MA in Human Rights and Governance
Course Overview
The MA in Human Rights and Governance is a UK Level 7 research-informed Master's degree running one year full-time or two years part-time, with online and distance-learning routes. The programme integrates rights protection with the design and accountability of governance institutions at senior practitioner level, moving beyond doctrinal ECHR content into the structural architecture that determines whether rights are meaningful in practice. The syllabus is aligned with themes referenced by the Political Studies Association and the United Nations Association UK.
By graduation you will have produced senior-track rights and governance analyses, drafted advocacy strategies for national and multilateral audiences, mapped Human Rights Act operation across UK public bodies at institutional level, and completed a dissertation, capstone or sponsor consulting project for an NGO or public body.
Key Features
- Level 7 credential aligned with Political Studies Association themes.
- Senior-track teaching linking rights doctrine with institutional design.
- Case-room seminars using live UK and multilateral rights outputs.
- Guest sessions from senior NGO figures and public sector reviewers.
- Named programme-tutor support across all three study modes.
- Dissertation supervised by an LSLPE tutor with active senior profile.
- Careers-service introductions to senior NGO, Whitehall and multilateral roles.
What You Will Learn
- Advanced ECHR jurisprudence and comparative rights instruments.
- Institutional integration of rights protection across governance systems.
- UK inspectorate, ombudsman and audit architecture.
- Multilateral rights mechanisms including UN Human Rights Council reform.
- Rights-based programme design for donor and NGO contexts.
- Reading senior UK inspectorate and multilateral outputs.
- Advocacy strategy across litigation, campaigning and public affairs.
- Producing a senior-track evidence-led dissertation.
Who This Course Is For
- Senior NGO staff formalising Level 7 credentials.
- Whitehall officers on equality and rights portfolios.
- International practitioners in multilateral human rights systems.
- Bachelor's graduates targeting senior rights and governance careers.
- Think tank researchers on rights and governance files.
Career Pathways
- Human Rights Officer at a senior NGO role.
- Political Analyst on rights portfolios.
- Programme Manager on rights-focused donor initiatives.
- Strategy Adviser to a rights-focused body.
- NGO Programme Officer working with UN counterparts.
- Public Sector Consultant on inclusion projects.
- Development Analyst on rights-focused files.
The LSLPE careers service coordinates introductions with NGOs, Whitehall and multilateral bodies and runs at least one careers day each academic year.
Entry Requirements
- A UK Bachelor's degree (2:2 or above) or equivalent in law, politics, international relations, human rights or a related discipline.
- IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
- Applicants without a Bachelor's but with 5+ years of senior rights or governance experience are considered on portfolio.
- One academic and one professional reference.
- A 500-word research proposal or professional practice statement.
Why Study at LSLPE
The London School of Law, Politics and Economics teaches in small, tutor-visible cohorts and reads law, politics and economics as three interlocking disciplines. Central London gives MA students access to Chatham House, rights-focused think tanks and public sector inspectorates within a short tube ride of every classroom.
Every intake shares the same weekly seminar structure, and the careers service refreshes curriculum alignment annually against Political Studies Association guidance.
Apply for MA in Human Rights and Governance
Applications for the MA in Human Rights and Governance are reviewed on a rolling basis. Enrol on an LSLPE Master's programme, dissertation, capstone or sponsor project supervised by practising policy advisers. Enrol Now.
