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Peace Operations, Humanitarian Law and Conflict
Course Overview
The LLM in Peace Operations, Humanitarian Law and Conflict provides students with a comprehensive insight into global frameworks of international humanitarian law and human rights protection with the addition of peacekeeping specialisation. This interdisciplinary programme focuses on UN peacekeeping and related operations to provide insights into the peace operations and conflict resolution frameworks.
This unique programme offering combines issues relating to peacekeeping, international humanitarian law, human rights and conflict resolution to prepare graduates for work in the field of international peace operations with international organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and as individual advocates.
Course Highlights:
- The Irish Centre for Human Rights is one the world’s premier university-based institutions for the study and promotion of human rights.
- Defence Force Experience is recognised. Those who have participated in peacekeeping activities can obtain credit for a full semester course (15 credits) on submission of a written assignment reviewing field experience and evaluating lessons learned.
- Expert Lecturers deliver programme modules. Our academics are internationally recognised scholars with world-class expertise and reputations.
- Field trips to the military barracks of the Irish Defence Forces and the opportunity to travel to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
- Unique qualification on conflict, peacekeeping and human rights through specialised modules such as peace support operations and international human rights.
- Seminars, conferences and workshops ensures engagement with world-leading practitioners and scholars in the field of peacekeeping and human rights law.
- Career Support with assistance in seeking career opportunities by drawing on the expertise of a global network of alumni and an outstanding network of contacts.
- Assessment is primarily through research papers, presentations and minor thesis rather than exams.
Applications and Selections
Applications are made online via the NUI Galway Postgraduate Applications System.
Who Teaches this Course
Requirements and Assessment
Assessment for individual modules includes a combination of essays, presentations, group work, and other methods. Students must also complete a research thesis/dissertation of 15,000 words.
Key Facts
Entry Requirements
- Applicants must normally have attained at primary degree level an overall final grade of Second Class Honours Grade 1 (2.1) or equivalent. Those falling short of this standard may be considered where they can demonstrate other appropriate academic accomplishments as well as relevant work experience.
- Candidates who have completed a military command and staff course, or equivalent, at an institute recognised by NUI Galway and who have relevant professional experience may also be considered.
- Candidates who have significant experience in the field of peace operations and/or international human rights, for example, with international organisations or international non-governmental organisations, are encouraged to apply under this rubric.
- International students should refer to the country specific information section of the International Office website.
Additional Requirements
Duration
1 year, full-time; 2 years, part-time
Next start date
September 2020
A Level Grades ()
Average intake
12
Closing Date
Please view the offer rounds website.
NFQ level
Mode of study
Taught
ECTS weighting
90
Award
CAO
Course code
1ML15, full-time; 1ML16, part-time
Course Outline
The programme draws upon the resources of the LLM in International Human Rights Law, with the addition of specialised courses on peacekeeping. The course work begins with a general introduction to international peacekeeping and peace support operations, and continues with a series of specialized courses in such areas as international relations and international organizations, international humanitarian law, refugee law, conflict and post conflict studies, and international criminal law.
The programme recognizes the experience of candidates who have participated in peacekeeping activities in various parts of the world. Thus the programme provides credit for a full semester course (15 credits) in exchange for submission of a written assignment of appropriate length, reviewing field experience and lessons learned. A list of courses can be found here.
The programme may also recognize and credit a peacekeeping course of appropriate duration delivered at a Centre/Institute recognized by the NUI Galway. However, in order to allow for consistent evaluation, a written paper of appropriate length must be submitted. The maximum credits permitted in the case of any candidate in recognition of field experience or course work completed elsewhere are 15.
Alternatively, the programme is a two-year programme of part-time study, combining two semesters of course work the first year with a third semester the second year, devoted entirely to the research required for preparation of a final dissertation.
Obligatory subjects are: International Peace Support Operations, International Humanitarian Law and the dissertation. A full list of modules is available at https://www.nuigalway.ie/irish-centre-human-rights/academics/llmprogrammes/modules/
Modules each year are subject to change, but may include the following:
- Peace Support Operations
- International Humanitarian Law
- Business and Human Rights
- Children's Rights
- Conflict and Post-Conflict
- Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights
- Economic, Social & Cultural Rights
- European Convention on Human Rights
- European Union and Human Rights
- International Criminal Law
- International Criminal Procedure
- International Refugee Law
- Introduction to Human Rights Law
- Minority Rights
- Public International Law
- Procedure before International Criminal Courts
- Right to Development
- Transitional Justice
- Women's Right
Module details for the full time course
Module details for the part time course
Curriculum Information
Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.
Glossary of Terms
- Credits
- You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
- Module
- An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
- Subject
- Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
- Optional
- A module you may choose to study.
- Required
- A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
- Required Core Subject
- A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
- Semester
- Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.
Year 1 (90 Credits)
Optional LW561: Mental Health Law and Policy - 10 Credits - Semester 1Optional LW459: International Labour Standards - 10 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW453: Regional Systems: The Council Of Europe - Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW451: Introduction To International Human Rights Law - 15 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW556: Law and Policy on Independent Living - 10 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW553: Inclusive Education Law and Policy - 10 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW551: Contemporary Challenges in Disability Law and Policy - 10 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW550: Advocacy and Access to Justice - 10 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW562: Regional Disability Law and Policy - 10 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW509: Universal Environments - 10 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW548: Human Rights, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW5105: Contemporary Issues in International Migration Law - 10 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW5106: Economic Social and Cultural Rights - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW5107: International Child Rights - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW458.I: International Humanitarian Law And Human Rights - 15 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW547: Human Rights Field Work: Law and Practice - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW5103: Islam and Human Rights I - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW5104: Islam and Human Rights II - 10 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW5109: European Migration Law - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW5110: International Human Rights Law Clinic - 10 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW5111: Business and Human Rights 2 - 10 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW5112: Human Rights and Global Governance - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW5113: The Common European Asylum System - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW5114: International Refugee Law - 10 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW538: Transitional Justice - 10 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW537: Human Rights and Development - 10 Credits - Semester 2
Optional LW534: Human Rights Education - 10 Credits - Semester 2
Optional LW533: The Right to Food - Credits - Semester 2
Optional LW532: Introduction to Public International Law II - 10 Credits - Semester 2
Optional LW531: Introduction to Public International Law I - 15 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW530: Procedure Before International Criminal Courts - Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW546: Contemporary Issues in Human Rights III - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW385: European Human Rights - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Optional LW5101: International Disability Human Rights Clinic - 10 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW431: The European Convention on Human Rights 2 - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Optional LW432: Business & Human Rights 1 - 15 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW481: Economic, Social & Cultural Rights - 15 Credits - Semester 2
Optional LW529: Major Trials in International Criminal Law - Credits - Semester 2
Optional LW528: Institutions of International Criminal Law - Credits - Semester 2
Optional LW464: Rights Of The Child - 10 Credits - Semester 2
Optional LW463: Human Rights And States Of Emergency - 10 Credits - Semester 2
Optional LW462: Self-Determination And Autonomy Regimes - Credits - Semester 2
Optional LW461: Disability And International Law - Credits - Semester 2
Optional LW460: Refugee Protection: Refugees And Asylum Seekers - Credits - Semester 2
Optional LW456: Gender And Human Rights - 15 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW455: Minority Rights - Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW417: Contemporary Issues in Human Rights II - 10 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW416: Contemporary Issues in Human Rights I - 15 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW520: Introduction to International Criminal Law - 15 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW475: Field Experience Assignment - 15 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW433: Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights 1 - 15 Credits - Semester 2
Optional LW466: European Convention on Human Rights - 15 Credits - Semester 2
Optional LW527: History of International Criminal Law - Credits - Semester 2
Optional LW526: Genocide - Credits - Semester 2
Optional LW525: Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights - Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW524: Contemporary Themes in International Criminal Law II - Credits - Semester 2
Optional LW523: Contemporary Themes in International Criminal Law I - 15 Credits - Semester 2
Optional LW522: Business and Human Rights - 10 Credits - Semester 2
Optional LW521: Alternatives to International Criminal Prosecution - Credits - Semester 2
Optional LW495: Rights of the Child (A) - 15 Credits - Semester 2
Optional LW494: Refugee Protection:Refugees and Asylum Seekers (A) - 15 Credits - Semester 1
Optional LW482: The African & Inter-American Regional Systems of Protecting Human Rights - 15 Credits - Semester 2
Optional LW474: European Union & Human Rights - 10 Credits - Semester 2
Optional LW472: International Organisations - 10 Credits - Semester 2
Optional LW470: Conflict & Post Conflict Studies - 15 Credits - Semester 1
Required LW450: Dissertation - 30 Credits - Semester 1
Required LW469: International Peace Support Operations - 15 Credits - Semester 1
Why Choose This Course?
Career Opportunities
Graduates have gone on to work with the UN, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the EU. Others are working with NGOs in conflict and post-conflict environments, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Liberia, Sudan and Kosovo.
Military and police personnel from Ireland and elsewhere have completed the programme with a view to enhancing their career prospects. The programme will also provide a foundation for those who wish to pursue further studies through a structured PhD.
Who’s Suited to This Course
Learning Outcomes
Work Placement
Students are advised and encouraged to undertake internships with organisations around the world. There may be some financial support for students undertaking internships abroad.
Study Abroad
Related Student Organisations
Course Fees
Fees: EU
Fees: Tuition
Fees: Student levy
Fees: Non EU
Postgraduate students in receipt of a SUSI grant—please note an F4 grant is where SUSI will pay €2,000 towards your tuition. You will be liable for the remainder of the total fee. An F5 grant is where SUSI will pay TUITION up to a maximum of €6,270. SUSI will not cover the student levy of €224.
Find out More
Prof. Ray Murphy (Programme Director)
T: +353 91 493 081
E: ray.murphy@nuigalway.ie
What Our Students Say

Peter Gallagher | LLM Peace Support Operations
As a postgraduate student you will spend much of your time researching and writing. You get an opportunity to prove that you can research a topic and present your analysis. I chose NUI Galway because of its excellent learning environment, its resources and “postgraduate community”, and its student-friendly atmosphere.

Sinead Coakley | LLM Peace Support Operations, Humanitarian Law and Conflict
Having an undergraduate degree in Law from the UK, I decided to further my education. The Irish Centre for Human Rights at NUI Galway has an excellent international reputation in the field of Human Rights, so it was an easy choice to decide to study the LLM in Peace Support Operations, Humanitarian Law and Conflict. I find the course to be challenging, highly interesting and rewarding. I am thoroughly enjoying the academic and cultural experience, having embraced the opportunity to make new friends from all over the world. I would recommend the Masters Programme to anyone.