International Human Rights Law - Master Programme
Master's programme · 2 years · 120 credits
Description
Becoming a human rights lawyer may be an inspiring yet daunting task. Our programme provides students with the necessary tools of the trade: the ability to construct rigorous legal arguments to defend victims of human rights violations and improve human rights protection around the world. We train students to identify innovative solutions and to critically analyze the contexts they will encounter in their work as human rights lawyers in a global context.
The LL.M. in International Human Rights Law has been offered by the Faculty of Law for more than 30 years. As such it was one of the first LL.M. programmes in the world established specifically to provide for the academic mastery of an increasingly influential and complex area of international law.
The programme is a cooperative venture by the Faculty of Law and the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI). This makes your education unique: no other LL.M. programme offers the joint resources of a prestigious law school and a renowned implementation-oriented human rights institution. The LL.M. Guide for Law Programs Worldwide ranks it among the top 10 in the field.
Both the Faculty of Law at Lund University and the RWI are well respected educational actors and our graduates benefit from the fact that the Master´s programme at Lund is held in high esteem worldwide. We provide our students with a multitude of perspectives on human rights yet ensuring a red thread of academic progression throughout the programme.
We train your contextual awareness, scholarly approach, analytic clarity, and practical skills alike. The staff has been selected to ensure the highest scholarly standards in research and training. We also regularly host distinguished guest professors and visiting speakers from both academia and legal practice.
Open for applications
Application opportunitiesThis programme is open for applications from 15 October 2024 to 15 January 2025.
Contact
Master coordinator
Anders Tröjer
Phone: +46 46 222 12 49
Email: anders [dot] trojer [at] jur [dot] lu [dot] se
Requirements and selection
Entry requirements
The programme is open to both Swedish and foreign students with at least a 3 year Bachelor degree in law (Bachelor, LL.B, or equivalent). English course 6 (advanced proficiency).
Selection criteria
Based on grades on previous courses, statement of purpose, and 2 letters of recommendation.
English language requirements
Most of Lund University’s programmes require English Level 6 (unless otherwise stated under 'Entry requirements'). This is the equivalent of an overall IELTS score of 6.5 or a TOEFL score of 90. There are several ways to prove your English language proficiency – check which proof is accepted at the University Admissions in Sweden website. All students must prove they meet English language requirements by the deadline, in order to be considered for admission.
How to prove your English proficiency – universityadmissions.se
Country-specific requirements
Check if there are any country-specific eligibility rules for you to study Bachelor's or Master's studies in Sweden:
Country-specific requirements for Bachelor's studies – universityadmissions.se
Country-specific requirements for Master's studies – universityadmissions.se
Apply
Start Autumn Semester 2025
Day-time Lund, full time 100%
In English
Study period
1 September 2025 - 6 June 2027
Application
Last application date 2025-01-15
How to apply
Lund University uses a national application system run by University Admissions in Sweden. It is only possible to apply during the application periods.
Step 1: Apply online
- Check that you meet the entry requirements of the programme or course you are interested in (refer to the section above on this webpage).
- Start your application – go to the University Admissions in Sweden website where you create an account and select programmes/courses during the application period.
Visit the University Admissions in Sweden website - Rank your programme/course choices in order of preference and submit them before the application deadline.
Step 2: Submit documents
- Read about how to document your eligibility and how to submit your documents at the University Admissions in Sweden website. Follow any country-specific document rules for Master's studies or Bachelor's studies
Country-specific requirements for Bachelor's studies – universityadmissions.se
Country-specific requirements for Master's studies – universityadmissions.se
- Get all your documents ready:
- official transcripts and high school diploma (Bachelor's applicants)
- official transcripts and degree certificate or proof that you are in the final year of your Bachelor's (Master's applicants)
- passport/ID (all applicants) and
- proof of English proficiency (all applicants).
- Prepare programme-specific documents if stated in the next paragraph on this webpage.
- Upload or send all required documents to University Admissions before the document deadline.
- Pay the application fee (if applicable – refer to the section below on this webpage) before the document deadline.
* Note that the process is different if you are applying as an exchange student or as a part of a cooperation programme (such as Erasmus+).
* If you have studied your entire Bachelor's programme in Sweden and all of your academic credits are in Ladok, you do not have to submit transcripts or your diploma when applying for a Master's programme. However, there may still be other documents you need to submit! See the link below.
* Svensk student?
Läs instruktionerna om att söka till ett internationellt masterprogram på lu.se
Programme-specific documents
In addition to the documents mentioned under Step 2, you must also submit:
- A statement of purpose (letter of intent)
- Two letters of recommendation
See the Faculty of Law's website for further instructions:
Instructions on how to apply on the Faculty of Law website under "Supporting documentation"
Tuition fees
Non-EU/EEA citizens
Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 280 000
First payment: SEK 70 000
Citizens of a country outside of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland are required to pay tuition fees. You pay one instalment of the tuition fee in advance of each semester.
Tuition fees, payments and exemptions
EU/EEA citizens and Switzerland
There are no tuition fees for citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.
Application fee
If you are required to pay tuition fees, you are generally also required to pay an application fee of SEK 900 when you apply at the University Admissions in Sweden website. You pay one application fee regardless of how many programmes or courses you apply to.
- Paying your application fee – universityadmissions.se
- Exemptions from paying the application fee – universityadmissions.se
- Convert currency – xe.com
*Note that there are no tuition or application fees for exchange students or doctoral/PhD students, regardless of their nationality.
Scholarships & funding
Lund University Global Scholarship programme
The Lund University Global Scholarship programme is a merit-based and selective scholarship targeted at top academic students from countries outside the EU/EEA.
Lund University Global Scholarship
Within the framework of the Lund University Global Scholarship programme, the University also offers the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Scholarship targeted at top academic students from selected African research universities.
Swedish Institute Scholarships
The Swedish Institute offers scholarships to international students applying for studies in Sweden at Master's level.
Scholarship information on the Swedish Institute website
Country-specific scholarships and funding options
Lund University has agreements with scholarship organisations and funding bodies in different countries, which may allow applicants to apply for funding or scholarships in their home countries for their studies at Lund University.
External scholarships
Testimonials about this Master's
Meet our student ambassador
Read Chandara's testimonial and chat with her via Unibuddy.
"A very straightforward programme with useful resources"
Napthali from Nigeria
"An opportunity to choose what you wish to specialise in"
Ruhiyya from Azerbaijan