payment of an equivalent number of credits in another bachelor degree or university master degree course, up to a maximum of 6 per course, if they enroll in the following academic year.
9.2. Students who achieve a distinction (matrícula de honor) in any university master degree course will be exempt from payment of an equivalent number of credits for another university master degree course, up to a maximum of 6 per course, provided they enroll in the following academic year.
9.3. The number of free places per group cannot exceed 5% of the students enrolled for the course, unless there are fewer than 20, in which case only one may be awarded.
10.1. Students are entitled to have their exams reviewed under the conditions and within the time limits set by each professor at the time of the sitting. If students wish to appeal against the professor's decision, they must do so within fifteen days of the announcement of the grades, by submitting an application to the Academic Secretary of the School.
An application can only be submitted to the Review Committee after the second exam sitting has been assessed and with a favorable report by the head of department, as stipulated in point 8.15 of these Regulations. Reviews can only be requested during the same academic year.
10.2. For complaints of a purely financial nature, students must submit a written request to the Head of Academic Management within fifteen calendar days of the event giving rise to the complaint. detailing the facts and the grounds for the complaint.
10.3. The relevant body will also rule on any such complaint, explaining the grounds for its decision, in writing within thirty calendar days from the date on which the complaint was received.
11.1. English is a compulsory subject in the curriculum and is taught at different levels. Credits are awarded for each level passed. Other foreign languages are also taught in the Bachelor Degree in International Relations and the Bachelor Degree in Global Communication Management.
In all bachelor degrees in Communication, students will be assigned a level of English (from 1 to 5) according to the score obtained in a level test, which is usually administered on the same day as the exam for admission to the School. Students need to complete levels 1-4 during the first two years of their studies. Students enrolled above level 1 with the score they obtained in the level test will have credits recognized for the levels they do not need to take. All students must take levels 5 and 6 (in the first semester of the third and fourth academic year, respectively), regardless of their level. Communication degree students who undertake an international mobility stay within the EU in the first semester of the fourth year, and who have passed level 5, will be able to take level 6 English in the second semester of the fourth year.
There will also be level tests for optional languages, which may be recognized based on the results obtained.
These recognized credits do not entitle students to any reimbursement but are charged at 75% of the full price of the credit.
11.2. For the Bachelor Degree in International Relations and the Bachelor Degree in Global Communication Management, knowledge of English is a requirement for admission. Students who do not demonstrate English level B2, based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, cannot be admitted to the bachelor degree. This test will also be used to determine students' level of English for the degree course.
11.3. In accordance with the sole article of Act 1/2018, of May 8, amending article 211 of Act 2/2014 on fiscal, administrative, financial and public sector measures, under the title “Accreditation of knowledge of a third language”, all students who begin bachelor degree studies in academic year 2018-2019 and thereafter must have provided documentary proof to the Academic Secretary, when they complete their bachelor degree studies at Ramon Llull University, that they have achieved level B2 of the CEFR for one of the third foreign languages established in the PAU, for the corresponding certificate to be issued, once all the credits of the curriculum have been completed, in compliance with the aforementioned Act 1/2018.
The School will inform students of any additional support we may provide them with, as well as the general measures the Government may announce soon, to help them achieve this objective during their bachelor degree studies.
It should be noted, however, that passing English at the level required in the 5 bachelor degrees at the Blanquerna School of Communication and International Relations meets the requirement for the student to request the degree certificate. There is no need to provide any other language certification.
11.4. In all foreign language courses students must attend a minimum of 85% of classes to be assessed. An exception will be made in Modern Language II of the International Relations Bachelor Degree if the following conditions are met:
- The student has spent a semester abroad in an exchange program
- The student has also been assigned an internship abroad (or in another city outside Catalonia) in the 4th year
- The student has 2 levels of Modern Language II pending (French, Arabic or Chinese)
- The student has studied the language for which they are enrolled outside the School of their own accord
Students must enroll for the levels pending and apply to the Bachelor Degree Director and the Modern Languages Coordinator requesting enrollment in the first semester of the 4th year at level 3 of the language selected.
Students who opt for this route must attend examinations in person.
Students who do not pass the final exam at a particular level will have to enroll for the course again in the next semester in which it is offered.
For the Bachelor Degree in Global Communication Management, an exception will be made in Modern Language II of the Bachelor Degree in International Relations if the following conditions are met:
- The student has completed an internship abroad in the 3rd year
- The student has been assigned a place to spend a semester as part of an exchange program in the 4th year
- The student has 2 levels of Modern Language II pending (French, Arabic or Chinese)
- The student has studied the language for which they are enrolled outside the School of their own accord
Students must enroll for the two levels pending in the 4th year and apply to the Bachelor Degree Director and the Modern Languages Coordinator requesting enrollment in the first semester of the 4th year at level 3 of the language selected in the case of a European exchange (Erasmus) or in the second semester of the fourth year at level 4 of the language selected in the case of an exchange in a country outside Europe. Students who opt for this route must attend examinations in person.
Students who do not pass the final exam at a particular level will have to enroll for the course again in the next semester in which it is offered.
11.5. Students exempt from certain levels in foreign languages
A. Bachelor Degree in Communication
Students who meet these requirements will be exempt from levels 5 and 6:
Option 1
- The student is a native English speaker holding a passport from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada or another English-speaking country and, in addition,
- has been educated, at least in part, within the education system of that country and
- has been deemed exempt from English levels 1-4 for the bachelor degrees in Communication, based on the initial level test.
- The student demonstrates the necessary competence in an interview with one of the school's English language coordinators.
Option 2
- The student has passed the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency or an equivalent exam.
The student demonstrates the necessary competence in an interview with one of the school's English language coordinators.
For students who are declared exempt (because they meet all the requirements of option 1 or 2), the grades for levels 5 and 6 will be the same as that obtained for level 4, based on the level test they took at the time of admission.
B. Bachelor Degree in International Relations and Bachelor Degree in Global Communication Management
In the Bachelor Degree in International Relations, students will be assigned an initial level of English (1 to 3, or exempt) according to their score in the entrance exam. Students need to complete levels 1-3 during the first two years of their studies.
In the Bachelor Degree in Global Communication Studies, students will be assigned an initial level of English (1, 2, or exempt) according to their score in the admission test. Students must complete levels 1 and 2 during the first year of their studies.
Exemption will be based on the English language level test conducted by the university. No exceptions will be made, even if the student submits another certificate.
C. Exemption from certain levels of other language courses in the Bachelor Degree in International Relations and the Bachelor Degree in Global Communication Management
Students who choose a second modern language course and have previously studied this language can take a level test in the language. This test is usually taken in October before starting the first year of Modern Language II.
Students will be considered exempt from a particular level if they score 7 out of 10 in the corresponding level test.
Students who are exempt from more than 2 levels of a given language are strongly recommended to choose another language to study in order to take advantage of the different options offered to them in the bachelor degree programs and thus increase their skills, instead of just getting credits for skills they already have.
11.6. If students pass all the other courses in the bachelor degree and, after four years of study, only have one or more levels of English pending, and they have passed the Cambridge Advanced exam or equivalent, demonstrating level C1 competencies, they may apply to have the outstanding levels recognized and will be assigned the same grade they obtained in the last level they completed. The application and documentation proving that a test equivalent to level C1 has been passed must be submitted to the School Secretary's office.
12.1. Candidates for entry to the first year of the bachelor degrees of the Blanquerna School of Communication and International Relations must formalize their online pre-enrollment with the School Secretary's office within the period established for each call.
12.2. The assignment of class times for the first academic year (morning or afternoon) will depend exclusively on the order of enrollment, including conditional enrollment. When one of the two class times is complete, students will automatically be assigned the class time for which there are vacancies.
12.3. The admission pathways to the first year of the five bachelor degrees of the School are those established by law: high school and university entrance test (PAU); Advanced Vocational Training Cycle (CFGS) studies approved by the Generalitat, a list of which can be consulted in the School Secretary's office. Plus pathways for over 25s, over 45s, over 40s and foreign students, as stipulated by current regulations.
12.4. Entrance exams will be held during the pre-enrollment period. For bachelor degrees in Communication, the exam consists of a writing and comprehension exercise. For the Bachelor Degree in International Relations, apart from a writing test and a general culture test, there will be an interview in English and an English level test, which will be decisive for the admission of prospective students, as they will be required to have at least First Certificate level.
12.5. Students with university entrance exam, high school or PAU grades of 7 or higher will be given direct access to bachelor degrees in Communication, subject to the places available and according to the order of pre-enrollment. The specific subject PAU tests are not taken into account. If students are applying for admission to the Bachelor Degree in International Relations and have a grade of 7 or higher, they only need to take the English level test.
12.6. The list of students admitted to the School will be made public during the week following the admission test, at the latest. If the entrance exam has been taken before access to the university is confirmed, admission will be provisional and the student will be eligible for a conditional enrollment. As long as there are places available, this enrollment will allow the student to choose a timetable and to reserve a place. The place will be considered definitive if the student submits proof of having successfully completed an admission pathway, university entrance exam or Advanced Vocational Training Cycle, and completes final enrollment in July. The payment terms are the same as for final enrollment, i.e. 50% of the total tuition fee must be paid. If the student does not pass the university entrance examination or the Advanced Vocational Training Cycle, the enrollment fee will be refunded and they will lose their place, unless they wish to remain on the waiting list in case there are still vacancies after the September sitting of the university entrance examination.
The last entrance exam will be held in July and a new selection process will be carried out. To be admitted, students must pass the exam and submit documentation accrediting their admission pathway. Students who have passed the exam in a sitting prior to the month of July and have not completed a conditional enrollment will also be admitted definitively when they have submitted admission pathway documentation to the university, provided that there are still vacancies after the selection process.
If the entrance exam is taken before the results of the university entrance examination are known and the student passes it, they can enroll, but it will not be considered definitive until the student proves they meet the admission pathway requirements. This must be done before a closing date which will be announced.
12.7. Students who are already graduates, hold degrees or diplomas, have completed the first cycle of a degree, or have passed a minimum of 30 ECTS credits, can apply for admission to a bachelor degree that has already started. To prepare the admissions list, the available places, a minimum credit recognition, and a personal interview are taken into account. If a minimum of 30 ECTS credits is not recognized or the student is not admitted via this route, they will be able to take the entrance exam, subject to the conditions for admission to the first year.
12.8. For some Advanced Vocational Training Cycle (CFGS) courses that are directly linked to our bachelor degrees, it has been established that a certain number of credits will be recognized. In these cases, they are not considered credits for admission but credits for a degree already commenced. Details of these CFGS can be seen at the School Secretary's Office.
12.9. Students who are admitted must formalize their enrollment for the corresponding studies during the month of July at the School Secretary's office. The dates and times of enrollment will be notified to students by email. Failure to formalize the enrollment on the date and at the time established by the School will result in an automatic waiver of the student's place. In this case, the rights arising from passing the entrance exams are rendered null and void and are not valid for subsequent calls. Students applying for a bachelor degree in Communication must take an English test that will determine their level for this compulsory first year course.
13.1. The School guarantees that students with special educational needs will have the necessary means to ensure the follow-up of classes and will adapt assignments and exams where necessary.
13.2. Students with special needs seeking to exercise their entitlements must submit documentation accrediting their circumstances from the University Admissions Office to the Secretary's Office when they enroll. This is the only documentation that the School will accept to recognize the special arrangements to which they are entitled, when they enroll.
13.3. A student who does not have this documentation at the time of enrollment may subsequently submit other medical certificates and send these to the Personal Guidance Service (SOP) who will validate them and determine the specific needs the school should address.
13.4. At the time the student submits the documentation from the University Admissions Office or the Personal Guidance Service (SOP) to the Academic Secretary, they must sign the agreement regarding information. All documentation (both the certificates and the information guarantee) is valid for one year. Documentation will, therefore, need to be renewed annually.
13.5. The Academic Secretary will inform the coordinator of the student's details and the needs that have been validated so that appropriate measures can be taken.
13.6. According to the provisions of RD 971/2007, of July 13, in order to ensure studies are compatible with the training or participation in sport of high-level or high-performance athletes, the School will adapt the teaching and assessment of students in this category.
It may be decided, following an examination of each individual case, that students who are part of a sports entity that has a specific agreement with the Blanquerna Foundation are also eligible for such consideration; students enrolled in the URL Sports Service who obtain credit for participating in competitions and foreign students who can demonstrate similar recognition in their home country may also be eligible.
These criteria will be established in each particular case by the student's advisor, the director of the bachelor degree, and the Academic Secretary. Students must prove that they belong to this category and provide certification of the sports or competitive events in which they participate.
Functions
The Board of Delegates is the body representing students in relation to the School management. It is a space for sharing complaints, queries and suggestions to improve the academic quality and overall functioning of the School. It includes the delegates of the groups for each year in each bachelor degree and time slot (morning and afternoon), university master degrees and PhDs, for the students, and the Vice-dean and the Academic Secretary, for School management. The Board holds four regular meetings during the academic year and extraordinary meetings whenever half of the delegates request them or at the request of the School management team. The Academic Secretary will draw up the minutes of each meeting and will send a copy to each member of the Board. The Board of Delegates elects the School's student representative who will take part in the representative bodies of Ramon Llull University.
Recognition of credits
Credits are recognized for bachelor degree delegates in accordance with Article 12.8 of RD 1393/2007, of October 29.
A student appointed as a delegate may request the Secretary's Office to recognize his/her work in the form of academic credits. For students following the old curriculum, recognition will be in the form of elective credits. For students following the Bologna curriculum, recognition will be in the form of credits for voluntary courses. Students can apply for one credit per academic year, up to a maximum of four. For the credit to be recognized, the student must meet the requirements for the fulfillment of duties, which is also essential for a student to be able to act as a delegate in subsequent years.
Fulfillment of duties
- Attendance at both ordinary and extraordinary meetings of the Board of Delegates is compulsory. A student who is unable to attend a meeting must provide justification for their absence. The student must attend a minimum of 75% of the meetings convened.
- The delegate must inform the students in their group of the decisions or notifications of the Board of Delegates. Systematic non-compliance with this point may also be grounds for the student not to be awarded credits.
- The delegate must proceed as specified in the regulations on complaints. It should be noted that the delegate notifies the coordinator of the module or university master degree of the complaint at third instance. And if their answer does not address the complaint satisfactorily, the delegate will be entitled to submit it to the Academic Vice-Dean. Systematic non-compliance with the procedure regarding complaints may also be grounds for not having academic credits recognized.
- At the end of the academic year, the student must submit a report of the work carried out to the Academic Secretary. This report must contain at least the following points:
- Number and outcome of Board of Delegates meetings attended.
- Number and outcome of extraordinary meetings attended.
- Number and outcome of communications to students.
- Number, type and resolution of complaints received.
- Final balance of the academic year in general and of the work of the delegate in particular.
A student who does not submit this report or who systematically fails to perform these duties as a delegate will not be granted credits and will not be able to act as a delegate in subsequent years.
15.1. Complaints about educational matters, in the relationship between a student and the professor of a course:
a) Individually:
1st instance: The student must speak to the professor.
2nd instance: The student must inform the seminar advisor of the complaint, the latter being required to check that the student has spoken to the professor and gauge whether the complaint is well founded. If it is, the advisor asks the module coordinator for information and informs the student of the response.
If the student persists in the complaint, they must inform the class delegate, who will continue the procedure.
b) Through the delegate:
3rd instance: The module coordinator only accepts the complaint if it is made by the corresponding delegate. The coordinator prepares a short report and informs the Director of the Bachelor Degree or Department of the complaint. The latter decides on the issue.
4th instance: If the decision does not satisfy the complainant, the delegate is entitled to submit it to the Academic Vice-Dean, through the established procedure. In this case, the Director of the Bachelor Degree or Department sends the Vice-Dean a written report on the complaint, enclosing a copy of the coordinator's report.
5th instance: The Academic Vice-Dean, in agreement with the Dean, will give a final ruling on the complaint.
15.2. On any other non-educational matter, the justified complaint will be submitted directly to the Academic Vice-Dean.
You can consult these regulations at this link.
17.1. Regulations
Based on the provisions of Royal Decrees 1707/2011, of November 18, and 592/2014, of July 11, and the bachelor degree and graduate studies reports, the School establishes the following internship regulations.
17.2. Types of internship
There are two different types of external internship:
- curricular internships
- extracurricular internships.
In both cases, the internship must be compatible with the student's class hours. Internship hours should preferably not be more than 5 hours a day, except for weekend internships or specific projects that, due to time constraints, require more dedication, as long as they do not interfere with class attendance.
17.2.1. Curricular internships are those that form part of our curriculum and can be:
17.2.1.1. Compulsory 3rd year internships for the Bachelor Degrees in Communication and Global Communication Management.
17.2.1.2. Compulsory 4th year internships for the Bachelor Degree in International Relations.
17.2.1.3. Optional internships for the 4th year of bachelor degrees in Communication.
17.2.1.4. Compulsory or elective Internships for university master degrees, own master degrees and university specialization diplomas.
17.2.2. Extracurricular internships are those that the student can undertake voluntarily outside the curriculum, although their purpose is also exclusively training and teaching and they will, therefore, be included in the European Diploma Supplement (EDS).
17.3. Compulsory internships
The School guarantees that all the students of the bachelor degrees in Communication and Global Communication Management will have the opportunity to spend time at companies or institutions during the 2nd Semester of the 3rd academic year, and students of the Bachelor Degree in International Relations, will be able to do so during the 1st semester of the 4th academic year. Compulsory and/or elective internships are undertaken during the academic year in the case of university master degrees, own master degrees and university specialization diplomas.
These internships are understood to form part of the students' academic training. In the bachelor degrees in Communication and Global Communication Management it is a compulsory activity worth 12 ECTS credits and is closely linked to Seminar VI. In the bachelor degree in International Relations it is a compulsory activity worth 8 ECTS credits and is closely linked to Seminar VII.
With regard to university master degrees, this is a compulsory activity only for students in the professional track and is worth 6 ECTS credits. In the case of own master degrees and university specialization diplomas, it will depend on whether their curricula specify it as a compulsory or elective activity. For own master degrees up to 12 credits may be allocated, and for university specialization diplomas it will vary depending on the qualification.
Bachelor degrees in Communication
Compulsory internships for bachelor degrees in Communication must be completed in the 2nd semester of the 3rd year, between January and June.
Compulsory internships for these students may be postponed to the summer of the 3rd year (between June and September) in the following cases:
- The student works subject to an employment contract for more than two days per week between Monday and Friday.
- During the internship semester, the student must retake courses from previous academic years in the alternative time slot to their usual one (morning or afternoon).
- The student is a high-level or high-performance athlete. In this case, they need to duly certify their status.
- At the proposal of the School, to take advantage of a place that the internship coordinator considers pertinent to the student.
- The student wishes to do the internship abroad. In the latter case, the student is required to:
- Notify their advisor of this in writing before the end of the first semester of the 3rd year.
- Find the company/institution where they will do their internship.
- Deal with all the procedures for entry visas, stays and internships abroad.
- Send the advisor written acceptance by the foreign company/institution.
- Inform the advisor and the internship coordinator, in writing before February 1, of the details of the company in order to formalize the agreement between the FCRIB and the internship company/institution.
Exceptionally, the option of extending the compulsory bachelor degree internships during the summer is offered, provided the Internship Coordinator has places available and the internship center so requests. These will be considered extracurricular internships.
Bachelor Degree in International Relations
Compulsory internships for the Bachelor Degree in International Relations will be carried out during the first semester of the 4th year. The bachelor degree internship protocol regulates the recipients, requirements and student responsibilities, the organization and conduct of external internships, and the selection, sorting, allocation and announcement of places.
Master Degrees
The internships will begin during the second semester, starting in February, but the master degree coordinator may bring the start date forward if they deem it appropriate in order to take advantage of a place if they consider that the student is well enough prepared. All internships must be completed by September 30th.
17.4. Optional internships for the 4th year of bachelor degrees in Communication.
In the first semester of the 4th year, the School offers students of bachelor degrees in Communication elective internships that are equivalent to an elective course worth 6 ECTS credits. Students must have passed the compulsory internships in order to take the electives.
Elective internships should be completed preferably during the first semester of the 4th year, between October and January. They cannot take place during the second semester of the fourth year, or in summer. Exceptions will only be allowed during the second semester to accommodate postponements in highly justified projects requested by the company but not by the student.
17.5. Extracurricular internships
The School also offers the possibility of new extracurricular internships.
In this case, students must enroll for these internships, which are worth 6 ECTS, but will not count towards the credits needed to obtain the degree. The fee is 25% of the normal cost of the credit.
It will be up to the Internship Coordinator and the Graduate Studies Coordinator to assign these places if they are in companies outside Blanquerna, and the Dean if they are within the Institution itself, the prior assignment of curricular internships always being prioritized. Students should preferably have completed and passed their curricular internships before they are eligible for extracurricular internships.
The number and duration of such internships will be limited and will not exceed 50% of the academic year, except in cases where an extension is agreed between the student, the School and the internship center.
17.6. Internships within the School
Internships that can be completed in one of the departments of the School are considered extracurricular, given their academic and educational nature. Students must also enroll for the corresponding extracurricular credits. Exceptionally, these internships will be considered curricular in cases where the Internship Department deems that the placement is a good fit for the candidate.
An internship can only be assigned to a worker of the Blanquerna Foundation if the internship proposed has no direct relationship with the duties they perform within the Institution as part of their employment and it allows them to complement the knowledge acquired in their academic training.
17.7. Allocation criteria
The criteria for allocating internships are as follows:
a) Students must be in the 3rd or 4th year of a bachelor degree or the relevant year of a graduate studies program.
b) Students must enroll for the credits corresponding to the type of internship.
Extracurricular internships cannot be undertaken after the grade has been recorded and the bachelor degree, master degree or graduate studies have been completed, and never later than September 30 of the last year of enrollment.
c) The internship advisor and/or the internship or graduate studies coordinator will assign a place to the student according to criteria which include:
- Availability of internship openings.
- Schedule compatible with the hours proposed by the company.
- Comments from the advisor and/or internship or graduate studies coordinator.
- The student's preferences.
- Adhere as much as possible to the professional profile requested by the internship center.
- Academic record.
The internship advisor and/or the internship or graduate studies coordinator will personally inform the student of the location of the internship at least one week before they join the company, provided the status of the opening so allows.
If a student rejects the position assigned by the School once it has been officially notified, the School does not guarantee the allocation of a new place in another company or institution.
If, for reasons not attributable to the student, a change in internship assignment is required, the School guarantees the assignment of a new place, although it may not coincide with the conditions of the first assignment.
Unilateral abandonment of an internship by the student is equivalent to a fail.
17.8. Internship recognition
Students can only request the recognition of compulsory internships. In the case of a bachelor degree, the student must submit a written request to the Internship Committee, formed by coordinators, requesting the recognition of the internship and attaching a certificate and/or contract of employment from the company proving that the student has been working for at least one year in a center whose characteristics are similar to those of the internship centers. Previous jobs or internships will not be accepted. In the case of graduate studies, this request must be submitted to the graduate studies coordinator. This recognition must be approved by the URL Recognition Committee.
17.9. Documentation
When starting at the internship center, students must agree in writing (the student document, attached to the agreement) to the conditions established in the academic collaboration agreement signed between the internship center and the School.
Students must sign three copies of this document before commencing at the center (one for the student, one for the center, and one for the School).
All these procedures are centralized by the Internship Secretary.
When their incorporation has been confirmed, students are required to submit all the details of their internship post to their advisor or internship coordinator and to the Internship Secretary, so that the procedures for the agreement can be carried out.
Students cannot begin their internship without having signed the document attached to the agreement. If, within fifteen days of joining the center, the student has not returned the signed documentation to the School, they may receive a failing grade for the course.
17.10. Relationship with the company
Under no circumstances does completing an internship constitute the establishment of an employment relationship with the internship center. Companies must register students with Social Security in the cases provided for by Spanish regulations.
Students may not be hired by the center where they complete their internships, except for cases in which, having studied the case, Internship Coordination considers this compatible. At the site of the internship, students will be covered by the school insurance taken out by the Blanquerna Foundation. The center has no obligation to remunerate internships, although if it does, it will be in the form of subsistence allowances or travel.
17.11. Advisors
The internship center and the School agree to assign an advisor and to monitor the student's progress.
In compulsory internships, the School advisor will be the advisor of the seminar, and in elective and extracurricular internships, an advisor will be assigned from the staff teaching the bachelor degree course. For master degrees and graduate studies, the course coordinator will fulfil the duties of advisor, or will delegate them to a professor from the School.
The internship assessment and final report will be drawn up by the corresponding internship advisor, following the submission of a report by the student and a report by the company or institution.
17.12. Certification
At the end of the internship period, the student will be entitled to receive a certificate issued by the company and the School specifying the basic details of the internship, including tasks carried out and the student's performance.
(Last modification of the regulations: July 16, 2021)
- Certifications: €8
Through the student Portal, in the Applications and Requests section, you can process the following requests:
- Request to change exam date
- Request to change degree
- Request to withdraw from academic year
- Request to reschedule to an earlier date
- Generic request
- Request for pass by compensation
- Request for transfer of records - €55
- Degree self-service - €218.15
- Self-service academic certificate request - €28
- Other procedures that you can request at the Secretary's office:
- Request for academic certificate (Bachelor's degrees) - €28
- Continuing studies
- CFGS credit recognition
- Request for acknowledgment of credit
Amounts of documents issued to academic secretary
19.1. The student has the right to review the exams under the conditions and within the timeframe indicated by each teacher at the time of calling for it. In the event that the student wishes to challenge this decision made by the teacher, they must do so for very justified reasons within one day following the delivery of the grades, by submitting a request to the Academic Secretary of the Faculty (via Scala).
The review commission can only be requested once the second call has been assessed, and after obtaining the favorable report from the department head, as provided in point 8.15 of this regulation. Claims can only be made during the same academic year.
19.2. For claims of a purely economic nature, the student must submit a written request addressed to the Head of Academic Management, specifying the facts and grounds that justify the claim, within a period of fifteen calendar days from the incident that gives rise to the claim.
19.3. The competent body will resolve any of these claims in writing and with reasoning, within a period of thirty calendar days from the date of receipt of the claims.
(Last modification of the regulation: October 2023)