Overview
- Degree awarded
- Master of Arts (MA)
- Duration
- 1 year
- Entry requirements
-
We require a UK bachelor's degree with a First or Upper Second classification or the overseas equivalent, in any discipline.
When assessing your academic record we consider your degree subject, grades you have achieved and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.
- How to apply
- Apply online
Course options
| Full-time | Part-time | Full-time distance learning | Part-time distance learning | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MA | Y | Y | N | N |
Course overview
- Study the legal and political issues surrounding human rights in a top UK internationally recognised institution with world-class research facilities.
- Collaborate with dedicated staff and an internationally diverse peer group who share a passion for advancing human rights.
- Develop your interest in the theoretical issues around human rights at a university committed to making a real difference in the society.
- We're one of the top five Politics departments in the UK (THE World University Rankings by Subject 2021).
Open days
On this day, you will find out more about the School, our resources, and meet academic and admissions staff who will be able to answer any questions you have.
For more information, see open days and visits .
Fees
For entry in the academic year beginning September 2025, the tuition fees are as follows:
-
MA (full-time)
UK students (per annum): £15,000
International, including EU, students (per annum): £27,000 -
MA (part-time)
UK students (per annum): £7,500
International, including EU, students (per annum): £13,500
Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.
The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition, administration and computational costs during your studies.
All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of courses lasting more than a year for UK/EU students (fees are typically fixed for International students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit: postgraduate fees . Always contact the department if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.
Self-funded international applicants for this course will be required to pay a deposit of £1000 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. This deposit will only be refunded if immigration permission is refused. We will notify you about how and when to make this payment.
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
For information on available funding, please see fees and funding or search the University's postgraduate funding database .
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- School of Social Sciences
- Contact name
- School of Social Sciences Admissions Office
- Telephone
- +44 (0) 161 306 5500
- pgt-politics@manchester.ac.uk
- Website
- https://www.socialsciences.manchester.ac.uk/politics/
- School/Faculty
-
See: School Subjects
Courses in related subject areas
Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.
Entry requirements
Academic entry qualification overview
We require a UK bachelor's degree with a First or Upper Second classification or the overseas equivalent, in any discipline.
When assessing your academic record we consider your degree subject, grades you have achieved and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.
English language
Applicants whose first language is not English should meet the following language requirements:
- IELTS Academic test score of 7 overall, including 7 in writing with no further component score below 6.5
- TOEFL IBT 100 with 25 in writing and no further score below 22 in each section. TOEFL code for Manchester is 0757
- Pearson Test of English (PTE) score of 76 overall, with 76 in writing and no further score below 70
Priority will be given to applicants who have provided evidence of meeting these scores when making offers.
Further information on accepted language requirements can be found here .
Pre-Sessional English Courses
We will consider applicants who do not meet these scores but you may be required to complete a pre-sessional English language course at the University of Manchester prior to the start of the course.
To be considered for a pre-sessional English language course for this programme we require the following minimum IELTS (Academic) scores:
6 Week Pre-Sessional Course : IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing and no more than one sub-skill of 6.0.
10 Week Pre-sessional Course : IELTS 6.0 overall with 6.0 or above in each sub-skill
If you have not yet completed your current academic study and are interested in studying a pre-sessional course, you must hold an IELTS for UKVI (Academic) test certificate to ensure that you are eligible for a separate visa for the English language course.
English language test validity
Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.
Applicants from Majority English-speaking countries
If you are a national of a majority English-speaking country (or have studied for a full bachelor's degree or higher from one of these countries) you may be exempt from submitting further evidence of English language proficiency.
Other international entry requirements
We accept a range of qualifications from across the globe. To help international students, the university provides specific information for many individual countries. Please see our country-specific information page for guidance on the academic and English language qualifications which may be accepted from your country.
Application and selection
How to apply
Advice to applicants
Please note, due to the high volume of applications we receive the course may close before the advertised deadline and as such, early application is advised.
If you meet our entry requirements but we are unable to make you an offer you may be placed on a waiting list. Candidates on a waiting list will receive an offer only if places become available.
Re-applications
Course details
Course description
Who is responsible for the protection of human rights in world politics? Can there be space for human rights in world affairs: Are humans rights Western?
These theoretical and practical concerns form the central focus of the course and are addressed through the compulsory course units.
This 'standard route' course is designed for students that want to enter careers in fields related to government and non-governmental organisations, as well as teaching, journalism or any career where advanced knowledge of human rights coupled with an advanced capacity to communicate effectively will be an advantage.
This course draws on recognised expertise and appeal particularly to those with an interest in the political and ethical issues that arise from widespread human rights violations globally. The course delivers an advanced, critical, interdisciplinary and systematic understanding of human rights issues within a global context.
This interdisciplinary degree allows you to gain exposure to developments in international politics, political theory, and law in order to better understand the complex global environment in which human rights claims are made.
Teaching and learning
Part-time students complete the full-time course over two years. There are no evening or weekend course units available on the part-time route.
You must first check the schedule of the compulsory units and then select your optional units to suit your requirements.
Updated timetable information will be available from mid-August and you will have the opportunity to discuss your unit choices during induction week with your course director.
Coursework and assessment
Course unit list
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comparative Political Analysis | POLI60301 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Research Design and Skills | POLI60312 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Human Rights in World Politics | POLI70492 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Theories of Rights | POLI70722 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Dissertation | POLI72000 | 60 | Mandatory |
| Gender Inequality: Theory and Evidence | MGDI60202 | 15 | Optional |
| Governing in an Unjust World: Justice and International Relations | POLI60182 | 15 | Optional |
| The Ethics Of Killing | POLI60221 | 15 | Optional |
| Global Governance | POLI70422 | 15 | Optional |
| Debating Justice | POLI70611 | 15 | Optional |
| Displaying 10 of 16 course units | |||
| Display all course units | |||
Scholarships and bursaries
The School offers a number of awards for students applying for master's study.
To find our more, please visit our master's funding opportunity search page.
Facilities
As a School of Social Sciences student, you will be supported by first-class resources.
As well as access to networked study areas and one of the best-resourced academic libraries in the country, The University of Manchester Library .
Disability support
Careers
Career opportunities
As a student at the University, and for two years after you graduate, you will have full access to a dedicated Careers Service. You will also have access to a number of opportunities to help boost your employability .
In recent years, our MA Human Rights graduates have progressed into a variety of academic and non-academic careers in a number of sectors, including:
- the Civil Service;
- journalism;
- the NGO sector;
- a wide range of positions in both the public and private sectors.
You will have access to an array of careers support tailored to your career or further study.
For more information, see careers and employability .