The European Regional Master’s Programme in Democracy and Human Rights in South East Europe is a one year, full time, interdisciplinary programme, lasting from November until October. Its aim is the development of democracy and human rights in South East Europe. It is a joint initiative by University of Sarajevo, CIS Center for Interdisciplinary Studies and University of Bologna, IECOB Institute for Central Eastern and Balkan Europe. ERMA is jointly co-financed by the European Union through the EIUC (European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratization) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy via the Embassy of the Republic of Italy to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The programme is awarding the students with 60 ECTS and a double-degree diploma of both founding universities (UNSA and UNIBO).

The Master Programme is an academic educational activity intended for students that wish to combine studies with practical and field research experience in human rights and democratization issues. ERMA is characterized by an interdisciplinary approach recognizing that human rights are a crosscutting theme among different disciplines of study, such as political science, social sciences, law, sociology and philosophy. Enrolled students have the benefit of studying in a highly international environment together with colleagues from all over the region, European Union and the world, attending lectures and workshops held by over 40 professors from 10 partner universities: University of Bologna, University of Sarajevo, University of Belgrade, Karl Franzens University of Graz, University of the Ruhr, University of Peloponnese, University of Zagreb, New Bulgarian University, University Ss. Cyril and Methodius, Higher School of Economics-National Research University, Moscow. ERMA is co-directed by Professor Stefano Bianchini from the University of Bologna and Professor Asim Mujkić from the University of Sarajevo.

The Master Programme promotes the development and realization of young generations of officials for state management, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations, for universities and think-tanks in Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, FYR of Macedonia, Kosovo*, Montenegro and Serbia, as well as in the countries belonging to the EU, the rest of Europe, and worldwide.

The programme consists of two semesters with three terms:

• The First Term is taking place at the University of Sarajevo, CIS Center for Interdisciplinary Studies from November to mid-June.
• The Second Term is designated for students to acquire working experience in the field of human rights and democracy throughout the SEE, boosting their mobility and international experience. From mid-June to end of July, students take up seven-week assessed internships at selected IGOs, NGOs, think-tanks and research institutes across the region choosing form a list of over 100 partner organizations from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Kosovo*, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia.
• the Third Term of the Programme, fromS eptember to mid-October, ERMA students focus on the finalization of their Master’s Theses accommodated atthe Bologna`s University Residential Center of Bertinoro (CEUB).

Overall 33 students will be selected, in the second half of September 2016, from the following target groups:

• Target group I (25 places reserved): Citizens of target countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, FYR of Macedonia, Kosovo*, Montenegro and Serbia.
• Target group II (5 places reserved): Citizens of the European Union countries, countries of the Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia) and Russian Federation.
• Target group III (3 places reserved): Citizens of other countries.

TUITION FEE:

ERMA is a tuition free programme for TG I. Tuition fee of 1.000 EURO applies to TG II and TG III.

SCHOLARSHIP:

Students from TG I and TG II receive study grants covering normal living costs during term I and II (November July) in the overall amount of 4.500 EURO. During the term three in Italy (September to mid-October) all students are accommodated at the Bologna University Residential Center of Bertinoro, Italy, where the costs of lodging and to dinning (full board) are covered by the programme for students of these two target groups.

REIMBURSMENTS:

Students from TG I and TG II also receive reimbursements in the overall amount of 1.200 EURO for the three terms of the programme. They cover: travel expenses, health insurance and other costs related to the programme, such as diploma recognition, residence permit, visa and translations, where applied.

Source: unibo