European Regional Master’s Degree in Human Rights and Democracy in South East Europe (ERMA)

Venues: Sarajevo [I term]; Southeast Europe [II term]; Bologna [III term]
Periods: Nov. 2012 - Oct. 2013
Application deadline: Aug. 31, 2012

The European Regional Master’s Degree in Human Rights and Democracy in South East Europe is an intensive one-year Master programme established through the joint efforts of the participating universities and coordinated by the Universities of Sarajevo and Bologna. At present it is in its ninth year of implementation. The programme is co-financed by the European Commission and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
 
The Master’s Programme is structured in three terms/two semesters:
I) November 2012 – June 2013: Lecturing period at the University of Sarajevo (semester I);
II) June – July 2013: Internship work across South East Europe;
III) September – October 2013: Master’s Theses writing-up period at the University of Bologna (semester II).

The teaching activities involve renowned Faculty members coming from more than 25 European and other countries. Internships take place at various regional NGOs, IGOs, think-tanks and research institutes dealing with issues of human rights and democracy in South East Europe. The third term is hosted by the University of Bologna Residential Centers in Italy.

Each academic year the Programme enrolls 30 students from the countries of South East Europe and the European Union. Starting from a.y.2012-2013 applications from the Caucasus and Russia shall also be accepted.

The Master is open to candidates who hold a high standard university degree in disciplines relevant to human rights, in particular law, social and political sciences and humanities from an accredited university. The university degree of the applicants must be earned during studies lasting either 4 or 5 years within the former undergraduate studies provisions, or 5 years (3+2) within I and II cycle studies provisions in accordance with the Bologna process.
 
Fluency in English is a necessary prerequisite for admission, as the Programme language is English. The following international English Language proficiency certificates will be accepted:
1. TOEFL – minimum score of 550 paper-based or for computer based TOEFL is 213, IBT not less than 80;
2. British Council’s IELTS - minimum band 6.5 and no less than 6.0 in any of its subsections;
3. Applicants with English as native language or applicants who had previous university education in English language need to provide proof of competency through their transcripts or certificates issued by the respective universities.
 
The upper age limit of potential applicants is 35 years.
Currently, twenty-five (25) places are reserved for citizens of the countries of South East Europe involved in the program - Albania; Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia; Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo. Five (5) places are reserved for citizens of the European Union countries, Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia) and Russia.

In the a.y 2012/2013 ERMA shall be implemented as a double degree programme: one diploma will be issued by the University of Sarajevo and one by the University of Bologna. The Master awards 60 ECTS.

The tuition fee is 1000 Euro.

Full tuition fee waiver is available for the citizens of the countries of South East Europe involved in the programme (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo). The students from the EU are not offered tuition fee waiver.

Students from the SEE countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo) as well as EU citizens are eligible for students’ maintenance grants in the amount 460 Euro per month for the first and second term while the third term is covered by the Programme.
For the non–EU and non–SEE students unfortunately the Programme cannot offer any financial support - scholarship or tuition fee waiver.

If you wish to participate, read the call for application on PECOB.

Mariana Hadzijusufovic
ERMA Coordinator, Center for Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Studies
address: Zmaja od Bosne 8
71000 Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
tel./fax: 00.387.33.668.683
e-mail: mariana.hadzijusufovic@cips.unsa.ba