Human Rights
(MA) Human Rights
Entry for 2027
FHEQ level
This course is set at Level 7 (Masters) in the national Framework for Higher Education Qualifications.
Course Aims
This interdisciplinary programme provides you with an understanding of recent debates in the field of human rights from a range of disciplinary perspectives, including anthropology, law, international relations and politics. You will examine how human rights are embedded in wider social processes of state regulation; conflict and mass displacement; transnational social movements; and international agencies. You will develop an ability to critically assess human rights instruments (international and regional), discourses and institutions and assess the relationship between international human rights law; state law and local moralities. By the end of the programme you should able to research human rights issues in a way that contextualises state and transnational legal procedures in wider social processes such as gender, class, ethnicity and globalisation. The programme is aimed at those already involved in or contemplating professional advocacy with human rights agencies and for those interested in pursuing further postgraduate research in this field.
Course learning outcomes
Critically evaluate diverse philosophical positions within the historical evolution and contemporary practice of human rights
Summarize key debates in the field (such as cultural relativism, indigenous rights, decolonial approaches, environmental rights, feminist critiques, and multiculturalism) in order to demonstrate an advanced understanding of human rights issues and practice
Compare and appraise diverse disciplinary perspectives on human rights (law; anthropology; international relations; human geography) to synthesise key debates in the field
Critically evaluate the contemporary international human rights regime (United Nations; regional institutions; national bodies; international and local advocates) to assess its effectiveness, possibilities, and limitations for human rights provision
Apply a human rights lens to broader concerns (such as: migration; extractivism; health; humanitarianism; post-conflict reconstruction) to advance understanding of human rights in transnational context
Develop a refined ability to identify and access appropriate primary and secondary research resources
Collate and critically analyse those resources in relation to complex issues in the field of human rights
Concisely articulate sophisticated and structured arguments to express analytical rigour
Work collaboratively with others as well as independently to apply human rights knowledge
Develop activist and advocacy skills through opportunities to engage with human rights organisations to practically apply human rights knowledge in real world settings.
Full-time course composition
| Year | Term | Status | Module | Credits | FHEQ level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Autumn Semester | Core | Human Rights and the Politics of Culture (824M9) | 30 | 7 |
| Spring Semester | Core | Global Research Skills (012L2) | 15 | 7 | |
| Core | Human Rights and Global Justice (825M9S) | 30 | 7 | ||
| Summer Teaching | Core | Dissertation (Human Rights) (827M9A) | 45 | 7 |
Part-time course composition
| Year | Term | Status | Module | Credits | FHEQ level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Autumn Semester | Core | Human Rights and the Politics of Culture (824M9) | 30 | 7 |
| Spring Semester | Core | Human Rights and Global Justice (825M9S) | 30 | 7 | |
| Year | Term | Status | Module | Credits | FHEQ level |
| 2 | Spring Semester | Core | Global Research Skills (012L2) | 15 | 7 |
| Summer Teaching | Core | Dissertation (Human Rights) (827M9A) | 45 | 7 |
Please note that the University will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver courses and modules in accordance with the descriptions set out here. However, the University keeps its courses and modules under review with the aim of enhancing quality. Some changes may therefore be made to the form or content of courses or modules shown as part of the normal process of curriculum management.
The University reserves the right to make changes to the contents or methods of delivery of, or to discontinue, merge or combine modules, if such action is reasonably considered necessary by the University. If there are not sufficient student numbers to make a module viable, the University reserves the right to cancel such a module. If the University withdraws or discontinues a module, it will use its reasonable endeavours to provide a suitable alternative module.