MA in International Law and Human Rights
Tallinn, Estonia
MA
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
EUR 4,200 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* There are no tuition waivers.
Key Summary
Why study International Law and Human Rights?
- The program aims to provide a good comparative perspective on the issues of international law and human rights, relying on our historical experience and geographical position — Estonia is located where the “West” and the “East” meet.
- Practice is a compulsory component of the program, giving students an opportunity to apply acquired knowledge in different practical situations and develop practical skills in a professional environment.
- The School of Law is one of the oldest faculties of the University of Tartu, where lawyers have been educated since the university was founded in 1632. Our alumni form 87% of the attorneys-at-law, 95% of the prosecutors and nearly all of the judges in Estonia. Also, Estonia’s previous and current judges at the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union obtained their degrees at the University of Tartu.
- Studies take place in the capital, Tallinn, where various international organizations and relevant state institutions are located, allowing us to incorporate their representatives and experience to the teaching process and to find practice places with them.
- Students can take part in Martens Summer School on International Law, which takes place in Pärnu, the “summer capital” of Estonia. The summers school addresses current developments and challenges in international law and human rights and involves internationally renowned speakers, e.g. Bruno Simma, Christian Tomuschat, Angelika Nussberger. Alexander Trunk.
International Law and Human Rights is a 2-year master's programme providing comprehensive knowledge of the principles, regulations, subjects and practice in the field of international law and human rights.
The curriculum consists of:
- compulsory general courses (48 ECTS)
- elective courses (30 ECTS)
- optional courses (6 ECTS)
- practice courses (6 ECTS)
- master's thesis (30 ECTS)
Examples of courses:
- History and Theory of International Law
- Human Rights Law
- Law and Practice of the United Nations
- Public International Law
- International Settlement of Disputes
- Comparative International Law
- Data Protection
The University of Tartu belongs to the top 1.2% of the world's universities.
View our rankings.
Students can obtain comprehensive knowledge of international law and human rights. All students are given strong ground knowledge in international law and human rights. Then they can expand their expertise in specific areas, depending on their needs and interests, by taking various elective courses.
Many School of Law graduates have become outstanding international law scholars and practitioners.
There are no tuition waivers.
Career opportunities
Graduates have a competitive advantage in applying to and are well-prepared to work for international organizations as well as the public and private sector. As international law and human rights are global, the graduates are prepared to start their career potentially anywhere in the world. The increasing globalization, the importance of international legal regulations, and the role and proliferation of international organizations provide new opportunities for people with specialized knowledge and skills in international law and human rights.
- The University of Tartu is ranked in the top 350 universities in the world.
- Studies take place in the capital of Estonia, Tallinn. Besides our law school’s professors of international law and human rights, representatives from various branches of the Estonian government participate in the teaching process.
- Graduates are well-prepared to work for international or state institutions and organisations in the private sector or pursue a further academic career at the doctoral level.
- An internship is a compulsory part of the programme.
International law has been taught at the University of Tartu since the 17th century. Many School of Law graduates have become outstanding international law scholars and practitioners. - Students and alumni come from a diverse range of countries from all over the world.