Admissions status:
Open. The current round closes on October 15, 2025.| Course Details | Description |
|---|---|
| Level | Postgraduate |
| Degree | LL.M. |
| Length | 3 terms (1 year) |
| Department | Department of Legal Studies |
| US degree credits | 30 (1 year) |
| Austrian degree ECTS credits | 60 (1 year) |
Program Description
The LL.M. in Human Rights program provides theoretical and practical education for future scholars and professionals in human rights with special emphasis on the legal aspects of human rights promotion and protection.
You will dive into discussions on the most pressing 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
You will engage in comparative and interdisciplinary analysis of complex human rights problems, including thosegovernmental organizations face in regional, international, and intercontinental relations. The one-year LL.M. in Human Rights program offers instruction in the specific legal mechanisms and institutional processes that may be used by national human rights organizations to approach human rights issues effectively. To ground your studies in the context of ongoing developments, you will be guided by our permanent and visiting faculty of renowned researchers and practitioners who bring diverse perspectives on current topics and trends relevant to the contemporary practice and advocacy of human rights.
As with the other programs at the Department of Legal Studies, the Master of Laws in Human Rights is committed to research-based teaching. You will work on developing your academic research skills through problem-driven papers written for various courses, as well as in your final program thesis or capstone project.
After graduating with an LL.M. in Human Rights degree, you will be able to effectively apply advanced analytical skills that draw on critical interdisciplinary analysis to respond to 21st-century human rights challenges with policy-relevant proposals.
How the One-Year LL.M. in Human Rights Works
You will engage in interdisciplinary exploration and comparative analysis of concepts that build the foundation of the contemporary legal practice of human rights.
The core of the program focuses on the international and regional human rights systems with strong emphasis on the Council of Europe and the United Nations. Students will attend mandatory and elective classes delving into the regional perspectives on modern human rights issues. During this one-year LL.M. program, you will explore a breadth of current human rights topics, researching different human rights protection mechanisms at local and international levels, freedom of expression, international criminal justice, rule of law, political rights, social rights, non-discrimination, gender equality, minority protection and more.
You will actively participate in interactive classes, discussions and presentations to critically engage with current human rights developments in a culturally sensitive manner. You will build solid argumentation and analysis skills using theoretical frameworks and practical approaches taught in the advanced courses.
For the duration of the program, 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 landmark Vienna Declaration and Plan of Action (VDPA)1 was adopted, laying the foundation for the promotion and protection of human rights. To take advantage of the interdepartmental exchange at our Vienna campus, you will explore master’s level courses from other departments and select elective courses that match your professional and academic interests.
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 Laws in Human Rights program:
Who Is This Program For
The Master of Laws in Human Rights degree is designed for students with a background in law who intend to focus on the constitutional, regional or international legal aspects of human rights protection and enforcement.
The program boasts a truly diverse community attracting applicants from all corners of 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.
Check If You Meet the Eligibility Criteria
To be accepted into this one-year 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. Applicants must have completed their undergraduate studies in law before starting the LL.M. program.
If your bachelor’s level degree is not in law, we recommend that you apply to the one-year Master of Arts in Human Rights program instead. The MA in Human Rights degree is designed for those without a background in legal studies who are interested in the theoretical and policy implications of human rights protection and advocacy.
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
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 law. You will engage with challenges to human rights protection in an age of skepticism, populism and accelerated technological progress.
Students will apply their knowledge and experience in an independent research project in the form of a final thesis or a capstone project that addresses practical human rights problems. The LL.M. in Human Rights students also have the option to gain first-hand experience in human rights advocacy and immersion in the work of civil society organizations through optional human rights internships internships organized with our partner local and international human rights NGOs.
LL.M. Human Rights Program Overview
LL.M. Human Rights Program Overview
Introduction to the Protection of Human Rights
Capstone Seminar or Thesis Seminar
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 One-Year LL.M in Human rights Electives (see list below)
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 on the Thesis track)
Choice of courses from the list of One-Year LL.M in Human rights Electives (see list below)
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 One-Year LL.M in Human rights Electives (see list below)
Optional: Human Rights Internship
Biopolitics, Reproduction, and Human Rights
Business and Human Rights
Constitutionalism and Rights in Latin America
Courts in Dialogue
Environmental Justice & Human Rights
Equality Policy in Comparative Approach
EU Human Rights Law and Policy
Global Challenges in Refugee and Migration Law
Human Rights in History
Identity and Rights
International and European Refugee Policy and Law
International Humanitarian Law
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 Laws 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 Instructors
See the full list of professors that are currently teaching in the program.
After Graduation
Graduating with an LL.M. in Human Rights from CEU prepares you for a career as a legal practitioner or scholar promoting and protecting human rights within international and regional organizations, governmental agencies and NGOs worldwide.
Your Career Prospects
With a solid foundation in international human rights law grounded in an interdisciplinary approach, you will be well-equipped to take an active role in addressing rights violations and shaping policy recommendations at national and regional levels. Thanks to your advanced analytical and communication skills, as well as experience in approaching culturally sensitive topics, you will be comfortable working and collaborating in fast-paced, multicultural environments.
Graduates of this one-year Master of Laws in Human Rights 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 Lawyer
- Human Rights Educator
- Human Rights Researcher
- Immigration Lawyer
- International Lawyer
- Interpreter
- Journalist
- Legal Officer
- Lawyer
- Legal Advisor
- Lobbyist
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Specialist
- Government Analyst
- Policy Analyst
- Policy Officer
- Program Manager
- Researcher
- Refugee Assistance Officer
- Social Worker
- UN Human Rights Specialist
- Volunteer Coordinator
Continue Your Education at CEU
5 Reasons to Study the LL.M. in Human Rights at CEU
- Dual degree: Earn both an American and Austrian degree and expand your doctoral training prospects internationally.
- Gain expertise in human rights law: This program provides in-depth training in international and European human rights law, equipping you with the theoretical and practical knowledge needed for a career in human rights protection and advocacy.
- Focus on interdisciplinarity: Hone your analytical abilities to assess complex situations, evaluate different perspectives and formulate well-informed solutions to human rights law challenges.
- Build practical skills for human rights work: The program emphasizes practical training, including research, writing and communication skills. You will learn to apply legal mechanisms and institutional processes to real-world human rights challenges.
- 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.
