Human Rights

Available as a one-year master's or a master's with professional practice (two years).

This course is a new and innovative master's to support and develop your knowledge of human rights policy, practice and the international human rights instruments. Our approach is applying social science knowledge and analytical approaches to secure the realisation of rights in practice in everyday settings - from public services to civil society organisations or roles in government and public administration.

Across the modules you'll engage in learning, building your knowledge and analytical skills through exploring the global political and institutional contexts that inhibit and support the advancement of equality and the realisation of rights; the dynamism and activism of social movements for change, informed by perspectives on the elimination of discrimination, poverty and inequality through the realisation of economic, civil and political rights and citizenship.

The MSc in Human Rights has been developed in line with GCU's mission to provide flexible, lifelong learning opportunities whatever your background or the stage of your life. The course reflects GCU's research themes of social innovation and public policy and social justice, equalities and communities and the institutional commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Social work and social policy research

Seventy-five percent of the research environment and 74% of our research outputs in social work and social policy are rated as world-leading or internationally excellent (Research Excellence Framework 2021). Our social work and social policy research is ranked seventh in Scotland (Times Higher Education).  Find out more

Graduate opportunities

Studying this course can help you establish a career in areas such as public administration, policy analysis, research organisations and think tanks, or in consultancy, advocacy and analysis with domestic and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

It also opens up the possibility of further academic research and study.

The emphasis in the course is on 'making rights real', and that is reflected in the emphasis on developing your analytical skills through policy analysis, critical thinking, and your practical skills in communications, writing, advocacy, developing and implementing strategies and plans, underpinned with conceptual knowledge and knowledge of the relevant institutions and forms of governance.  Through the specialist modules and the ethics, leadership and work-related modules, along with the placement elements of the course, we are aiming to support you develop your work-related and leadership skills.

This master's course aims to help you achieve your future employment goals, as an advocate, analyst or changemaker in civil society organisations, different levels of government, or a range of research and analysis roles.