• Familiarize with International Human Rights Documents

Legal documents like the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights or the Convention on the Rights of the Child will accompany you throughout your human rights studies. In many Master programmes you will be encouraged to use the book Blackstone’s International Human Rights Documents – which contains all human rights core instruments – during your exams. Familiarizing with the structure, content and terminology of these documents, will help you succeed not only in drafting essays and written exams, but also during heated classroom discussions. Whatever is the focus of your human rights degree, to know these documents, is useful under any circumstances. Knowing them already in the beginning of your human rights study, will give you a tremendous advantage.

• Relate human rights to your personal background
  

During your studies you will often be callenged to reflect on how human rights relate to your personal life. What made you choose a human rights degree? What are the issues you would like to tackle? How do those issues relate to your own experience? Brainstorming on those questions will give you more confidence during discussions with fellows and helps you underpin your statements with pratical examples. If you are not sure, what human rights are at stake in your country, have a look at the Universal Periodic Review to get an overview.

• Prepare for your fieldtrip

If the curriculum of your Human Rights Studies contains a fieldtrip to a post conflict area or to one of the impressive human rights institutions like the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg or the International Criminal Court in The Hague make sure you spend time in advance to learn something about the context. In post-conflict areas try to get a better understanding of the historical context and expand your knowledge to the current issues: What human rights organizations are currently working in the area? What is their mission and purpose? If you are visiting one of the human rights courts try to investigate the basics about how the court functions: What are the admissibility criteria? What is it’s mandate? How is the court structured? How are human rights complaints received?

• Take part in a FREE human rights course

There are dozens of outstanding free and open human rights courses out there in the web. Some of these courses are self-paced and you can decide wether you take the whole course in a two days marathon or stretch it over several months. In either case these courses offer high quality human rights education and are provided by renowned universities and non governmental organizations for free. While these courses can never replace the vivid exchange of thoughts and personal interaction on the campus, they are still a great and accessible source to get a better understanding of the basics of human rights.

• Find out where you fit in

During your studies you will get to know a diverse group of people with various backgrounds, motives and goals. Some of them may become diplomats at the OSCE, others will work at the EU or the UN, and others will join a local, regional or global NGO to advance human rights. While all these institutions have a commitment towards human rights, the way how they work can differ significantly. Don’t try to fit in. Rather find out where you fit. If you follow your own passion, style and commitments, chances are much higher that you land a job that really suits you, where you can drive effective change for human rights.

The post 5 Ways To Prepare For Your Human Rights Studies 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.