Human Rights MA

London, Bloomsbury

Lay the foundations for a career with far-reaching impact on this MA digging into the nature, limits and implementation of human rights. You'll learn to think critically about philosophical, legal and policy issues, and develop the knowledge base and practical skills to work as an effective and sensitive human rights practitioner, researcher, policy-maker or campaigner. 

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£20,500
£10,250
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£33,000
£16,500
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2025
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 27 Jun 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Entry requirements

As a minimum, an upper second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard; Applicants should ideally have a background in any social, historical, political science or humanities subject (history, international relations, philosophy, law, political theory, geography, development studies, economics) or a related subject. Relevant practical or work experience in a related field may also be taken into account.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 4

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

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. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree


The MA in Human Rights is a unique multidisciplinary programme that will provide you with a comprehensive introduction to the theoretical foundations, legal framework and international politics of human rights. The programme bridges the theory and practice of human rights and is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to become an effective human rights practitioner. To this end, strong emphasis is placed on:

a) developing your ability to engage critically with human rights, bringing disciplines of political science, law and philosophy, and their respective approaches, to bear on them;

b) providing you with intellectually challenging tasks that will allow you to improve your analytical and problem-solving skills;

c) introducing you to the normative, legal and political challenges with the promotion and protection of human rights in practice, and fostering your ability to develop and advance viable forward strategies to address such challenges;

d) providing you with the theoretical and practical skills necessary to become an effective human rights practitioner, whether in politics, policy, law, or as frontline service providers for governmental agencies or non-governmental organisations.

Who this course is for

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.

What this course will give you

UCL Political Science is recognised as a centre of excellence in the field and offers a  stimulating environment for the study of human rights. The course is taught and overseen by researchers and practitioners active in the human rights research field. There is 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. This is displayed by the high caliber and originality of our students' dissertation research projects. Students benefit from weekly seminars featuring distinguished external speakers, and regular high-profile events for policymakers. 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.

The foundation of your career

The MA in Human Rights has been running for over 10 years with graduates working in an impressive number of international, national, governmental and non-governmental institutions and organisations as researchers, policy-makers and campaigners. 

  • Including the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Development Programme, 
  • The UK Foreign Office, 
  • The International Committee of the Red Cross, 
  • From the British Institute for Human Rights to the Council of Europe, and in countries as diverse as Croatia, Jordan, Brazil, United States, Argentina, Pakistan, Uganda, Georgia and Hong Kong. 

Some of our students have gone on to become human rights lawyers, while others have pursued PhDs and have become human rights academics. (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017-2022)

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.

Networking

Students will have the opportunity to meet with leading academics and experts within the Human Rights field. As a student in the Department you will also have access to an impressive range of support, activities, and events that will contribute to your experience. Student societies, exhibitions, lectures, and valuable training is just a snippet of what is on offer for you.

  • The Department host an eclectic and impressive offer of events, these range from our 'Policy and Practice' seminars which include talks by high-profile policy makers, practitioners and academics, to our Departmental Research Seminars (DRS).
  • The International Public Policy Review is a student-led forum for debate, discussion, and networking for those passionate about politics, governance and international affairs
  • The International and Public Affairs Society is a student-run society for all students in the Department of Political Science. They organise social and fundraising events and endeavour to develop a strong and friendly community within the School of Public Policy (SPP).
  • UCL Social Data Institute is led by the Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences (SHS), and the Institute amplifies UCL’s advanced research and teaching in social data and methods.

Teaching and learning

Teaching on the MA in Human Rights programme is multidisciplinary and draws on the department's world-class expertise in human rights, international politics, public policy and international peace and security studies.

The course is taught and overseen by researchers and practitioners active in the promotion and protection of human rights. 


The MA in Human Rights is delivered through weekly lectures and seminars and takes an integrated research and teaching approach, where the 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.

Programme assessment includes a variety of methods: essays, seminar presentations, and examinations, as well as a final dissertation.

Some of the optional and elective courses will have their own methods of assessment which may include ‘unseen’ examinations and long essays.


Meeting with tutors will also be used to assess if students are making adequate progress towards the goals mentioned. 


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 examinations, seminar presentations, and the dissertation.

Contact time takes various forms:

  • Lectures.
  • Seminars.
  • Project supervision.
  • Assessment feedback sessions.

The credit value of the module indicates the total learning hours you will spend to achieve its learning outcomes. One credit is often equated to 10 hours of notional learning, which includes all contact time, self-directed study, and assessment.

For full-time students, typical contact hours are around 12 hours per week. Outside of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials, full-time students typically study the equivalent of a full-time job, using their remaining time for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments.

Your research project/dissertation module is 60 credits. The learning hours will mainly be spent researching and writing your final dissertation. You will also have regular contact with your supervisor(s). They will guide and support you throughout your work.

To learn more, please take a look at the Academic Manual.

Modules

Modules on the MA in Human Rights programme typically consist of a weekly lecture followed by a weekly seminar. 

  • Lectures will augment assigned readings and will introduce you to the key concepts, issues and controversies surrounding specific areas of human rights.
  • Seminars will provide a forum for you to engage with the lecture content through presentations, discussions, debates and practical scenarios designed to promote critical analysis and practical application.

You will undertake modules to the value of 180 credits, comprising four compulsory modules on theoretical foundations of human rights; international law and human rights; doing human rights work; human rights politics and practice; at least one methods module, and a dissertation. 

You will further attend elective module(s) so you can personalise your programme of study to your own academic or professional interests.

The programme structure for part-time students follows the same structure as our full-time students. We encourage our part-time students to distribute their workload evenly between the two years of study. 

The majority of part-time students opt for one of the following patterns:

  • 75 credits in year one and 105 credits in year two;

          or

  • 90 credits in year one and 90 credits in year two.

Upon completion you will have undertaken modules to the value of 180 credits, comprising four compulsory modules on theoretical foundations of human rights; international law and human rights; doing human rights work; human rights politics and practice; at least one methods module; and a dissertation. 

You will have further attended elective module(s) so you can personalise your programme of study to your own academic or professional interests.

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MA in Human Rights.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Online - Open day

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Graduate Open Events: Climate Change Policy and Politics MSc

Don’t miss our virtual Masters event series! Hear first-hand insights from a current student, speak with the programme director, and chat with our admissions team. Discover everything you need to know about your programme and take the next step in your academic journey.

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Human Rights MA

Don’t miss our virtual Masters event series! Hear first-hand insights from a current student, speak with the programme director, and chat with our admissions team. Discover everything you need to know about your programme and take the next step in your academic journey.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £20,500 £10,250
Tuition fees (2025/26) £33,000 £16,500

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

For Full-time and Part-time offer holders a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

There are no additional costs for this programme.

UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/scholarships/funding-students-postgraduate-taught-courses

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

Next steps

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 £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

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.

When it is necessary to calculate a final average mark, the department will calculate all years of undergraduate study.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2025-2026

Got questions? Get in touch

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