Final degree
Master of Arts (M.A.) Human Rights
Language of instruction
English
Programme duration
The M.A. Human Rights consists of three semesters (semesters 1 and 2 are coursework, semester 3 is entirely devoted to the master thesis and, for some students, an internship) with a total of 90 ECTS credits.
Beginning of the programme
Every October
Application deadline
The programme only starts in the winter term. The final deadline for applications is 30 May. Decisions will be taken in March and June. Please note that in some cases, processing visa applications may take several months. Therefore, we strongly advise applicants who require a student visa to apply by the end of February.
Important semester dates
Here you will find important semester dates (e.g. semester and lecture periods, holidays).
Costs
The tuition fees for the entire programme are currently 6,000 €. In addition, students are required by law to pay a fee for general student services (the ‘Studierendenwerk’), entitling them to, for example, subsidised meals and other services. Further information can be found on the website of the student union.
Prerequisites
Admission to the Master’s programme in human rights requires a university degree based on at least 3.5 years of full-time studies (equivalent to 210 ECTS credits) and at least one year of professional experience in the area of human rights, or professional experience in another field in combination with practical experience in human rights work on a volunteer basis. If your university degree is based on less than 3.5 years of studies, you may be accepted based on a special procedure determining additional qualifications. Additionally, proof of C1-level English language skills is also required.
Further information on how to apply can be found here.
Structure of the programme
In the first semester, all students will enrol in compulsory modules covering political, philosophical and legal foundations of human rights respectively. In the second semester, students will participate in a mandatory, interdisciplinary module on non-discrimination and elect four out of a variety of specialised modules that may include topics such as Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; Business and Human Rights; Freedom of Religion and Belief; Gender and Human Rights; Social Movements and Human Rights; International Criminal Law; Transitional Justice; Human Rights of Refugees; and Rights of Persons with Disabilities. From the summer semester of 2024 onwards, the second semester will also include a module focusing on various soft skills for human rights work. In the third semester, students will be able to choose between two options from 2024 onwards: Either write one in-depth scientific thesis or combine a shorter thesis with a mandatory internship.
Skills
Graduates of the programme will be equipped with theoretical and practical skills to pursue professional activities in different human rights contexts, such as in public administration, international and non-governmental organisations, academia and education, the media, interest groups and associations, as well as in specialised law firms and corporations.
Degree programme and examination regulations (Studien- und Prüfungsordnung)
Only the official German text, which can be found on this web page, is legally binding. For information purposes, there is also an English translation that is available on the same page.
Location
The programme is located at Wetterkreuz 15, 91058 Erlangen. The M.A. Human Rights is on the ground floor of the building. Bus connections from the Erlangen Hauptbahnhof can be found here and bus connections from Nuremberg – Am Wegfeld can be found here.