Human Rights

The Human Rights MA develops the skills and theoretical tools needed to carry out human rights research. It provides an understanding of the foundations, nature, limits and implementation of human rights. Students are introduced to philosophical, legal and policy issues and encouraged to engage with them in a critical way.

Students develop an understanding of the central issues and problems in the formulation, defence, development, interpretation and application of human rights instruments, law, practice and policy. They gain knowledge of central disciplines and their contribution to human rights studies, and are equipped with key research skills in human rights.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of four core modules (75 credits), three optional modules (45 credits), and a research dissertation (60 credits).

Core modules

• International Law and Human Rights (30)
• International Human Rights: Standards and Institutions (15)
• Theoretical Foundations of Human Rights (15)
• Normative Methods, Legal Analysis and Research Skills (15)

Optional modules

• Choose one of the following 15-credit modules:
• Introduction to Qualitative Methods (15)
• Advanced Qualitative Methods (15)
• Introduction to Quantitative Methods (15)
• Advanced Quantitative Methods (15)
• Choose further modules up to a value of 30 credits in total from a list available at:
• www.ucl.ac.uk/spp/teaching/masters/ma-human-rights
• The following are suggestions:
• Terrorism (15)
• War and International Law (15)
• Equality, Justice and Difference (15)
• The Ethics of Poverty (15)
• Democracy and Accountability: Holding Power to Account (15)
• Governing Divided Societies (15)
• Gendering the Study of Politics: Theory and Practice (15)
• The Politics of Human Rights in Latin America: challenges to Democratisation (15)
• Global Ethics (15)

Dissertation/report

All MA students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 10,000 words.

Teaching and learning

The programme has an integrated research and teaching approach, where key and cutting edge areas are brought into the seminar room for discussion, and students are encouraged to carry out original research into these areas. Assessment is through essays, unseen examination, seminar presentations, and the dissertation.

As a minimum, an upper second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university; a CGPA of 3.3; or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Relevant practical or work experience in a related field may also be taken into account.