Human Rights

Integrated Masters with deeper specialization and research focus
Taught in English
Duration 4 Years
Mode On Campus
Level Undergraduate
Degree Bachelors Degree
Next Intake TBA

Course Overview

The Human Rights Bachelor's Degree at the University of Galway offers a unique opportunity to delve into a field previously reserved for postgraduate study. This interdisciplinary programme equips you with a profound understanding of human rights discourse, grounded in a significant legal component, particularly in your third year. You will engage directly with critical issues through class-based teaching at the esteemed Irish Centre for Human Rights, a world-leading institution in human rights, international criminal law, and international humanitarian law. This course is designed for motivated students passionate about social justice and eager to make a tangible difference in the world.

This full-time, on-campus undergraduate degree is studied over four years. Your learning experience will be enriched by opportunities for practical application, including optional work placements or study abroad programmes. These experiences provide invaluable opportunities to develop practical skills and gain firsthand insight into careers in human rights, with past placements secured globally. You will graduate with a comprehensive understanding of human rights principles and practices, prepared for diverse career pathways in international organisations, NGOs, government bodies, and advocacy groups worldwide.

Course Curriculum & Details

Detailed information for serious evaluators

Program Overview

This course provides an introduction to the fundamental concepts and principles of human rights. It explores the historical development, philosophical underpinnings, and legal frameworks that define human rights. Students will examine key human rights issues and their implications in contemporary global contexts.

1 Year 1

Beginning Latin Part 1 Optional
Mythology and the City in Ancient Greece Optional
Written Words & Spoken Languages in the Ancient World Optional
Classics in 20 Objects Optional
Ancient Greek for Beginners (Part One) Optional
Beginning Latin Part 2 Optional
Empire and Literature in Ancient Rome Optional
Ancient Greek for Beginners (Part Two) Optional
Material Culture and Museums Optional
Prehistoric Ireland & Europe Required
Recording Monuments in the Landscape Optional
Medieval Ireland and Europe Required
Skills for Economics I Required
Principles of Microeconomics Required
Principles of Macroeconomics Required
Exploring English Required
Introduction to English 1 Required
Introduction to English 2 Required
Introduction to French Language and Culture Required
Litríocht agus Cultúr na Linne Optional
An Teanga Bheo Required
Scéal agus Pobal na Gaeilge Optional
Geography in Practice Required
Principles of Human Geography Required
Principles of Physical Geography Required
German Language and Culture (Advanced) Required
German Language and Culture (Beginners) Required
History of Media Optional
Digital Literacy Essentials Optional
Introduction to Media and Communication Studies Optional
Pop Culture, Media and Society Optional
Creative Coding and Web Media 101 Optional
Europe and Ireland 1789 - 1918 Required
Skills for Historians (BA Connect) Required
Europe: From Medieval to Modern Required
Introduction to Human Rights I Required
Introduction to Human Rights II Required
Introduction to Human Rights III Required
Programming I Required
Computer Systems Required
Programming II Required
Introduction to International Development Required
Introduction to Sustainable Development I Required
Italian Language and Culture Required
Bunscileanna Gramadaí Required
Bunscileanna Aistriúcháin Required
Bunús na hIriseoireachta Required
Cleachtas Léirithe na Meán 1 Required
Na Meáin agus an tSochaí Required

2 Year 2

Mediterranean Origins Optional
Beginning Latin Part 1 Optional
Ancient Greek for Beginners (Part One) Optional
Intermediate Latin 1 Optional
Intermediate Ancient Greek Part One Optional
Advanced Classical and Medieval Latin 1 Optional
Studies in the Ancient Imagination Optional
Heroic Epic Optional
The City-State Optional
Beginning Latin Part 2 Optional
Ancient Greek for Beginners (Part Two) Optional
Studies in Ancient Literature and Thought Optional
Intermediate Latin 2 Optional
A Field of Gods & Men: Celtic Myths Optional
Classical Mythology and Drama Optional
Intermediate Ancient Greek Part Two Optional
Latin Texts from Medieval Ireland and Britain Optional
Space, Place and the Irish Landscape Optional
Castles, Colonists & Crannogs 1100-1350 Optional
People, Ritual and Death: Life in Early Prehistoric Europe Optional
Early Kingship: From Chaos to Cosmos Optional
Early Medieval Archaeology of Western Ireland Optional
Archaeology and Irish Identity – Celts, Christians, Vikings Optional
Archaeology in Practice Optional
Interpretation in Archaeology Optional
Ancient Civilisations: The Rise of Complex Societies Optional
Making Sense of Art: Style, Symbol and Story Optional
Irish Economic History Optional
Mathematics for Economics Required
Intermediate Microeconomics Required
Comparative Economic Thought Optional
Introduction to Financial Economics Optional
Economics of Public Policy Optional
Intermediate Macroeconomics Required
Statistics for Economics Required
University of Villanova: Economics Optional
Stories Told and Re-Told Optional
Seduction, Sexuality, and Race: Early Modern Identities Optional
Renaissance Drama Optional
Shakespearean Comedies Optional
Shakespearean Comedies Optional
Exploring Shakespeare (S1) Optional
Spenser: The Faerie Queene Optional
Literature, Empathy and Estrangement (S1) Optional
Media Industries A Optional
Eighteenth-Century Writing Optional
Creative Writing Optional
Travel Writing in the Arctic Optional
History Of the English Language Optional
The Brontës (S1) Optional
Media, Culture, Society Optional
19th Century Detective Fiction Optional
Allusion, Adaptation and Appropriation Optional
Special Topic Optional
Modernist Fiction Optional
Literature of North America Optional
Monsters, Mischief, and Marvels: Reading Old English (S1) Optional
Drama And Theatre Studies Optional
North American Literature Optional
Jane Austen Optional
SERVICE LEARNING: READING AND WRITING WITH PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN(S1) Optional
Textual Histories Optional
Creative Writing Optional
Milton's Poetry Optional
Pain & Pleasure in Jacobean Theatre Optional
Film Studies Optional
19th Century Detective Fiction Optional
Jane Austen Optional
Renaissance Drama Optional
Shakespearean Comedies Optional
SERVICE LEARNING: READING AND WRITING WITH PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN(S2) Optional
Exploring Shakespeare (S2) Optional
Studies in 20th Century Fiction Optional
Studies in 20th Century Fiction Optional
Genre Studies Optional
Contemporary Literature Optional
Studies In Medieval Literature Optional
Communicating Through Storytelling Optional
Creative Writing Optional
Exploring Shakespeare (S2) Optional
Shakespearean Comedies Optional
Monsters, Mischief, and Marvels: Reading Old English (S2) Optional
Literature and Visual Art Optional
Contemporary Irish Writing Optional
20th Century Children's Fiction Optional
Modernist Fiction Optional
Nineteenth-Century Gothic Fiction Optional
Film Studies Optional
Early Modern Studies in the Global Classroom Optional
The Brontës (S2) Optional
18th Century Studies Optional
Philosophy of Mind Optional
Philosophy of Culture in Context Optional
Philosophy of Nature Optional
Philosophy Of Art Optional
Philosophical Inquiry through P4C Optional
History Of Modern Philosophy Required
Contemporary East Asian Philosophies Optional
Ethics Optional
Empathy in Action Optional
Urban Geography: Planning the Modern City Optional
Social Media Challenges Required

3 Year 3

Criminal Law I Optional
Administrative Law I Optional
Constitutional Law I Optional
Legal Methods And Research Optional
Equality, Diversity and Collective Action Optional
Thinking Politically: The Power of Ideas Optional
Contemporary American Politics Optional
European Union Law I Required
Irish Legal Systems Required
Health Law & Policy Optional
Principles Of Political Theory Optional
Applied Human Rights Project S2 Optional
Internship with HR Organisation: Sem 2 Optional
Study Abroad / Erasmus: Sem 2 Optional
Human Rights Advocacy: Concepts, Law and Practice Optional

4 Year 4

Metal, Warfare, and Chiefdoms - The Bronze Age Roots of European Civilization Required
Explaining Prehistory - Current Research Trends Required
Public Archaeology Required
Minor Dissertation Optional
Introduction to Sustainability 2 Optional
Palaeoecology - Reconstructing Past Environments Required
The Development Of The Castle In Medieval Europe Required
Landscape and Archaeology: Context and Practice Optional
Ancient Greek for Beginners (Part One) Optional
Beginning Latin Part 1 Optional
The Cultural Impact of Christianity on Ireland Optional
Intermediate Latin 1 Optional
Studying Greek Figured Pottery Optional
Ancient Rhetoric Optional
Intermediate Ancient Greek Part One Optional
Advanced Classical and Medieval Latin 1 Optional
Barbarians Optional
Iconography Optional
Beginning Latin Part 2 Optional
Ireland & the Ancient World Optional
Intermediate Latin 2 Optional
Pompeii Optional
Ancient Greek for Beginners (Part Two) Optional
Intermediate Ancient Greek Part Two Optional
Latin Texts from Medieval Ireland and Britain Optional
Special Research Project in Classics Optional
Health Economics Optional
Econometrics Optional
Environmental And Natural Resource Economics Optional
Money And Banking Optional
Microeconomics and Public Policy Required
Ireland, Europe & the Global Economy Optional
International Economics Optional
Economics Of Financial Markets Optional
Economics and Philosophy Optional
Public Economics Optional
Marine Economics Optional
Behavioural Finance Optional
Agricultural and Food Economics Optional
Development Economics Optional
Macroeconomics and Public Policy Required
Specialist Studies : Twentieth Century Literature Optional
20th Century Children's Fiction Optional
Poetry of the First World War Optional
Poetry of the First World War Optional
Empire Writing (S1) Optional
Medieval Piety: Poetry, Play, Prose (S1) Optional
Negotiating Identities: Aspects of 20th Century Irish Writing Optional
Contemporary Irish Writing Optional
Nineteenth Century British Literature Optional
North American Literature Optional
Monsters, Mischief, and Marvels: Reading Old English (S1) Optional
Literature and Visual Art Optional
20th Century Writing By Women (British & North America) Optional
Transformations of the Novel Optional
Studies in 20th Century Poetry Optional
Film Studies Optional
Historical Fiction (S1) Optional
Old English Poetry Optional
Contemporary Irish Poetry Optional
20th Century Children's Fiction Optional
Negotiating Identities: Aspects of 20th Century Irish Writing Optional
Transformations of the Novel Optional
Negotiating Identities: Aspects of 20th Century Irish Writing Optional

Cost & Affordability

A clear picture of what this course will cost you

Program Costs

First Year Fee Tuition fee
USD 22,645.00
Second Year Fee Tuition fee
USD 22,645.00
Third Year Fee Tuition fee
USD 22,645.00
Fourth Year Fee Tuition fee
USD 22,645.00
Total Program Cost Estimated total tuition
USD 90,580.00

Currency note: Program costs shown in USD based on the available tuition breakdown.

Living Costs

Accommodation
USD 864.00 - USD 1,085.00
Food & Groceries USD 2,807.00 - USD 4,491.00
Transport USD 702.00 - USD 1,684.00
Utilities & Bills USD 1,404.00 - USD 2,105.00
Estimated Total USD 4,913.00 - USD 8,280.00

Living cost estimates are based on Galway Campus.

Outcomes & Employability

What happens after you graduate

96%
Graduate Employment Rate Within 6 to 12 months of graduation

Common Graduate Roles

Accreditation & Assessment ServicesBanking & Financial ServicesBorder Control & Immigration EnforcementCybersecurity & Digital ForensicsEmergency Services & Disaster ResponseEmployment & Labor LawEnvironmental & Sustainable ConstructionFinancial Technology (Fintech)Special & Inclusive EducationVocational & Technical Training

Top Employers Hiring for this course

Atlantic Technological University

Courts Service

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ireland

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

European commission

Health Service Executive (HSE)

Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission

Legal Aid Board

Why Study Human Rights at University of Galway

What makes this program stand out

Top 20 in UK For Computer Science

Exeter's Computer Science department consistently ranks among the top 20 in the UK for both teaching quality and research output.

Fast Offers Quick turnaround

Exeter typically responds to applications within 2-3 weeks, giving you clarity on your options quickly.

Flexible Intakes September start

Primary intake in September with January start available for some pathways through the INTO foundation program.

Accredited Industry recognized

Accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, meeting requirements for Chartered IT Professional (CITP) status.

Life at University of Galway in Ireland

What daily life looks like for international students

Language

English

Primary language everywhere

Climate

Mild & Rainy

10-20°C average, pack layers

Safety (Numbeo Safety Index)

Very Safe

Exeter is one of UK's safest cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Human Rights at University of Galway

Can I work while studying?

International students can work up to 20 hours per week during term time and 40 hours per week during breaks. No separate work permit is needed, but students must be enrolled in a full-time program.

What English language score do I need for this course?

For English proficiency, the minimum TOEFL score is 88 overall, with specific sub-scores required. IELTS and PTE also have their own score requirements, including a 6.5 overall for IELTS.

What jobs can I get after studying this course?

Graduates can pursue roles such as Human Rights Advocate, Legal Consultant, Policy Analyst, or International Relations Specialist.

What will I actually study in this course?

The Human Rights programme is the only undergraduate course of its kind in the Republic of Ireland, focusing on both legal aspects and human rights discourse. Students engage with topics such as international criminal law and have opportunities for work placements or study abroad.

When can I start — what are the intake months?

The intake month for the Human Rights programme is September. Be sure to prepare your application ahead of time to meet all deadlines.
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