Master in Governance and Human Rights (MA) Leuphana University Lüneburg

The Master's programme in Governance and Human Rights connects the theory of science with its practical application. In 14 modules, the students will learn to analyse and understand legal and political theories of governance and international and regional human rights regimes. They will also learn how these topics are interrelated.

The students and scholars in the Governance and Human Rights Master's programme will design, plan, organise, and realise their own project addressing a practical challenge related to the field of governance and human rights.

Project-based learning is of central importance for the programme. The students will learn to conceptualise and contribute to social change and acquire the design and communication skills to adapt theoretical approaches to governance and human rights to their professional working environment, e.g. as part of corporate social responsibility (CSR). They will be taught and supervised by outstanding and renowned international human rights academics, practitioners, and experienced project coaches.

This Master's programme is recommended and listed as an official human rights training programme by the Human Rights Education Network of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

At a glance:

• First and only professional Master's programme connecting governance and human rights
• Classes and seminars taught entirely in English
• Distance-learning / online learning classes with two classroom sessions in Lüneburg (one week each)
• Application of the subjects in individual project

The programme consists of lectures, seminars, and small-group discussions taking place online as a distance-learning format. There are three classroom sessions with durations of one to one and a half weeks (lectures, workshops, discussions). Students apply their knowledge by developing an individual project throughout the course and organise a conference at the end of their studies.

Course details:

There are 10 subject-specific modules and three complementary modules of five ECTS each. All modules (except the theoretical introductions) are application oriented and combine theory and practice. You will be able to apply your knowledge in an individual project and organise a conference together with your class. You will finish your studies with a Master's thesis.

10 subject-specific modules

• Introduction to Human Rights
• Basic Principles of Good Governance
• Human Rights Reporting and Monitoring Mechanisms
• Governance in Comparative Perspective
• Business and Human Rights
• Corporate/Organisational Governance
• Human Rights Norms and Principles
• Governance in Digital Age
• Contemporary Issues in Human Rights
• Social Change: Campaigning and Awareness Raising

Three complementary modules

• Introduction to the programme and scientific work
• Communication and Negotiation
• Society and Responsibility

Project module

Student projects form a core pillar, serving as a critical nexus between scholarly learning and real-world impact. These initiatives enable students to translate their academic knowledge and analytical skills into solutions for pressing challenges within the realms of governance and human rights.

Academic admission requirements:

• A first university degree (e.g. Bachelor's)
• One year professional experience in the field of governance and human rights
• Advanced English language skills

The following documents are required for application:

• Online application form
• Curriculum vitae
• Certified copy of first university diploma(s)
• Transcript of records
• Employment confirmation/certification

Note: A translation of the above mentioned documents are needed if the originals are not in German or English.

Where to apply:

For more information concerning the application process, you can visit the website http://www.leuphana.de/gahr-application.

240 EUR

The course of study coordinator will help you find accommodation during the classroom sessions in Lüneburg.

Leuphana University Lüneburg is one of Germany's landmark universities for higher education reform and innovation. With about 9,500 students and 175 full-time professors, the university has developed a highly respected academic profile. Today, Leuphana University Lüneburg is regarded as an institution for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, academic organisation, innovation in teaching, and academic transfer.

The mission of Leuphana University Lüneburg derives from the fundamental idea of academic education as enabling an individual to live in a self-determined manner and take part in shaping society. A university for civil society in the 21st century, Leuphana follows the mission of being a humanistic, sustainable, and proactive university.

Lüneburg is a 1,000-year-old city of 79,000 inhabitants, located near Hamburg. Established as a salt mining community, it enjoyed great prosperity in its early years, supplying the whole Scandinavian and Baltic Sea regions with salt. Renowned for its opportunities and affluence, Lüneburg was the place to be for Germany's most wealthy inhabitants, a legacy still evident in the well-preserved city centre.

Today, Lüneburg is essentially a university town. The lavish 14th and 15th-century churches—St. John's, St. Michael's, and St. Nicolai's—the beautiful baroque main square, and the tranquil medieval monastery attract visitors from all over the world.

The pedestrian city centre invites visitors to linger; a great number of well-assorted specialist shops in historic buildings featuring steep gables provide extensive shopping opportunities, and many cafés and pubs open their doors to visitors every day. In particular, the bars situated at Stint and in Schröderstraße offer various possibilities for a vibrant nightlife. Lüneburg is also a vibrant cultural hub; numerous musicians, artists, and actors are active in the clubs, studios, and theatres of the town.