Gender and Human Rights Law and Policy

Year 1 (90 Credits)

Optional LW471: International Humanitarian Law - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW525: Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW530: Procedure Before International Criminal Courts - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW538: Transitional Justice - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5103: Islam and Human Rights I - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5105: Contemporary Issues in International Migration Law - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5107: International Child Rights - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5111: Business and Human Rights 2 - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5113: The Common European Asylum System - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5114: International Refugee Law - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5118: Public International Law - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5120: European Convention on Human Rights: Law and Politics - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5121: Transnational Lawyering - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5122: International Criminal Law - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5123: International Peace Operations - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5124: Climate Justice - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5220: The Future of Law - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5221: Design Thinking for Lawyers I - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5222: Design Thinking for Lawyers II - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5223: Computation and Law - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5224: Digital Transformation & Access to Justice - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5225: International Environmental Law - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW439: Advocacy, Activism and Public Interest Law - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW483: Advanced Legal Research & Method - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5215: Criminology, Criminal Justice and Human Rights - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5216: Policing, Security and Rights - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5219: Minority Groups and the Criminal Justice System - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW550: Advocacy and Access to Justice - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW561: Mental Health Law and Policy - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Required LW450: Dissertation - 30 Credits - Semester 1

Required LW5116: Gender and Human Rights - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Required LW5117: International Human Rights Law - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Candidates must hold at least a Second Class Honours, Grade 1, Level 8 primary degree in in law or in another relevant discipline including business, computer science, or statistics.



In exceptional circumstances, an applicant holding a degree in another discipline or a degree of less than an approved Second Class Honours Degree, Grade 1 (H2.1) standard may be considered where they have relevant professional experience in law or in another relevant subject area.

1 year, full-time 2 years, part-time

Next start date: September 2026

Graduates of the LLM in Gender and Human Rights Law and Policy at University of Galway are prepared for impactful careers across a wide range of sectors including international organisations (such as UN Women and OHCHR), NGOs, government agencies, legal practice, academia, and private consultancy. They typically qualify for roles such as gender and human rights legal advisors, policy analysts, programme officers, advocates, and researchers. Employers value graduates’ expertise in international human rights law, gender justice, policy analysis, and practical skills in advocacy and legal research, equipping them to address complex issues like gender-based violence, discrimination, and intersectional inequality.



The programme also positions graduates for career progression into senior leadership roles within NGOs, governmental departments, and international bodies, or for academic and policy research careers, including PhD study. Emerging global trends - such as increased focus on gender-based violence prevention, women’s roles in peacebuilding, and corporate accountability for gender equality - are expanding demand for specialists in this field. Graduates interested in legal practice may pursue further professional qualifications, with the University providing support and guidance for these next steps.