MA Double Degree Bielefeld and Bologna

Application deadline

Only Master's students in the first semester of the MA Sociology programme can apply for the double degree.

The application deadline is 31 January of each year!

 

Application documents

Please submit the complete application documents in a single PDF file by the deadline to Marie-Sophie Borchelt Camêlo and via the Mobility Online portal. For this, please note the portal’s document upload period:

• Completed double degree application form

• Letter of motivation (maximum 1 page)

• Curriculum vitae in tabular form (maximum 1 page)

• Transcript of Records (of the Bachelor's programme) and overview of current courses taken

• Language certificate for English B2

• Language certificate for Italian B1. If you do not have sufficient knowledge of Italian at the time of application, you must credibly demonstrate that you will acquire the necessary language skills by the time you leave the country (third semester).

 

Selection procedure

After reviewing the application documents, up to five applicants are selected for the programme. The students are usually informed promptly of a decision on admission to the double master's programme.

The contact details of the nominated students will then be communicated to the International Office of Bielefeld University and the colleagues in Bologna.

 

Before the stay abroad

Students must complete an Online Learning Agreement before their stay abroad. This forms the basis for subsequent recognition. In the Online Learning Agreement (OLA), you must enter the courses you wish to attend at Bologna University and the recognition at Bielefeld University. Please create your OLA exclusively via the portal.

It is imperative that students contact the Double Degree Coordinator at the Faculty of Sociology in advance with an initial proposal for the course selection for the stay abroad.

In the OLA, students enter Marie-Sophie Borchelt Camelo under the contact details of the "Sending Institution". Enter Prof. Dr Piergiorgio Degli Esposti as the contact person for the "Receiving Institution" and also the e-mail address of the institute .

General information about the programme

Students on the double Master's degree programme in Sociology study at Bielefeld University in the 1st and 2nd semesters before travelling to Bologna University in the 3rd semester. It is also possible to complete the 3rd and 4th semesters at Bologna University. However, you must indicate this in your application.

The double Master's degree programme is designed in such a way that students fulfil all the requirements necessary to obtain a Master's degree from both Bielefeld University and Bologna University.

 

Programme concept

To participate in the double degree program with the University of Bologna, you must take various points into account in your course of study: 

• The regular compulsory modules must be studied at Bielefeld University: the introductory module (30-M-Soz-M1), a student research project, and the conclusion module (30-M-Soz-MA) 
• The student research project should be completed in the first or second semester, depending on whether it spans one or two semesters 
• Depending on your choice of student research project (large or small), you should also complete two or three elective modules before going to Bologna. 
• Furthermore, you must choose a study profile (more information at FsB) and take one module (either regular or as part of the student research project) from the Department of Sociology of Work and Economics (30-M-Soz-M4a)

Further information can be found on the general website of the Faculty of Sociology at Bielefeld University.

•  During your stay at the University of Bologna in the third semester, you are required to take two courses from the departments SPS/07 to SPS/11, each worth 8 ECTS, for a total of 16 ECTS 
• In addition, further courses totaling 12 ECTS can be freely chosen from the courses offered
• The credits earned will be credited to you after your return as two modules, each worth 14 ECTS/a total of 28 ECTS 

The course offerings and further information can be found on the University of Bologna website 

•   In the fourth semester at Bielefeld University, you are expected to complete your studies with the conclusion module (30-M-Soz-MA) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Modules

A module usually consists of two thematically assigned seminars. Coursework (Studienleistungen) must be completed in both seminars. An examination (Prüfungsleistung) must also be completed in one seminar.

A complete module in the MA Sociology usually comprises 14 credit points (Leistungspunkte).

In the Interdisciplinary Module structurally similar courses (modules with around 12 to 17 credit points) from other faculties can be included, provided that the connection to the MA Sociology program is clear. An overview of the criteria and the modules that can be credited can be found here.

In the Internship Module, an internship totalling 240 hours can be completed. In addition to the certificate of participation, students must write a term paper of the standard length of the MA Sociology program. Further information can be found at the Internship Office of the Faculty of Sociology.

To facilitate your choice of seminars please have a look at our Table of Recognition. It determines which modules are elegible for the 3. (and 4. semester) at Bielefeld University within your study plan and will be recognized by your home faculty in Bologna.

 

Timetable

The course program is published approx. 3 months before the start of each semester, although details may change during the lecture-free period. Early registration is particularly important for participation in courses offered by the Language Centre (Fachsprachenzentrum).  Sociology seminars generally do not have a limited number of participants.

Courses are selected via the electronic course catalogue (ekvv). This link will automatically take you to the MA Sociology courses.

You can find instructions on how to create your timetable here.

Please make absolutely sure that you only select the courses in the MA Sociology program. Bachelor's modules are not recognised for the Master's degree!

 

Recognition

For the recognition process and for receiving your certificate from Bielefeld, you need to complete the following steps:

1. Open the document How to fill in the recognition table and read it carefully.
2. Then open Recognition Table_EXAMPLE and take a look at how the recognition table has been filled in as an example.
3. Next, open the Correspondence Table and the document Details on modules and courses.
4. Use the excel sheet Marks_Bologna_Bielefeld to convert your grades from the German to the Italian grading system.
5. Now fill in the Word document Recognition Table and  enter the converted grades.
6. Fill in the document Application for recognition.

Finally, send the completed Recognition Table, together with your certificate from Bologna, your transcript from Bielefeld, and the completed Application for recognition, to Barbara Terlinden at the faculty´s Examination Office (pruefungsamt.soz@uni-bielefeld.de) and add Marie-Sophie Borchelt Camêlo (marie-sophie.borchelt@uni-bielefeld.de) in CC as she is supervising the recognition process.

Support

Bielefeld University offers a wide range of services for (international) students. Some of these services are presented below.

The International Office supports international students in organising their stay at Bielefeld University. It offers advice on financing your studies, finding accommodation, and questions regarding visa matters.

At the beginning of the semester, there is an orientation program with support in dealing with authorities and opening a German bank account.

Bielefeld University´s broad offer of sports classes can be explored at Hochschulsport.

PunktUm offers a language support program for international students. The German courses are free of charge for students on English-language degree programs.

Erasmus+ partial scholarship

Students on the Master's double degree programme in Sociology receive a partial scholarship for 5 months (for one semester).

The monthly scholarship instalment is 540 euros.

In addition, social top-ups of 250 euros can be applied for for students with fewer opportunities. The social top-up is aimed at:

• Employed students (the activity must have been carried out regularly for at least 6 months prior to the Erasmus stay and the income must be between €450 and €850 per month. The activity must not be continued during the stay).
• First-time academics (students from a non-academic family)
• Students with child/children
• Students with a chronic illness (which leads to additional financial expenses)
• Students with a severe disability (from GdB 20%)

To apply for the Social Top-Up, students must submit a declaration of honour and any supporting documents. Further information can be found here.

 

In addition to the monthly scholarship, students receive a one-off travel allowance. This amounts to EUR 309 for a distance of 500 to 1999 km (or EUR 417 for Green Travel).

BAföG abroad

In addition to the Erasmus+ partial scholarship, BAföG recipients can apply for BAföG abroad. If you have not been able to receive BAföG so far, you may want to have this checked, as the income limits for BAföG abroad are different from those for BAföG in Germany. The application must be submitted to the BAföG office responsible for the country in question.

Do you have questions about the Double Master's degree programme in Sociology?

We are happy to advise and support you!

Please contact international.soc@uni-bielefeld.de with a brief description of your enquiry.

Alternatively, you can also make an appointment during our office hours, always on Tuesdays from 13:00 - 15:00 in room X - C2 - 239.

Please register for an appointment in advance via my website.