Subject overview
Human rights at Sussex goes beyond a narrow legalistic approach and explores how human rights are socially embedded in wider processes of poverty, violence, identity, globalisation and the emergence of global forms of governance. Our Human Rights degrees reflect this critical perspective.
Sussex has a worldwide reputation for excellence in the field of human rights. Faculty teaching on our degrees come from a range of disciplines, each of which is excellent in its own right.
Based in the School of Global Studies, the distinctively interdisciplinary MA in Human Rights brings together expertise from anthropology, law, international relations and politics.
Our degrees are linked to the interdisciplinary Justice and Violence Research Centre, which hosts visiting scholars and holds regular seminars and events.
Faculty have undertaken consultancy and commissioned work in a range of human rights fields and regional contexts. Many of our graduates find employment in rights work, within which we have very strong international networks.
Specialist facilities
The University offers extensive computing facilities with a full range of data-processing and communications software. Office space is usually allocated to students taking research degrees. You will have full access to the University’s main Library and its online collection, and to the British Library of Development Studies, at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), which is located on the Sussex campus.
Programmes
- PhD in Human Rights
- MPhil in Human Rights
We welcome enquiries from students wishing to undertake research in any areas of faculty interest.
All research students are required to complete an appropriate programme of research methods training. Students who have already completed a programme of research methods training can apply for the doctoral degree leading to a PhD.
Coursework and supervision
You will normally be required to complete some research methods training modules and possibly some specialist thematic modules drawn from the MA degree.
You will be allocated two academic supervisors with whom you work for the duration of your research degree. These are allocated according to their regional and thematic expertise, to provide a complementary ‘match’ with your research.
Fieldwork
Many, but not all, research students undertake fieldwork as part of their PhD research – normally during the second year of the PhD phase. Supervision continues during fieldwork, while you gather data to be written up in the final year.
MPhil/PhD in Human Rights
We recruit students wishing to undertake research in the main areas of faculty interests. You can register for a degree in human rights or in another appropriate academic discipline.
Recent thesis titles
Communal violence, displacement and minority identity in Ahmedabad, western India
Embracing trauma: human rights and post-conflict youth identity in Guatemala
Human rights discourse and the struggle against free trade in Mexico
Living beyond conflict? Identity, alterity and reconciliation among Rwandan youth
Lynchings in Todos Santos Cuchumatán: a genealogy of post-conflict violence
Negotiating rights: indigenous rights, land and the power line conflict in Venezuela
Entry requirements
- MPhil in Human Rights
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UK entrance requirements
A Masters degree in a discipline relevant to your chosen area of research. Applicants should also submit an outline research proposal (four to five pages) indicating the nature, ambitions and primary questions of the research project.
Overseas entrance requirements
Please refer to Overseas qualifications.
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5, with not less than 6.5 in Writing and 6.0 in the other sections. Internet TOEFL with 88 overall, with at least 20 in Listening, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking and 24 in Writing.
For more information, refer to English language requirements.
- PhD in Human Rights
-
UK entrance requirements
A Masters degree in a discipline relevant to your chosen area of research. Applicants should also submit an outline research proposal (four to five pages) indicating the nature, ambitions and primary questions of the research project.
Overseas entrance requirements
Please refer to Overseas qualifications.
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5, with not less than 6.5 in Writing and 6.0 in the other sections. Internet TOEFL with 88 overall, with at least 20 in Listening, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking and 24 in Writing.
For more information, refer to English language requirements.
Visas and immigration
Find out more about Visas and immigration.
For more information about the admissions process at Sussex
For pre-application enquiries:
Student Recruitment Services
T +44 (0)1273 876787
E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk
For post-application enquiries:
Postgraduate Admissions,
University of Sussex,
Sussex House, Falmer,
Brighton BN1 9RH, UK
T +44 (0)1273 877773
F +44 (0)1273 678545
E pg.applicants@sussex.ac.uk
Related subjects
Fees and funding
Fees
- MPhil in Human Rights
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Home UK/EU students: £3,9001
Channel Island and Isle of Man students: £3,9002
Overseas students: £13,00031 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
2 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
3 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
- PhD in Human Rights
-
Home UK/EU students: £3,9001
Channel Island and Isle of Man students: £3,9002
Overseas students: £13,00031 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
2 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
3 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
To find out about your fee status, living expenses and other costs, visit further financial information.
Funding
The funding sources listed below are for the subject area you are viewing and may not apply to all degrees listed within it. Please check the description of the individual funding source to make sure it is relevant to your chosen degree.
To find out more about funding and part-time work, visit further financial information.
Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust for Postgraduate Study (2013)
Region: UK
Level: PG (taught), PG (research)
Application deadline: 1 October 2013
The Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust are offering bursaries to Postgraduate students following any postgraduate degree courses in any subject.
Faculty interests
Within the School of Global Studies there is a close academic collaboration between departments and interdisciplinary research centres, particularly the Justice and Violence Research Centre. Outside the School, we have particularly strong links with the School of Law, Politics and Sociology, where a number of human rights faculty are located.
Research interests are briefly described below.
Professor Craig Barker International law and international relations, international immunities, international criminal law.
Professor Rupert Brown Intergroup relations and prejudice.
Professor Jane Cowan Human rights in the Balkans.
Dr Elizabeth Craig International human rights and comparative law, European minority rights law.
Professor Marie-Bénédicte Dembour Rights claims in international law.
Professor Saul Dubow History of race and national identity in South Africa.
Professor Stefan Elbe International security. Author of Security and Global Health (2010).
Dr Nigel Eltringham Violence, genocide, international criminal justice, Great Lakes Region of Africa.
Professor James Fairhead Africa south of the Sahara, UK; agriculture and ecology.
Dr James Hampshire Politics of citizenship and immigration, racism and immigration policy-making, state and nation-building.
Zdenek Kavan History, memory and justice.
Dr Mark Leopold Conflict and reconstruction in Uganda.
Dr Jan Selby Peace processes and rights.
Dr Anna Stavrianakis Global civil society, the arms trade.
Dr Maya Unnithan India, Rajasthan, fertility and reproductive health, medical anthropology.
Careers and perspectives
Many of our graduates find employment in rights work, within which we have very strong international networks.
For more information, visit Careers and alumni.
School and contacts
School of Global Studies
The School of Global Studies aims to provide one of the UK's premier venues for understanding how the world is changing. It offers a broad range of perspectives on global issues, and staff and students are actively engaged with a wide range of international and local partners, contributing a distinctive perspective on global affairs.
Human Rights, School of Global Studies,
University of Sussex, Falmer,
Brighton BN1 9SJ, UK
T +44 (0)1273 877107
E globalresearch@sussex.ac.uk
International development
Discover Postgraduate Study information sessions
You’re welcome to attend one of our Discover Postgraduate Study information sessions. These are held in the spring and summer terms and enable you to find out more about postgraduate study and the opportunities Sussex has to offer.
Visit Discover Postgraduate study to book your place.
Other ways to visit Sussex
We run weekly guided campus tours every Wednesday afternoon, year round. Book a place online at Visit us and Open Days.
You are also welcome to visit the University independently without any pre-arrangement.