Find out more about studying International Human Rights Law LLM at University of Leeds? We've gathered all the key details, entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
LLM - Master of Laws
Leeds, Main
Full Time
Sep 2026
1 Year
Taught by experts, this advanced course in international human rights law offers a unique and distinctive focus on the theories and practice of rights worldwide, producing a vibrant environment for exploring this significant area of law and policy. This course will provide you with advanced knowledge, greater understanding and critical insights into current systems of human rights legal protection and the most pressing human rights debates. You’ll explore domestic, regional, and international human rights legal systems to analyse how rights have been legalised, developed and enforced. You’ll consider key critiques of the theory and practice of human rights. You’ll investigate the law relating to the protection of life and human dignity, freedom from torture and other ill-treatment, freedom of expression, and human rights relating to media organisations, poverty, terrorism, health care, children and the family, and disabled people. You’ll benefit from the expertise of leading academics in a stimulating research environment. Our research groups include: Centre for Business Law and Practice (CBLP)Centre for Criminal Justice Studies (CCJS)Centre for Law and Social Justice (CLSJ)Centre for Innovation and Research in Legal Education (CIRLE)Studying LLM International Human Rights LawWatching in China? View this video on YouKu.
The module considers the recent trend towards judicially determined rights in a number of selected national jurisdictions by reference to the treatment of key civil, political, social and economic rights. It examines cross border migrations of constitutional courts as well as the influence of international norm setters (UN, HRC) and regional human rights courts and supranational bodies.
This module aims to enable students to develop analytical, research, writing and presentational skills in connection with human rights issues; to produce a substantial and detailed commentary on specific topic related to human rights.
The module introduces students to the idea of the international human rights and the mechanisms created by the United Nations to protect human rights. It considers the structure of the international human rights system by examining existing standards and their implementation. The module further examines emerging issues and focuses on particular groups.
The aim of this module is to prepare students for legal research required for seminar preparation, coursework assignments and for writing dissertations in law. By the end of this module, students should: 1. Know how to find and navigate a wide range of legal sources; 2. Know how to search law databases for appropriate sources; 3. Be able to find and use diverse legal sources, including primary and secondary legal sources; 4. Be able to conduct the legal research required to participate in seminars, complete assignments and write a dissertation; 5. Have a sound understanding of different legal systems; 6. Be able to demonstrate the critical and analytical thinking skills required at Masters level; 7. Be able to attribute their work correctly using an approved referencing system (e.g. OSCOLA); 8. Be familiar with the different conceptual approaches to legal research, and 9. Be able to formulate a research question, to support a dissertation in Law; 10. Know how to present arguments in different ways, including in oral discussion, in written work, and in a more concise form (i.e. a poster); 11. Develop transferable skills, including critical and analytical skills and the ability to present arguments in different formats.
