Human Rights (Taught)

1st in the world for Development Studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025)

10th in the UK for Social Sciences (The Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2025)

How could a critical human rights approach help fight pervasive social and economic inequalities, anti-democratic forces and the climate crisis?

On this course, you’ll engage with human rights and their historical origins, philosophical foundations, global expansion, everyday practice and possible futures. You’ll learn from our expert faculty. Their cutting-edge research in a range of disciplines – including international relations, anthropology, law and human geography – underpins your teaching.

You’ll gain specialist knowledge in the field of human rights research and practice. Your learning is grounded in our distinctive interdisciplinary, critical social science approach. The course explores a range of topics, which may include:

• advocacy, activism and social justice

• human rights and culture

• decolonisation and anti-racism

• (state) violence, civil liberties and counterterrorism

• globalisation and neoliberalism

• the environment and climate change

• international human rights organisations

• children’s rights

• indigenous and minority rights

• LGBTQ+ rights

• women’s rights and gender equality.

You’ll be based in the interdisciplinary School of Global Studies. On our campus, you’ll become part of an active student community. There are debates, lectures, films and social events covering global and political issues. We also run a varied programme of guest lectures and seminars. This gives you the opportunity to network with academics and professionals based around the world. When you graduate, you’ll have the expertise and global perspective for a career in the field of human rights.

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described in this prospectus. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to government or regulatory requirements, or unanticipated staff changes, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.