This is the only Human Rights and Diplomacy programme in the world taught in partnership with the leading training body of the United Nations: the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

This is an interdisciplinary course that combines Law, Philosophy and Politics of human rights. 

You’ll learn about the practice and theory of human rights laws and politics, the UN human rights institutions, their history and their philosophical foundations. You’ll be taught by top human rights researchers and will be given practical training from experienced UN personnel in negotiating draft documents, and learning how to make a difference.

The course includes a 5-day study visit to Geneva for all students, to observe the Human Rights Council in session. Additionally, for the final three months of the course, if your profile is strong enough then you’ll have the opportunity to apply for a highly desirable internship, or else to pursue projects with human rights organisations or to tackle a traditional dissertation.

Placements

In the Autumn semester, students with a strong enough profile will be supported to apply for UN internships. These have recently included unpaid internships at the International Court of Justice, the UN Joint Inspection Unit, UNESCO and others.

Many other students pursue integrated professional projects in Scotland and the UK. Recent projects included the Forth Valley Welcome refugee organisation; Nourish Scotland on the right to food; Positive Action on Housing focused on rooms for refugees; Scottish PEN focused on journalists' and writers' rights; Howard League Scotland focused on the rights of prisoners; Stirling Council working on poverty sensitivity training; Central Scotland Regional Equality Council; Revive Campaign on the psychological effects of explosive violence; and with the UN Special Rapporteur for Cambodia.

Our Programme has partnered with the Institute for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (IHRDA) and the East African Centre for Human Rights (EACHRights) to deliver placement opportunities to some of our student.

Career

Our MSc Human Rights and Diplomacy course has a strong focus on employability.

Students who successfully undertake an internship or professional project will gain hands-on experience of human rights diplomacy, backed up by the academic theoretical and legal knowledge developed in the spring and summer modules. Students will also be well placed to pursue an academic career by continuing onto PhD or commensurate research career possibilities, a route that will be further supported by undertaking the traditional academic dissertation.

Work in the UN institutions or in NGOs are clear options for graduates of this course, and the networked development of the internship or professional project you apply for will be coordinated by UNITAR and Stirling staff together as a strong route into such employment. Likewise, graduates of the programme will be well placed for employment in the private sector. There is an increasing focus on business and human rights and companies seeking to align with international best practice, including compliance with the Sustainable Development Goals and international human rights obligations. Graduates in both human rights and diplomacy will be best placed as future leaders in terms of emerging best practice.

Through this programme, you will become reflective practitioners with an in-depth knowledge of current issues and developments within human rights. You will display the  attributes necessary to thrive in the work place, with highly developed communication, team-working and problem-solving skills gained through practical work informed by critical analysis and in-depth specialist knowledge.