Note: This article was published in 2017. In the meanwhile, all universities have introduced tuition fees for international students. At some universities, students from EEA/EU may still be able to study without paying tuition. It might be a better choice to visit our more up-to-date directory of masters in human rights and explore what scholarships are available.

MSc Human Rights and Multiculturalism

At Norway’s Buskerud and Vestfold University College, students can receive an MSc in Human Rights and Multiculturalism through a 2-year, full-time master’s program at the Drammen campus. This program takes an interdisciplinary approach to prep students to work in a variety of career fields, including government, non-profit, education, research, private corporations, and media. Classes focus on human rights in regards to cultural diversity, with topics such as globalization, migration, civil wars, nation-building, and more. In addition to interdisciplinary research, students will be qualified to continue in academic research in these fields. Tuition is free but scholarships are occasionally offered to cover living expenses and travel.

MPhil Theory and Practice of Human Rights

The University of Oslo’s MPhil Theory and Practice of Human Rights is a 2-year, full-time program that gives students the opportunity to study human rights from legal, political, social science, philosophical, and historical-based perspectives. Courses all center on human rights, including various approaches, regional focuses, methodology, practice, and more. Students participate in internships, discussions, and mock trials in addition to their course work. As part of their final piece to the program, students complete a master thesis that brings together methodology and practice in human rights. Tuition to this program is free.

MSc International Human Rights Law

Abo Akademi University’s Institute for Human Rights and Department of Law offer a 2-year, full-time MSc International Human Rights Law program. Based on campus in Turku, Finland, this master’s program equips students to work in various human rights careers including public administration, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations. Course topics vary from women’s rights to refugees to war to humanitarian law. In addition to courses, students also complete a research seminar and a master thesis. Tuition for students from EU/EEA countries is free. Starting in 2017, tuition fees are 10,000€ for non-EU/EEA countries. Scholarships are available for tuition-paying students, including a full tuition scholarship plus living expenses, a full tuition scholarship, and a tuition scholarship covering half of the tuition costs.

LLM International Human Rights Law

The LLM International Human Rights Law degree at Lund University in Lund, Sweden is a 2-year, full-time program that seeks to prepare students to work in law firms, international organizations, courts, private companies, and various other sectors working within the field of human rights. Students will take several courses focusing on aspects of human rights law and hear from guest speakers and lecturers with extensive expertise and experience in human rights. Past speakers even include a former Secretary-General of the United Nations and Nobel peace prize winner Shirin Ebadi. Tuition is free for EEA students and $27,588 for non-EEA students. Lund University does offer several scholarships for international students to cover tuition fees.

LLM Public International Law

The University of Oslo in Norway offers an LLM in Public International Law, a 1 ½ year master’s program with options for four programs: Public International Law and PIL with specializations in International Criminal and Humanitarian Law; International Environmental and Energy Law; International Trade, Investment and Commercial Law; and Human Rights. This full-time, on-campus program is divided into three 30-credit semesters, with the final semester focusing specifically on a master thesis. In addition to courses, students will have opportunities to engage with issues through lunches, guest lectures, and seminars that highlights expert scholars and practitioners. Tuition is free for all applicants.

MSc Social Work and Human Rights

This two-year Social Work and Human Rights international master’s programme at the University of Gothenburg focuses on the intersection between social work and human rights. By intertwining the two fields, the aim is to provide students with a unique perspective on human rights issues and social development in all levels of society. Students with a degree in Social Work and/or Human Rights are favored in competition with students with degrees in related subjects. (This only applies to students from countries where it is possible to obtain a degree in Social Work and/or Human Rights.) Tuition to this program is free.

The post 6 Tuition Free Human Rights Masters Programs appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Note: This article was published in 2016. In the meanwhile, all universities have introduced tuition fees for international students. At some universities, students from EEA/EU may still be able to study without paying tuition. It might be a better choice to visit our more up-to-date directory of masters in human rights and explore what scholarships are available.

by Inge Van Der Helm

International Human Rights Law Masters Program at Lund University, Sweden

Did you know that Lund University, located in Sweden, offers one of the best Human Rights Law programs available within Europe? The university itself is consistently ranked as one of the top 100 universities, while the Law faculty of Lund University is placed among the 150 best law faculties in the world according to the QS World University Rankings 2016.

The International Human Rights Law program has existed for 25 years and is a 2-year master program designed by Lund University in cooperation with Lund’s human rights institute, the Raoul Wallenberg Institute for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law. This master program will therefore not only give you the necessary academic knowledge and skills, but will also make you familiar with human rights in the field as well as human rights and development. If you are interested in doing a master in human rights law, Lund University’s International Human Rights Law Program is therefore definitely worth considering.

Entry Requirements and Finance Opportunities

In order to have a chance to be accepted into this program, you must meet several entry requirements. First of all, you must have at least a Bachelor degree in law which meets Sweden’s standards. This means that the bachelor’s duration must be at least 3 years, which equals 180 ECTS. Secondly, there is an English language requirement which must be met. You must have an IELTS score of 6.5 or higher, or alternatively a TOEFL score of at least 90. The selection criteria for the program are based on previous grades, a statement of purpose and two letters of recommendation. It is important to note that the program wants exactly 2 recommendation letters and since it can reject applications which do not meet the requirements, it is essential that you comply with this requirement. The letters can be from professors, but also from employers or other persons who can vouch for your skills and academic knowledge.

Tuition fees

With regards to the tuition fees for this program, there is amazing news for European students, since they do not have to pay any tuition whatsoever. This is also the case for citizens from within the European Economic Area and from Switzerland. For students who do not come from these countries, the tuition fee for the full 2-year program is 260.000 SEK, which translates to roughly 28.150 USD. On top of that non-EU students will need to pay a 100 USD fee when they submit their application. On the bright side, non-EU students will be eligible for several different scholarships and other funding opportunities. There is the Lund University Global Scholarship Programme, targeting top academic students from outside of the European Union. Lund University also offers a temporary scholarship to celebrate the 350^th birthday of Lund University, called Lund University’s 350^th Jubilee Scholarship. There also exists a national scholarship offered by the Swedish Institute. Aside from that Lund University has several agreements with several countries, namely Brazil, Indonesia, Russia, Chile, Mexico and Colombia. In addition there are national programs which will finance a Masters in Sweden in Armenia, Australia, Egypt, Ecuador, India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Qatar and Thailand. So if you are from any of these countries, make sure to research these funding opportunities!

The next MA program will start in August 2017 and the application deadline for this year is 15^th of January 2017. You can apply via www.universityadmissions.se.

Content of the masters in International Human Rights Law

The 2-year master program consists of four terms and each term is equal to 30 ECTS. Of the 120 ECTS in total, 75 ECTS will be dedicated to mandatory courses in both international law and human rights law. In addition you will have to choose elective courses for a total of 15 ECTS (or more, if you are really motivated). The last 30 ECTS are reserved for the master thesis, which will take up the whole last term of the study.

During the first period there are two mandatory courses, International Law and International Human Rights Law I. In the international law course you will be introduced to international law and its main principles, which are needed to properly understand how human rights law fits into the international law system. Following this, the human rights law course will introduce the history, characteristics and the critiques of human rights law and offers understanding of the different institutions that implement human rights both on international and state level. The second term starts with the mandatory course Human Rights Law II, which offers a deeper understanding of human rights law. The rest of the second term consists of elective courses. The courses that are offered can differ per year, based on availability of professors and teachers as well as the popularity of the course. But to give you a general idea, the last year of the program students could choose between the following courses: Human Rights and Labour Rights, Human Rights and the Rights to Development, Human Rights and Cultural Diversity, Business and Human Rights, Human Rights and Gender and Migration Law.

In the second year of the program, you will take the mandatory course Procedural Law of Human Rights as well as an elective course. You can choose between Humanitarian Law, Fundamental Labour Rights, Human Rights in the Field and International Criminal Law.

Personal experience with the International Human Rights Law masters

As a recent graduate from this program, I can definitely recommend this program if you are deeply interested in human rights law. Not only are the course topics all very interesting and relevant, most of the courses are given by both professors and people who work with human rights in the field or have substantial experience with the course subject. The international labour law course for example was given by two teachers who both worked at a very high level within the International Labour Organization. Their experiences and personal insights were very valuable. As a result I learned about the subject both on an academic level as well as on a practical one.

Another advantage of this program is their collaboration with the Raoul Wallenberg Institute. The course Human Rights in the Field for example is given by employees of the RWI, which ensures that the course is realistic and helps you to build real practical skills that are useful for your career as well. This course taught us how to write a project proposal, which is often what you will be doing as an entry level employer at a human rights organization.

What can you expect from your stay in Lund, Sweden?

Lund is a typical university city and houses many Swedish and international students. Its student life is rich and full of variety and is a great opportunity to meet people from all over the world. Both Lund University and its students will make you feel welcome. Especially during the first period, but also during the rest of your stay, they will organize many events that give you the opportunity to take part in all that the student life has to offer. As alumni from Lund University, I personally advise you to take full advantage of Lund’s unique student life, because you will without a doubt make friends and memories that you carry with you for the rest of your life.

The post Tuition-Free Masters in Human Rights Law (Lund University, Sweden) appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Note: This article was published in 2017. In the meanwhile, all universities have introduced tuition fees for international students. At some universities, students from EEA/EU may still be able to study without paying tuition. It might be a better choice to visit our more up-to-date directory of masters in human rights and explore what scholarships are available.

Master of Laws in International Human Rights Law (Lund University, Sweden)

No other Masters of Laws program combines resources from a prestigious law school and an implementation-oriented human rights institution such as the Raoul Wallenbery Institute. Alumni career prospects are with international organizations such as the UN, NGOs, private law firms, and public authorities. This program requires a thesis with no internship option. Lund University has partner universities in over 70 countries and is ranked among the world’s top 100 universities.

Master of Philosophy in the Theory and Practice of Human Rights (University of Oslo, Norway)

These two master’s degree programs require completion of nine courses and the final part consists of a written thesis through which the student will acquire methodological and practical skills well suited to match a growing demand for professionals with a background in human rights. Students are given opportunities to do practical work like mock trials and internships while discussions human rights through social and cultural practices. Former students have become employees as human rights field workers, judges, researchers and teachers.

Master in Human Rights and Multiculturalism (Buskerud and Vestfold University College, Norway)

This is an interdisciplinary program unique in Europe, focusing on human rights and culture at local, national, regional and international levels. The program is designed to accommodate students with degrees in different academic disciplines. Because human rights knowledge and awareness of the public issues are crucial elements in the realization of human rights, the study of human rights education and human rights in professional practice are important elements in the program. The completion of the program requires a master’s thesis with no internship route.

Master of Social Sciences in International Human Rights Law (Åbo Akademi University, Finland)

This program is designed to prepare its graduates for challenging human rights careers in international and non-governmental organizations and public administration. The Department of Law is closely linked with the Institute for Human Rights, which is a renowned unit at Åbo Akademi University. Elective courses can be taken from both the Department of Women’s Studies and Turku

Master of Social Sciences in Ethnic Relations, Cultural Diversity and Integration (University of Helsinki Finland)

The ERI program includes human rights aspects, covering topics such as migration, integration, identity, the relationship between minorities and majorities, nationalism and prejudice. As a graduate of a Master of Social Science students are qualified to work in both the public as well as the private sector, in governmental administration or in various types of organizations such as ministries, important public institutions, NGO headquarters and the faculties in the fields of education, law, social sciences, arts and theology.

The post 5 Tuition Free Master Degrees in Human Rights appeared first on Human Rights Careers.