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The Human Rights MA develops the skills and theoretical tools needed to carry out human rights research. It provides an understanding of the foundations, nature, limits and implementation of human rights. Students are introduced to philosophical, legal and policy issues and encouraged to engage with them in a critical way.
Key information
Programme starts
September 2019
Modes and duration
Application dates
Tuition fees (2019/20)
Note on fees:
The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website.
Entry requirements
As a minimum, an upper second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university; or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Relevant practical or work experience in a related field may also be taken into account.
English language requirements
If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.
The English language level for this programme is: Advanced
Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.
International students
Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.
International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below.
Select your country:
About this degree
Students develop an understanding of the central issues and problems in the formulation, defence, development, interpretation and application of human rights instruments, law, practice and policy. They gain knowledge of central disciplines and their contribution to human rights studies, and are equipped with key research skills in human rights.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of four core modules (75 credits), three optional modules (45 credits), and a research dissertation (60 credits).
Compulsory modules
- International Law and Human Rights (30)
- Theoretical Foundations of Human Rights (15)
- Human Rights: Politics and Practice (15)
- Normative Methods, Legal Analysis and Research Skills (15)
Optional modules
Choose one of the following 15 credit methods modules:
Further modules can be chosen up to a value of 30 credits in total from a list available at our website: Political Science Department.
- Introduction to Qualitative Methods : Researching Politics using Interviews, Observations and Fieldwork (15)
- Advanced Qualitative Methods (15)
- Introduction to Quantitative Methods A (15)
- Advanced Quantitative Methods (15)
- Introduction to Qualitative Methods: Researching Politics using Texts, Transcripts and Images (15)
- NGO, Non-Profit and Voluntary Sector Policy and Management (15)
- Terrorism (15)
- Equality, Justice and Difference (15)
- Theories of International Relations (15)
- Public Ethics (15)
- Political Economy of Development (15)
- Governing Divided Societies (15)
- Foreign Policy Analysis (15)
- Gendering the Study of Politics: Theory and Practice (15)
- Rebellion (15)
- Global Ethics (15)
- The Ethics of Poverty (15)
<strong>The above modules are suggestions only and this is by no means an exaustive list.</strong>
Dissertation/report
All MA students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 10,000 words.
Teaching and learning
The programme has an integrated research and teaching approach, where key and cutting-edge areas are brought into the seminar room for discussion, and students are encouraged to carry out original research into these areas. Assessment is through essays, unseen examination, seminar presentations, and the dissertation.
Funding
For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.
Careers
Graduates of the programme have secured employment in institutions and organisations including the UK Foreign Office, Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman UK, British Institute for Human Rights, the European Union, the Council of Europe, Amnesty International, ILGA, Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies. Some of our students are now human rights lawyers. Our students have also pursued PhDs and have become human rights academics.
Employability
The Human Rights MA is a challenging, formative experience that provides the foundations for a variety of future careers in an impressive number of international, national, governmental and non-governmental institutions and organisations.
Why study this degree at UCL?
UCL Political Science is recognised as a centre of excellence in the field and offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of human rights.
Students benefit from weekly seminars featuring distinguished external speakers, and regular high-profile events for policymakers and others. Each year the students have the opportunity to participate in a study trip to Geneva to visit the United Nations Human Rights Institutions and meet human rights practitioners.
The research preparation and tailor-made interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary training students receive are of the highest standard available at one of the world's top universities, as reflected in UCL's performance in a range of rankings and tables.
Department: Political Science
Application and next steps
Applications
Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.
There is an application processing fee for this programme of £75 for online applications and £100 for paper applications. Further information can be found at: www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/taught/application.
Who can apply?
The programme is suitable for graduates with an interest in human rights, who wish to develop a career in this field, or use the MA as a foundation for further research.
Application deadlines
- All applicants
- 26 July 2019
For more information see our Applications page.
Apply nowWhat are we looking for?
When we assess your application we would like to learn:
- why you want to study Human Rights at graduate level
- why you want to study Human Rights at UCL
- what particularly attracts you to this programme
- how your personal, academic and professional background meets the demands of a challenging and truly international academic environment
- where you would like to go professionally with your degree
Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.
Contact information
- Political Science Admissions Officer
- polsci.admissions@ucl.ac.uk
- +44 (0)20 7679 4982/4950
Page last modified on 14 March 2018 by UCL Student Recruitment Marketing