Program Overview
Skip to content Accessibility statement Home Study at York Postgraduate taught Courses 2026/27 Applied Human Rights (MA) MA Applied Human Rights Learn to make voices heard through law, policy and human rights practice. Year of entry: 2026 (September) Overview Course content Fees and funding Teaching and assessment Careers Entry requirements Start date September 2026 View semester dates Length 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time School/department Centre for Applied Human Rights Apply for this course Sign up for event invites Sign up for our postgraduate emails to get event invites straight to your inbox. Find out more Human rights defenders strive for a world in which human rights are respected, protected and fulfilled. Why choose Applied Human Rights at York? Take a social sciences approach to human rights. This course places politics and social, economic and cultural processes at the heart of both the violation and protection of human rights.
Key Program Features
Why choose Applied Human Rights at York?
Take a social sciences approach to human rights. This course places politics and social, economic and cultural processes at the heart of both the violation and protection of human rights. From a foundation in politics, your study will be interdisciplinary, linking theory and practice. You'll discover the theoretical frameworks and practical skills which make advances in human rights possible. In the process, you'll develop a range of fieldwork, advocacy and legal skills. You can then apply these skills on a placement in the UK or South Africa.
Explore different aspects of human rights practice guided by actual human rights defenders. You'll study the key concepts necessary for effective human rights protection. This includes human rights leadership strategies as well as the debates, institutions and political structures that human rights defenders seek to influence. You'll learn directly from real human rights defenders. Their first-hand experience in governmental, judicial and grassroots roles will guide your understanding.
Welcoming applicants from a wide range of backgrounds. You don't need a Law or Human Rights undergraduate degree to apply for this course. We consider applicants with an undergraduate degree in the social sciences, arts and humanities, and vocational courses such as social work. These disciplines are relevant to the wide range of careers in human rights. This includes research, advocacy, campaigning monitoring and evaluation, organisation strengthening and more.
Personalise your study with interdisciplinary option modules. You'll be able to choose from a wide range of option modules covering various departments. This allows you to complement your study by focusing on the areas of human rights that interest you most. You'll also have the opportunity to get involved with unique modules and opportunities. This includes the university's Peace Lab , Sustainability Clinic or Migration Summer School .
The Applied Human Rights MA is designed in association with the UNESCO Chair at CAHR
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2jVyZm3jxA Find out what makes our MA in Applied Human Rights at York so distinctive. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F85c2k9fwEk Meet an MA Applied Human Rights lecturer
Career Opportunities
Careers and skills
Our graduates go on to work with NGOs, humanitarian and development organisations, policy think-tanks, national governments and UN agencies. We provide advice, networking opportunities, hands-on experience, and personalised reference letters to support you as you establish your career.
Career opportunities
- Human rights officer
- International development researcher
- External affairs and communications officer
- Philanthropy executive
- Refugee relocation caseworker
- Ethical trade coordinator
Transferable skills
- Intercultural communication
- Ability to appreciate multiple points of view
- Awareness of international current events
- Argument and persuasion
- Data collection and interpretation
- Practical application of theoretical knowledge
- Teamwork
- Problem solving
- Project management
- Writing for diverse audiences
Our alumni
Find out more about our graduates' careers.
Program Curriculum
Course content
Semester 1 introduces key theoretical and practical elements, cemented by applying your knowledge on a group placement with a human rights organisation.
In Semester 2, you will select three optional modules from a list covering a wide range of topics and issues. MA Students with a Law background or those wishing to enhance their legal and advocacy skills are encouraged to consider the International Human Rights Laboratory and the Human Rights Law Clinic modules.
During Semester 2 and the summer, you'll start work on a dissertation of up to 12,000 words on a topic of your choice.
Human rights fieldwork
Gaining direct experience of fieldwork is a key component of this course. You'll work with a partner organisation in Cape Town or York for several months, including a two-week placement at the end of your first semester.
To get an idea of previous years' placements in Cape Town and York, have a look at our student experiences .
Peace Lab at York
You'll have the option to participate in the Department of Politics and International Relation's Peace Lab and develop your dissertation research with expert support from the Lab. The Lab also offers occasional internships on a competitive basis for MA students.
Admission Requirements
Entry requirements
| Qualification | Typical offer |
| Undergraduate degree | 2:2 or equivalent. |
| International pre-masters programme | Pre-masters from our International Pathway College |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
English language
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Qualification | Minimum requirement |
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, minimum of 6 in each component |
| Oxford Test of English Advanced | 136, minimum 126 in each component |
| Duolingo | 120, minimum 105 in all other components |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 478-509, with 444-477 in all other components |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, minimum 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87, minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all requirements |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements .
If you haven't met our English language requirements You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses . These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer. The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements. After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York .
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
GBP 16,290/year (international)
Fees and funding
Annual tuition fees for 2026/27
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
| Full-time (1 year) | £12,000 | £26,900 |
| Part-time (2 years) This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation. | £6,000 | £13,450 |
Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
For courses which are longer than one year , the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study. UK (home) fees may increase in subsequent years (up to a maximum of 2%). International fees may increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%).
Fees information
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status .
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
- Postgraduate taught fees and expenses
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Fees and funding
Annual tuition fees for 2026/27
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
| Full-time (1 year) | £12,000 | £26,900 |
| Part-time (2 years) This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation. | £6,000 | £13,450 |
Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
For courses which are longer than one year , the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study. UK (home) fees may increase in subsequent years (up to a maximum of 2%). International fees may increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%).
Fees information
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status .
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
- Postgraduate taught fees and expenses
About University of York
University of York
Heslington, United Kingdom
University of York is a distinguished institution of higher education committed to academic excellence, innovative research, and preparing students for leadership in their chosen fields. The...
University Profile- Application Deadline 2018-06-15
- Start Date 2018-09-24
- Language English
- Duration 12 months
- Credits 60 ECTS / 180 credits (1-year programme)