The academic programme is divided into two semesters. The first semester is the taught part and is held at the University of Malta. Lectures are held every day for at least four hours per day. Lecturers come from various faculties, but mainly the Law faculty, of the University of Malta, and from the partner institutions as well as from international organisations (UNESCO, UNWRA, UNHCR) and NGOs. Some very big international names in the human rights field lecture in this programme.  The students are expected to follow lectures, participate in tutorials and seminars and to supplement these by independent reading and research. Attendance at lectures, seminars and tutorials is compulsory.  The second semester provides an opportunity for the students to specialise and focus their attention on a particular area of human rights and democratisation. During this semester, students are expected to conduct independent research and write a dissertation under the supervision of an appointed tutor at one of the partner universities/institutions, or in Malta. A number of scholarship students are also given the opportunity of conducting an internship within NGOs working in the field of human rights.