Duration
1 year full time / 2 years part time
Mode (Location)
On campus (Parkville)
Intake
March, June, July, August, December
Key dates
Key dates
Fees
AUD $49,984 (2026 indicative first year fee). Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) are not available
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Course overview
Overview
Become a human rights law expert
Build your human rights expertise with the Master of Human Rights Law, part of the world-renowned Melbourne Law Masters program. Learn from globally recognised human rights specialists as part of a diverse and committed international cohort of students. Choose from the widest range of human rights subjects in Australia and build a comprehensive, contemporary understanding of the field. Graduate ready to work here in Australia or overseas.
Key features
- Become a human rights lawyer. Graduate with an advanced understanding of the complex body of knowledge in the field of human rights law.
- For legal and non-legal backgrounds. Develop and expand your expertise in human rights law, relevant for practising lawyers as well as professionals working for organisations like development agencies.
- Flexible delivery. Designed with busy working professionals in mind, our subjects are delivered flexibly, usually through five-day intensives. Subjects are taught online, on-campus, or as a hybrid of both.
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University rankings
#1 in Australia | #13 globally | #8 in graduate employability worldwide
QS World University Rankings 2025 / QS Graduate Employability 2022
Subject rankings
Law
#1 in Australia | #11 globally
Times Higher Education World Rankings by Subject 2025
Why study human rights law at Melbourne?
Join a diverse cohort of Master of Human Rights Law students, from a wide range of professional and educational backgrounds.
- Build human rights expertise. Develop an advanced appreciation of the relationship between human rights law and politics, as well as in-depth knowledge of institutional human rights frameworks in Australia and internationally.
- Ready for debate. Graduate ready to debate matters like the contested universality of international human rights and its application in diverse domestic jurisdictions.
- Practical applications. Explore how to assess the practical effectiveness of different mechanisms for enforcing human rights; navigate human rights challenges in the context of globalisation; and respond to human rights threats presented by non-state actors.
Student support
Access extensive resources and support while you study.
- Melbourne Law School library. With access to one of the best law collections in Australia, you’ll have all the resources you need at your fingertips
- Legal Academic Skills Centre. Enjoy a range of tailored support services, including one-on-one research and legal academic skills consultations.
- Mentoring opportunities. Match with an experienced practitioner from our mentor network, which includes professionals from leading law firms, the Bar, government, the judiciary, and the not-for-profit sector. Full-time students only.
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Learn more about the Melbourne Law Masters.