Law - International Human Rights Law

Overview

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.



Course Structure

Students may enrol on a full-time (1 year) or part-time (2 years) basis. Students must complete five core modules (80 CATS points), two optional modules (40 CATS points) and a research dissertation (60 CATS points).



The Masters is awarded to students who successfully complete all taught modules (120 CATS points) and a research dissertation (60 CATS points).

The information below is intended as an example only, featuring module details for the current year of study (2024/25). Modules are reviewed on an annual basis and may be subject to future changes – revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year.



Year 1

Core Modules

• Approaches to Legal Research (10 credits)

• Transitional Justice (20 credits)

• Dissertation (Human Rights) (60 credits)

• International Human Rights Law (20 credits)

• Human Rights in Practice (20 credits)

• Theories of Human Rights (10 credits)



Optional Modules

• Regulating Reality: The Law of Misinformation (20 credits)

• Climate,Justice & Human Rights (20 credits)

• Ethics, Law, and Responsibility (20 credits)

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

• Advanced Issues in Medical Law and Ethics (20 credits)

• Critical Approaches International Economic Law (20 credits)

• Dissertation in Practice (60 credits)

• Corporate Environmental Law (20 credits)

• Business and Human Rights (20 credits)

• Comparative Human Rights (20 credits)

Graduate

Applicants with a primary Law degree: Normally a strong 2.2 Honours degree in Law (with a minimum of 55%) or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. Applicants with a 2:2 Honours degree in Law with less than 55% (or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) along with a minimum of 2 years relevant experience may be considered.



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).



Admission under Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) may be considered for this course. The University's Recognition of Prior Learning Policy provides guidance on the assessment of experiential learning (RPEL). Please visit http://go.qub.ac.uk/RPLpolicy for more information.



International Students

Please see International Student's link below.

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 29th August 2025.



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.



Contact Teaching Hours

Small Group Teaching/Personal Tutorial

8 (hours maximum)



In addition to 6-8 hrs of teaching per week , students should set aside 10-12 hours per module for reading and preparation to engage meaningfully in classroom discussions, group work and other forms of active engagement.

Entry Year: 2025/26

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/