BA in Human Rights and Politics
Course Overview
The BA in Human Rights and Politics at LSLPE is a UK Level 6 honours degree combining a rigorous grounding in human-rights law and doctrine with substantive political analysis, running three years full-time with part-time and accelerated routes on-campus, online and by distance learning. The programme is aligned with Political Studies Association and British International Studies Association guidance and draws case content from Chatham House, the United Nations Association UK and international rights institutions.
By graduation you will have argued rights cases at seminar, produced country-briefings on rights conditions, completed a year-two placement in a rights body, NGO or think tank and defended a final-year rights dissertation. The BA is a credentialed launch pad for careers in international human rights, foreign-policy analysis and international-development advocacy.
Key Features
- Curriculum aligned with Political Studies Association and BISA guidance.
- Case sequences drawn from ECtHR, ICCPR and CEDAW jurisprudence.
- Year-two placement in a rights body, NGO or international-affairs think tank.
- Seminars in the case-room and select-committee tradition.
- Final-year rights dissertation with a practising researcher as second supervisor.
- Three parallel study modes on the same weekly rhythm.
What You Will Learn
- The architecture of international human-rights law.
- Political theory of rights and liberal-democratic thought.
- Comparative constitutional protection of rights.
- Regional rights systems — European, Inter-American, African.
- Business and human rights, and the UN Guiding Principles.
- Rights-based approaches in international development.
- Human-rights advocacy and campaigning techniques.
- Research methods for a Level 6 rights dissertation.
Who This Course Is For
- School leavers targeting a rights-focused honours degree.
- International applicants preparing for rights work at home.
- Career changers moving from law, journalism or NGOs into rights advocacy.
- Part-time learners already in NGO or campaign roles.
- Access to HE students progressing into a rights-and-politics specialism.
Career Pathways
- Human Rights Officer
- Foreign Policy Adviser
- Diplomat with a rights portfolio
- International Relations Analyst
- Political Analyst
- Development Diplomat
- Strategic Intelligence Analyst
- Public Affairs Officer
The LSLPE careers service runs at least one careers day each academic year connecting BA in Human Rights and Politics students with rights bodies, NGOs, foreign-policy directorates and international organisations.
Entry Requirements
- A-levels (or equivalent) at BBB or above, or a UK Access to HE Diploma with 45 credits at Level 3.
- GCSE English at grade 4/C and Mathematics at grade 4/C (or equivalent).
- IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
- Two academic references and a personal statement outlining your interest in human rights and politics.
- International applicants receive dedicated visa and accommodation support from LSLPE admissions.
Why Study at LSLPE
LSLPE reads rights and politics as inseparable from law and economics because rights are litigated in courts, argued in politics and funded by states and international bodies. Central London places Chatham House, the United Nations Association UK, the Royal Courts of Justice and the NGO sector a short tube ride from every classroom.
Three parallel study modes let progressors, working practitioners and portfolio-route applicants complete the BA in Human Rights and Politics alongside employment, with named programme-tutor support and a careers service that connects each cohort to real rights work.
Apply for BA in Human Rights and Politics
Applications for the BA in Human Rights and Politics open across UCAS-equivalent windows and admissions responds within one working day. Apply for the LSLPE Bachelor's programme with a placement year in a rights body, NGO or think tank included. Enrol Now
