Overview The MA in Human Rights explores the rising significance of human rights across society and within academic inquiry. The programme examines both core challenges and contemporary debates, taking an interdisciplinary stance that brings together political, philosophical and legal perspectives. Taught in English, it blends theoretical reflection with practical orientation to address the complexity of rights-related problems today.
What you will gain Graduates leave with a combination of conceptual understanding and hands-on skills designed for work in human rights settings. The curriculum’s multidisciplinary approach equips students to analyse, critique and engage with rights issues from multiple angles, preparing them for a variety of professional activities in human rights contexts—such as policy, advocacy, research, advisory or programme roles.
Admissions & practical notes (check the official programme page for details)
The programme begins with a solid grounding in the first semester through compulsory modules that introduce the political, philosophical and legal foundations of human rights alongside research methods specific to the field. In the second semester students take an interdisciplinary compulsory module on non-discrimination and a required soft-skills course, while selecting four specialist seminars from a broad elective list. These specialisation seminars explore thematic and regional topics such as business and human rights, freedom of religion or belief, gender and human rights, human rights in Africa, refugee rights, international criminal law, the Inter‑American human rights system, technology and human rights, and transitional justice. The final (third) semester is reserved for the Master’s thesis, with the option to write one extended thesis or to write a shorter thesis combined with an internship.
A full module overview and timetable can be consulted online: https://www.humanrights-master.fau.de/programme-information/modules-and-courses/.
Applicants must hold a university degree that corresponds to at least three and a half years of full‑time study (equivalent to 210 ECTS). In addition to the academic qualification, the programme expects demonstrable practical experience related to human rights work. If your prior studies are shorter than 3.5 years, there is a specialised assessment process that can evaluate whether your additional qualifications make you eligible.
The required professional experience can be either paid work in the human rights field or a combination of employment in another sector together with substantive volunteer experience in human rights activities. This flexibility allows candidates with diverse career paths to qualify as long as they can show meaningful, hands‑on engagement with human rights issues.
International applicants should check how their national degree maps to the 210 ECTS requirement and be prepared to provide evidence of the relevant professional or volunteer experience when applying. For applicants whose degrees are shorter than 3.5 years, contact the admissions office to learn about the special procedure for assessing additional qualifications.
Requirements (bullet points)
Winter Semester (International)
31 May 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
31 May 2026
Graduates leave the programme with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills tailored to roles in human rights contexts. The MA prepares students for professional activities where interdisciplinary analysis and applied competence are required.
Typical pathways include work with human rights NGOs, international and regional organisations, public administration or policy bodies, as well as positions in advocacy, research and education that engage with human rights issues.
Trier University of Applied Sciences — Birkenfeld
Technische Universität Braunschweig — Braunschweig
Furtwangen University — Villingen-Schwenningen
University of Siegen — Siegen