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Postgraduate Taught

Want to explore a specialist area of international law, taught by world-class experts?

The world is becoming more dangerous. Warfare is on the rise. The global refugee crisis, the spread of terrorism, the proliferation of mass violence and internal armed conflict, piracy, and human trafficking create new perils. Taught by world-class experts in the field, this course offers a firm foundation in the international legal system and international relations specific to human rights, conflict and security.

About this course

In the context of natural disasters, health pandemics and economic crises being a danger in their own right, as well as fueling human conflict, the need to protect human rights is becoming more urgent.

You will study in-depth some of the most serious threats facing our world today, including the effect of ‘natural’ problems, and focus on the legal response to subjects such as the global refugee crisis, terrorism, war crimes, and the proliferation of mass violence and internal armed conflict.

Taught by academic experts at the forefront of international law, the course will provide you with a thorough knowledge and understanding of the legal regimes that have been developed to protect human rights – including African, European, and Islamic human rights systems.

You will also benefit from wider opportunities, such as our yearly careers convention, giving you access to leading law firms across the country and a chance to gain vital industry contacts.

Module options

For a full Masters degree, you'll study 180 credits over the duration of your course. Some programmes offer a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) qualification or a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) qualification. For a PGDip, you'll study 120 credits, and for a PGCert, you'll study 60 credits.

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  • Public International Law

    Explore the law governing the relations between States and other entities having international legal personality. Develop your knowledge and ability to critically evaluate the development of the international legal system, how international law is made and what it regulates, and how violations of the law are addressed.

    compulsory

    20 credits

  • International Protection of Human Rights

    Develop your understanding of the nature of UN human rights law. You'll gain the ability to evaluate aspects of human rights and understand the application of human rights law to actual cases.

    compulsory

    20 credits

  • Use of Force and Armed Conflict

    The module considers the international legal framework that regulates the ability of States to resort to armed force, and the conduct of those hostilities that take place between States and/or involving non-State actors.

    compulsory

    20 credits

  • International Law Research Methods

    The module will enable you to learn and deepen your research skills as to how to design research project proposals, explore research methods and approaches, data management and how to make ethical judgements. 

    compulsory

    20 credits

  • Modern Slavery, Human Trafficking and Labour Exploitation

    There are at least 50 million people who are victims of modern slavery. This module exploresmodern slavery, human trafficking and labour exploitation and the laws and organisations trying to tackle these issues.

    optional

    20 credits

  • International Protection of Refugees

    This module focuses on the rights and obligations of refugees starting with the definition of refugee and how refugee status determination is conducted by UNHCR and States parties such as the United Kingdom. Key principles such as non-refoulement and the interaction of refugee law, human rights law and humanitarian law are also discussed.

    optional

    20 credits

  • International Criminal Justice

    Discover the field of international law that responds to grave atrocities committed by and against individuals. This module examines the establishment and operation of judicial mechanisms for the prosecution of international crimes, including international courts and tribunals, criminal offences, modes of liability, defences, and restorative practices.

    optional

    20 credits

  • Environment and Human Rights

    In the booming context of climate change litigation, political and legal affirmations of global environmental targets, passionate  environmental activists, and an earth that needs us as much as we need her, you will learn to analyse and apply in practice environmental and human rights law , while deciphering  the  issues that come within environmental related science, and how , they can be applied in a legal and policy framework.

    optional

    20 credits

  • Dissertation

    What fascinates you? You will make an original contribution to research by designing, carrying out and writing up a project on a topic of your choice, supported by your dissertation supervisor.

    compulsory

    60 credits

Our academics

Our legal academic expertise addresses intellectual and real-world challenges.

With considerable experience in restorative justice, civil law, international and public law, our research has always had a strong interest in social and criminal justice.

Professor Lindsay Moir

Professor Lindsay Moir

HK Bevan Chair, Professor of International Law

Rudi Wurzel

Professor Rudi Wurzel

Lecturer

Entry Requirements

What do I need?

When it comes to applying for this Postgraduate Taught degree, you'll need an Undergraduate degree (or equivalent). For this course, you'll need a 2:2 from a relevant bachelor's degree.

The programme is designed for graduates who have a studied a subject that is relevant to this course.

If you’re an undergraduate student at Hull, you’re guaranteed a fast-track route to this postgraduate degree, as long as you meet the entry requirements.

In order to ensure our students have a rich learning and student experience, most of our programmes have a mix of domestic and international students. We reserve the right to close applications early to either group if application volumes suggest that this blend cannot be achieved.

Typical offer

2:2 in a relevant subject area

Law or a related subject.

Fees & Funding

How much is it?

Scholarships

We offer a number of awards, bursaries and scholarships for eligible students. They’re awarded for a variety of reasons including academic achievement and/or to help those on lower incomes.

Scholarships and bursaries are separate to student loans. And the best bit is, you don’t pay a penny back.

Alumni Postgraduate Scholarship

University of Hull undergraduates progressing to a taught masters course may receive a 20% discount on the cost of their tuition fees.

Find out if you’re eligible by visiting the University of Hull Alumni Postgraduate Scholarship page.

See more Scholarships

We offer a range of scholarships and awards to students at the university to help with their financial load.

To view all of our scholarships and determine whether you're eligible, please visit our Scholarships and Awards page.

Our facilities

Our seven-storey library is home to 1 million+ books, plus extensive digital resources drawn from libraries and archives across the world.
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Future prospects

Our LLM in International Law (Human Rights, Conflict and Security) will prepare you for a career as a professional lawyer, public official, human rights activist, diplomat or journalist.

Students who complete the course have many avenues and opportunities open to them and often go on to either practice law, move into the field of research, use the course as a springboard into academia or join government and non-governmental institutions and organisations.

Take your career to the next level

Like what you’ve seen? Then it’s time to apply.

Make your application online now, and our admissions team will get back to you as soon as possible to make you an offer.

International students

Not ready to apply yet?

We regularly deliver virtual and on-campus events to help you discover your perfect postgraduate course, whether it’s a subject you already love or something completely different. Our events are an opportunity for you to chat to tutors and current students and find out about the career options a postgraduate degree could lead to.

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