Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. Yes

Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. No

• 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.

The progressive realisation of human rights represents perhaps the most challenging political issue of our times.  This programme aspires to develop and nurture the skills in studnets that would allow them meet that challenge and controbute constructively to both policy and practice in the field of human rights.

• To thoroughly familiarise students with cutting edge issues in the broad area of human rights
• allow students participate constructively in topical debates on human rights
• develop methodological research expertise
• develop oral presentation skills
• develop student's research/writing skills
• enhance group work skills
• facilitate students' professional development to work in HR policy

View All Modules Here

The MSc in Human Rights is a 90-credit programme, including 60 credits of modules taught by staff in the School of Politics and International Relations and the School of Law.  Full time students must take three 10-credit modules in the autumn trimester, and three 10-credit modules in the spring trimester. Students must also submit a thesis worth 30-credits or pursue an Internship instead in the summer trimester. 

Core and Option Modules for MSc Human Rights 

These are the current modules for 2022/23 but are subject to change. Each of the following modules carries 10 credits unless otherwise specified. 

Autumn Trimester Core

• POL41020 Politics of Human Rights 
• POL42330 Research Design

Autumn Trimester Option

• GS40100 Gender, Harm and Justice
• POL40050 Theories of Internat.Relations
• POL40140 Global Issues in Pol Theory
• POL40970 Politics European Governance
• POL41510 Middle East & North Africa
• POL41650 Global Political Econ ofEurope
• POL41800 Theories of Int'l Rels Stream2
• POL41860 Governance, Pol, Dev 10cr
• POL42040 Gender & the Political System
• POL42440 Political Economy of Security

Spring Trimester Core

• EQUL40070 Human Rights Law and Equality
• POL41030 Theory of Human Rights

Spring Trimester Option

• LAW42130 UN Human Rights Practice
• POL40100 Politics of Development
• POL40160 Comparative Public Policy
• POL40370 International Political Econom
• POL40540 Comparative European Politics
• POL41720 Gender, Peace, and Security
• POL41870 Pol Economy & Comparative Dev
• POL41930 Psychology of Conflict in MENA
• POL41980 Peace & Conflict Studies
• POL42000 Political Theory and the EU
• POL42050 Quantitative Text Analysis
• POL42060 International Security
• POL42430 Social Theory & IR

Please note, to be enrolled on POL42430 in Spring, students must have taken and passed either of the following two modules: POL41800 or POL40050.

Summer Trimester

POL42300 SPIRe Internship (30 credits)
or
POL42310 Thesis (30 credits)

MSc Human Rights (W035) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 9310
nonEU    fee per year - € 21520

MSc Human Rights (W110) Part Time
EU          fee per year - € 6110
nonEU    fee per year - € 10760

***Fees are subject to change

Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. Please note that 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. For further information please see International Scholarships.

SPIRe operates a Graduate Scholarship programme, which opens on May 1st. To access details, see SPIRe Graduate Scholarship Scheme. Please note that not all programmes are eligible for this Scholarship, please check the T&C's carefully when they become available.

A primary degree with at least Second Class Honours Grade 1 (2H1) in a relevant subject such as political science, international relations, social science, sociology, history, geography, economics, global studies, public policy, development studies, EU studies, law. 2H1 is equivalent to 60 per cent, B minus or 3.08 GPA - in American system: B or 3.00 GPA.

• Your application will be considered on its individual merits and relevant professional experience will also be taken into account.
• English language requirements: applicants whose first language is not English should have met TOEFL, IELTs, or computer-based TOEFL requirements (600, 6.5, or 250 respectively), or the Cambridge English Test (Certificate in Advanced English at a minimum of Grade B, or Certificate of Proficiency in English at Grade C). Applicants who obtained a previous degree from an English-speaking university may be exempted from this requirement. Click here for further info.
• Students meeting the programme’s academic entry requirements but not the  English language requirements, may enter the programme upon  successful completion of UCD’s Pre-Sessional or International Pre-Master’s Pathway programmes. Please see the following link for further information http://www.ucd.ie/alc/programmes/pathways/ 
• These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes

• MSc Equality Studies FT
• MSc Humanitarian Action FT

The following entry routes are available:

* Courses will remain open until such time as all places have been filled, therefore early application is advised

A comphrensive FAQ can be found here