Human Rights Studies in Politics, Law and Society

The innovative Master's degree programme in Human Rights Studies in Politics, Law and Society qualifies graduates of social, cultural, political, economic, communication and legal sciences or philosophy with a special interest in human rights for a professional career as experts in human rights issues.

In this interdisciplinary and social science-based degree programme, students deal with the historical and contemporary institutionalisation and implementation of human rights in the fields of law, politics and civil society. Legal, political science and sociological approaches are applied, taking into account interculturality, diversity and social science methodology.

Graduates of the degree programme should understand the national, regional and global development of human rights from a sociological, legal and political science perspective. In addition, they learn about key social, political and legal development dynamics that are influenced by the establishment of human rights. They also deal with the codifications, the political levels and the social institutions that are dedicated to the implementation of human rights. Using social science methods, they independently analyse issues relating to human rights and learn to present human rights developments in an argumentative manner and negotiate them interculturally.

Master's applicants who have a foreign first degree - regardless of their nationality - must apply for a Master's programme via uni-assist.de. The portal has opened on the 1st of March. All Master's applicants with a German degree can apply directly via the application portal of Fulda University of Applied Sciences. This also applies regardless of nationality. The university's online application portal will open at the beginning of May. The application deadline for the winter semester is 30 September for applicants from Germany and other EU countries as well as for applicants from countries outside the EU.

Important note: International applicants who need a student visa for Germany must apply by July in order to receive the admission letter in time to start their studies in October. You can expect to receive the admission letter, which is required for the visa process, about five to eight weeks after you have submitted your application. Find out about the usual visa processing times in your country and make an appointment at the responsible embassy well in advance.
Submit your application as early as possible in order to have enough time for all your preparations (getting the visa, finding accommodation etc.).

Our admission requirements are:
1. a completed B.A. or LL.B. degree of at least six semesters, e.g., social sciences, law, economics, cultural studies, philosophy, social workapplication of the Framework Act for Higher Education or at a foreign higher education institution recognised as equivalent. Admission is possible if the Bachelor's degree programme included social sciences and/or law to the extent of at least 40 ECTS.
2. English language
3. Letter of motivation

German language proficiency is not required; you can study the whole programme in English. You need to provide an English certificate, at least B2 level, and it must not be older than two years. Possible test formats are, for example, TOEFL ibT (79), TOEFL pbT or itp (550), IELTS (6.5), TOEIC L&R, Telc B2, Unicert Certificate 3 or CAE/CPE. Also, a Bachelor’s degree taught 100 per cent in English at a foreign university is accepted. So, if your previous degree programme was conducted in English, you do not need to provide another English language certificate.

The application portal for applicants with a German university degree
The application portal for applicants with a foreign university degree
 

During the course of the Master's programme, students must complete ten modules spread over four semesters. In the first two semesters, students learn the basics of the history and theory of human rights and human rights codifications as well as social science methods and knowledge of legal argumentation. Communication and understanding of human rights are another topic of the first year of study. Between the second and third semesters (during the lecture-free period), students complete an internship of at least 10 weeks in an institution relevant to human rights issues. In the third semester, students can choose two out of three specialisation modules, each with a focus on business and labour, migration or (digital) communication. In the fourth semester, students write their Master's thesis on a research question developed during their studies or internship.

Here you will find the examination regulations with module descriptions.

The Master's degree course qualifies students for jobs at political foundations and think tanks, at national, international and European governmental and non-governmental organisations, in the field of media and PR, in the secretariats and committees of human rights conventions as well as in HR departments of internationally active companies, organisations, educational institutions, etc.

In addition, qualified graduates may continue their academic qualification with a PhD programme at the Graduate Centre for Globalisation, European Integration and Interculturality at Fulda University of Applied Sciences.

Please don't hesitate to contact us by email at info.mahrs(at)sk.hs-fulda.de or join our Online Open Office Hours for prospective students Wednesdays 11:30-13:00h

• First the people, then the money (Karrieresprung, June 2018)
• Prof. Dr Matthias Klemm talks about the MAHRS degree programme in the "Hessen schafft Wissen" podcast