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.

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.



• For English language requirements go to: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/global/apply/english-language-requirements



• For Your country go to: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/global/apply/country

Your Application

You can apply directly to Ulster at any time of year. We advise that you submit your application no later than two weeks prior to your course start date. This is to ensure there is sufficient time for your application to be reviewed and, should you be made an offer, time for you to complete all the necessary pre-enrolment tasks.



Some programmes will have specific deadlines as additional selection (e.g. interview, portfolio submission etc) is required, so please check the course page to ensure you have sufficient time to complete your application.

Full-time students: Students study LAW821 Foundations of International Human Rights Law and LAW838 Gender and Human Rights in Semester 1 and choose one module from either LAW810 Economic Social and Cultural Rights or LAW805 Foundations of Transitional Justice.



In semester 2 full-time students take LAW817 Research and Advocacy Methods and two of the optional modules LAW778 Public International Law and Contemporary Global Challenges, LAW777 International Migration Law or LAW811 Equality Law. There is an option for students to start in January and so complete the modules in a different order; modules have been designed to allow this.



Part-time students: In the first year they are recommended to take LAW821 Foundations of International Human Rights Law and LAW838 Gender and Human Rights. In year 2 they take LAW817 Research and Advocacy Methods and remaining optional modules.



With the exception of the dissertation all modules are assessed by two pieces of coursework, e.g., a blog or case study and an essay, presentation, etc.

Start Date: September 2026 & January 2027.

Careers and Opportunities

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.