When designing the programme, universities will need to determine the criteria which will shape the nature and scope of the programme e.g. the purpose of the scheme, the type of human rights defender or activist to be hosted, the duration of the hosting, and the number of placements the programme is able to support. Whether the university is the main host or playing a supporting role, it will need to be agreed which department or centre is taking the lead.

Relocation may be for as little as two weeks or as long as two years, for an individual or for a cohort of ten or more. How many human rights defenders you are able to host, and the duration of the relocation, will depend largely on the budget you have available. Workload might influence the duration of placements as the amount of work involved (finding accommodation, organising finances, visas, etc.) can make longer fellowships more manageable. The duration of the placement may depend on the visa issued e.g. tourist visas usually only allow shorter stays. The length of the visa could also be dependent on the country the defender comes from.