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  • Human Rights (LLM / MA)
  • 2013/2014 entry
  • Contact us
  • Assessment

    • Final assessment for most compulsory and option modules is based on a 4000-word essay. If you choose the dissertation option, you will be required to submit a dissertation of 8000–10,000 words.

  • Attendance
      • One–two evenings a week part-time; two–three evenings a week full-time.
      • Our flexible evening teaching is ideal if you want to combine studying with working during the day. However, if you work more than 20 hours a week, we strongly recommend you study part-time.
      • Classes held October–April.
      • Those choosing the dissertation option will submit this in September.
  • Duration
      • Two years part-time or one year full-time.
  • Entry requirements
      • Good second-class honours degree in law, the humanities or social sciences; other good honours degrees will be considered.
      • Degrees from overseas institutions must be equivalent to a UK second-class degree.
      • Other relevant qualifications and appropriate professional training and experience are welcome and will be taken into account.
      • Excellent English language skills are essential.

      Find out about our international entry requirements

  • Fees and funding
    • Fees (2013/14)
      • Part-time (home/EU students): £3975 pa
      • Part-time (overseas students): £7425 pa
      • Full-time (home/EU students): £7950 pa
      • Full-time (overseas students): £14,775 pa
  • Location
      • Central London.
  • Teaching

    • Teaching and learning formats may vary, some mdoules follow a traditional programme of weekly meetings, others may take the form of intensive courses offered over one or two weekends.

      Independent sudy and active participation and essential to all course provision.  You should plan to spend at least five house in private sutdy for every hour spent in class.

      Find out more about what you can expect from classes and the help and support we offer students.

Human Rights (LLM / MA) - 2013/2014 entry


  • Overview

    • The School of Law is proud to offer this exciting and innovative Master’s programme, leading to the award of an LLM or MA Human Rights. The distinctive focus of the programme is on theoretically informed and multidisciplinary approaches to human rights. It aims to expose you to a critical and contextual engagement with the subject. You will study human rights in their legal, political, sociological, anthropological and philosophical contexts.

      Political, social and economic challenges are frequently articulated through the language of human rights.  Is the rise of human  rights discourse an emblem of hope and a political horizon, mobilising resistance to human need and suffering?  Or do human rights claims deflect more radical political demands and block real transformation? Can the manifold crises of contemporary life be made more intelligible through the frame of human rights?  These are some of the questions taken up in this programme.

      You will be introduced to a wide variety of approaches to research across a range of disciplines, and to the theoretical frameworks for advanced legal scholarship. You will also take specialist courses, choosing from a wide range of subjects in the area of human rights.

      The programme has close ties to a number of leading human rights NGOs and is informed by critical engagement with, and analysis of, human rights practice.

      The programme is particularly attractive to legal professionals, and to non-lawyers who work or would like to work in the field of human rights, allowing them to reflect critically on their role as human rights activists and practitioners. 

      Find out more about studying law at Birkbeck.

      This programme is also available in an intensive format.

  • Why study this course at Birkbeck?
      • Designed for students who are interested in exploring in depth the major contemporary debates concerning the theory and practice of human rights.
      • Unique programme, focusing on the study of human rights from a critical, contextual and multidisciplinary perspective.
      • Critical introduction to the vibrant world of human rights practice.
      • Watch our video: studying law at Birkbeck
  • Course structure
  • Study resources

    • The School of Law is an internationally recognised centre for critical and interdisciplinary legal research. It provides an exciting and innovative environment for a wide range of research with a strong theoretical and policy focus. The School is the home of Birkbeck Law Press and publishes Law and Critique: The International Journal of Critical Legal Thought.

      We use IT resources, such as electronic learning environments, to enhance teaching and learning. Birkbeck Library has an extensive teaching collection of books, journals and electronic resources in law and related disciplines, such as economics, politics and sociology. For example, it provides access to over 17,000 electronic journals, which are available online 24-hours a day. Find out more about our teaching and learning resources.

      Birkbeck Library has an extensive collection of books, journals and electronic resources in law and related disciplines such as economics, politics and sociology. Students can also take advantage of the rich research collections nearby, including those of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Senate House Library, the British Library of Political and Economic Science (LSE Library) and the British Library.

  • Further study opportunities
  • Careers information

    • Graduates of the LLM/MA pursue or enhance careers in human rights activism, in human rights NGOs (non-governmental organisations) or IGOs (inter-governmental organisations), the legal professions, in government and the public sector, and as researchers or journalists.

      Find out more about the career advice and information we offer.

  • Apply now