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.

Year 1

Core Modules

• Human Rights in Practice (20 credits)

• Transitional Justice (20 credits)

• Dissertation (Human Rights) (60 credits)

• Approaches to Legal Research (10 credits)

• International Human Rights Law (20 credits)

• Theories of Human Rights (10 credits)



Optional Modules

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

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

• Business and Human Rights (20 credits)

• Corporate Environmental Law (20 credits)

• Dissertation in Practice (60 credits)

• Crimes of the Powerful (20 credits)

• Comparative Human Rights (20 credits)



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 programme is delivered through a series of taught modules and culminates in the submission of a dissertation on an original topic.

Graduate

Normally a 2.1 Honours degree or above or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in Law, Social Sciences, Humanities or a cognate discipline.



Exemption from these requirements may be considered for those applicants who hold a Master's degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) OR for those applicants with a 2.2 Honours degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) along with a minimum of 2 years relevant experience.



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.

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 16th August 2024 for courses which commence in late September. 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 Direct Application Portal against the programme application page.



How to Apply

Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

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: 2024/25

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/