LLM

Human Rights and Humanitarian Law

Key Facts

Course Code M198

Qualification

LLM
Course duration

1 year

Available for September start 2025

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The LLM in Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at Aberystwyth University offers you the opportunity to engage with the distinct yet complementary regimes of human rights law and humanitarian law and to study an area of law with urgent contemporary significance and practical relevance. By studying this course, you will tackle traditional subjects as well as new and emerging issues, such as the regulation of international society and the legal mechanisms of human rights during international and non-international armed conflicts. Your study will reflect the local, national and international nuances of this complex subject matter. This course is also available by Distance Learning.

Typical Entry Requirements

Entry Requirements 2:2 Bachelors (Honours) or equivalent in a law or related social science degree

English Language Requirements IELTS 6.5 with minimum 5.5 in each component, or equivalent

Other Requirements Applicants are encouraged to submit an up-to-date CV as part of their application.

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Course Overview

Why study LLM Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at Aberystwyth University?

This course balances the academic with the urgently practical – for example, combining the necessarily comprehensive detail of human rights legislation in conflict with the harsh reality of the threats posed to human rights and the conflicts and tensions within the system of human rights protection.

Students studying Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at Aberystwyth will enjoy:

strong human rights expertise
a wide range of modules on human and humanitarian law subjects
a mixture of practical and theoretical study.

About this course

Duration:

One year full-time. The academic year (September to September) is divided into three semesters: September to January; January to June; June to September.

Assessment:

Assessment in the first two semesters is via written assignments and oral presentations. Each student will complete a Masters dissertation of 13,000-15,000 words which deals with an area of chosen study in the third semester.

Course Fees:

Please see the tuition fee pages for current tuition fees. Please note that all fees are subject to an annual increase.

Funding:

Possible funding opportunities can be found in our funding calculator.

Modules September start - 2025

Please note: The modules listed below are those currently intended for delivery during the next academic year and may be subject to change. They are included here to give an indication of how the course is structured.

Core

Module Name	Module Code	Credit Value
Dissertation	LAM6260	60
Legal Studies	LAM0120	20

Options

Module Name	Module Code	Credit Value
International Criminal Law	LAM0620	20
International Human Rights Law	LAM1620	20
International Humanitarian Law	LAM4220	20
Law and Gender	LAM2420	20
Migration and Asylum Law	LAM4420	20
Aspects of Commercial Contracting	LAM0420	20
International Commercial Law	LAM0720	20
International Environmental Law	LAM0820	20
International Trade Law	LAM1220	20
Negotiated Study Module	LAM2220	20

* Also available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh

Careers

This course will be particularly attractive to those seeking careers in government departments, think tanks, international organisations, humanitarian and human rights advocacy, business organisations, international law firms and a range of non-governmental organisations.

Transferable skills

On this course you will gain a wealth of skills vital for success in legal and more general employment.

You will:

develop expertise in the latest legal developments in the field of human rights and humanitarian law
develop a critical appreciation of legal responses to humanitarian and human rights issues
master a range of legal methodologies
learn to quickly assemble, assimilate and interpret a wealth of legal information from an array of fields
learn how to deploy your knowledge to assert your expertise and build a winning argument based on your own rigorous research and analysis
develop your abilities in structuring and communicating complex ideas efficiently
develop your planning, analysis, presentation, project management and professional independence
enhance your problem solving and creative thinking skills
devise and sustain a self-initiated programme of study
develop study and research skills
work effectively with others.

Teaching & Learning

How will I learn?

This course is a one year full-time programme, but can be taken part-time. The academic year is divided into three semesters. In the first two semesters, you will take the module of Legal Studies and at least 3 (and up to 5) other modules on human rights and humanitarian law, with the option of taking two modules from other legal disciplines, such as environmental law. These modules are delivered via seminars, with a strong emphasis placed on independent study.

In the final semester (June-September), you will complete an extended dissertation, and arrange your level of contact time with your assigned dissertation supervisor.

What will I learn?

These modules will give you the tools to engage in general legal analysis, particularly at international level, and special expertise on various issues of human rights and humanitarian law, whilst also allowing you to tailor your study to your individual needs and interests.

An important part of the course is the writing of a detailed dissertation within a specialism of your choice. Previous LLM students at Aberystwyth have found this opportunity to be invaluable in establishing a successful career.

How will I be assessed?

Assessment in the first two semesters is via written assignments and oral presentations.

Successful submission of your dissertation in the final semester leads to the award of an LLM.

Qualification

Course duration