Human Rights (M.A.)
Politics | Philosophy | Law
Ready for the next step in your career? With the degree program for professional development in Human Rights, you can expand your knowledge and open up more career opportunities. No matter whether you are already working in a relevant area or are involved in voluntary work for human rights, this degree program will offer you an international perspective and a wide range of career opportunities. Apply now and start your journey into the exciting world of human rights work.
Fact Sheet
- Degree
- Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Admission
- Qualification assessment
- Duration of studies
- 3 semesters
- Teaching language
- completely in English
- Faculty
- Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Theology
- Start of degree program
- Winter semester
- Number of students
- 1-50
- Special ways to study
- International degree program, Professional development program
Program overview
What is the degree program about?
The degree program for professional development in Human Rights is aimed at working professionals with a Bachelor’s degree and practical experience in relevant areas of work. Due to its international approach, it is open to applicants from across the globe, in particular for people working in international organizations and NGOs, in public administration (at the international, EU, Federal, state and municipal level), in political consulting, in press or media, in lobby groups and associations, in specialist law firms, companies and in research.
One special feature of this degree program is that it also addresses people who volunteer or work part time in the area of human rights and now want to obtain a qualification to be able to branch out more into this field of work. Applicants who are working in other areas but who have practical experience in human rights outside the scope of their main occupation are therefore also admitted to the degree program.
The MA in Human Rights is offered as a full-time Master‚s degree program for professional development amounting to 90 ECTS credits over three semesters.
In the first semester, students take three compulsory modules on the political, philosophical and legal foundations of human rights. In the second semester, students participate in an interdisciplinary compulsory module on the topic of non-discrimination, a module focusing on practical key qualifications for human rights graduates, and four elective modules from a selection of specialized seminars. In their final semester, students can choose between two different options for their Master‚s thesis. They can choose either to write one long thesis or to combine a shorter piece of work with an internship. The students receive advice on their choice at the end of their second semester.
1st semester: Foundational knowledge
- 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: Specialized courses (30 ECTS)
- Interdisciplinary Approach to Non-Discrimination (5 ECTS)
- Key Skills (5 ECTS)
- Specialized Aspects of Human Rights Protection I—IV (each 5 ECTS)
- Students choose four specialization seminars from the courses on offer. Possible topics for seminars are:
- Autocracy and Human Rights
- Business and Human Rights
- Freedom of Religion or Belief
- Gender and Human Rights
- Human Rights in Africa
- Migration and Human Rights
- International Criminal Law
- The Inter-American Human Rights System
- The Internet and Human Rights
- Transitional Justice
- Please note that not all seminars are offered every year.
3rd semester: Final module (30 ECTS)
- A. Master’s thesis (30 ECTS)
or
- B1: Master’s thesis (15 ECTS)
- B2: Internship
Application for a Degree Program
Admission Requirements and Application
Admission
- Master: Qualification assessment
Application deadline
- Winter semester: 31.05.
- Summer semester: nicht möglich
Language skills
- Proof of proficiency in English Students must prove proficiency in English equivalent to level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. This usually means that students are required to show that they have completed a recognized language test such as IELTS, TOEFL, UNIcert, Cambridge etc.
- German language skills for international applicants: No DSH
Content related master requirements
- 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.
Details and notes
- 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 experience 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.
- Simple 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.
