Related courses

• MA Theory and Practice of Human Rights (Part-time)
• PhD Human Rights (Full-time)
• PhD Human Rights (Part-time)
• PhD Human Rights and Research Methods (Full-time)
• PhD Human Rights and Research Methods (Part-time)
• PhD Law (Full-time)
• PhD Law (Part-time)
• LLM Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Full-time)
• LLM Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Part-time)
• LLM European Union Law (Full-time)
• LLM European Union Law (Part-time)
• LLM International Business Law (Full-time)
• LLM International Commercial Law (Full-time)
• LLM International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (Full-time)
• LLM International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (Part-time)
• LLM International Human Rights Law (Full-time)
• LLM International Human Rights Law (Part-time)
• LLM International Trade Law (Full-time)
• LLM International Trade Law (Part-time)
• LLM Internet Law (Full-time)
• LLM Internet Law (Part-time)
• LLM UK Human Rights and Public Law (Full-time)
• LLM UK Human Rights and Public Law (Part-time)
• MA Human Rights and Cultural Diversity (Full-time)
• MA Human Rights and Cultural Diversity (Part-time)
• MSc Human Rights and Research Methods (Full-time)
• MSc Human Rights and Research Methods (Part-time)
• PG Diploma European Union Law (Full-time)
• PG Diploma Internet Law (Full-time)
• PG Diploma UK Human Rights and Public Law (Full-time)
• Graduate Diploma European Union Law with English for Academic Purposes (Full-time)
• PG Diploma International Trade Law (Full-time)

Introduction

A Masters course is an academically rigorous programme during which you explore your subject in depth, reaching a high level of specialist knowledge. You draw on knowledge and skills from your undergraduate study or your professional life to produce work of a high academic standard, informed by current thinking and debate.

A Masters course lasts for twelve months (full-time), starting in October, and consists of taught modules during your autumn and spring terms, and normally a research-based dissertation or other project-based work submitted in September. Your balance of modules and research varies according to the subject but, typically, your research counts for 60 credits and there are 120 credits of modules, varying from 10 to 40 credits each. (If you are from the EU, then our Masters courses are regarded as ‘second-cycle’ qualifications under the Bologna Declaration and consist of 90 ECTS credits).

Please note that module information on our course finder provides a guide to course content and may be subject to review on an annual basis.

Stage 1 Modules

Compulsory: Dissertation: Ma Theory And Practice Human Rights
Core: Human Rights Colloquium
Acute Crises And Displacement
Business And Human Rights
Citizenship, International Migration And Human Rights
Colonialism, Culture And Human Rights
Comparative Politics Of Human Rights
Contemporary Issues In Human Rights And Cultural Diversity
Contemporary Theories Of Justice
Culture And Intimacy
Current Controversies In Criminology And Criminal Justice Policy
Democracy, Citizenship And Constitutions
Detention Under International Law
Development, State Building And Terrorism
Dynamics Of Home And Work
Ethics, Politics And Public Policy: Ma Seminar
European Convention On Human Rights I
European Union Law And Human Rights
Formative Debates In Criminology
Foundations Of Economic, Social And Cultural Rights
Human Rights And Development
Human Rights And Political Theory
Human Rights For Women
Human Rights In The Asia/Pacific Region
International Child Law
International Human Rights Law
International Protection Of The Rights Of Indigenous Peoples
International Security Studies
International Trade And Human Rights
Promotion And Protection Of Human Rights In Africa
Psychoanalysis Of Groups And Organisations
Psychosocial Perspectives On Human Rights
Race And Class In The United States, South Africa And Britain: Select Topics
Social Psychology
Sociology Of Human Rights 1
Sociology Of Human Rights 2: Selected Special Topics
Texts And Documents
The Law Of International Peacekeeping
The Protection Of Minorities In International Law
The Protection Of Refugees And Displaced Persons In International Law
Transitional Justice

Introduction

Your postgraduate study at Essex gives you an opportunity to develop your own ideas and interests, and to engage with thinking at the leading edge of your subject, as part of the research community in our Human Rights Centre, and our wider academic and professional community.

As you are studying a non-science subject, then your teaching mainly takes the form of lectures and classes.

Your assessment is a combination of written coursework, end-of-term tests, practical and laboratory work (where appropriate) and end-of-year exams. During the summer, you will work on a dissertation or individual project included in your final grade.

Teaching methods and styles

Within our Human Rights Centre, our Masters courses are multidisciplinary and provide a first class education in both the intellectual foundations of human rights and in the application of human rights within a complex global environment.

As a student within our Centre, you will be taught and supervised by our staff who are world leaders and experts in the field of human rights.

Your dissertation

If you are taking a Graduate or Postgraduate Diploma, you do not need to do the dissertation.

If you are taking a Masters course, your dissertation is of 15,000 to 16,000 words and you are allocated a suitable supervisor to cover a wide range of human rights topics. You submit your dissertation in September.

Seminars and conferences

Our Human Rights Centre runs an open seminar series that all our students can attend. We also run a variety of student activities including tours to European institutions, trips to Kosovo, Right Skills for Rights workshops, a seminar series and a celebration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. There are also a variety of human rights societies on our Colchester Campus, which are extremely active and that you can get involved with.

Career destinations

Graduates of MA courses within our Human Rights Centre go on to a variety of careers in the governmental, inter-governmental and non-governmental sectors, and undertake further research. Recent graduates of our MA Theory and Practice of Human Rights have found employment as the director of investigations for Malawi Human Rights Commission, a human rights officer for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), an experimental learning director for CIEE, a web writer for the British Red Cross, Grants Manger for the American Councils for International Education, a project officer for Relief International, a campaigner for Amnesty International, the women and housing rights programme officer for the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE) and a photographer for Seb-Nem Photography.

Other graduates now work for the Council of Europe, the United Nations, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Save the Children, Shelter, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Commission of Jurists.

Your employability and Essex

A postgraduate qualification is a major achievement and greatly valued by employers. Recent surveys show that higher degree graduates are more likely to obtain jobs at professional or managerial level and less likely to be unemployed. For some jobs a postgraduate qualification may be essential, for others it offers a competitive edge. Our graduates go into a variety of jobs, where the key employability skills and knowledge they have gained through postgraduate study are put to good use.

Our Languages for All programme lets you study a language, alongside your course, at no extra cost. You can take one of 50 taught language modules on a part-time day-time basis, or undertake flexible web-based learning, or opt for a language module taught in the evening. As employers can struggle to find graduates able to speak more than one language, Languages for All places Essex graduates in a very advantageous position.

If you achieve your Masters, you may wish to extend your knowledge with a research degree and many who graduate from Essex choose to stay here for research study. Some of our Masters may be taken as the first part of an Integrated PhD, leading to your PhD after a further three years of full-time study.

Support for postgraduates

Our University has a range of support services designed to help you to achieve your full potential and get the most out of your studies. These form a co-ordinated network of support, and are an important part of your overall student experience at Essex.

Our staff operate an 'open door' policy so are available to discuss any concerns with you throughout the year.

Research study opportunities

Within our Human Rights Centre, we offer supervision for PhD and MPhil. Our human rights research has always been informed by human rights practice. For many years, our senior staff have held - and continue to occupy - key positions in the United Nations human rights and development fields. We have also conducted numerous cases in Strasbourg, establishing far-reaching precedents that have shaped the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights.