Law - International Migration & Refugee Law & Policy

The LLM in International Migration and Refugee Law is the only course of its kind on offer in an Irish university. This unique programme enables students to develop their knowledge of international and regional law, policy and practice as it relates to the phenomena of international migration, human trafficking and refugee law.



Students can combine the study of international migration with specialised courses in international humanitarian law and peace operations, gender and law, child rights, and international criminal law.



The programme engages students with current developments on the human rights of migrants and refugees, globally, regionally and nationally. It includes unique practice-oriented teaching, allowing students to specialise in oral and written advocacy (legal and policy), strategic litigation, fact-finding and international development.

Year 1 (90 Credits)

Optional LW5110: International Human Rights Law Clinic - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5111: Business and Human Rights 2 - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5112: Human Rights and Global Governance - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5106: Economic Social and Cultural Rights - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5107: International Child Rights - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW455: Minority Rights - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW471: International Humanitarian Law - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW525: Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW530: Procedure Before International Criminal Courts - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5104: Islam and Human Rights II - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW439: Advocacy, Activism and Public Interest Law - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW561: Mental Health Law and Policy - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5116: Gender and Human Rights - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5117: International Human Rights Law - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5118: Public International Law - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5119: The Politics of Law - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5120: European Convention on Human Rights: Law and Politics - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5121: Transnational Lawyering - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5122: International Criminal Law - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5123: International Peace Operations - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5103: Islam and Human Rights I - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5124: Climate Justice - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5125: International Criminal Law: Issues and Application - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW552: Foundational Theoretical Framework in Disability Law and Policy - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW558: Legal Capacity Law and Policy - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5101: International Disability Human Rights Clinic - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW562: Regional Disability Law and Policy - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW551: Contemporary Challenges in Disability Law and Policy - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW550: Advocacy and Access to Justice - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW553: Inclusive Education Law and Policy - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW556: Law and Policy on Independent Living - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5126: Critical Race Theory and Human Rights - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW491: Equality Law: Principles & Thematic Application - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW483: Advanced Legal Research & Method - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW486: Theories of Judicial Activism - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5203: Advanced Comparative Law - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5205: Advanced Intellectual Property Law and Development - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5206: Global Issues in Contemporary Labour Law - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5208: European Consumer Law and Policy - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5209: Legal Skills: Commercial Practice, Advocacy and Dispute Resolution - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5211: EU External Relations Law - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5212: Vis Moot - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5214: Imprisonment and Rights - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW575: Crime and Disorder - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5201: EU Competition Law - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5204: International Commercial Property Law - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW5210: Commercial Law in Context - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Required LW450: Dissertation - 30 Credits - Semester 1

Required LW5105: Contemporary Issues in International Migration Law - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Required LW5114: International Refugee Law - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Required LW5113: The Common European Asylum System - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required LW5109: European Migration Law - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW417: Contemporary Issues in Human Rights II - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW546: Contemporary Issues in Human Rights III - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW538: Transitional Justice - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW475: Field Experience Assignment - 15 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW548: Human Rights, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LW547: Human Rights Field Work: Law and Practice - 5 Credits - Semester 1

The Irish Centre for Human Rights welcomes students with undergraduate Level 8 degrees in disciplines such as law, political science, international relations, international development or social sciences. In cases where applicants come from a non-law background, the Irish Centre for Human Rights will consider academic background, relevant work experience, references and a personal statement. Applicants must normally have attained at primary degree level a result of Second Class Honours Grade 1, or equivalent. However, those falling short of this standard may be considered where they can demonstrate other appropriate academic accomplishments as well as relevant work experience.

Closing Date

Please view the offer rounds website at https://www.universityofgalway.ie/postgrad-admissions/key-dates/



Applications are made online via the University of Galway Postgraduate Applications System

1 year, full-time

2 years, part-time.

Next start date September 2024

Closing Date Offers are made on a rolling basis.

Career Opportunities

• Work with domestic, regional or international non-governmental or inter-governmental organisations specialising in migration or refugee protection, human trafficking or human rights law or policy;



• Develop specialised legal practice skills in the expanding field of migration and asylum law and human rights;



• For those already working in the area of international migration/refugee law, develop a more solid conceptual and knowledge base to develop that role;



• For those interested in pursuing PhD research, identify a suitable research question, method and theoretical framework for that research.