Law - Gender & Human Rights

The LLM Gender and Human Rights draws on the established research excellence of the Transitional Justice Institute to deliver a world-leading masters programme in the field.



This programme has been developed to enable you to:

• Gain a systematic understanding, in-depth knowledge, and critical awareness of the differential experiences women and men have of human rights norms and institutions, especially in conflict and post-conflict situations



• Understand foundational concepts in gender theory and their application to human rights, international law, and transitional justice



• Gain knowledge and skills in carrying out research projects from design to write-up



• Enhance skills in critically appraising published and commissioned research



• Develop skills highly relevant to legal practice, and to gender policy, research, and advocacy roles in the voluntary, public and private sectors in the UK, Ireland and beyond.



• Successful completion may also lead to a range of further study and research options.



Attendance is compulsory for successful completion of the LLM. Modules are delivered through weekly classes. Each 20 credit module on average involves 3 hours of contact time per week with total effort hours over the semester of 200 per module (36 hours contact, 164 hours independent study).

Year 1

Semester 1 - Compulsory modules

LAW838 Gender and Human Rights

LAW821 Foundations of International Human Rights Law



Semester 1 - Optional modules

LAW805 Foundations of Transitional Justice

LAW810 Economic Social and Cultural Rights



Year 1

Semester 2 - Compulsory modules

LAW811 Equality Law

LAW817 Research and Advocacy Methods



Semester 2 - Optional modules

LAW778 Public International Law and Contemporary Global Challenges

LAW777 International Migration Law



Year 1

Semester 3 - Compulsory modules

LAW827 Dissertation

A second class Honours degree or above or equivalent recognised qualification in Law, Social Sciences, Humanities or a cognate discipline. Allowance may be made for special qualifications, experience and background, and students with other academic backgrounds will be considered, where applicants can demonstrate their ability to undertake the programme through the accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL) or accreditation of prior learning (APL).



English Language Requirements

English language requirements for international applicants

The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.



Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.

Start dates:

September 2025

January 2026

Career options

Previous graduates have gone onto positions in the local human rights sector and public sector in Northern Ireland, research and policy officer positions, to legal practice in areas related to the LLM and to PhD research. Further, previous graduates have secured work in the United Nations and in international non-governmental organisations.