Taking part in sport could soon have an impact on a student’s educational path, not just in terms of wellbeing, but also in terms of academic credits. This is the direction pursued by the Politecnico di Torino, which aims to integrate exercise ever more into its students’ educational experience.

The University’s idea is therefore to regard sport as a genuine learning activity and, as a result, to recognise its value within students’ academic career.

Taking part in sport requires organisation, consistency, discipline and the ability to manage goals and results: qualities that, in the University’s view, contribute to a student’s overall development.

For this reason, the Rector explained that the credits could be drawn from the “free choice” credits available within different degree programmes. These are not credits and exams that are essential to the degree itself, but rather part of that section of the personal study plan which allows students greater freedom of choice. The time devoted to sport, therefore has educational value and should be recognised as such, according to Rector Corgnati.

It is no coincidence that the opening ceremony for the coming academic year, scheduled for the 20th of November, will be dedicated by the Politecnico specifically to the theme of Sport.

The rules already in place for the 2026/2027 academic year allow students to request recognition of certified competitive sports activities as part of the free choice credits in their personal study plan.

On some courses, it is possible to obtain up to a maximum total of 6 credits, one time only during the entire duration of their university career. Credits awarded for these activities are recorded without a mark, but simply with a “pass”.

The real innovation announced by Corgnati, therefore, would be to take this a step further: rather than focusing exclusively on competitive athletes, also recognising the value of regular physical activity undertaken by the student community.