Study human rights law and transitional justice with world-leading experts in a society transitioning from conflict.
The LLM course based at the Transitional Justice Institute and School of Law, with staff expertise across a range of areas offers an LLM degree which is designed to give students a unique lens on the study of human rights in the contemporary international moment. The programme has been structured to ensure that students obtain a strong academic grounding in both international and domestic human rights law and the issues pertaining to transitional justice. The theme of the programme is 'from local to global and back', exploring the symbiotic relationship between international and municipal human rights law. The programme addresses the various mechanisms by which the rights agenda can be, and has been, advanced at international, regional and municipal levels, and the manner in which knowledge, expertise and experience between these levels has been and continues to be transferred. The programme addresses global challenges like migration and climate change in different modules while overall the programme embodies research and study essential to several Sustainable Development Goals including SDG16 (Peace, justice and strong institutions), SDG10 (reduced inequalities), SDG5 (Gender equality).
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Please contact Ulster University with any queries or questions you might have about:
For any queries regarding getting help with your application, please select Admissions in the drop down below.
For queries related to course content, including modules and placements, please select Course specific information.
We look forward to hearing from you.
In this section
The overall educational aims are to enhance the development of students by deepening their understanding and awareness of the implications of international human rights law and issues relating to transitional justice for states and individuals and to assist students to develop:
Conceptual understanding that enables the student to:
Modules
Here is a guide to the subjects studied on this course.
Courses are continually reviewed to take advantage of new teaching approaches and developments in research, industry and the professions. Please be aware that modules may change for your year of entry. The exact modules available and their order may vary depending on course updates, staff availability, timetabling and student demand. Please contact the course team for the most up to date module list.
All modules are 20 credits, except for the dissertation which is worth 60 credits. Full-time students take 60 credits per semester.
Semester 1 refers to the Autumn semester and semester 2 to the Spring Semester so students starting in January start off with ‘Semester 2’ modules.
Year 1
Semester 1
LAW821 Foundations of International Human Rights Law
Compulsory
Module description
This module seeks to give students a solid overview of the philosophical and doctrinal foundations of international human rights law and related enforcement mechanisms. Students will examine the institutional actors associated with the international human rights movement (legislative, judicial, non-juridical and the role of national human rights institutions. The module seeks to provide students with:
(a) knowledge of the basic theoretical concepts of international human rights law;
(b) The ability to analyse and become familiar with international treaty documents and bodies pertaining to human rights;
(c) Understanding of human rights law in the broader context of public international law including its relationship to other branches of international law; and
(d) Critical exploration of a number of contemporary problems and issues facing the international human rights community.
LAW805 Foundations of Transitional Justice
Compulsory
Module description
The module aims to give students a detailed grasp of contemporary transitional justice debates. It is built around ensuring student familiarity with the historical and theoretical underpinnings of current transitional justice discourse and practice. It also develops knowledge and understanding of both the normative and institutional aspects of the complementary legal regimes of international human rights law, international humanitarian law and international criminal law. Students will also tackle pressing and very real contemporary dilemmas in transitional societies.
The module will also encourage critical reflection on the core theoretical concepts underpinning the field of transitional justice. This will require consideration of the different forms of political transitions - transition from what, transition to what? - and questioning the assumptions of exceptionalism that arise from these contexts. Students will also discuss and critically reflect on the macro goals that some have attributed to transitional justice - including peace, democracy, development, and the rule of law - as well as objectives set for particular forms of transitional justice.
LAW810 Economic Social and Cultural Rights
Optional
Module description
This module aims to enable participants to deepen their understanding of the specific policy and legal challenges faced in the realization of economic, social and cultural rights arising, inter alia, from questions related to foundations of ESCRs, measurement of the progressive realization of ESCRs and the justiciability of these rights, and to develop suggestions how to face these challenges and to strengthen students' analytical skills.
LAW838 Gender and Human Rights
Optional
Module description
This module sets out the core elements of national, regional and international human rights law with regard to the protection of women's rights and gender rights. It aims to acquaint students with societal issues affecting women and gender minorities, and to how the law may respond to and regulate those issues. The module also aims to introduce students to feminist legal theory and its application to human rights laws and policies, to enable students to interrogate contemporary debates on gender through a critical lens.
Year 1
Semester 2
LAW817 Research and Advocacy Methods
Compulsory
Module description
The module aims to:
1. Provide students with an overview of relevant research skills and methodology such that they understand the range of available sources and methodologies which they can use and apply to a human rights law and/ transitional justice, gender, conflict and human rights problem.
2. Provide students with guidance on how to identify and find relevant sources and materials.
3. Enable students to extract the essential points from those sources and materials
4. Enable the students to acquire confidence in exploring their research ideas and the skill to formulate a research proposal.
5. Introduce students to the research guidance.
6. Introduce students to key issues in advocacy such as navigating parliamentary resurces and writing consultation responses.
7. Provide students with the skills to research and to write up a dissertation following guidance regarding presentation, word limit, time-management; and relations with their supervisor/s.
LAW778Public International Law and Contemporary Global Challenges
Compulsory
Module description
The aims are to ensure that students have an understanding of the various applicable sources and regimes of public international law. This will assist students consolidate their knowledge and understanding across other modules in the programme, and will provide a helpful basis for those who wish to engage with public international law in dissertations, or further research and work. The module will: equip students with the ability to locate relevant legal instruments, cases and, soft law documents; and introduce students to key debates and critiques within public international law literature, scholarship, and practice. Further, the aim is to enable students to further develop a range of additional skills, including oral and written legal skills and research skills. Upon completion, students will have a broad understanding of the theory and sources of public international law as well as selected specialised international law regimes.
LAW777 International Migration Law
Optional
Module description
The aim is to ensure that students have an understanding of the various applicable sources of law, are able to locate relevant cases and statutes, and gain an awareness of the key debates and critiques within international migration law literature. Students should further develop a range of additional skills, including oral and written legal skills, research skills, and technical skills, including podcasting. While not all students will proceed to undertake migration-law work in the law clinic as part of their LLM, this module additionally aims to provide students with the necessary knowledge to undertake such work, should they choose to do so.
LAW811 Equality Law
Optional
Module description
This module sets out the core elements of the Northern Irish equality law regime in its British, European and international context. It aims to acquaint students with the evolution of equality law policy across a spectrum of non-discrimination and equality concepts and in relation to a complementary range of enforcement mechanisms, including comparative constitutional mechanisms, culminating in the prospects of the future development of a coherent equality law model, nationally, regionally, and internationally.
Year 1
Semester 3
LAW827 Dissertation
Compulsory
60 credits
Anyone undertaking an advanced Masters programme in Human Rights and Transitional Justice as well as in Gender and Human Rights can be expected to be able to demonstrate an ability to investigate, report and analyse in a coherent and systematic manner on a particular issue, integrating law, policy and practice where appropriate. This module affords students the opportunity to demonstrate this ability, especially by drawing upon skills and knowledge acquired from taught modules, in particular from the theoretical models and concepts
This module aims to allow students to conduct an effective critical investigation of an area of concern or interest in human rights law and to report on that investigation.
Attendance is compulsory for successful completion of the LLM. Modules are delivered through weekly classes. Each module on average involves 3 hours of contact time per week with total effort hours over the semester of 200 per module (36 hours contact, 164 hours independent study).
The LLM Human Rights Law is offered on a full-time and part-time basis. The LLM is 3 semesters full-time or 6 semesters part-time.
All modules are worth 20 credits. One credit point represents 10 notional hours of student effort.
Structure/Coherence/Choice
In order both to maximize the module options available to students, and to offer modules which reflect staff expertise and that are viable (in terms of student numbers), all modules have 20 credit credit points each. This enables the programme to share modules with other programmes in the School and University.
A significant dissertation element is also contained in the degree programme. Students' ability to plan and write a dissertation project under academic supervision is a crucial aspect of postgraduate studies, and one of the factors attracting students to a degree of this nature. During the compulsory and optional taught modules, students are encouraged to develop their perspectives on suitable topics for their dissertation and to acquire legally-based research skills to carry out postgraduate research. In this regard, the LAW817 Research and Advocacy Methods module will dovetail nicely with the LAW827 Dissertation module as students will be formally assessed on a written research proposal. This will help students to prepare for the dissertation through improving their communication, research and legal skills. In so doing, successful students will have the necessary qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment and for continuing professional development.
Full-time students study LAW821 Foundations of International Human Rights Law in Semester 1 and LAW805 Foundations of Transitional Justice and choose one modules from either LAW810 Economic Social and Cultural Rights or LAW838 Gender and Human Rights.
In semester 2 full-time students take LAW817 Research and Advocacy Methods and two of the optional modules LAW778 Public International Law and Contemporary Global Challenges, LAW777 International Migration Law or LAW811 Equality Law. There is an option for students to start in January and so complete the modules in a different order; modules have been designed to allow this.
Part-time students: In the first year they are recommended to take LAW821 Foundations of International Human Rights Law and and LAW805 Foundations of Transitional Justice. In year 2 they take LAW817 Research and Advocacy Methods and remaining optional modules.
With the exception of the dissertation all modules are assessed by two pieces of coursework, e.g., a blog or case study and an essay
The content for each course is summarised on the relevant course page, along with an overview of the modules that make up the course.
Each course is approved by the University and meets the expectations of:
As part of your course induction, you will be provided with details of the organisation and management of the course, including attendance and assessment requirements - usually in the form of a timetable. For full-time courses, the precise timetable for each semester is not confirmed until close to the start date and may be subject to some change in the early weeks as all courses settle into their planned patterns. For part-time courses which require attendance on particular days and times, an expectation of the days and periods of attendance will be included in the letter of offer. A course handbook is also made available.
Courses comprise modules for which the notional effort involved is indicated by its credit rating. Each credit point represents 10 hours of student effort. Undergraduate courses typically contain 10, 20, or 40 credit modules (more usually 20) and postgraduate courses typically 15 or 30 credit modules.
The normal study load expectation for an undergraduate full-time course of study in the standard academic year is 120 credit points. This amounts to around 36-42 hours of expected teaching and learning per week, inclusive of attendance requirements for lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical work, fieldwork or other scheduled classes, private study, and assessment. Teaching and learning activities will be in-person and/or online depending on the nature of the course. Part-time study load is the same as full-time pro-rata, with each credit point representing 10 hours of student effort.
Postgraduate Master’s courses typically comprise 180 credits, taken in three semesters when studied full-time. A Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) comprises 60 credits and can usually be completed on a part-time basis in one year. A 120-credit Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) can usually be completed on a part-time basis in two years.
Class contact times vary by course and type of module. Typically, for a module predominantly delivered through lectures you can expect at least 3 contact hours per week (lectures/seminars/tutorials). Laboratory classes often require a greater intensity of attendance in blocks. Some modules may combine lecture and laboratory. The precise model will depend on the course you apply for and may be subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. Prospective students will be consulted about any significant changes.
Assessment methods vary and are defined explicitly in each module. Assessment can be a combination of examination and coursework but may also be only one of these methods. Assessment is designed to assess your achievement of the module’s stated learning outcomes. You can expect to receive timely feedback on all coursework assessments. This feedback may be issued individually and/or issued to the group and you will be encouraged to act on this feedback for your own development.
Coursework can take many forms, for example: essay, report, seminar paper, test, presentation, dissertation, design, artefacts, portfolio, journal, group work. The precise form and combination of assessment will depend on the course you apply for and the module. Details will be made available in advance through induction, the course handbook, the module specification, the assessment timetable and the assessment brief. The details are subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. You will be consulted about any significant changes.
Normally, a module will have 4 learning outcomes, and no more than 2 items of assessment. An item of assessment can comprise more than one task. The notional workload and the equivalence across types of assessment is standardised. The module pass mark for undergraduate courses is 40%. The module pass mark for postgraduate courses is 50%.
The class of Honours awarded in Bachelor’s degrees is usually determined by calculation of an aggregate mark based on performance across the modules at Levels 5 and 6, (which correspond to the second and third year of full-time attendance).
Level 6 modules contribute 70% of the aggregate mark and Level 5 contributes 30% to the calculation of the class of the award. Classification of integrated Master’s degrees with Honours include a Level 7 component. The calculation in this case is: 50% Level 7, 30% Level 6, 20% Level 5. At least half the Level 5 modules must be studied at the University for Level 5 to be included in the calculation of the class.
All other qualifications have an overall grade determined by results in modules from the final level of study.
In Masters degrees of more than 200 credit points the final 120 points usually determine the overall grading.
Figures from the academic year 2022-2023.
The overall educational aims of the programme are to enhance the development of students by deepening their understanding and awareness of the implications of international human rights law and issues relating to transitional justice for states and individuals.
The University employs over 1,000 suitably qualified and experienced academic staff - 60% have PhDs in their subject field and many have professional body recognition.
Courses are taught by staff who are Professors (19%), Readers, Senior Lecturers (22%) or Lecturers (57%).
We require most academic staff to be qualified to teach in higher education: 82% hold either Postgraduate Certificates in Higher Education Practice or higher. Most academic and learning support staff (85%) are recognised as fellows of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) by Advance HE - the university sector professional body for teaching and learning. Many academic and technical staff hold other professional body designations related to their subject or scholarly practice.
The profiles of many academic staff can be found on the University’s departmental websites and give a detailed insight into the range of staffing and expertise. The precise staffing for a course will depend on the department(s) involved and the availability and management of staff. This is subject to change annually and is confirmed in the timetable issued at the start of the course.
Occasionally, teaching may be supplemented by suitably qualified part-time staff (usually qualified researchers) and specialist guest lecturers. In these cases, all staff are inducted, mostly through our staff development programme ‘First Steps to Teaching’. In some cases, usually for provision in one of our out-centres, Recognised University Teachers are involved, supported by the University in suitable professional development for teaching.
Figures from the academic year 2022-2023.
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We recognise a range of qualifications for admission to our courses. In addition to the specific entry conditions for this course you must also meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements.
In this section
A second class Honours degree or above or equivalent recognised qualification in Law, Social Sciences, Humanities or a cognate discipline. Allowance may be made for special qualifications, experience and background, and students with other academic backgrounds will be considered, where applicants can demonstrate their ability to undertake the programme through the accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL) or accreditation of prior learning (APL).
English language requirements for international applicants
The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.
Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.
In this section
Previous graduates have gone onto positions in the local human rights sector and public sector in Northern Ireland, research and policy officer positions, to legal practice in areas related to the LLM and to PhD research. Further, previous graduates have secured work in the United Nations and in international non-governmental organisations.
Postgraduate fees are subject to annual review, 2025/26 fees will be announced in due course.
See our tuition fees page for the current fees for 2024/25 entry.
Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission Dissertation Prize
N/A
It is important to remember that costs associated with accommodation, travel (including car parking charges) and normal living will need to be covered in addition to tuition fees.
Where a course has additional mandatory expenses (in addition to tuition fees) we make every effort to highlight them above. We aim to provide students with the learning materials needed to support their studies. Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. Computer suites and free Wi-Fi are also available on each of the campuses.
There are additional fees for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.
Students choosing a period of paid work placement or study abroad as a part of their course should be aware that there may be additional travel and living costs, as well as tuition fees.
See the tuition fees on our student guide for most up to date costs.
We know that choosing to study at university is a big decision, and you may not always be able to find the information you need online.
Please contact Ulster University with any queries or questions you might have about:
For any queries regarding getting help with your application, please select Admissions in the drop down below.
For queries related to course content, including modules and placements, please select Course specific information.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Ulster continues to develop and support sustainability initiatives with our staff, students, and external partners across various aspects of teaching, research, professional services operations, and governance.
At Ulster every person, course, research project, and professional service area on every campus either does or can contribute in some way towards the global sustainability and climate change agenda.
We are guided by both our University Strategy People, Place and Partnerships: Delivering Sustainable Futures for All and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Our work in this area is already being recognised globally. Most recently by the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact rating where we were recognised as Joint 5th Globally for Outreach Activities and Joint Top 20 Globally for Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnership for the Goals.
Visit our Sustainability at Ulster destination to learn more about how the University strategy and the activities of Ulster University support each of the Sustainable Development Goals.
