MSc in Human Rights
Dublin, Ireland
MSc
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 22,600 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for non-EU citizens | 10350 EUR per year for EU citizens | for part-time: 11300 EUR (non-EU) / 6580 EUR (EU)
Fast-track counseling
By contacting the school, you'll get access to free priority counselling for any study and application questions.
Key Summary
The MSc in Human Rights is a one-year intensive course that prepares you for a career in human rights research, policy, or advocacy in international organisations, governmental and non-governmental bodies, or academia. There is also a two-year part-time option.
- You will explore the theory, politics, and law of human rights and examine the mechanisms and limitations of national and international action to protect human rights.
- You will either complete a research dissertation or undertake a monitored internship.
UN Sustainable Development Goals
UCD is strongly committed to advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), embedding sustainability in teaching, research, operations, and community engagement. Sustainability principles are integrated into this programme, ensuring students graduate equipped to address global challenges. UCD’s leadership in this area is internationally recognised, ranking 49th globally and 1st in Ireland in the QS World University Rankings for Sustainability 2024. UCD also leads impactful research in areas such as climate action, clean energy, and social equity, supported by a comprehensive Sustainability Strategy focused on reducing emissions, enhancing biodiversity, and fostering a sustainable campus culture.
Here are the SDGs that align more visibly with this programme:
- 10 - Reduced Inequalities
- 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
- 16 - Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
World Top 100 in the QS Ranking 2024 in Politics; Oldest and Largest School of its Kind in Ireland.
UCD School of Politics & International Relations is the oldest and largest school of its kind in Ireland, with over 150 years of experience in political studies and a world-renowned faculty drawn from many countries.
- To thoroughly familiarise students with cutting edge issues in the broad area of human rights
- allow students to participate constructively in topical debates on human rights
- develop methodological research expertise
- develop oral presentation skills
- develop students' research/writing skills
- enhance group work skills
- facilitate students' professional development to work in HR policy
Graduates work with international private-sector employers, government agencies, and NGOs as:
- Human Rights Specialist
- Field Officer
- Human Rights Consultant
- Child Protection Adviser
- Public Information Officer
- Journalist
Recent graduates of MSc in Human Rights now work in:
- Front Line Defenders
- United Nations, New York and Geneva
- Amnesty International
- Médecins sans Frontières
- PLAN Ireland
- Irish Aid
- Oxfam
The UCD School of Politics and International Relations (SPIRe) has established an internship programme for graduate students undertaking MA programmes in Politics, International Relations, International Political Economy, International Development, Peace and Conflict, MEconSc European Public Affairs and Law, MSc Human Rights and MSc Politics and Data Science. You can either opt for a Master's thesis or an internship of at least 480 hours, typically undertaken from June to August.
Core Modules
- Politics of Human Rights
- Research Design
- Human Rights Law and Equality
- Theory of Human Rights
1 of the following options:
- SPIRe Internship
- Thesis
20 credits from the following:
- Gender and Development (10)
- Law of the ECHR (10)
- International Refugee Law (10)
- Theories of International Relations (10)
- Politics of European Governance (10)
- Peace & Conflict Studies (10)
- Gender & the Political System (10)
- Politics of International Trade and Investment (10)
- Applied Data Wrangling and Visualization (5)
- Feminist Theory (10)
- Connected Politics 1 (5)
- United Nations Human Rights Practice (10)
- International Migration Law (10)
- Gender, Conflict-Related Harm, & Transitional Justice (10)
- Politics of Development (10)
- Theories of Global Justice (10)
- Comparative Public Policy (10)
- International Political Economy (10)
- Comparative European Politics (10)
- EU Foreign, Security, and Defence Plicy (10)
- Gender, Peace, and Security (10)Policy
- Political Violence (10)
- Quantitative Text Analysis (10)
- International Security (10)
- IR Theory: Conflict and Identity (10)
- AI and Large Language Models (10)
UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme.
SPIRe operates a Graduate Scholarship programme, which normally opens in late Spring. Please note that not all programmes are eligible for this Scholarship.