Course summary

The information provided on this page was correct at the time of publication (November 2023). For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas. This is a part-time degree offered over two academic years. It is designed in particular for lawyers and other human rights advocates who wish to pursue advanced studies in international human rights law but may need to do so alongside work responsibilities. The MSc in International Human Rights Law is offered by the Faculty of Law in collaboration with the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights. Course Structure This course includes two periods of online distance learning as well as two summer residentials held at New College, Oxford. A central objective of the course is to ensure that you not only know about but can also effectively and expertly apply human rights law. The curriculum places equal emphasis on the substance of human rights law, its implementation and research. Students come from all over the world and from a variety of advocacy settings; from various international and non-governmental organisations, governments, universities, foundations, the media, the armed forces, medicine and other fields and from private and corporate practice. The faculty is also diverse and includes internationally recognised human rights scholars and advocates. The programme seeks the widest possible diversity among both students and tutors. The first period of distance learning comprises guided online study over two terms, with each of its units including reading periods followed by tutor-guided asynchronous seminars supplemented by some live encounters. For the second period of distance learning students work independently on researching and writing their dissertation with one-to-one online support from their supervisor. For both periods of distance learning, students will require consistent, ready and reliable internet access. Summer residentials in Oxford comprise three weeks of tutor-led small group seminars plus a week for independent revision and two exams. In addition, the first summer session includes dissertation-related exercises to prepare students for the independent dissertation work they will undertake in their second year. Past students have found it beneficial to immerse themselves within the MSc in International Human Rights Law community during the residential sessions. If your personal circumstances permit therefore, we strongly encourage you to consider booking your accommodation during the residential sessions with New College, which will be facilitated by the course organisers. This may help you to benefit from what the course offers in terms of additional opportunities for discursive engagement and networking. Lunches and dinners are already included in the course fee and will also be provided at New College. If you have any concerns around this, for example regarding dietary restrictions, please get in touch with the Course Administrator to discuss them. For the full description, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas