LLM International Human Rights

The LLM in International Human Rights equips you with advanced knowledge and expertise in human rights law, giving you access to our internationally leading faculty, eminent legal experts, and some of the foremost human rights organisations in the UK.

• The LLM introduces you to the history, theory and practice of international human rights law.
• We’ll focus on the strengths as well as identifying and critiquing the limits of domestic and international human rights.
• You’ll master the instruments and institutions that make up the international system of human rights protection from around the world, exploring their potential for reform.
• You’ll explore some of the most cutting-edge human rights debates of our times, from gender identity to AI-based predictive policing.
• You’ll learn from important legal thinkers, internationally leading barristers and politicians. Our Law faculty and Visiting Professors are some of the greatest legal minds of our generation.
• We’re focussed on employability, and you’ll have the opportunity to gain practical experience through taking placements and law clinics modules (for credit). Our Careers Service is here to support you every step of the way.
• You’ll have the opportunity to collaborate with renowned legal scholars, eminent legal practitioners and NGOs working in the field of international human rights, including the foremost human rights organisation, Liberty, which leads our pioneering 'NGO Advocacy, Litigation and Practice' module.

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact the Programme Convenor.

Applicants will normally have a degree in law, a related social science discipline (such as criminology, politics and international relations, sociology, anthropology, media and communications, economics or psychology), or a humanities degree (such as English, history, philosophy or art).

We also accept applications from people with professional, transferrable experience working in:

• NGOs
• Charities
• Criminal justice and human rights organisations
• Journalism
• The civil service or other governmental position

Students will normally be expected to have an upper second-class honours degree or its equivalent.

There is some flexibility where applicants demonstrate exceptional commitment or abilities to study for the degree because of their possession of other qualifications, or because they have relevant experiences that would qualify them for the programme.

International qualifications

We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate study.

Preparing you for a successful future

The LLM equips you with advanced knowledge and expertise in specialist areas of law, putting you in a strong position to pursue professional legal practice (in the UK and internationally).

It will also open up diverse career paths in other areas of professional practice associated with law, or quickly advance you to the position where you will choose to undertake a PhD as your next academic destination.

Employment opportunities you may take up following the LLM include:

• Barrister
• Solicitor
• Prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service
• NGO expert
• Criminal justice expert
• Member of the Civil Service or a government organisation

Collaborations, placements and partnerships

Partnerships with leading organisations

Cutting-edge collaborations with global law firms, government organisations, local councils, NGOs, think tanks and academics in world-leading universities support the delivery of all our programmes, exposing you to unique opportunities to grow a strong awareness of future career destinations and develop dynamic professional networks throughout your degree.

These include:

• Linklaters LLP
• Debevoise & Plimpton LLP and Boies Schiller & Flexner LLP
• UK Supreme Court
• National Justice Museum at the Royal Courts of Justice
• Kalisher Trust
• Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants and Migrants’ Rights Network
• Fair Trials
• Big Brother Watch
• Liberty
• Crown Prosecution Service
• Law Commission
• Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
• Stanford Law School
• Berkeley Law
• Loyola Law School (Los Angeles)
• New Europeans
• Human Rights Lawyers’ Association
• Forensic Architecture
• Lewisham Borough
• Council of Europe
• British Academy
• Garden Court Chambers
• Doughty Street Chambers

And many others.