This interdisciplinary master's programme addresses graduates in the social or cultural sciences, political science, economics, communication, law or philosophy with a special interest in human rights. The master's degree in Human Rights Studies in Politics, Law and Society qualifies graduates for a professional career as an expert in human rights issues.

Students acquire skills in the fields of social science methods, legal argumentation, as well as regional and cultural variants of the concretisation of human rights and the meaning of human rights.

A full-English track is available for this programme.

Your profile:

• The master’s programme Human Rights Studies in Politics, Law and Society is intended for graduates with a first degree in social sciences, cultural sciences, political sciences, communication, economics, law, philosophy and/or similar subjects who are interested in an interdisciplinary graduate programme that covers different approaches to the development of human rights.
• Openness to the various disciplines, an interest in political issues, a high study motivation as well as solid English language skills are required qualifications for entering this programme.
• 30% of the student intake shall be international students.

Objectives of the programme:

The master’s programme Human Rights Studies in Politics, Law and Society aims to prepare graduates with a strong interest in human rights and a first degree in social, cultural and/or political sciences as well as communication, economics, law and/or philosophy for a career as an expert in human rights issues.

In this interdisciplinary and social science-based programme, students critically study and analyse the historical and current institutionalisation and implementation of human rights in the fields of law, politics and civil society. Students get to know approaches from the social and political as well as from the legal sciences, methods of the social sciences and also learn to consider aspects of interculturality and diversity. In addition, students analyse the national, regional and global development of human rights from a legal, political and sociological perspective.

Students will also learn to identify and critically examine the developmental dynamics of society, politics and law which are influenced by the implementation and codifications of human rights. The political levels and social institutions are also relevant topics, as well as independently conducting human rights-focused research using methods from the social sciences. When finishing this degree, graduates will acquire skills in presenting developments in human rights with undergirding facts and figures and in negotiating in intercultural settings.