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Situations of armed conflict and acute crisis affects the lives of millions of people globally. How does international law regulate the conduct of hostilities, and the protection of victims of conflict and acute crisis? What are the implications of developments like the so-called ‘war on terror' and ‘migration crisis' on the effectiveness of international law? Are the existing legal frameworks fit-for-purpose in responding to the challenges posed by new technologies such as automated weapons and cyber warfare? In recent years, armed conflicts in Syria, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Yemen, amongst others, have reminded us that the need to ensure respect for international law is as acute as ever.

Our LLM International Human Rights Law is the oldest established human rights law course in Europe, and reflects our University's global reputation as the leading centre for human rights research, practice and education. In 2009 the University was awarded the Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education in recognition of its excellence in the advancement of human rights.

After the economic crisis and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, are you concerned about the impacts of austerity and public health measures on economic, social and cultural rights? Are you interested in public policies and laws – on health, education, housing or food security – and how human rights can make a difference? Our ground-breaking LLM Economic, Social and Cultural Rights builds on our distinctive expertise and reputation of working on the protection of economic, social and cultural rights in countries around the world and at the United Nations.

Our Human Rights Centre is one of the world's oldest and most highly-respected environments for the multi-disciplinary study of human rights. Studying human rights at Essex will enable you to become a member of one of the world's largest, most culturally diverse and professionally successful community of human rights students, practitioners and academics.

Delve in to the legal principles surrounding the exciting field of global trade with a focus on the shipping industry.

For our PhD Human Rights and Research Methods, we offer supervision in all areas of staff expertise including: domestic protection of international human rights standards; free speech and law; health and human rights; human rights law; international law of armed conflicts; international of peace keeping; international humanitarian law; UK human rights; and UN international organisation law. Our former PhD students have gone on to work in legal practice, commerce and industry, the non-governmental organisation sector and academia, including the academic community in Essex Law School.

Learn to think globally, tackling the complex and ever-changing regulation of businesses in the UK, Europe, and across the world. Our LLM International Commercial and Business Law is a specialist course covering contemporary developments and debates related to the traditional and emerging forms of legal governance of domestic, European and international commercial and consumer markets.

What responsibilities do businesses owe to society? How do national law and international law interact and what is their role in Corporate Responsibility? How do companies ensure they operate ethically? How well do organisations understand and address the urgency of sustainable development? Corporate Responsibility is a key global concern and these are all questions of necessity for businesses all over the world.

Economic actors and institutions - including private businesses, the World Bank, and the WTO - can have a profound impact on the realisation of human rights. Whether it's a case of an indigenous community displaced from their land for the benefit of a mining company, a World Bank-funded dam that pollutes the environment, or a state being unable to provide crucial medicines because of international property agreements, understanding the relationship between human rights and economic actors, activities, and institutions is necessary for securing the full realisation of rights.

Delve in to the legal principles surrounding the exciting field of global trade with a focus on the shipping industry.