International Human Rights Law LLM
Year of entry 2025
- Start date
- September 2025
- Delivery type
- On campus
- Duration
- 12 months full time
- Entry requirements
- A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in law or a relevant social science subject.
Full entry requirements - English language requirements
- IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component
- UK fees
- £13,000 (Total)
- International fees
- £28,250 (Total)
- Contact
- pglaw@leeds.ac.uk
Course overview
Taught by experts, this advanced course in international human rights law offers a unique and distinctive focus on the theories and practice of rights worldwide, producing a vibrant environment for exploring this significant area of law and policy.
This course will provide you with advanced knowledge, greater understanding and critical insights into current systems of human rights legal protection and the most pressing human rights debates.
You’ll explore domestic, regional, and international human rights legal systems to analyse how rights have been legalised, developed and enforced. You’ll consider key critiques of the theory and practice of human rights.
You’ll investigate the law relating to the protection of life and human dignity, freedom from torture and other ill-treatment, freedom of expression, and human rights relating to media organisations, poverty, terrorism, health care, children and the family, and disabled people.
You’ll benefit from the expertise of leading academics in a stimulating research environment. Our research groups include:
Studying LLM International Human Rights Law
Watching in China? View this video on YouKu
Course details
Compulsory modules will give you the opportunity to:
examine the concept of rights in political philosophy
explore global and local human rights concerns
investigate the impact of international human rights
analyse the relevance of international human rights to domestic law
They’ll also enable you to hone your legal research and writing skills, which you’ll be able to demonstrate in your dissertation – an independent piece of research on your chosen topic.
The wide-ranging list of optional modules means that you can explore a diverse range of related subjects of interest to you.
Our School-based Skills Team will help you to develop the key academic skills necessary to thrive on your course. Through one-to-one appointments, we offer individual skills development advice for your module assessments, dissertation and wider studies. Our workshop series also offers training in key skills areas including critical thinking, researching, planning, time management and editing. These skills will help you both during your studies and in the workplace.
Course structure
The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.
Year 1 compulsory modules
| Module Name | Credits |
|---|---|
| Comparative Human Rights Law | 15 |
| Postgraduate Legal Research Skills | 15 |
| Dissertation | 60 |
| International Human Rights | 30 |
Year 1 optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)
| Module Name | Credits |
|---|---|
| International Criminal Law | 15 |
| Security, Conflict and Justice | 30 |
| Environmental Law | 15 |
| Globalisation and Crime | 15 |
| Inequalities, Law and Justice | 30 |
| Theories of Social Justice | 15 |
| World Trade Organisation Law | 15 |
| Digital Environment: Law, Technologies & Human Rights | 15 |
| Contemporary Issues in Intellectual Property: Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Cultural Expressions | 15 |
| International Economic Law | 15 |
| Human Rights and Disabled People 1 | 15 |
| Human Rights and Disabled People 2 | 15 |
| Foundations of Global Governance Through Law | 15 |
| Advanced Global Governance Through Law | 15 |
| Racism, Decoloniality and Migration | 30 |
| Public Administration: Policy, Planning and Development in a Globalised World | 30 |
| Inequalities: Exploring causes, Consequences and Interventions | 30 |
Learning and teaching
At Leeds, we use a variety of teaching and learning methods to help you make the most of your studies and develop the specialist skills that will become indispensable in your career.
These will include a range of weekly lectures, seminars held on a two-weekly basis, and online learning.
Independent study is integral to this course – not just to prepare for classes but to develop research and other critical skills. You’ll be expected to carry out advanced levels of legal research and participate fully in seminars.
On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.
Assessment
Assessment is undertaken by a variety of methods, including an essay at the end of each module. We assess the dissertation through your submission of a written piece of work of up to 10,000 words.
Applying
Entry requirements
A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) or equivalent in law or a relevant social science subject.
We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications.
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.
Improve your English
International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.
This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Law (6 weeks) and Language for Social Sciences and Arts: Law (10 weeks).
We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional and our 10 week online pre-sessional.
You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.
How to apply
International – Friday 27 June 2025
UK – Friday 15 August 2025
If you intend to apply for funding, you should submit an application for a place on your chosen course at least one month before any specific scholarship deadline.
The ‘Apply’ link at the top of this page takes you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.
If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.
Documents and information you will need include:
- original or certified copies of your transcripts in English and the original language
- original or certified copies of your degree certificate in English and the original language
- original or certified copy of your IELTS/TOEFL results (if English is not your first language) or an equivalent English language test.
Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.
Admissions policy
University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2025
This course is taught by
Contact us
School of Law Postgraduate Admissions Office
Email: pglaw@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:
Fees
UK: £13,000 (Total)
International: £28,250 (Total)
Read more about paying fees and charges.
For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.
Additional cost information
There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.
Scholarships and financial support
If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more at Masters funding overview.
The School of Law usually offers a number of scholarships each year. Find out more about the scholarships we offer.
Career opportunities
From day one, we encourage you to think beyond your time at Leeds and reflect on a meaningful career.
Students who have graduated with this degree often choose careers that centre on or involve understanding and applying human rights law and developing policies at an organisational level. Further training is required but many also go on to practise as lawyers or legal advisors.
Recent graduates have gone on to work in the UK and overseas in a range of organisations including the Ministry of Defence, Women for Women International, Deafblind Association of Zambia, the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights and beyond. Many also pursue further study by commencing PhD research.
Our other alumni are working at the European Commission, United Nations, non-governmental organisations and in the government sector.
Careers support
The School of Law offers career and personal development support through the School’s dedicated Employability Officers. You can book one-to-one appointments with our Employability Officers throughout the year to discuss your career aspirations and get advice on how to make the most of your time at Leeds.
The School also arranges a number of community engagement (pro bono) and work experience opportunities, career development workshops, guest speaker events and careers fairs throughout the year. These opportunities will allow you to develop new skills, enhance your career prospects and network with prospective employers.
Find out more about how we support your career development.
In addition to the School-specific careers support, you’ll also have access to the University’s award-winning Careers Service. It offers one-to-one appointments, advice on starting your own business, careers events, mentoring schemes and support with your CV, applications and interviews.