Human Rights Studies - Master's Programme

The Master´s programme in Human Rights Studies gives you the opportunity to study the complex phenomenon that human rights represent in our world. The programme combines historical, philosophical, political, and legal perspectives to study the multidisciplinary field of human rights with a humanities profile. We are committed to the view that human rights need to be regarded and studied, not only as ethical principles or the basis for law and policy, but as part of the infrastructure of a democratic society.

In your first year, you will study conceptual questions and matters of principle and the formation of concepts with focus on rights actors, indicators, and institutions. You will then continue with political and philosophical history. Important questions include how the understanding and language of human rights have changed over time, and how this is reflected in our understanding and use of them today.

Towards the end of the first year, you will take thematic courses related to the research conducted at our division. Finally, you will also study research methods and research ethics.

In your second year, you will carry out your own research project as part of writing your master´s thesis. During your third term, you will gather knowledge or data for your thesis through a field study or internship and in the fourth term, you will write your thesis. 

Our teaching faculty, all part of our research environment, reflect the academic breadth of the programme. We use an interactive teaching style, and the teaching can include lectures, compulsory seminars, workshops, group work, oral presentations and research proposal designs. The teaching also includes field trips to human rights institutions. 

Our programme will give you expertise in human rights, and after graduation you can work in fields where knowledge of human rights is essential. By combining your master's degree with a bachelor's degree in human rights or another subject, you can work in various institutions and organisations, both governmental and non-governmental, for example as

• Human Rights Campaigner
• Advocacy Officer
• Activism Coordinator
• Web Content Manager
• Programme Officer
• Communications Officers
• Monitoring & Evaluation Officers
• Administrative Officer
• Digital Content Officer or Grant Officer.

You can also choose to continue with doctoral studies in the field.   

Prerequisites

A Bachelor’s degree with a major in human rights or other relevant major in the humanities, social sciences, law, or the equivalent. English course 6 (advanced proficiency) Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree in a subject other than Human Rights Studies must demonstrate that they have sufficient knowledge of the subject through specialisation or a degree project.

Selection criteria

Overall, the selection is based on an assessment of the applicants’ suitability and expected ability to benefit from the programme. The following selection criteria are applied to the applicants who meet the admission requirements: • The applicant’s proficiency in English, orally and in writing. If English is not the applicant’s native language, their language proficiency is to be demonstrated by e.g. IELTS test, TOEFL test, Cambridge/Oxford test, a Bachelor’s degree from a study programme taught entirely in English, or a passing grade in English B from Swedish upper-secondary school. • Grades from courses with content of relevance to the programme. A letter of intent in which the applicant describes their qualifications, academic and professional aspirations and explains why this makes them suitable for the programme. Two letters of recommendation in English from people who are familiar with and capable of assessing the applicant’s academic abilities.

Tuition fees for non-EU/EEA citizens

Citizens of countries outside:

• The European Union (EU)
• The European Economic Area (EEA) and
• Switzerland

are required to pay tuition fees. You pay an instalment of the tuition fee in advance of each
semester.

Tuition fees, payments and exemptions

Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 270,000
First payment: SEK 67,500

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Note that you may also need to pay an application fee, or provide proof of exemption.

Application fee

No tuition fees for citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland

There are no tuition fees for citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.

Lund University Global Scholarship Programme

The Lund University Global Scholarship programme is a merit-based and selective scholarship targeted at top academic students from countries outside the EU/EEA.

Lund University Global Scholarship

African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Scholarship

Within the framework of the Lund University Global Scholarship programme, the University also offers the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Scholarship targeted at top academic students from selected African research universities. 

ARUA Scholarship

Swedish Institute Scholarship: Global professionals

The Swedish Institute offers scholarships to international students from certain countries who are applying for select Master's programmes in Sweden. 

Scholarship information on the Swedish Institute website 

Country-specific scholarships and funding options

Lund University has agreements with scholarship organisations and funding bodies in different countries, which may allow applicants to apply for funding or scholarships in their home countries for their studies at Lund University. Most agreements are intended for Master’s applicants, although certain opportunities may also be available to Bachelor’s students.

Country-specific scholarships

External scholarships

In addition to scholarships offered by Lund University or through its partner agreements, there are external opportunities. On the page below, you’ll find examples of organisations that may provide financial support for international students from specific countries. 

External scholarships