Course profile: Masters in International Human Rights Law, University of Oxford.

Publish date	2008-01-04
Available Articles	Full articles without membership

What is it?
This is a part-time degree programme offered over two academic years. It involves several periods of distance learning via the internet as well as two summer sessions held at New College, Oxford. The degree programme is designed in particular for lawyers and other human rights professionals who wish to pursue advanced studies in international human rights law but may need to do so alongside their work or family responsibilities.

Who is it for?
The aim of the degree programme is to train and support future leaders in the field of international human rights law. A central objective of the course is to ensure that participants not only know but can also use human rights law. The curriculum places roughly equal emphasis on substance of human rights law, its implementation and research.

The purpose of the course is to develop understanding of international human rights law and ability to make a contribution to this field.

The programme of study places emphasis on increasing understanding of the scope and limits of international human rights law principles and institutions, capacity to think analytically about the further implementation of the law, and research.

What do I learn?
The course of study consists of four main components: The Fundamentals of International Human Rights Law; The Implementation and Development of International Human Rights Law (currently comparative regional human rights systems; social, economic and cultural rights; and international criminal law); Populations at Heightened Risk of Human Rights Violations (currently children, minorities and indigenous peoples, refugees and other forced migrants and women); A 20,000-word dissertation.

The degree is assessed by examinations (40 per cent), dissertation (40 per cent) and coursework (20 per cent).

What are the strengths of the course?
The part-time nature of the programme means that human rights organisations will not lose key members of staff for an extended period of full-time study. A further advantage of the format is that the faculty is recruited globally and includes eminent human rights scholars and practitioners.

Between 20-30 students are admitted each year. Students come from every continent and work in private practice, with the United Nations and other international organizations, many non-governmental organizations, with the armed forces, in universities, the media, medicine and many other fields.

The degree programme seeks to expand access to the offerings of the University of Oxford for human rights professionals who are not in a position to undertake full-time study.

How am I taught?
During the distance-taught parts of the course, students engage in tutorials, essay writing and group discussions with their tutors and other members of the class using the course website and email. Course materials are provided by post or over the internet. The mode of instruction during the Oxford residential session emphasises close student/tutor contact, active student participation and small group work.

How long will it take?
The programme is completed in 25 months. There are 15 hours online tuition per week as well as two full-time summer schools.

How much does it cost?
Total course fee is £14,085 plus an annual college fee (approximately £1,000).

Keywords: International Human Rights, United Nations, Distance Learning, Human Rights Law, University of Oxford.

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