Law and Human Rights

Law and human rights is a combination that places the most fundamental protections afforded to individuals at the centre of legal study. Human rights law examines the framework of international and domestic protections that safeguard basic freedoms, from the right to life and freedom from torture to freedom of expression, the right to a fair trial, and the protection of equality. It is a field that connects legal analysis to questions of power, justice, and the relationship between the state and the individual, and it is at the forefront of some of the most contested legal and political debates of the present era.

At Birkbeck College in London, the LLB Law and Human Rights gives you the skills, knowledge, and experience of expert academics and practitioners working in human rights and public law. Birkbeck's distinctive approach to higher education, emphasising accessibility and intellectual rigour, means this degree is designed for students from a wide range of backgrounds. You will develop your understanding of the core areas of English law required for a qualifying degree alongside deep engagement with human rights law and public law, examining domestic legislation, European Convention on Human Rights jurisprudence, and international human rights frameworks.

Birkbeck's London location provides direct access to the courts, tribunals, and legal organisations where human rights law is practised.

Graduates from Law and Human Rights programmes are well placed for careers in legal practice, particularly in areas such as immigration and asylum, civil liberties, criminal law, public law, and international law. Many go on to qualify as solicitors or barristers, finding their human rights background a genuine asset in legal aid work, judicial review, and advocacy. Others move into human rights organisations, public policy, journalism, the civil service, and international bodies.

For those drawn to academic life, the degree provides a strong foundation for postgraduate study in law, human rights, or international relations. The typical entry tariff is 88 points.