Programme requirements and structure

(Image: Perceptions of governmental human rights violations in Ukraine helped fuel the 2013/2014 Euromaidan protests and civil unrest)

The International Human Rights Law programme is a one year long, full-time programme. The language of instruction and examination in the programme is English.

Programme requirements
In order to obtain an LLM degree in International Human Rights Law programme a candidate must successfully complete a total of 60 ECTS*:
a.   Six compulsory courses**:

• International Crimes and Gross Human Rights Violations (6 ECTS)
• International Health Law (6 ECTS)
• International Human Rights Law (6 ECTS)
• International Institutional Law (6 ECTS)

• International Humanitarian Law (6 ECTS) or Refugee and Asylum Law (6 ECTS)
• European Human Rights Law (6 ECTS) or International Criminal Tribunals and Courts (6 ECTS)

b. Seminar Human Rights (6 ECTS)
c. Law in Practice (6 ECTS)
d. Master’s thesis (12 ECTS)

* Students who have not taken Public International Law (or an equivalent) in their Bachelor should take this course as an extra course. The course will not be part of the required 60 ECTS.
** Students who already took one of the compulsory courses in their Bachelor can apply for an exemption for such a course through the Board of Examiners. An extra course(s) should be chosen to replace the exempted course(s).

Programme structure
All programmes consist of six courses (minimum), a seminar, a law in practice module, and the writing of a thesis. The academic year in Groningen runs from the first week of September to the end of August and is divided into two semesters of two blocks each. Each lecture block is followed by periods of examinations.

If you'd like to know more about the International Human Rights Law LLM programme, you are welcome to join one of our Masters Week presentations for the programme. You can also watch a recording of our most recent (online) masters week presentation here.

Do you have a question about an LLM programme? Contact the Faculty of Law directly through our information request form .

The Faculty reserves the right to cancel or alter courses when necessary. Applicants receive due notice of any changes in the curriculum. These webpages will always hold the most recent information about the programmes.