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Course Title:
LLM in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law

Entry Criteria:
Applicants should normally either have a good 2:1 (or equivalent) degree in law, or in a related subject such as International Relations, or a good 2:1 (or equivalent) degree or comparable qualification in some other subject and significant relevant field experience. IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL 250/600
[If an applicant does not meet the specified criteria, he or she may discuss the application with the Head of Postgraduate Admissions.]

Admissions:
Applicants interested in applying for this course should contact Hayley Milburn, LLM Graduate Administrator; for more information about this course please contact either Professor Geoff Gilbert or Professor Françoise Hampson.

English Language Requirements:
Non-UK students are generally required to produce evidence of proficiency in the English Language. We are able to take into account some school or other English Language grades as well as IELTS or similar. Please contact us if you have queries.

Information for Prospective Postgraduates:

LLM in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law

StudentsFinal Award: LLM, Master
Mode of study: Full time
Location: Colchester Campus

Aims and Objectives

The School of Law wishes to announce the launch of a new postgraduate masters degree in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law to commence in October 2009. The new LLM builds on the success of the long-established LLM in International Human Rights Law, founded 25 years ago, which is the world-leading degree in its field.

This degree examines how international law protects individuals in all the many varied situations of acute crisis. The degree starts with core modules exploring the rules of general public international law most relevant to the study of human rights, humanitarian law and international peacekeeping, together with the international machinery for the protection of human rights, and the international law of armed conflict. In the Spring Term there is another core module on substantive international human rights law. In addition, students choose five other options over the course of the year from modules including the Law of International Peacekeeping, the Protection of Refugees and Displaced Persons in International Law, Acute Crises and Displacement, International Criminal Law and Topics in the Law of Armed Conflict. Students would also be permitted, with the approval of the scheme director, to take the equivalent of two one-term courses from options offered on the LLM. in International Human Rights Law or the MA in International Relations. As well as the taught course components, students have to undertake two significant pieces of independent research: a 20000 word dissertation over the summer, but also a 6000 word research essay as the mode of assessment for one of their second term options. 

In addition, the University has established strong links with Colchester Garrison, home to the United Kingdom’s Rapid Reaction Force, 16th Air Assault Brigade – since the mid-1990s, postgraduate students have taken part in the annual SimulEx with officers from the Brigade, exploring the humanitarian and military aspects of hypothetical scenarios set in conflict or post-conflict situations. Subject to the commitments of the Brigade, the SimulEx will form a part of the new LLM. Students will also be eligible to take part in the Concours Pictet, a competition in the field of the law of armed conflict. 

This course should appeal to those looking to work with humanitarian organizations in the field, those who have such experience and who want to examine the legal aspects in more detail, members of the military seeking to broaden their understanding of the international law pertaining to peacekeeping and other types of military operation, and members of governments or international organizations responsible for establishing peacekeeping or other humanitarian operations. The course should normally be taken full-time over 12 months, but, in exceptional circumstances and in accordance with all other rules and regulations, students can take it part-time over 24 months.

The Human Rights Centre

Over the past quarter of a century the Human Rights Centre has headed up the Democratic Audit of the United Kingdom; it has established the Right to Health Unit to support the work of the former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, Professor Paul Hunt, on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office it has researched, produced and published four Manuals for Combating Torture and Unlawful Killings that have been translated into more than eight languages and has been distributed and used worldwide: members of the Human Rights Centre provide training to various organisations and governments, such as Amnesty International, the United Nations and parts of the British Government. It is the home of the International Journal of Refugee Law.

 

The Human Rights and Humanitarian Law Team

Teaching on the LLM is carried out by the academic experts affiliated to the School of Law and the Human Rights Centre. The team includes:

Professor Kevin Boyle
Professor Geoff Gilbert
Professor Paul Hunt
Professor Francoise Hampson
Professor Sheldon Leader (Research Co-ordinator)
Professor John Packer (Director)
Professor Sir Nigel Rodley (Chair)
Clara Sandoval
Scott Sheeran
Professor Jane Wright

 

Course Structure

The LLM in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law has three elements: modules, essays/take home exams/other forms of exams and a dissertation. The first six months are spent doing the modules, writing the Foundation essay and the exams. The dissertation is written during the period from the end of May to September.

Students are required to take the equivalent of eight half modules. Generally speaking, a module lasting one term is a half module and one lasting two terms is a full module ; a non-law module that lasts three terms, however, is worth one full module.

Students are required to take the compulsory modules, The Fundamentals of International Law for Humanitarian Situations (full year) and the International law of Armed Conflict (Autumn Term).

Compulsory Modules:
The Fundamentals of International Law for Humanitarian Situations (LW801)
Introduction to the Law of Armed Conflicts (LW903)

Optional Modules include (not all will run every year):
Topics in the International Law of Armed Conflict (LW904)
International Criminal Law (LW905)
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (LW906)
The Protection of Refugees and Displaced Persons in International Law (LW907)
Comparative Public and Human Rights (LW908) (sorry not running this year)
Law of International Peacekeeping (LW909)
International Child Law (LW910)
European Convention on Human Rights I (LW911)
European Convention of Human Rights II (LW912) (sorry not running this year)
Protection Minorities In International Law (LW914)
Human Rights and Development (LW915)
International Trade and Human Rights (LW917)
Human Rights for Women (LW918)
Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in Africa (LW919)
The Inter-American System of Human Rights (LW920)
Human Rights Across Nations and Cultures (LW921)(sorry not running this year)
Business and Human Rights (LW922)
Human Rights and the Environment (LW925) (sorry not running this year)
Acute Crises and Displacement (LW926)
Transitional Justice (LW927)

Further information is available from the University's Module Directory.

Foundation Essay:
The Foundation essay is intended to provide an early opportunity to engage in legal analysis and writing. The essay, of nor more that 2,500 words, is written in the answers applying international law to a number of hypothetical fact situations.

Dissertation:
A major component of the course is in the LLM dissertation, the topic is chosen by the candidate in agreement with a member of the teaching staff by the end of the second term. The dissertation, of between 15,000 and 20,000 words must be handed in by 15th September.

Assessment
Each module is assessed in a manner appropriate to the course. The modules/take home exams together (averaged) count for 67% of the total mark and the dissertation paper counts for 33% of the total mark. In one Spring Term module, students will substitute a 5000 word research essay in that area of study for the normal assessment for that moule

Internship
It is strongly recommended that students undertake at least a one-month internship with an intergovernmental or non-governmental organisation in London, Geneva or elsewhere.

Organisations with which internships have been arranged in the past include:

UNHCR
OHCHR
Anti-Slavery International (London)
JUSTICE (the British section of the International Commission of Jurists (London)
Article 19 (London)
Council of Europe (Strasbourg)
Interights (London)
International Service for Human Rights (Geneva)

 

Giulia Mereu Scholarship

The Giulia Mereu Scholarship is awarded annually to a student on the LLM in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law.

This scholarship has been established by the family and friends of Giulia Mereu who lost her life at age 26, in 1996, while monitoring human rights violations in the former Yugoslavia. She had been an Intern with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and was serving as a Civil Affairs Officer with the United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium when the tragedy occurred. The aim of the scholarship is to enable those who might otherwise not be able to study the discipline of human rights to do so and to ensure that Giulia Mereu's ideals live on.

This scholarship, instituted in 1997, covers the equivalent of home/EU tuition fees for the academic year as well as a modest allowance to enable the recipient to undertake a one-month internship with a human rights organisation.

Eligibility and Criteria

The candidate should have relevant field experience in human rights, working in a country in a situation of acute crisis as Giulia did, and should not have the means to pay for postgraduate studies at Essex.

You must hold an offer of a place on the LLM in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law.

Details of how to apply will be sent out with offer letters.

Academic year 2010/11: The deadline date for applications is Friday 11 June 2010. The successful applicants will be contacted by Friday 2 July 2010.

It is expected that all applicants for the Giulia Mereu Scholarship will have sought funding elsewhere.

Applicants interested in applying for this course should contact Hayley Milburn, LLM Graduate Administrator; for more information about this course please contact either Professor Geoff Gilbert or Professor Françoise Hampson.

 

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