Content and Facts

The master's program “Human Rights” will provide theoretical knowledge as well as practical skills required for a career in the field of human rights.

Based on the academic excellence of the University of Vienna and on the high reputation of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights for doing applied research, the program can best be described with: "Where Science meets Practice!"

The master's program addresses the multi-layered field of human rights and reflects the different relevant legal frameworks as well as the corresponding protection mechanisms. Topics covered by the program will be, i.a., legal human rights know-how including theoretical foundations of international human rights law including its protection mechanisms; methodology; as well as necessary competences for people striving to work in a human rights-related environment. For non-lawyers, an introduction to legal studies will be provided. Besides including practical courses, such as strategic litigation, human rights education, campaigning and advocacy, as well as project acquisition and management into the syllabus, another chance to combine theoretical knowledge with practical abilities is offered by the opportunity to participate in a court trial simulation (‘moot court’).

Target group

The continuing education master's program is aimed at graduates who wish to specialize in human rights, including law graduates, as well as graduates of economic, natural, social sciences or humanities. The program is open for those who recently graduated, but shall also – due to its extra occupational format including virtual learning – enable employed persons, for example in national administration, academia, the education sector, NGOs and civil society, as well as the private sector (corporate lawyers, attorneys, legal trainees, consultants), to participate. Graduates of this master's program will have acquired in-depth theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the field of fundamental and human rights. Completing the human rights master will ensure that participants can adequately address and integrate human rights into their future work.

Qualification profile

The program provides students with thorough theoretical knowledge combined with a tool box of practical skills in the field of fundamental and human rights including strategic litigation, human rights campaigning and human rights education. The program's interdisciplinary approach, although with a jurisprudential focus grants a detailed examination of the multi-layered and highly topical field of human rights. Graduates will be able to make use of their skills and knowledge in a broad variety of contexts, ranging from private business to public service as well as academia. By participating in a ‘human rights moot court’, participants will gain practical experience enabling them to solve human rights problems with legal knowledge as well as strengthen their skills in a court-like, competitive simulation.