MA Human Rights

The degree is available online and is fully supported by a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), as well as study materials and help from academic staff. It allows you to study anywhere in the world and fit your studies around your other commitments.

Study materials

You receive individual module handbooks, assessment activities and digitised readings.

For each module, you will be able to discuss your work with fellow students and module convenors. Expert tuition is provided via online discussion forums, short video lectures or interviews, and periodic optional live webinars from leading academics and human rights professionals.

Online support 

When you register, we will give you access to your Student Portal. You can then access your University of London email account and other key resources: 

• The Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Here, you can access electronic copies of all study materials, resources including audio-visual materials, and forums to discuss course material and work collaboratively with others. 
• The Online Library. As a student at the University of London, you will have access to a range of resources, databases, and journals via the Online Library. You will be able to contact a team of professional and qualified librarians for any help you require.

Senate House Library  

If you’re based in the United Kingdom, or are visiting London, make sure to visit Senate House Library. Students studying with the University of London can join the library free of charge. Membership includes a 10-book borrowing allowance, access to all reading rooms and study areas, and on-site access to Senate House Library digital resources. 

Your time commitment

All modules run during two 14-week study sessions throughout the year. You register for up to two modules per session and should expect to devote between 15-20 hours per week to your studies during these periods (assuming you take two modules).

Assessment

• Understanding Human Rights / Translating Human Rights into International Law: assessed by a written exam (70 per cent of the grade) and three E-tivities (30 per cent).
• Securing Human Rights: assessed by two equally-weighted items of coursework (70 per cent of the grade) and three E-tivities (30 per cent).
• All elective modules: assessed by one item of coursework (70 per cent of the grade) and three E-tivities (30 per cent).
• Dissertation: assessed by a research proposal (15 per cent of the grade) and a written thesis of 15,000 words (85 per cent).

Examinations are held twice a year (usually January and June).

More about exams.

The School of Advanced Study unites eight specialist humanities and social science research Institutes at the University of London. It is the only institution of its kind in the United Kingdom, nationally funded to promote and facilitate research in the humanities and social sciences.

The Human Rights Consortium (HRC) of the School of Advanced Study was established to facilitate and promote inter-disciplinary research in human rights nationally and internationally. The Consortium's mandate includes:

• organising and supporting events on human rights;
• disseminating research on human rights;
• fostering national and international networks of human rights researchers;
• hosting visiting fellows working in human rights;
• training research students, and enhancing the learning environment for graduate students.

Academic leaders

Dr Corinne Lennox is a Senior Lecturer in Human Rights and Programme Director of the MA in Human Rights. She also is Co-Director of the Human Rights Consortium (HRC). Her research focuses on issues of minority and indigenous rights protection, civil society mobilisation for human rights, and human rights and development. She has worked as an advisor on human rights to UN agencies, social movements and governments.

Professor Damien Short is a Professor in Human Rights and Environmental Justice at the School of Advanced Study and Co-Director of the HRC. He has spent his professional career working in the field of human rights, both as a scholar and as a human rights advocate. He has published extensively in the areas of indigenous peoples’ rights, genocide studies, reconciliation projects and environmental human rights.

Dr Bronwen Manby is Lecturer in International Human Rights Law at the School of Advanced Study. She is a leading authority on nationality law and statelessness in Africa. She has written on a wide range of human rights issues in Africa and in continental developments in human rights law.

Dr Karen Bennett is a part-time Lecturer in Securing Human Rights. Her research interests are in human rights cosmopolitanism and the effectiveness of transnational networks as mechanisms for human security, especially in the areas of security and protection for human rights defenders and civil society actors. She has worked with multilateral organisations, research institutes, government and non-governmental organisations on a wide range of human rights themes.

The MA Human Rights by distance learning was launched in 2018 in collaboration with the University of London Worldwide, a specialist in distance learning education. Under the direction of the Human Rights Consortium, University of London, the MA Human Rights utilises our long-standing expertise in practice-based human rights education.  The programme also includes a Post-graduate Diploma or Post-graduate Certificate in human rights by distance learning.

In 1995, the Institute of Commonwealth Studies established its MA in Understanding and Securing Human Rights. The MA was developed in collaboration with staff at Amnesty International to provide scholarly and practical training for future human rights defenders.  It was one of the first globally to offer inter-disciplinary human rights graduate studies.

In 2009, the Human Rights Consortium, housed within the Institute, was established to facilitate and promote inter-disciplinary research in human rights. Its activities bring together inter-disciplinary expertise from the research and practice communities to provide national and international collaboration for the support, promotion and dissemination of academic and policy work in human rights.

From 2024/25, we have merged our programmes to deliver world-leading human rights education in post-graduate studies fully online and no longer on campus.  The Institute of Commonwealth Studies continues to offer a PhD in human rights on campus and by distance learning.

If applying for the MA or PG Diploma then you will need

An undergraduate degree (e.g. bachelor's) which is considered at least comparable to a UK upper second class honours degree, from an institution acceptable to the University.

If you do not meet the entrance requirements you may still apply. Each application will be considered on an individual basis by the Programme Director, giving attention to alternative qualifications and/or relevant experience in the field of human rights, broadly understood.

If applying for the PG Certificate then you will need

• An undergraduate degree (e.g. bachelor's) which is considered at least comparable to a UK lower second class honours degree, from an institution acceptable to the University or
• At least five years acceptable* work experience

* acceptable work experience is to be considered on an individual basis once a formal online application has been submitted

English Language requirements

If your first degree was not taught in English, you will need to provide evidence of language ability as tested by the British Council or another registered body. This is equivalent to:

• A score of 7.0 overall in the IELTS test, or 7.0 in both reading and writing.
• (TOEFL) iBT Test of English as a Foreign Language with an overall score of 95 or above, including a minimum of 24 attained on the reading and writing skills sub-tests and a minimum of 25 attained on the speaking sub-test and 22 attained on the listening sub-test.
• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English.
• Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (at grade C or above).
• Duolingo: must achieve an overall score of at least 130. 

Computer requirements

We set minimum basic computer requirements because your study resources are accessed via the Student Portal and it is vital that you can access this regularly. Certain courses may have additional requirements, such as software to manage spreadsheets and run macros.

See more about computer requirements

The fees below relate to new students registering for the 2025-2026 session. On average, fees are subject to a five per cent year-on-year increase. 

Students who registered earlier can view their fees on the Course Fees page. 

Disclaimer: Currency conversion tool

*The online examination administration fee is charged for each examination paper held online, including resits. This does not apply to any coursework submissions.

Additional Costs

You may also need to budget for examination centre fees if applicable, which are paid directly to the venues where you sit your exams.

Sales Tax

Please note: all student fees shown are net of any local VAT, Goods and Services Tax (GST) or any other sales tax payable by the student in their country of residence. Where the University is required to add VAT, GST or any other sales tax at the local statutory rate, this will be added to the fees shown during the payment process. For students resident in the UK, our fees are exempt from VAT.

Further information on Sales Tax.

Your payment provider may apply additional transaction fees (if in doubt, please check with them before making a payment).

Without the cost of moving to London, studying for your University of London degree anywhere in the world represents excellent value for money. However, there are additional sources of support depending on where you live and how you choose to study.

If you are a UK or EU national and you have lived in England for three years, you could be eligible to apply for a Postgraduate Loan.

More on funding your study.

Scholarships

The Aziz Foundation Scholarship offers four Master’s scholarships for the 2024-5 academic year.

Five Commonwealth scholarships are available for residents in Commonwealth countries which are worth the full course fee for the distance-learning MA course.

One Refugee and Displaced Person scholarship is available per year.

Can I get sponsored?

If you're employed, your employer may be willing to cover part/all of the programme fees if you can make a compelling case as to how this programme will boost your contribution to the workplace.

Our courses are ideal for employers because they get to retain you as an employee and benefit from your learning from the moment you begin.

How can I get sponsored by my employer?

You can pay your fees in a number of ways, including an online payment facility via the Student Portal and Western Union Quick Pay.

More on how to pay your fees

This MA degree is designed for those who wish to develop or enhance careers in a range of professional contexts in the human rights or humanitarian fields.

Graduates of the related on-campus MA have gone on to work for major international NGOs including Amnesty International, Oxfam, Friends of the Earth and Anti-Slavery International, as well as several UN agencies, businesses, academia and in government.

Students can also specialise in developing research skills in human rights for future PhD studies. The School of Advanced Study also offers a PhD programme in human rights by distance learning or on campus.

What do employers think of our graduates?

In some countries, qualifications earned by distance and flexible learning may not be recognised by certain authorities or regulators for the purposes of public sector employment or further study. We advise you to explore the local recognition status before you register, even if you plan to receive support from a local teaching institution.

You’ll have access to a wide range of careers and employability support through the University of London Careers Service, including live webinars and online drop-in sessions.

More on the University of London Careers Service