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Gender and Human Rights - LLM

Overview

A postgraduate course dedicated to the study of gender and human rights.

Summary

The LLM Gender and Human Rights draws on the established research excellence of the Transitional Justice Institute to deliver a world-leading masters programme in the field.

This programme has been developed to enable students to:

• Gain a systematic understanding, in-depth knowledge and critical awareness of the differential experiences of women and men of human rights norms and institutions, including in conflict and post-conflict situations;
• Understand foundational concepts in gender theory and their application to human rights, international law and transitional justice;
• Gain knowledge and skills in carrying out research projects from design to write-up;
• Enhance skills in critically appraising published and commissioned research;
• Develop skills highly relevant to legal practice, and to gender policy, research and advocacy roles in the voluntary, public and private sectors in the UK, Ireland and beyond;
• Successful completion may also open up a range of further study and research options.

About this course

About

The programme has been structured to ensure that students obtain a strong academic grounding in gender theory including women's rights. The theme of the programme is 'from local to global and back', exploring the symbiotic relationship between international and municipal law through a gendered lens. The programme addresses the various mechanisms by which women's rights and gender issues rights agenda can be, and have been, advanced at international, regional and municipal levels, and the manner in which knowledge, expertise and experience between these levels has been and continues to be transferred. The programme addresses global challenges like migration and climate change in different modules while overall the programme embodies research and study essential to several Sustainable Development Goals including SDG5 (Gender equality), SDG10 (reduced inequalities), SDG16 (Peace, justice and strong institutions).

Attendance

Attendance is compulsory for successful completion of the LLM. Modules are delivered through weekly classes. Each 20 credit module on average involves 3 hours of contact time per week with total effort hours over the semester of 200 per module (36 hours contact, 164 hours independent study).

Start dates

• September 2026
• January 2027

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

The LLM in Gender and Human Rights is offered on a full-time and part-time basis. The LLM is 3 semesters full-time or 6 semesters part-time.

All modules are worth 20 credits. One credit point represents 10 notional hours of student effort.

Structure/Coherence/Choice

In order both to maximize the module options available to students, and to offer modules which reflect staff expertise and that are viable (in terms of student numbers), all modules have 20 credit credit points each. This enables the programme to share modules with other programmes in the School and University.

A significant dissertation element is also contained in the degree programme. Students' ability to plan and write a dissertation project under academic supervision is a crucial aspect of postgraduate studies, and one of the factors attracting students to a degree of this nature. During the compulsory and optional taught modules, students are encouraged to develop their perspectives on suitable topics for their dissertation and to acquire legally-based research skills to carry out postgraduate research. In this regard, the LAW817 Research and Advocacy Methods module will dovetail nicely with the LAW827 Dissertation module as students will be formally assessed on a written research proposal. This will help students to prepare for the dissertation through improving their communication, research and legal skills. In so doing, successful students will have the necessary qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment and for continuing professional development.

Full-time students study LAW821 Foundations of International Human Rights Law and LAW838 Gender and Human Rights in Semester 1 and choose one module from either LAW810 Economic Social and Cultural Rights or LAW805 Foundations of Transitional Justice.

In semester 2 full-time students take LAW817 Research and Advocacy Methods and two of the optional modules LAW778 Public International Law and Contemporary Global Challenges, LAW777 International Migration Law or LAW811 Equality Law. There is an option for students to start in January and so complete the modules in a different order; modules have been designed to allow this.

Part-time students: In the first year they are recommended to take LAW821 Foundations of International Human Rights Law and LAWLAW838 Gender and Human Rights. In year 2 they take LAW817 Research and Advocacy Methods and remaining optional modules.

With the exception of the dissertation all modules are assessed by two pieces of coursework, e.g., a blog or case study and an essay, presentation, etc.

Modules

Year one

• Research and Advocacy Methods
• International Migration Law
• Public International Law and Contemporary Global Challenges
• Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Year two

• Equality Law

Year three

• Foundations of International Human Rights Law
• Dissertation
• Gender and Human Rights
• Foundations of Transitional Justice

Standard entry conditions

• A second class Honours degree or above or equivalent recognised qualification in Law, Social Sciences, Humanities or a cognate discipline.
• Allowance may be made for special qualifications, experience and background, and students with other academic backgrounds will be considered, where applicants can demonstrate their ability to undertake the programme through the accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL) or accreditation of prior learning (APL).

English Language Requirements

• The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5.
• Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.

Careers & opportunities

• Previous graduates have gone onto positions in the local human rights sector and public sector in Northern Ireland, research and policy officer positions, to legal practice in areas related to the LLM and to PhD research.
• Further, previous graduates have secured work in the United Nations and in international non-governmental organisations.

Fees and funding

• 10% Alumni Discount
• Tuition Fee Loans Available
• 2026/27 Fees: Postgraduate fees are subject to annual review, 2026/27 fees will be announced in due course.
• Scholarships, awards and prizes: Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission Dissertation Prize
• Additional mandatory costs: N/A

Sustainability at Ulster

• Ulster continues to develop and support sustainability initiatives with our staff, students, and external partners across various aspects of teaching, research, professional services operations, and governance.
• At Ulster every person, course, research project, and professional service area on every campus either does or can contribute in some way towards the global sustainability and climate change agenda.
• We are guided by both our University Strategy People, Place and Partnerships : Delivering Sustainable Futures for All and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.