Human Rights
Human Rights as a legal and political concept represents one of the most significant achievements of twentieth-century international thought: the idea that every human being possesses certain fundamental entitlements simply by virtue of being human, entitlements that no state can legitimately override. Studying human rights at degree level means engaging with both the philosophical foundations of that claim and the practical reality of international mechanisms, treaties, courts and organisations that are supposed to give it effect. It is a field that sits at the intersection of law, international relations, ethics and politics, and that raises some of the most challenging questions about justice, sovereignty and the limits of state power.
At Aberystwyth University this three-year full-time LLB degree allows you to focus on the protection of human rights and the effectiveness of international human rights mechanisms, exploring how human rights principles transcend national boundaries and interact with domestic legal systems. You will develop the legal knowledge and analytical skills of a law degree alongside a specialist understanding of the human rights framework that has evolved through international law, regional conventions and national legislation. Aberystwyth's law department has a long history of producing distinguished graduates who have gone on to make significant contributions in law, politics and academia.
Graduates from Human Rights law degrees go on to careers in human rights law, international law, immigration and asylum law, charity and advocacy work, policy research, journalism and international organisations such as the United Nations and its agencies. Others pursue careers in public interest law, legal aid, government legal services and academia. The combination of legal training and specialist human rights knowledge the degree provides is valued across all contexts where the protection of rights and the enforcement of legal obligations matter.
Postgraduate study in human rights law, international law or related fields is a natural continuation.