What Naphtali says about the Master's in International Human Rights Law

Naphtali from Nigeria

What do you think of the programme so far? 

"I love the programme – it is more than I expected! Here are a few examples: first, it has an affiliation with the Raoul Wallenberg Institute, where we can access its libraries. The programme also has a lot of great course materials and sources. The course is expansive in scope. When you initially step into the programme, you think you will be studying just international human rights law, however, you will study the broad system of international law. We do a lot more than just human rights law."

How did you find out about Lund University and the programme you are studying?  

"For me, I checked a lot of sources on the internet. I googled keywords, but I was checking for the best course in International Law. Lund was one of the options that came up. One of my previous professors, who was in the Department of International Law and Jurisprudence, gave me a note with the names of the universities they thought I should apply to, and Lund University was on that list."

What is the best thing about the International Law program?  

"The best thing about the programme, right now, is the resources. When I was studying remotely, I used the Lund University online library, which was very efficient. I was able to access everything I needed for my studies. I mostly stay at the Raoul Wallenberg Library. I haven’t even exhausted that yet! The libraries are extensive. My previous school had limited access to current resources, such as things published a month ago. The courses are well organised. Everything is very straightforward with useful resources which I appreciate."

Why should a prospective student choose this programme?

"I would say it's a good idea to come to Lund. The content of the course should be the first thing in mind. I had some prospective students from Nigeria reach out to me, and I recommended they come to Lund for International Law. At Lund, you have the time to digest the content since you take one course at a time. The environment is very international and very ambitious. I would definitely encourage someone to come to Lund."  

Are there any practical experiences you have gotten from the programme so far?  

"There are constant advertisements for different opportunities outside the programme, such as internships at the Raoul Wallenberg Institute. These internships are for people who have the experience that we have from the programme in human rights and local initiatives. There are internships around Lund, in Sweden and in Copenhagen, for example with the Danish Human Rights Center. I fit well into the opportunities that I see out there."

What is the teaching style like?  

"When the programme began we started with public international law. I did very well in that segment. For each segment of the programme, there are different styles of teaching because there are different professors. The professors will not test you outside of the resources. I am not critical of the professors, because they each have their own way of teaching. The professors do what they do very well. For many of them, I have read their research outside of the classroom before I was their student. One of my professors published the latest article on business and human rights which I eagerly read. I was amazed that Lund University had such high-quality lecturers."

What’s it like to be an international student at Lund? 

"Being an international student in Lund is very cool! Before I came, I had some friends in other countries say that Sweden is not an accepting society. But Lund is not like that at all! You will change your plans for the future when you come to Lund. You grow fond of the area. The social life is good. You can go to many parties, but there is a good balance between studies and parties. If you are lost, you can ask people in the street and they will help you. I am staying with a lot of international students right now which is great, and I feel integrated into life here."

Want to know more about Naphtali's thoughts on career outcomes from the programme and his first-year experience in Lund? Check out his blog posts:

Blog post 'Opportunities in International Human Rights Law for Master’s Students and Graduates!'

LL.M in International Human Rights Law: A First-Year’s Chronicle