Master of Human Rights Law

Most Melbourne Law Masters subjects are available online in 2021 with some taught on campus. See subject quotas for current subject availability.

Students must complete 100 credit points in total. All students must complete the subject International Human Rights Law.

Students who do not have a law degree from a common law jurisdiction must complete Fundamentals of the Common Law, as well as 87.5 credit points from the prescribed list.

Students with a law degree from a common law jurisdiction must complete at least 87.5 credit points from the prescribed Human Rights Law subjects and may choose the remaining 12.5 credit points from the subjects available in the Master of Laws (excluding Fundamentals of the Common Law and the Minor Thesis).

As a Master of Human Rights Law student, you'll develop an advanced understanding of the complex body of knowledge in the field of human rights law, including:

• An advanced and integrated knowledge of international and domestic legal and institutional frameworks for the protection and promotion of human rights
• An advanced appreciation of the relationship between law and politics, at the international and domestic levels, in the field of human rights law
• The cognitive and technical skills to independently examine and critically evaluate current issues by reference to international and domestic human rights standards
• The ability to understand and critically examine the interrelationships between international, regional and domestic histories, philosophies, policies and practices of human rights law
• The ability to participate in debates about the contested universality of international human rights and its application in diverse domestic jurisdictions in an engaged, informed and open-minded manner
• The ability to make a sophisticated assessment of the practical effectiveness of different mechanisms for implementing or enforcing human rights, including domestic and regional courts, specialised tribunals, national human rights institutions, human rights treaty bodies, international institutions and specialised agencies, nongovernmental organisations and international criminal courts
• The ability to analyse, interpret and assess the challenges posed to the implementation of international human rights obligations in the context of globalisation, particularly the increased threat to human rights presented by non-state actors and efforts to develop and strengthen accountability protocols and other mechanisms
• The ability to demonstrate autonomy, expert judgment and responsibility as a practitioner and advocate in the field of human rights law.

Applications are accepted throughout the year.

• Australian or New Zealand citizens
• Australian permanent residents
• Australian permanent humanitarian visa holders

(View eligibility requirements and application dates for International citizens)

The majority of students will start in either the Semester 1 (start year) or Semester 2 (mid year) intake:

For students wishing to begin study outside of the normal intake periods (for example, a winter intensive subject) - find your first subject's starting date in the Handbook, then find the name of the intake period you should apply for below.

Applicants are advised to apply at least a month prior to the start of the subject.

Note: Students will need to ensure their desired subject hasn't yet reached its quota limit - view quotas

Once we receive the completed application, we aim to have a response to you within four to six weeks.

• Orientation week for full-time students
  • Start year intake: 22-26 February 2021, online via Zoom
  • Mid year intake: TBC
• Orientation for part-time students
  • Online via the Learning Management System (Canvas LMS)