Program Overview
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independent-prescribing-pgcert industrial-pharmaceutics-msc international-business-msc international-human-rights-law-llm international-public-policy-msc international-public-policy-pgdip international-relations-ma international-relations-pgdip interpreting-ma law-llm leadership-sustainable-development-msc leadership-sustainable-rural-development-msc linguistics-ma linguistics-pgcert linguistics-pgdip management-msc marketing-msc master-business-administration-internship-mba master-business-administration-mba mechanical-engineering-management-higher-level-apprenticeship-msc mechanical-engineering-management-industrial-internship-msc mechanical-engineering-management-msc mechanical-engineering-management-pgcert mechanical-engineering-management-pgdip mechanical-engineering-pgcert media-broadcast-production-ma media-broadcast-production-pgdip mental-health-mental-capacity-law-msc mental-health-mental-capacity-law-pgdip mental-health-pgdip midwifery-msc net-zero-engineering-distance-learning-msc net-zero-engineering-msc net-zero-engineering-year-industry-msc pharmaceutical-analysis-higher-level-apprenticeship-msc pharmaceutical-analysis-industrial-placement-msc pharmaceutical-analysis-international-industrial-placement-msc pharmaceutical-analysis-msc philosophy-ma philosophy-pgdip planning-development-higher-level-apprenticeship-msc planning-development-msc planning-development-pgcert politics-ma politics-pgdip prescribing-pharmacists-pgcert professional-nursing-adult-nursing-msc professional-nursing-children-young-people-msc professional-nursing-learning-disabilities-nursing-msc professional-nursing-mental-health-nursing-msc professional-practice-architecture-pgcert psychological-science-msc public-history-ma social-science-research-mres social-science-research-pgdip sociology-global-inequality-msc software-development-msc software-development-part-time-msc specialist-cognitive-behavioural-therapy-msc sustainable-energy-systems-management-msc sustainable-energy-systems-management-pgdip systemic-practice-family-therapy-msc systemic-practice-family-therapy-pgcert systemic-practice-family-therapy-pgdip systemic-psychotherapy-msc teaching-english-speakers-other-languages-applied-linguistics-msc translation-ma violence-terrorism-security-ma violence-terrorism-security-pgdip youth-justice-msc youth-justice-pgdip zero-carbon-engineering-pgcert Share Facebook Linkedin Email Undergraduate 2025 MSc | Postgraduate Taught Children's Rights Apply now Register Interest Entry year Academic Year 2026/27 Entry requirements 2.2 Attendance 1 year (Full-time) 3 years (Part-time) Places available 50 (Full Time) 50 (Part Time) Overview Course content Modules Entry requirements Careers Fees and funding Apply This programme meets the increasing demand for a postgraduate qualification in Children's Rights, explicitly focused on interdisciplinary research and child rights-based research methods. The programme aims to provide high-level knowledge and skills in children's rights law and practice of value to those working with and for children, including public officials and NGOs as well as educators, social workers and health care providers. The programme will develop your expertise in two distinct but interconnected areas: Children's Rights - using the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and other relevant international standards to evaluate the laws, policies and practices which affect children. Research with Children - evaluating the best methods of conducting research into children's lives with a particular focus on approaches which involve children actively in the research process. The course will provide you with a thorough grounding in these two areas and the opportunity to explore a range of contexts in which these perspectives can be used to better understand children’s lives and secure improved outcomes for children.
Key Program Features
Children's Rights highlights
Internationally Renowned Experts
This programme is linked to the Centre for Children's Rights (CCR), which has an international reputation in the area of children's rights with a focus on the implementation of children's rights, child participation, education, social care, youth justice and children with disabilities. The Centre includes staff such as Emeritus Professor Laura Lundy, who developed the Lundy Model of child participation. The Lundy Model, based on four key concepts (Space, Voice, Audience and Influence), has been used and adopted by national and international organisations, agencies and governments to inform their understanding of children’s participation, generating a sea-change in global understanding of child rights-based participation for both policy and practice. In addition, since 2011, Professors Laura Lundy and Bronagh Byrne have led a research programme aimed at improving the legal implementation of children’s rights, particularly in Northern Ireland (NI). Their work has been pivotal in shaping policy and legislation, with impacts extending from NI to the global stage. The programme features input from leading international Children's Rights scholars at Queen's and from around the world. The CCR has a vibrant community of PhD students undertaking research on a range of issues and in several countries.
https://www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/CentreforChildrensRights/
Student Experience
The programme is designed for those working, or wishing to work with or for, children globally and is delivered via in-person and online learning. It will be of particular value to public officials, policymakers and international and national NGOs as well as educators, social workers, those working in the criminal justice system and health care providers. The programme has been designed to enable students to pursue individual interests and to maximise the range of modules available to students. It can be taken full-time or part-time. Students can choose to follow an MSc pathway, or exit with a Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma. Credit transfer: Students who have completed other Master’s-level awards, e.g. PGCE, within the last 10 years are eligible to transfer credit.
Beyond the Classroom Students become a member of the globally renowned Centre for Children’s Rights with access to activities such as reading groups, seminars by internal and visiting speakers and social events.
Credit transfer Students who have completed other Master’s-level awards, e.g. PGCE, within the last 10 years are eligible to transfer credit.
https://www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/CentreforChildrensRights/
Career Opportunities
Career Prospects
Introduction
There is increasing demand for high-level skills in interdisciplinary research, participatory research methods and knowledge of children's rights. Professionals within children/human rights-focused NGOs, public officials, educators, social workers and health professionals who work with children should find this degree beneficial. The MSc is a good foundation for students wishing to pursue their own research through doctoral study. Queen's postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as Degree Plus and Researcher Plus bolster our commitment to employability, while innovative leadership and executive programmes help our students gain key leadership positions both nationally and internationally. Previous graduates have been successful in gaining jobs with international and national children’s rights NGOs while others have gone on to pursue doctoral study. Many of our graduates have also undertaken the course as a form of professional development within their existing careers in areas such as law, medicine, education, social work and policy development.
Prizes and Awards
Teachers working on classroom-based dissertation projects may apply for the Northern Ireland Centre for Educational Research (NICER) award.
Program Curriculum
Course Structure
Hosted by the internationally renowned Centre for Children’s Rights, this MSc builds on existing specialisms across children’s rights law, policy and practice. A blended learning approach has been adopted which includes a mixture of face-to-face and online learning, traditional lectures, workshops, condensed modules, online discussion forums and guest speakers. In addition to the core and optional modules listed on the Modules tab, you may choose additional modules from across the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work. The MSc is awarded to students who successfully complete 120 CATS points from the taught modules and a 15,000 word dissertation (60 CATS points). Exit qualifications are available: students may exit with a Postgraduate Diploma by successfully completing 120 CATS points from taught modules or a Postgraduate Certificate by successfully completing 60 CATS points from taught modules.
People teaching you Dr Siobhán McAlister Programme Director MSc Children's Rights & MSc Youth Justice SSESW s.mcalister@qub.ac.uk Professor Bronagh Byrne Professor of Disability and Children's Rights SSESW email: b.byrne@qub.ac.uk
Teaching Times
Learning and Teaching
Learning opportunities available with this course are outlined below:
Admission Requirements
How to Apply
Apply using our online Queen's Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply .
Terms and Conditions
The terms and conditions that apply when you accept an offer of a place at the University on a taught programme of study. Queen's University Belfast Terms and Conditions .
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
GBP 15,200/year (international)
Tuition Fees
| Northern Ireland (NI) 1 | £7,700 |
| Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2 | £7,700 |
| England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1 | £10,400 |
| EU Other 3 | £23,000 |
| International | £23,000 |
1 EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled status, will be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB will be charged the GB fee.
2 EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI are eligible for NI tuition fees.
3 EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.
All tuition fees quoted relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.
More information on postgraduate tuition fees .
Additional course costs
Students who choose to conduct dissertation research in Northern Ireland, involving participants under the age of 18 or vulnerable adults, will be required to undergo an Enhanced Disclosure Check with Access NI costing £33. This cost will be incurred in Year 1 for full time students and in Year 3 for part time students.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Financial Aid & Funding Opportunities
A range of funding options may be available to students enrolling at Queen's University Belfast. Explore all options early — many scholarships have deadlines months before programme start.
- University Scholarships: Queen's University Belfast may offer merit-based, need-based, or programme-specific scholarships for postgraduate students. Contact the international or financial aid office for current awards.
- Government Scholarships (): National governments often fund outbound and inbound student mobility. Check your home country's government scholarship schemes (e.g., national student loan bodies, ministry of education awards).
- International Scholarships: Major funders include: Commonwealth Scholarships, Fulbright (USA programmes), Chevening (UK), Erasmus+ (Europe), DAAD (Germany), Campus France, Australia Awards, and many more.
- Employer Sponsorship: Professionals returning to study may negotiate tuition sponsorship with their employer, particularly for MBA or executive programmes.
- Graduate Assistantships / Fellowships: Some universities offer funded research or teaching assistant positions that include a stipend and partial or full tuition waiver.
- External Foundations: Rotary Foundation, Aga Khan Foundation, Ford Foundation, and many discipline-specific bodies fund postgraduate study globally.
- Payment Plans: Flexible instalment plans may allow you to spread tuition payments across the academic year.
About Queen's University Belfast
Queen's University Belfast
Botswana, Botswana
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University Profile- Start Date 2017-09-25
- Language English
- Duration 12 months
- Credits 60 ECTS / 180 credits (1-year programme)