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MC-HRIGHT

Human Rights

Master by coursework

Put human rights learning into practice and pursue your interest areas in greater depth.

Course outline
  • Qualification
    Master of Human Rights
  • Duration

    Duration

    1 year, 6 months full-time
  • Credit

    Credit

    300
  • CRICOS

    CRICOS

    061485B
  • Location

    Location

    Curtin Perth
Course outline

Deadlines for applying direct to Curtin

Select your preferred campus:

Intake Application open Application close

Semester 1, 2024

1 May 2023

Applications now closed!

Semester 2, 2024

1 March 2024

Applications now closed!

Semester 1, 2025

Applications now open!

12 February 2025

Semester 2, 2025

3 March 2025

9 July 2025

Course outline
Human Rights

Overview

Overview

The Master of Human Rights promotes a critical understanding of the discourse that enables policy workers, lawyers, educators, social workers and journalists to contribute to the development, protection and application of human rights.

This courses suit those who want to enter the field of human rights or add a human rights perspective to their profession; and to those working in the field who wish to enhance their knowledge in a particular area of human rights practice or advocacy.

Using both theoretical and practical learning methods, you’ll examine modern human-rights institutions and explore the philosophical and political development of beliefs about human rights that underpin current systems. You’ll consider how social movements, grass-roots campaigns, and government and non-government organisations have contributed to human rights practices and activism.

The courses examine the subject from multidisciplinary, multicultural and multireligious perspectives to ensure you develop a globalised understanding.

Students who complete the master degree to a high standard can apply for doctoral-level studies.

Please refer to the handbook for additional course overview information.

What jobs can the Human Rights course lead to?

The future of human rights

The world is becoming increasingly complex where the interests of multinationals, organisations and communities intersect.

Curtin’s postgraduate human rights courses emphasise the importance of human dignity and environmental protection. Our students learn the concepts and skills required to enable them to understand how accountability, justice, fairness, inclusion and human dignity can be realised.

Industries

  • International relations
  • Human resources
  • Global health
  • Law
  • Media
  • Education
  • United Nations organisations
  • NGOs

What you'll learn

  • apply knowledge of the principles and concepts of human rights in work and community settings
  • critically analyse political, service, policy and moral issues using a human rights framework; think creatively to develop human rights based solutions to social and political problems
  • locate, critically evaluate and synthesise relevant evidence and human rights literature
  • communicate, both verbally and in writing, comprehensive analyses of complex human rights data or theories
  • use technologies to effectively collect information and communicate findings
  • demonstrate ability in self-directed learning
  • recognise the global nature of human rights issues and apply knowledge of practices learned
  • demonstrate a critical appreciation of diverse cultural aspects of human rights theory and practice
  • demonstrate ability to work ethically and independently on study and fieldwork projects, as well as work collaboratively with fellow students, staff and colleagues in the field
Misty Farquhar

Everybody in the course came from different academic backgrounds. Everybody had issues they felt personally connected to, and had this feeling of social justice. People think of activism as fist-waving, angry conversations, protest marches; but to make a difference at a systemic level, it’s about discourse and education.

Misty Farquhar

Admission criteria

What you need in order to get into this course. There are different pathway options depending on your level of work and education experience.

Domestic students commencing the course in February will only be able to study part-time, (may complete the course in 2 years) or may commence mid-year/July entry full-time and complete the course in 18 months.

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

6.0

Speaking

6.0

Reading

6.0

Listening

6.0

Overall band score

6.5

Credit for recognised learning (CRL)

Use your experience to get credit towards your degree

Finish your course sooner with credit for your previous study or work experience.

Fees and scholarships

Domestic fee paying postgraduate

2024 Fee year:

$21,019*

Domestic

Domestic

2025 Fee year:

$22,490*

Domestic

Domestic

Fees are indicative only.

* Based on a first-year full-time study load of 200 credits. The total cost will depend on your course options (i.e. units selected and time taken to complete).

Looking for more detail on the course structure?

View course structure

Location

For start dates, please view the academic calendar.

Curtin Perth flag

2024

Semester 1
  • On campus
  • Online
Semester 2
  • On campus
  • Online

2025

Semester 1
  • On campus
  • Online
Semester 2
  • On campus
  • Online

2026

Semester 1
  • On campus
  • Online
Semester 2
  • On campus
  • Online

All endeavours are made to ensure location information for courses is up to date but please note they are subject to change.

The University reserves the right to withdraw any unit of study or program which it offers, to impose limitations on enrolment in any unit or program, and/or to vary arrangements for any program.

How to apply

Please review information on how to apply for the campus of your choice

Please note that each campus has different application deadlines. View our application deadlines page for further information.

Apply now

Frequently asked questions

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  • The offering information on this website applies only to future students. Current students should refer to faculty handbooks for current or past course information.

    The information on this page may be subject to change. In particular, Curtin University may change the content, method or location of delivery or tuition fees of courses.

    While Curtin uses reasonable efforts to ensure that the information provided on this page is accurate and up to date, errors and omissions sometimes occur. Curtin makes no warranty, representation or undertaking (expressed or implied) nor does it assume any legal liability (direct or indirect) for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information.

    View courses information disclaimer.

  • Curtin course code: MC-HRIGHT
  • CRICOS code: 061485B
  • Last updated on: 21 December 2024

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