Human Rights Postgraduate at London Metropolitan University
Aims of the course
The LLM in Human Rights offers a rigorous and challenging course, taught by human rights scholars and practitioners, and linked to significant human rights practice based in the University. It provides you with:
a contextual and critical knowledge of international and domestic human rights law, based on a thorough understanding of both theory and practice
compulsory modules in the history and theory of human rights, human rights in international and UK law, and legal research methodology, and a choice from a wide range of options specialising in specific areas. A substantial dissertation is a crucial part of the course
an overview and critical awareness of the difficult operational environment in which domestic and international human rights standards are created and enforced.
The course also provides you with generic skills and abilities in:
researching, handling and interpreting information
recognising and examining critically international and domestic human rights laws, instruments and mechanisms
structuring and organising documented material
sustaining and structuring arguments in the pursuit of a dissertation.
The mode of delivery is student-centred and interactive. Primary source material will be introduced in workshops as part of problem-solving exercises. You will have the opportunity of applying the Human Rights Act 1998 and international human rights instruments to specific conceptual problems and real-life conflicts.
The course will be of particular interest to those with academic and practical interests in human rights and its international and domestic dimensions from the UK, the EU and the world as a whole.
Entry requirements
A good Honours degree in law, or possibly another appropriate field. The course also welcomes candidates whose applications demonstrate suitable levels of experience (especially fieldwork), and the ability to work to the academic standard required by this postgraduate course.
Course structure
The course comprises nine modules, including three core modules, three options and a triple-module dissertation.
The core modules are:
History and Theory of Human Rights
Human Rights in UK and International Law
Legal Research Methodology
Options are chosen from a list including:
Human Rights and Criminal Justice
Women, Gender and Human Rights
Human Rights and Labour Rights
Refugees and Human Rights
International Children’s Rights
Human Rights in the Digital Age
European Convention on Human Rights Parts I & II (including Moot Court)
Litigation at the European Court of Human Rights (Clinical module)
One option may be taken following discussion with the course director as a free module from another of our courses.
Assessment
Assessment methods will be a range of unseen, take-home and open-book examinations, and various forms of coursework and assessed seminar performance.
Career opportunities
There are excellent career prospects for those engaged in human rights law. You can also progress to an MPhil or PhD. The course has Law Society Continuing Professional Development (CPD) accreditation - Ref: CPB/LOMU.
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