Introduction
Mode of Attendance: Full-time or Part-time
The SOAS LLM in Human Rights, Conflict and Justice provides a specialisation in a constantly evolving area of law that covers a range of issues at the heart of major contemporary developments and debates.
This programme offers a wide range of distinctive modules that combine a focus on core subjects in the field alongside a critical inquiry into the theory and practice of human rights law and related fields, particularly as they relate to the global South.
Options include core international modules on international human rights law, international criminal law, international refugee and migration law, international humanitarian law, and justice, reconciliation and reconstruction in post conflict societies.
The degree also offers singular modules on specific legal approaches, settings, and cross-cutting themes such as Human Rights and Islamic Law; Law, Rights & Social Change; Law, Human Rights and Peace-building: the Israeli-Palestinian case; Darfur: Anatomy of a Human Rights Emergency; and Human Rights of Women.
Teaching and learning environment
SOAS provides a unique environment and opportunity to engage with relevant issues taught by our expert staff who bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience of working and teaching in the field. This includes posts such as the United Nations Independent Expert on human rights in Sudan, acting as advisors to national, regional and international bodies, and in multiple roles and affiliations with civil society organisations and actors.
The LLM in Human Rights Conflict and Justice uses a range of teaching methods and approaches, which draw on the wider, global community of academics, legal practitioners and NGOs, to foster an engaged, critical learning environment. The International Human Rights Clinic is a particularly popular example of this approach.
The area of human rights, conflict and justice occupies an important place in the SOAS School of Law, which is home to the SOAS Centre for Human Rights Law. The Centre provides a focal point for research activities and regular events, and an opportunity for postgraduate students to become involved and engage with the SOAS research community and actors in the field.
Why you?
The programme is ideal for LLB graduates or legal professionals with an interest in the theory and practice of human rights law and related fields, particularly as they relate to the global south.
You will join international alumni of graduates from the LLM at SOAS, many of whom are now working at the UN, in NGOs, in government, private practice, policy work or academia.
Please note that the LLM is restricted to applicants who hold an LLB. If you do not hold an LLB but are interested in pursuing a masters degree in international law at SOAS see details of the MA here.
Structure
Students must take modules to a total value of 180, consisting of a dissertation (60 credits) and 120 credits of taught modules. Taught modules are worth either 15 or 30 credits.
Students who wish to graduate with a specialised LLM are required to take at least 60 credits associated with his or her specialised LLM, a further 30 credits within the School of Law (General Law Postgraduate Taught Module List), and a final 30 unit which can either be taken within the School of Law or from the Language Open Options or Non-Language Open Options pages with the LLM Programme Convenor’s permission. The dissertation topic will be undertaken within the LLM specialisation.
Please note: Not all modules listed will be available every year.
Dissertation
Dissertation (12,000 words), on a topic related to the specialism of the degree.
LLM Dissertation in Law
Taught Component
Guided OptionChoose modules from the List A below to the value of 60 credits.
and
Choose a module(s) from the List A or General Law PGT Options below to the value of 30 credits.
and
Choose a module(s) from the List of General Law PGT Options below or from Postgraduate Open Options to the value of 30 credits.
List A
Human Rights and Islamic Law
International Human Rights Clinic
Human Rights Of Women
International Protection of Human Rights
Justice, Reconciliation and Reconstruction in Post Conflict Societies
International Migration Law
International Refugee Law
Law, Human Rights and Peace Building: The Israeli-Palestinian Case
Foundations of International Law
Gender, Sexuality and Law: Selected Topic
Gender, Sexuality and Law: Theories and Methodologies
International Criminal Law
Law and Policy of International Courts and Tribunals
Law and Postcolonial Theory
Law and Society in Southeast Asia
Mapping International Law in London: International Legal Geography in the Capital of Empire
Law, Rights & Social Change
The Law of Armed Conflict
General Law Options
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Gender, Sexuality and Law: Selected Topics
Gender, Sexuality and Law: Theories and Methodologies
Human Rights and Islamic Law
International Commercial Arbitration
International Human Rights Clinic
International Investment Law
Islamic Law (MA/LLM)
Law and Development in Africa
Law and Society in Southeast Asia
Law and Society in The Middle East and North Africa
Law, Rights & Social Change
Preliminary Law, Legal Reasoning and Legal Methods
International Migration Law
International Refugee Law
Law and Society in South Asia
Mapping International Law in London: International Legal Geography in the Capital of Empire
Law, Environment and Social Justice
Law and Justice in Contemporary China
Climate Change Law and Policy
Colonialism, Empire and International Law
Comparative Constitutional Law
Foundations of International Law
Human Rights Of Women
International Criminal Law
International Environmental and Sustainable Development Law
International Protection of Human Rights
Justice, Reconciliation and Reconstruction in Post Conflict Societies
Law and Natural Resources
Law and Policy of International Courts and Tribunals
Law and Postcolonial Theory
Law of Islamic Finance
Law, Human Rights and Peace Building: The Israeli-Palestinian Case
Multinational Enterprises and The Law
The Law of Armed Conflict
The Law of International Trade and/or Financial Regulation
Water Law and Development: Conflicts, Governance and Justice
Water Law: Justice and Governance
Non-Law Options
Other non-law options might also be available, for example:
Gender, Armed Conflict and International Law
Open Options NoteOpen options will need the approval of deputy PG programme convenor (LLM or MA).
Important notice
The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session.
Admissions and Applications
You can apply for this course via the online application form.
We aim to assess a complete application and provide a decision within a 5-week time frame. Overseas students who require a Tier 4 visa and wish to join SOAS should bear in mind visa applications can take several weeks, so you should apply as soon as possible.
Consideration of Application
The whole application, including transcript and references, is considered before a decision is reached. You are therefore advised to submit a complete application including references and transcript (where required). An incomplete application will add considerable delays to the decision-making process.
Students will receive an acknowledgement of their application. Each application is carefully considered and although we try and respond as quickly as possible, we do ask that students should expect to receive a response within five weeks of receipt.
Candidates who are available in the United Kingdom may be called for an interview. The absence of academic members of staff (or instance on study leave) may affect the timing of decisions.
Entry Requirements
Minimum upper second class honours degree (or equivalent) in Law. We welcome applications from students who are close to an upper second class honours degree (High 2:2) and who have other relevant qualifications or work experience.
English Language Entry Requirements
You must be able to show that your English is of a high enough standard to successfully engage with and complete your course at SOAS. Please note that we take our English language requirements seriously and failure to meet them exactly may well result in your application to SOAS being rejected. It is not possible to negotiate if your scores are below our required levels, with the expectation that because they are 'close enough' they will be accepted. It is important that you plan appropriately, well in advance, so that your English language test comes in good time and so that you have time to retake the test if necessary. We do not accept reasons of inconvenience or financial hardship for not submitting or retaking an English test.
International students
For EU and International students who need a visa, if unconditional entry scores are achieved we accept qualifications from several countries, as well as a range of international qualifications and tests.
If a Tier 4 entry visa is required then a SELT, such as UKVI IELTS may be needed. For this reason, we recommend all Tier 4 visa students to choose the UKVI IELTS Academic test as the test of first resort.
