Human Rights
Human Rights (M.A.)
Ready for the next step in your career? With the advanced degree program in Human Rights, you can deepen your knowledge and expand your professional opportunities. Whether you’re already working in a relevant field or volunteering for human rights, this degree offers you an international focus and a wide range of career options. Apply now and start your journey into the exciting world of human rights work!
- Degree
- Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Duration of studies in semester
- 3
- Start of degree program
- Winter semester
- Study location
- Erlangen
- Number of students
- 1-50
- Subject group
- Economic Sciences, Law
- Special ways to study
- International degree program, Professional development program
- Teaching language
- fully english
- Admission Requirements
- Qualification assessment
What is the degree program about?
This Master’s degree program for professional development is designed for professionals with an undergraduate degree and practical experience in relevant fields of employment. Due to its international focus, it is open to applicants from all over the world, in particular professionals working in international organisations and non-governmental organisations, public administrations (at the international, EU, federal, regional and municipal level), political consulting, in the press/media sector, in interest groups and associations, specialist legal firms, companies and research.
A special feature of this degree program is that it is also aimed at people who have been involved in human rights work on a voluntary or part-time basis and wish to gain professional qualifications in order to pursue these activities more extensively. Applicants will therefore be accepted who are employed in other fields but have practical experience in human rights work outside of their main profession.
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The M.A. in Human Rights is offered as a full-time Master’s degree program for professional development worth 90 ECTS credits over three semesters. In the first semester, all students will enroll in three compulsory modules covering political, philosophical and legal foundations of human rights respectively. In the second semester, students will participate in a compulsory, interdisciplinary module on non-discrimination, a module focusing on practical key skills for human rights graduates and elect four out of a variety of specialised modules. In the final semester, students will be able to choose between two different thesis options. They can either write one long in-depth research thesis or they can combine a shorter thesis with an internship. Students will be counselled on their choice at the end of the second semester.
1st Semester: Foundations (30 ECTS)
- Human Rights Philosophy (5 ECTS)
- Human Rights Politics (5 ECTS)
- Human Rights Law (5 ECTS)
- Human Rights Research Methods (5 ECTS)
- Actors in Human Rights Politics (5 ECTS)
- Cases in Human Rights Law (5 ECTS)
2nd Semester: Specialised Courses (30 ECTS)
- Interdisciplinary Approach to Non-Discrimination (5 ECTS)
- Key Skills (5 ECTS)
- Specialised Aspects of Human Rights Protection I—IV (5 ECTS each)
- Four specialisation seminars are to be chosen from the list of offered seminars. Seminar topics may include:
- Business and Human Rights
- Children’s Rights
- Freedom of Religion or Belief
- Gender and Human Rights
- Human Rights in Africa
- Human Rights of Refugees
- International Criminal Law
- Philosophy of Human Rights
- The Inter-American Human Rights System
- The Internet and Human Rights
- Transitional Justice
- Please note that not all seminars will be offered every year.
- Four specialisation seminars are to be chosen from the list of offered seminars. Seminar topics may include:
3rd Semester: Final Module (30 ECTS)
- A: Master’s Thesis (30 ECTS)
OR
- B1: Master’s Thesis (15 ECTS)
- B2: Internship (15 ECTS)
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- Admission requirements (first semester)
- Qualification assessment
- Application deadline winter semester
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31.05.
- Content-related admission requirements
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- A university degree based on at least 3.5 years of full-time studies (equivalent to 210 ECTS credits)
- If your university degree is based on less than 3.5 years of studies, you may be accepted on the basis of a special procedure determining additional qualifications.
- At least one year of professional experience in the area of human rights or one year of professional experience in another field in combination with practical experience in human rights work on a volunteer basis.
Further information on the admission requirements can be found on the program website.
- A university degree based on at least 3.5 years of full-time studies (equivalent to 210 ECTS credits)
Language skills
- German language skills for international applicants
- No DSH
- General language skills
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Proof of English language skills
Your English skills have to be in line with level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Generally, this requires the submission of a recognised language test like IELTS, TOEFL, UniCERT, Cambridge etc. Exceptions can be granted by the admissions committee to applicants who have completed a university degree with English as the sole language of instruction in an English-speaking country.
- Details and notes
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You will be required to upload:
- Certified copies of your previous university degree(s), including transcript(s) of records and, if available, diploma supplement(s). Please see the university website for instructions on the required certification.
- Official translation of all your academic documents if they are not originally issued in English, German or French.
- Proof of your professional and voluntary experiences in the form of, for example, recommendation letters or work contracts—your CV is not sufficient as proof! If these documents are not in English or German, we also need a simple translation.
- Certified copy of your school leaving certificate and an official translation if it is not in English, German or French.
- Your CV.
- Proof of English language skills.
- A short application essay (appr. 1–3 pages) guided by the following questions:
- What is the relevance of your professional and/or voluntary experience specifically to the field of human rights?
- Describe a specific instance of a human rights violation and explain why you think this constitutes a human rights violation.
- What do you think is the biggest human rights issue in your country? Why?
- If your first university degree is based on less than 3.5 years of full-time studies (equivalent to 210 ECTS), you also need to fill out an additional assessment as part of the application form.
- Applicants from China, India and Vietnam also need to upload their APS certificates.
Further information on the application process is available on the program website.
- Degree Program Fees
- The amount is currently being reviewed and will be updated here soon.
Do you need help or more information?
Our Student Advice and Career Service (IBZ) is the central point of contact for all questions about studying and starting a degree programme. Our Student Service Centres and subject advisors support you in planning your studies.