Course summary

The information provided on this page was correct at the time of publication (October/November 2021). 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 MSt in International Human Rights Law is now offered by the Faculty of Law. This course was previously offered by the Department for Continuing Education in association with the Faculty of Law. There have been no changes to the established admissions requirements, mode of examination, course offerings, curriculum, or directorship of the programme. 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 seminars. 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. 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. For both periods of distance learning, students will require consistent, ready and reliable internet access.