MSc or LL.M in Human Rights and Diplomacy

This Master’s degree, jointly offered by UNITAR and the University of Stirling, equips participants with an understanding of international human rights law, diplomacy, and advocacy. The programme blends academic theory with practical training, including negotiation, public speaking, and document drafting, while offering exclusive exposure to UN institutions through a study visit to Geneva. Students can choose between an academic dissertation, a professional placement, or a UN on-the-job training placement in their final term.

Designed as an interdisciplinary experience, this programme welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds in politics, philosophy, sociology, law, and other related fields for either the MSc or LL.M pathways.

Tuition fees for the programme vary:

Students from the UK and the Republic of Ireland - £10,900
International (including EU) students - £22,900

Partial scholarships available. For more information, please kindly consult the University of Stirling page.

Syllabus of the programme include:

Spring semester:

Compulsory module 1:

Human Rights in Practice

Compulsory module 2:

Human Rights Theory (MSc) (LLM)
Transitional Justice, Legacies of War, and Human Rights Atrocities (LLM)
Climate Justice (LLM)

Compulsory module 3:

Approaches to Human Rights (MSc/ LLM)

One Optional Module:

Criminalisation, Social Control and Human Rights
Human Rights Theory
Transitional Justice, Legacies of War, and Human Rights Atrocities
Cultural Politics of Decolonisation
Climate Change, Human Security and Resource Conflicts
Intersectionality and Climate Change
Investigative Research
Climate Justice
Public Affairs and Advocacy

Spring semester:

Compulsory module 1:

Diplomacy Skills for the International Human Rights Institutions

Compulsory module 2:

Preparation for Independent Working

Autumn semester:

Dissertation options:

On-the-Job Training Placement at a UN or UN-Affiliated Institution
Human Rights Professional Project
Human Rights Dissertation

Target Audience

This course is ideal for graduates and professionals from disciplines such as Law, International Relations, Politics, Philosophy, Sociology, or related fields who wish to deepen their understanding of Human Rights issues and mechanisms, multilateral diplomacy, negotiation and leadership, the architecture of Human Rights Institutions within the UN System, and international law in a dynamic, multicultural environment.

Applicants without formal qualifications but with significant relevant work or life experience are also encouraged to apply. Depending on their academic background, students may apply for either the MSc or the LLM.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the programme, participants will be able to:

Explain, analyse and apply international human rights law in both theory and practice.
Engage in the theoretical framework of diplomacy, its history and the development of international relations.
Engage and debate critiques of human rights.
Draft documents and possess the skills needed to negotiate their progress in a range of human rights institutions.
Find your way within the United Nations Institutions working on human rights matters and local NGOs.
Apply a wide range of theoretical and practical methods to human rights research, activism and politics.