Programme outline
About the programme
Human rights is an interdisciplinary field and require an understanding of legal and political processes, globalization, social structures and civil society, methodologies needed to ensure reliable data, and the cultural and ethnic boundaries that challenge human rights implementation.
One programme - four universities
The Erasmus Mundus master’s programme in Human Rights Policy and Practice is organized by a consortium of four partner universities:
The University of Gothenburg, Sweden (lead partner);
The University of Deusto, Bilbao/San Sebastian, Spain;
Roehampton University, London, UK;
The Arctic University of Norway (UIT), Tromsø, Norway.
The first semester of study begins in August and takes place at the University of Gothenburg, the second semester at the University of Deusto, and a third semester at the University of Roehampton. Mobility to Norway will be included for those students supervised in their master thesis by UIT. Teaching modules will be complemented with a Professional Seminar Series, field visits, and an internship during the third semester with a human rights organization in London. During the fourth semester, you are required to write a dissertation, supervised by academic staff from one of the four partner universities.
Immersive learning and joint teaching
The programme offers a uniquely comprehensive and immersive approach to teaching and learning, allowing you to build your skills, knowledge, and practical experience and prepare yourself to be a confident professional in the field of human rights.
Through lectures, group teaching, seminars, and field visits, you will learn about these main subjects:
human rights theory
human rights in the context of politics and the market economy
research methods and methodologies
human rights defenders
social movements and nongovernmental organizations
Preparing you for professional work in human rights
Our programme has an enhanced focus on employability and professionalization. Particular attention is paid to provide you with a range of core skills for employment, such as report writing, project management, campaign creation, and public speaking, embedded throughout the various modules.
Furthermore, the Professional Seminar Series will give you additional opportunities to practise what you learn. Associate Partners from academia and the public, corporate, and third sectors are involved in the design and delivery of the seminars, and in organizing study visits throughout the duration of the programme. Lastly, during the third semester, there is an internship possibility with a human rights organization in London. These various forms of integrated collaboration will prepare you for the challenges of building and enhancing your career after graduation in the field of human rights.
Do you have any questions? Please contact our program administrators: emhrppugot@gu.se
Structure and content
The first semester in Sweden lays the foundation for the programme by introducing human rights as an interdisciplinary field and begins to examine where responsibility for human rights should lie.
The second semester in Spain prepares you to produce and access quality human rights knowledge and evidence, and examines relativistic approaches to human rights in light of cultural and ethnic diversity.
The third semester in the UK gives you the opportunity to practise what you have learned through an internship at a human rights organization in London, the Professional Seminar Series, and modules about theorizing human rights and social change.
The fourth semester consists of writing your master’s thesis in Human Rights Policy and Practice, based at one of the four partner universities.
Who should apply?
Apply to the programme if you are looking to gain critical knowledge of human rights and want to pursue international studies. The programme offers a unique interdisciplinary take on human rights, and broaden your skillset with both in-depth academic studies and practical experience.
After graduation
Graduates receive the joint Degree of Master of Arts in Human Rights Policy and Practice, issued by the University of Gothenburg.
After graduation, you will be prepared to:
work professionally and effectively with the protection, promotion, and implementation of human rights in a changing global context;
use analytical skills and expertise in human rights perspectives, contexts, organizations, policy-making, and practice;
evaluate and apply these skills to different cases and environments;
and develop human rights-based policies, programmes, and projects with professionalism.
Our alumni work for nongovernmental organizations such as Amnesty International, Doctors Without Borders, and Save the Children, in various UN agencies, and as lawyers, researchers, and teachers.