
Opleiding: Human Rights and Business, MA
Learning purpose
The course provides participants with:
- cutting-edge knowledge of the theoretical issues concerning human rights and business operations
- the skills necessary to be engaged in strategic business decisions as well as the development of appropriate policies
- the opportunity to network and interact with other professional practitioners
- the possibility of engaging in further research towards a PhD
Target audience
The course is designed to provide professionals from the corporate, non-governmental and legal sectors with a critical understanding of the international regulatory framework and key issues that will drive the future of ethical globalisation. It covers areas of law such as international human rights law and the law of the World Trade Organisation, and explores their relevance to multinational corporations, especially those operating in emerging economies.
The course itself is tailored for busy professionals, with significant online content and class contact restricted to two days a month (Thursday-Friday) in London.
Programme
The MA is designed to accommodate working students, with convenient teaching times.
Each taught module consists of a number of hours of formal taught learning, discussions and presentations, with additional hours of personal study. The dissertation consists of a skills training programme and individual supervision.
Module leaders make full use of e-learning tools and relevant material is made available online. Our students are given multiple opportunities to submit and receive prompt individual feedback and general advice on formative written exercises.
Programme Structure
Year 1
Six 15-credit modules. Each of these modules is delivered over 2 intensive eight-hour days, as follows:
October: Foundations of Public International Law
November: International Human Rights Legal Regimes
December: The United Nations and Transnational Corporations
January: United Nations Millennium Development Goals
February: World Trade Organisation and International Trade Law
March: International Labour Organisation
This is the exit point for the PG Cert Human Rights and Business
Year 2
One optional 30-credit module. Students select one of these two specialist modules which are delivered over four intensive eight-hour days in two blocks.
October: Vulnerable Groups in Emerging Economies OR Corporate Liability and International Law.
This is the exit point for the PG Dip Human Rights and Business
January-May: Dissertation period, Students who complete their dissertation will graduate with an MA Human Rights and Business
Entry Requirements
The course is aimed at executives working within businesses or the third sector, who function in a decision making capacity. Emphasis will therefore be placed on your current designation/role alongside an assessment of your experience to date. In addition we would expect you to have obtained a second class honours degree (2.2 or above) or an overseas equivalent qualification.
If you do not hold an honours degree but possess relevant professional experience or qualifications, you may be admitted subject to the programme leader's discretion.
Where English is a second language you may be required to acquire a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent.
Visas
The MA Human Rights and Business is a part-time programme only and is designed to accommodate working students, with convenient teaching times. It is taught in 2-day blocks once a month during the first year. Although we welcome applications from international applicants for part-time study, we advise that you will not be able to apply for a Tier 4 visa for part-time study.
Professional perspective and employment market
In addition to gaining an internationally recognised postgraduate qualification, you will benefit greatly as a professional practitioner. The programme is designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of individuals who are already working at decision making level within their organisations. In this context it provides practitioners with:
- cutting-edge knowledge of the theoretical issues concerning human rights and business operations
- the skills necessary to be engaged in strategic business decisions as well as the development of appropriate policies
- the opportunity to network and interact with other professional practitioners
- the possibility of engaging in further research towards a research award at doctoral level.

