Admissions status:
Open. The current round closes on October 15, 2025.| Course Details | Description |
|---|---|
| Level | Postgraduate |
| Degree | MA |
| Length | 3 terms (1 year) |
| Department | Department of Legal Studies |
| US degree credits | 30 |
| Austrian degree ECTS credits | 60 |
Program Description
The MA in Human Rights program was established in 1998 and is the first in Europe to offer a law-focused, and interdisciplinary master’s level education in international and European human rights law for the next generation of human rights practitioners.
Our Master of Arts in Human Rights offers a combination of social science, legal science and policy-based approaches to provide extensive theoretical and practical education for students of all disciplines. Students benefit from a curriculum with a legal focus, even without a background in law, as it allows them to engage with theoretical perspectives and concrete empirical analyses of the most important questions in human rights.
You will be exposed to debates on the biggest topics on the global human rights agenda, such as international mechanisms for the protection of human rights, freedom of expression, human rights and international criminal justice, political rights, minority protection and the rule of law constitutional protection of rights. The one-year program offers instruction in the specific legal mechanisms and institutional processes that can be used by national human rights organizations to effectively approach human rights issues which transitional and also established democracies might confront.
You will be based in Vienna, home to one of the four major offices of the United Nations since 1980 and the site of the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights, where the Vienna Declaration and Plan of Action (VDPA), the landmark document for the promotion and protection of human rights, was adopted. As a result of the declaration, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights was established, becoming the leading UN entity on human rights.
How the One-Year MA in Human Rights Works
The MA in Human Rights program provides a one-year full-time education focused on the theoretical and real-world practical aspects of human rights advocacy and protection. You will explore key legal concepts and mechanisms present in the field of human rights law and learn to use basic legal reasoning and comparative arguments.
This MA program has a strong practical orientation and includes experiential learning and skill-building components in order to develop competencies indispensable for successful human rights practitioners. You will explore commonly applied analysis tools and develop critical reading and writing skills under the guidance of an international faculty of legal and human rights experts.
The curriculum consists of mandatory and elective courses, which focus on international and regional dimensions of human rights, as well as human rights issues across legal systems. Students are also encouraged to explore master’s level courses from other departments and select optional tailored specializations, benefiting from an interdisciplinary approach championed at CEU.
The MA program in Human Rights―like all other programs at the Department of Legal Studies―is committed to research-based teaching. You will apply your knowledge and experience in problem-driven papers written for various courses, as well as in the final thesis or capstone project.
A unique offering of this MA in Human Rights program is the first-hand experience in human rights advocacy and immersion in the work of civil society organizations through optional human rights internships.
Expanding Your Expertise with Advanced Certificates at CEU
Advanced Certificates are student-only programs that enable you to dive deep into different subject areas through highly specialized training. This unique option offers you the possibility to tailor your learning experience at CEU according to your future academic and professional career.
The following certificates are offered as optional courses available for students of the Master of Arts in Human Rights program:
Who Is This Program For
The one-year MA in Human Rights degree is designed for those without a background in legal studies who are interested in understanding the theoretical, legal and policy implications of human rights protection and advocacy. The program boasts a truly diverse community attracting applicants from Europe, Africa, North and Latin America and Asia. Classes are highly interactive, enabling you to benefit from the different perspectives and take on contemporary human rights challenges brought by the multinational composition of the student body.
You will attend courses that explore human rights issues in the context of a broad spectrum of underlying legal concepts and develop advanced critical thinking skills through a diverse law-focused curriculum with a strong interdisciplinary component and real-world focus. You will learn how to approach multifaceted issues through the lens of academic research and refine your arguments during discussions and group work.
As a result, the MA in Human Rights graduates demonstrate substantial in-depth knowledge of international human rights law and fundamental rights and a close familiarity with the institutional and procedural features of regional and global intergovernmental institutions. You will be well-prepared to apply advanced analysis and complex problem-solving skills to provide genuine policy-relevant solutions to present-day human rights problems.
Check If You Meet the Eligibility Criteria
To be accepted into this program, you must have earned a primary degree (bachelor's or equivalent undergraduate degree) of not less than four years of full-time studies with a minimum of 240 ECTS credits or equivalent.
This degree addresses the interests of non-lawyers and applicants who are interested in the theoretical and policy implications of human rights protection and advocacy.
If your bachelor’s level degree is in law and you intend to focus on constitutional, regional and international legal aspects of human rights promotion and protection, we recommend that you apply to the one-year Master of Laws in Human Rights program instead.
Program-specific Requirements
In addition to meeting the general CEU admissions requirements, you must provide a 500-word statement of purpose describing your reasons for applying to the program and how the program will help you achieve your personal and professional goals. You may also indicate the topic to which you intend to devote your master’s thesis or capstone project, explaining your interest in the relevant subject.
What Awaits You at CEU
The problem-focused curriculum combined with a strong interdisciplinary and comparative approach offers ample opportunities to understand the theoretical and legal foundations of human rights. You will engage with challenges to human rights protection in an age of skepticism, populism and accelerated technological progress. The MA in Human Rights is guided by the permanent and visiting faculty, who research contemporary human rights challenges as they arise, inviting students to critically examine current issues in the context of their studies.
MA Human Rights Program Overview
MA Human Rights Program Overview
- Fall Term:
Introduction to Law
Introduction to the Protection of Human Rights
Capstone Seminar or Thesis Seminar
Choice of courses from the list of mandatory electives:
Inter-American System of Human Rights System
Constitution-Building in Africa I
Choice of courses from the list of Human Rights Electives (see list below):
- Winter Term:
Choice of courses from the list of mandatory electives:
The Council of Europe Human Rights System
The UN Human Rights System
Capstone Seminar or Thesis Seminar
Human Rights Legal Research Methodology (for students in the Thesis track)
Choice of courses from the list of Human Rights Electives (see list below)
- Spring Term:
Capstone Seminar or Thesis Seminar
Capstone Project or Thesis
Courses from the list of mandatory electives:
EU Human Rights Law and Policy
Constitution-Building in Africa II
Courses from the list of Human Rights Electives (see list below)
Optional: Human Rights Internship
- Archives, Evidence and Human Rights
- Biopolitics, Reproduction, and Human Rights
- Business and Human Rights
- Courts in Dialogue
- Environmental Justice & Human Rights
- EU Human Rights Law and Policy
Equality Policy in Comparative Approach
- Global Challenges in Refugee and Migration Law
- Human Rights in History
- Identity and Rights
- International and European Refugee Policy and Law
- International Humanitarian Law
- International Rule of Law Assistance: Law and Development
- Introduction to European Union Law
- Labor Migration Law and Business
- Law and Technology
- Philosophy of Law
- Reimagining Human Rights: Critical Engagement
- Rule of Law
- Socio-Economic Rights
- The Human Body and the Law
- The Law and Politics of Gender-Based Violence
This program overview is provided as an example based on previous years' curricula. It is for informational purposes only and subject to change. Course offerings, schedules and content may be updated or modified at any time without prior notice. Please refer to official sources or contact the relevant department for the most current program details.
Program Accreditation
The Master of Arts in Human Rights at CEU is registered with the New York State Education Department in the United States and accredited by AQ Austria in Austria. CEU is accredited in the United States by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
Find out more about accreditation at CEU.
Your Teachers
See the full list of professors that are currently teaching in the program here.
After Graduation
Graduating with an MA in Human Rights from CEU prepares you for a career promoting and protecting human rights within international organizations, governmental agencies and NGOs worldwide.
Equipped with a sophisticated understanding of international and regional human rights law and theoretical and practical knowledge of social science and policy, you will be able to engage with the most pressing human rights issues facing the global community. Your comprehensive academic and practical skills will allow you to confidently approach challenges related to international and domestic mechanisms for the protection of human rights, and key topics including freedom of expression, international criminal justice, rule of law, political rights and minority protection.
Your Career Prospects
Graduates of this one-year MA degree may consider exploring roles with the following job titles:
- Associate Human Rights Officer
- Campaign Manager
- Community Worker
- Consultant
- Diplomat
- Human Rights Advocate
- Human Rights Educator
- Human Rights Researcher
- Interpreter
- International Correspondent
- Journalist
- Legal Advisor
- Lobbyist
- Government Analyst
- Policy Analyst
- Policy Officer
- Program Manager
- Researcher
- Refugee Assistance Officer
- Social Worker
- UN Human Rights Specialist
5 Reasons to Study Human Rights
Dual degree: Earn both an American and Austrian degree and expand your doctoral training prospects internationally.
Develop human rights law expertise regardless of your background: This program provides a solid foundation in international and regional human rights law for applicants without a background in legal studies. You will explore the legal mechanisms, institutional processes and advocacy strategies, preparing you for a career in human rights law, advocacy, or policy.
Interdisciplinary strength: The MA in Human Rights program combines legal studies with social science and policy-based approaches, offering a comprehensive understanding of human rights issues through an interdisciplinary lens.
Study in Vienna: For the duration of the program, you will be based in Vienna, home to international organizations that actively engage in the human rights discourse at regional and global levels.
Essential skills for human rights work: The program emphasizes critical thinking, research and communication skills to equip you with the skills needed to advocate for human rights effectively.
