Program Overview

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Course summary

In an increasingly globalised world, ongoing international problems such as war, famine, intervention, poverty and discrimination against vulnerable people make the role of human rights more significant – and relevant – than ever.

Keele’s long-running MA in Human Rights provides a practical and theoretical exploration of human rights law and philosophy in the context of global politics, economics and socal justice.

It offers the chance to gain new insight into high-profile human rights issues relating to equality, discrimination and minority rights, for example, or trafficking, global trade and economic law. You’ll engage with matters of gender, sexuality, race, class, ethnicity, religion and power in relation to human rights realisation.

Understanding human rights is clearly essential for anyone directly involved in politics, policy-making, criminal justice, humanitarian or development work. However, the broad knowledge you’ll gain of the legal, economic, cultural, ethical and political contexts in which human rights law, politics and practices operate will be of benefit to almost any career.

Supporting your personal and professional development is a central aim of the programme. Among the many skills you’ll develop are critical thinking and reasoning, communication, mental flexibility, teamwork ability and self-leadership, some of the most in-demand essential transferable ‘soft’ skills according to global consultants McKinsey.

To enhance your experience, we try to organise annual placements (subject to availability) with the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), typically of two-weeks duration. Based in Geneva, Switzerland’s second largest city, appropriately nicknamed the ‘Capital of Peace’, CERD is a body of independent experts that formerly included Keele’s Emeritus Professor Patrick Thornberry.

During its summer session, the Committee receives reports from State parties on how the rights within the

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

are being implemented. Previously, students have attending the meetings, following the discussions, typically for a country they choose, and taking notes of the issues being raised. One of the many advantages of this unique experience is the opportunity to meet delegates from different countries and make valuable contacts in the field of human rights.

Other courses you might be interested in:

LLM International Law and Human Rights

LLM Law and Society