Law - International Human Rights Law

The protection of human rights at the international and national levels is a fast-moving branch of law. There has been a huge growth in the number and variety of human rights standards set out in international treaties, in national constitutions and in so-called 'soft-law' documents. These standards are not always fully implemented and the mechanisms for trying to get them implemented are sometimes defective. The LLM in International Human Rights Law provides students with an opportunity to gain an in-depth appreciation of global human rights standards and the interrelationship between international standards and national practice. The programme offers a range of optional modules for students to tailor their interests to. Given the history of Northern Ireland, there is a particular focus on ways in which human rights operate in conflict and the role they play in post-conflict societies.

Core Modules

Dissertation (Human Rights) (60 credits)

Transitional Justice (20 credits)

International Human Rights Law (20 credits)

Human Rights in Practice (20 credits)

Approaches to Legal Research (10 credits)

Theories of Human Rights (10 credits)



Optional Modules

Business and Human Rights (20 credits)

Comparative Human Rights (20 credits)

Dissertation in Practice (60 credits)

Climate,Justice & Human Rights (20 credits)

Advanced Issues in Medical Law and Ethics (20 credits)

Restorative Justice: Principles, Issues and Debates (20 credits)

Ethics, Law, and Responsibility (20 credits)

Crimes of the Powerful (20 credits)

Regulating Reality: The Law of Misinformation (20 credits)

Entrance requirements

Graduate

Applicants with a primary Law degree: Normally a strong 2.2 Honours degree in Law or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University.



Applicants with a primary degree in a relevant/cognate subject: Normally applicants with a 2:1 Honours degree or above (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) in Social Sciences, Humanities or a cognate discipline.Applicants with a minimum of a 2:2 Honours degree (or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) along with a minimum of 2 years relevant experience may be considered.



Exemption from these requirements may be considered for those applicants who hold a Master's degree in a relevant subject (or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University).



International Students

Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region at https://www.qub.ac.uk/Study/international-students/your-country/



English Language Requirements

Evidence of an IELTS* score of 7.0, with not less than 6.0 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years).



International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.



For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.



If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 28th August 2026. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal. Notifications to this effect will appear on the application portal against the programme application page.

Assessed essays


Dissertation

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

Entry Year: Academic Year 2026/27

Career Prospects

Introduction

Graduates have found jobs in the UN, the EU and the Council of Europe, as well as statutory bodies and a wide range of international and national NGOs. Others have found the LLM to constitute an extremely valuable addition to their work as legal professionals. Furthermore, this Masters provides an excellent basis for further study towards a research degree such as a PhD, which in turn may lead on to an academic career.

http://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/careers/