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International Human Rights Law LLM

Course code

M130PINTHRLW

Start date

January

September

Placement available

Mode of study

12-15 months full-time

16-27 months with placement full-time

24-27 months part-time

27-36 months with placement part-time

Fees

2024/25

UK £13,750

International £21,260

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Overview

The Brunel International Human Rights Law LLM is designed for graduates wishing to develop the specialist skills needed for a career in this dynamic field of law.

Through a detailed analysis of the theory, history and development of human rights, and an exploration of the mechanisms of human rights protection you will acquire a comprehensive understanding of international human rights law and its interconnection with international criminal and comparative criminal law.

The course places particular emphasis on the radical transformations in international human rights law since the beginning of the 21st century, with the establishment of the International Criminal Court, the on-going process of the United Nations reform, and the post 9/11 shift to a more ‘security-at-all-costs’ approach to criminal process values, especially with regards to the war against terror.

You will explore key contemporary issues, such as: 

  • human rights advocacy and global governance though NGOs and non-State actors 
  • the European system of human rights protection 
  • group rights and the rights of minorities and indigenous peoples 
  • the challenges posed by international migration and the protection of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees 
  • women’s rights and the rights of the child, including protection for victims of human trafficking
  • sexual and gay rights 
  • the right to development and “third- generation” rights

With human right issues featuring more and more prominently in public debates and institutional policy considerations, employers are looking for job candidates with the specialist training needed to keep up with the new realities. Your International Human Rights Law LLM will give you that expertise and make you a sought-after prospect by law firms, businesses and government bodies.

Commonwealth Shared Scholarship: You may be eligible for a full tuition fee waiver, as well as range of other financial incentives, on this course. Find out more.

You can explore our campus and facilities for yourself by taking our virtual tour.

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Course content

The International Human Rights Law LLM consists of compulsory and optional modules and a 15,000-word dissertation.

  • Full-time students should complete four modules per term, excluding the dissertation.
  • Part-time students should complete two modules per term, excluding the dissertation.

You can gain valuable work experience while studying postgraduate law at Brunel. Optional work placements (12 months) and internships (6-12 weeks) are available and you can choose to start your course in January or September; studying full-time or part-time.

Year 1

This course has a placement option. Find out more about work placements available.

Please note that all modules are subject to change.

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Careers and your future

You will leave Brunel with a firm grounding in International Human Rights Law and with solid legal knowledge, allowing you to be flexible in your future choices. While many choose to move from the LLM to progress towards becoming PhD students you’ll also be well equipped for career opportunities in human rights advocacy or in governmental and non-governmental human rights organisations at the national and international level.

Our students in recent years went on to pursue careers in range of high-profile organisations such as European Parliament, National Commission on Rights of Child, Oxfordshire County Council, Dentons, White and Case LLP.

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UK entry requirements

  • A 2:2 (or above) UK Honours degree, or equivalent internationally recognised qualification, in Law or a related subject (International Relations, Political Science, Criminology, and Criminal Justice).

Other related disciplines and qualifications will be considered.

Entry criteria are subject to review and change each academic year.

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EU and International entry requirements

If you require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK, you must prove knowledge of the English language so that we can issue you a Certificate of Acceptance for Study (CAS). To do this, you will need an IELTS for UKVI or Trinity SELT test pass gained from a test centre approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and on the Secure English Language Testing (SELT) list. This must have been taken and passed within two years from the date the CAS is made.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.5 (min 6 in all areas)
  • Pearson: 59 (59 in all subscores)
  • BrunELT: 63% (min 58% in all areas)
  • TOEFL: 90 (min 20 in all) 

You can find out more about the qualifications we accept on our English Language Requirements page.

Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options through our Brunel Language Centre.

Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants. This information is for guidance only and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Entry requirements are subject to review, and may change.

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Fees and funding

2024/25 entry

UK

£13,750 full-time

£6,875 part-time

£1,385 placement year

International

£21,260 full-time

£10,630 part-time

£1,385 placement year

More information on any additional course-related costs.

Fees quoted are per year and are subject to an annual increase. 

See our fees and funding page for full details of postgraduate scholarships available to Brunel applicants.

Scholarships and bursaries

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Teaching and Learning

How the course will be delivered

Required equipment

How you'll learn on your course

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Assessment and feedback

All modules are assessed through a variety of diverse and authentic assessment methods. Guidance and support is offered to all students ahead of the assessment periods. General and personalised feedback is also available after the assessment periods and the publication of the results.

Read our guide on how to avoid plagiarism in your assessments at Brunel.

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