Frequently Asked Questions

• What LL.M. programmes does the Irish Centre for Human Rights offer?
• How long does it take to obtain the LL.M. degree?
• How many courses are required to complete the LL.M. programme?
• What is the calendar for the programme?
• How can I apply for the programme?
• What is the closing date for admissions?
• When can I expect to be notified about successful entry into the programme?
• Are there any scholarships available to study on the programme?
• What are the fees for the programme?
• Who are the faculty who teach on the programme?
• Who awards the final degree and when?
• Is it possible to spend a single term at the Irish Centre for Human Rights?
• What kind of academic background is required for entry into the programme?
• Is there an English Language requirement?
• Is there any specific information for students from outside the EU?
• What if I have been outside of academia for several years and wish to apply for one of the LL.M. programmes?
• If I have applied to the programme in a previous year and have been accepted but have (for whatever reason) not attended, can I reactivate that old application?
• What are the possible career opportunities upon graduation from the LL.M. programme?

What LL.M. programmes does the Irish Centre for Human Rights offer?

The Irish Centre for Human Rights offers three specific LL.M. programmes:

These are postgraduate qualifications in Law. The programmes are taught by the Irish Centre for Human Rights, Law Faculty of the National University of Ireland, Galway. While the courses are designed to deliver the skills necessary to obtain qualifications in international human rights law and peace support operations, the Centre welcomes inter-disciplinary applicants with backgrounds in related fields.

In addition the Centre also participates in two further postgraduate degree programmes:

More information on these Masters can be obtained here. 

How long does it take to obtain the LL.M. degree?

The programme can be undertaken full time over the course of one calendar year (starting in September each year) or part time over two calendar years (also starting in September). To complete the degree candidates are required to obtain 90 credits, which are usually distributed for four pieces of guided coursework of 15 credits each and a dissertation worth 30 credits.

How many courses are required to complete the LL.M. programme?

Candidates are required to undertake a minimum of four courses of 15 credits each and to complete a dissertation worth 30 credits. In certain circumstances courses might consist of two separate components (half semester classes) e.g.
Refugee Law and International Humanitarian Law, which are each 7.5 credits.
Candidates opting for these kinds of compound courses would be required to attend ALL the relevant seminars but would be required to submit a single piece of work for assessment.

What is the calendar for the programme?

How can I apply for the programme?

Applications must be completed on line at   http://www.nuigalway.ie/postgrad/making_application.html for the 2012/2013 academic year. Students must ensure that the registration fee of €45.00 is paid.

What is the closing date for admissions?

The Centre's application system operates on a rolling basis. Applications are reviewed and decisions made four times (4x) per academic year; the first review is undertaken in February, a second review in March, a third and review in May, and a final review in June. After each review is completed, students are informed of their application status (accepted unconditionally, accepted conditionally subject to satisfactory completion of current studies, or declined). It is strongly encouraged that students submit their applications as early as possible. The programme has a limited capacity and once quota is reached, students who are accepted may be subject to a wait-list. As well, non EU students requiring a visa (see separate section for information for non-EU students) also should apply early to allow sufficient time for Visa processing.

When can I expect to be notified about successful entry into the programme?

Successful applicants will be notified of their acceptance to the programme as quickly as possible. We have endeavoured to send out acceptance notices 2 weeks after the closing date. They will thereafter be expected to pay a deposit to secure their place at a date specified on their acceptance letter.

Please note that we also endeavour to send out decisions by email, therefore please ensure that the email address that you list on your application form is current, will accept emails from general email addresses and is clearly written on the form.

Are there any scholarships available to study on the programme?

Any scholarships that will be available will be notified through this site. This will be updated annually. At the moment the centre expects to be able to attract Bursaries from the University in the form of partial fee waivers. These bursaries are aimed an non-EU students who would be liable to fees 2.5 times that attaching to EU students. Please note that while all non-EU students can apply, preference is given to those non-EU candidates drawn from developing countries. Candidates from non-EU countries who would like to be considered for these awards must send a covering letter and a full CV along with their application package.

What are the fees for the programme?

Please refer to the Fees and Grants Office website for the most up to date information regarding fees.

For candidates from the European Union the fees are:

• LL.M. Human Rights - €6,015.00 full time and €3,080.00 part time
• LL.M. Peace Support - €6,015.00 full time and €3,080.00 part time
• LL.M. International Criminal Law - contact Fees Office 
  

For candidates from outside the European Union the fee for both programme is €13,250 (subject to ratification) payable in full prior to registration.

Please note: fees are correct at the time of online publication, but are subject to change (E&EO); non-E.U. fees must be paid in full prior to registration.

Who are the faculty who teach on the programme?

The following permanent Faculty teach on the programme. In addition the Centre is successful in attracting high quality lecturers throughout the year, besides drawing on Faculty from other departments & Universities. The profiles of Faculty members are available here.  

• Dr. Kathleen Cavanaugh
• Dr. Shane Darcy 
• Dr. Annyssa Bellal
• Dr. Ray Murphy
• Professor William A. Schabas

Who awards the final degree and when?

The final degree is awarded to candidates who successfully meet the requirements set out by the programme. The degrees are awarded through the Law Faculty by the National University of Ireland, Galway, at a ceremony held in Galway in November of each year.

Is it possible to spend a single term at the Irish Centre for Human Rights?

While the Centre does occasionally accept visiting students, interested candidates on programmes at other Universities need to contact the Administrator of LL.M. programme for more details.

What kind of academic background is required for entry into the programme?

While it is preferable that candidates to the LL.M. programme have a law degree the programme is genuinely inter-disciplinary and welcomes people from a variety of backgrounds. This is partly due to the fact that the study of human rights law takes into account several different academic disciplines. Thus the following categories of candidates can be discerned who would be eligible for entry into the programme (for more accurate indicators of this please see the Law Faculty Calendar, available from the Admissions Department).

a) Candidates with a law degree, having achieved 2:1 (or equivalent) in that law degree.
b) Candidates with a law degree who have not achieved a 2:1 (or equivalent) but can demonstrate significant human rights involvement.
c) Candidates with a degree in a related subject (politics, anthropology, sociology, history etc.) who have achieved a 2:1 in their degrees.
d) Candidates with a degree in a related subject (politics, anthropology, sociology, history etc.) who have achieved a 2:1 (or equivalent) in their degrees.

The class is generally selected to reflect a good mixture between law and non-law students, with the emphasis on academic excellence and relevant work experience.

Is there an English language requirement?

Students should note that the LLM course is instructed in English. The University requires that students are able to effectively engage in English in order to successfully complete the course (all exams are in the English language). Therefore, prospective students (not being native English speakers) are required to undertake an English language course before undertaking the LLM. The required scores are as follows: IELTS: 6.5; TOEFL (paper-based): 580; TOEFL (computer-based): 240; and TOEFL (internet-based): 92.

Is there any specific information for students from outside the EU?

Yes, click here for further information.

What if I have been outside of academia for several years and wish to apply for one of the LL.M. programmes?

The Centre has frequently had applications and accepted students who have worked professionally and then have opted to return to academia. We factor in work experience and contributions the programme would make to the individual and the individual would make to the programme when reviewing such applications. Under these circumstances, letters of references from employers (as opposed to strictly academic references) are considered. Equally, if the applicant can demonstrate a strong professional background working in the field of human rights, this is taken into consideration if the students fails to meet the otherwise strict 2.1 academic requirement.

If I have applied to the programme in a previous year and have been accepted but have (for whatever reason) not attended, can I reactivate that old application?

The answer is no. You must apply again. The University does not allow for applications from previous years to be used again. Unfortunately, this applies even in cases where the student was denied a Visa, which resulted in their inability to attend. The application process is quite easy and references used in previous applications can again be noted on the application form but students must again undergo the application process.

What are the possible career opportunities upon graduation from the LL.M. programme?

This question is often asked by both incoming and prospective students. The short answer is that the degree is very much what you make of it. That is, students who have taken full advantage of the opportunities presented during the course of the year (to engage in projects, undertake internships, or publications) have found themselves well positioned to enter into the job market. The human rights field is a competitive market and students in the programme are encouraged to obtain as much practical, as well as academic experience as possible whilst in the programme. Securing a place in the human rights field necessitates initiative and will likely entail several minor placements before securing the desired position. That said, students who have undertaken and successfully completed the programme tend to fall into one of four categories 1- those who work within UN or UN affiliated organisations 2- those who work in NGO and quasi NGOs--both human rights and development 3- those who work in academic institutions or pursue of PhD/JD 4- those who work in diplomatic or government based work (in human rights divisions of the Dept of Foreign Affairs, for example).

Underneath these umbrella categories, students have pursued work in the ICC, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, ICRC, the UN system (Geneva and NYC), local based NGOs, trade and health organisations, domestic law firm work that draws on international legal mechanisms, and research based work in University research centres, to name but a few. The main and sub categories are by no means exhaustive, but give a flavor of the different fields that students have pursued.

Again, the question can only be answered in the general sense as so much of a student's success in securing a position post LL.M. will depend on a variety of factors, which include the student's own initiative and how much they take advantage of the quite varied and rich projects and programmes that are available at the Centre. Engagement in these initiatives can provide valuable experience and opportunities to network.    

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