How could a critical human rights approach help fight pervasive social and economic inequalities, anti-democratic forces and the climate crisis?

On this course, you’ll engage with human rights and their historical origins, philosophical foundations, global expansion, everyday practice and possible futures. You’ll learn from our expert faculty. Their cutting-edge research in a range of disciplines – including international relations, anthropology, law and human geography – underpins your teaching.

You’ll gain specialist knowledge in the field of human rights research and practice. Your learning is grounded in our distinctive interdisciplinary, critical social science approach. The course explores a range of topics, which may include:

advocacy, activism and social justice

human rights and culture

decolonisation and anti-racism

(state) violence, civil liberties and counterterrorism

globalisation and neoliberalism

the environment and climate change

international human rights organisations

children’s rights

indigenous and minority rights

LGBTQ+ rights

women’s rights and gender equality.

CAREERS

If you’ve worked in the field of human rights before, this course will allow you to critically reflect on that experience, develop new research skills and progress in your career.

If you’re new to the field, the course will introduce you to human rights in action: not only what human rights are, but what they do and what their possible future might be.

This expertise will be an important asset for a human rights career path. You’ll also have access to research placements with our worldwide alumni network and partner organisations. The dissertation with placement is an invaluable opportunity for you to prepare for your future career.