German students will spend the first and fourth semesters in Bielefeld and the second and third semesters in Bologna. Italian students will spend the first and second semesters in Bologna before transferring to Bielefeld for the third and fourth semesters.
Students can improve their language skills through classes offered at both universities. Participants will also be offered classes on the cultural and academic characteristics of the country where they will study abroad for a year.
The special feature of the study programme is its binational orientation: Students complete part of their studies, which usually last four semesters (two years), at each of the two universities. A further decisive feature of the German-Italian study programme is that Germans and Italians at both universities complete parts of their studies together.
As a rule, German students begin their Master's studies in the first semester at Bielefeld University. The joint curriculum is supplemented by intensive courses in the language of the partner country and practical preparatory courses. After the first semester, the students then transfer to Bologna University for one academic year (two semesters) and finally return to Bielefeld for the fourth semester, where they complete their studies and obtain a Master's degree. Italian students spend the first year in Bologna and complete the second year at Bielefeld University.
A tabular course of studies can be found here:
https://www.uni-bielefeld.de/fakultaeten/geschichtswissenschaft/studium/studiengaenge/de-it-history/bibog/verlauf-des-studiums/
Students have the opportunity to pursue various internships. Both Bielefeld and Bologna have established partnerships with many local and national enterprises, institutions, foundations, etc., in the area of potential future career opportunities. A list of these cooperation partners is available for participating students.