Human Rights

The MSc in Human Rights is a one-year intensive course that prepares you for a career in human rights research, policy or advocacy in international organisations, governmental and non-governmental bodies, or academia. There is also a two-year part time option.



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.

Module Trimester Credits



Stage 1 Core Modules

POL41020 Politics of Human Rights Autumn 10

POL42330 Research Design Autumn 10

EQUL40070 Human Rights Law and Equality Spring 10

POL41030 Theory of Human Rights Spring 10



Stage 1 Options - A)1 of:

Students must pick either POL42300 SPIRe Internship or POL42310 Thesis as a core module

POL42300 SPIRe Internship Summer 30

POL42310 Thesis Summer 30



Stage 1 Options - B)20CR:

Select 20 credits

DEV40020 Gender and Development Autumn 10

LAW40780 Law of the ECHR Autumn 10

LAW42280 International Refugee Law Autumn 10

POL40050 Theories of International Relations Autumn 10

POL40970 Politics of European Governance Autumn 10

POL41510 Politics and Change in the Middle East and North Africa Autumn 10

POL41980 Peace & Conflict Studies Autumn 10

POL42040 Gender & the Political System Autumn 10

POL42530 Politics of International Trade and Investment Autumn 10

POL42540 Applied Data Wrangling and Visualisation Autumn 5

POL42550 Feminist Theory Autumn 10

POL42570 Connected_Politics 1 Autumn 5

LAW42130 United Nations Human Rights Practice Spring 10

LAW42270 International Migration Law Spring 10

LAW42290 Gender, Conflict-related Harm & Transitional Justice Spring 10

POL40100 Politics of Development Spring 10

POL40140 Theories of Global Justice Spring 10

POL40160 Comparative Public Policy Spring 10

POL40370 International Political Economy Spring 10

POL40540 Comparative European Politics Spring 10

POL40610 EU Foreign, Security, and Defence Pol. Spring 10

POL41720 Gender, Peace, and Security Spring 10

POL41910 Political Violence Spring 10

POL42050 Quantitative Text Analysis Spring 10

POL42060 International Security Spring 10

POL42430 IR Theory: Conflict and Identity Spring 10

POL42560 AI and Large Language Models Spring 10

A primary degree with at least Second Class Honours Grade 1 (2H1). 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



You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage. https://tinyurl.com/2ae2ffax

90

W035: 1 year full-time

W110: 2 years part-time

MSc Human Rights (W035) Full Time

EU fee per year - € 8525

nonEU fee per year - € 19900


MSc Human Rights (W110) Part Time

EU fee per year - € 5600

nonEU fee per year - € 9950


***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. To access details, see SPIRe Graduate Scholarship Scheme.

Commencing September 2025

Careers & Employability

Graduates work with international private-sector employers, government agencies and NGOs as:

• Human Rights Specialist

• Field Officer

• Human Rights Consultant

• Child Protection Adviser

• Public Information Officer

• Journalist



Recent graduates of MSc in Human Rights now work in:

• Front Line Defenders

• United Nations, New York and Geneva

• Amnesty International

• Médecins sans Frontières

• PLAN Ireland

• Irish Aid

• Oxfam