In the first term, from November to June, students are taught together in Sarajevo by lecturers and tutors from the participating universities members of the "International Network Europe and the Balkans" and experts from IGOs  and NGOs. The language of instruction is English and attendance is compulsory. The academic programme is structured in five clusters and two short seminars. In addition there is a mid-term exam, which takes place in the last week of the first term. It is not by chance that the programme has been established in Sarajevo. The city offers to the students a unique multi-cultural environment. Bosnia and Herzegovina itself provides a glaring example of many of the problems faced by the different countries in the region and the region of South East Europe itself.

In the second term, during summertime, students take up seven-week assessed internships at selected IGOs, NGOs, think tanks and research institutes across South East Europe. The students cannot serve the Internships in their country of origin.

During the third term of the programme, in autumn, students write up their Master Thesis in Italy accommodated at premises offered by the University of Bologna. The class stays together in order to emphasize the community
building element of the programme. There is a short seminar course aimed at addressing particular issues of nterest.

The final examination, which is an oral defense of the thesis, takes place in Sarajevo, B&H at the end of October followed by the diploma awarding ceremony. The successful students receive the European Regional Master's Degree Diploma in Democracy and Human Rights in South East Europe, issued jointly by the University of Bologna and the University of Sarajevo.