Students normally take two BCSP courses in addition to three regular university courses. As long as students are registered with this basic course load, UNC-CH will consider it a full load. Students are expected to take responsibility for their own education. Grades are determined by an oral examination in June. There are eight to ten apartments, housing three to five students each.
Students choose their roommate and apartment, and BCSP complies with such choices when possible.
Though students will not necessarily live with Italians, they will have the opportunity to meet many Italians in their classes. The resident director arranges several group excursions during the year, prepaid through a group activity fee. These excursions take students to interesting sites not easily accessible by public transportation, such as Siena, San Gimignano, Volterra, or Urbino. Exploring beyond Bologna is easy, since Bologna is a major railroad hub. Bologna is the perfect starting point for going to Venice, London, Rome, Madrid, or elsewhere.