The Doctor of Human Rights (PhD) and Research Methods programme provides supervision in a variety of specialisms within the teaching team. These include national protection of international human rights standards; freedom of expression and law; health and human rights; international law on armed conflict; peacekeeping; international humanitarian law; and the functioning of the United Nations and its international organisations.

The course explores human rights concepts in relation to public international law and is structured around three main approaches: human rights doctrine; the historical and political development of human rights; and key areas for future implementation. The course aims to develop analytical skills and the ability to identify relevant practices in an evolving context by considering the history of human rights and the institutions responsible for overseeing them. Additionally, it examines fundamental rights such as the right to life and the prohibition of torture, addressing their intersection with contemporary issues such as migration, armed conflict, and climate change. The course also assesses the role of international human rights law in combatting global inequality and its relevance to future legal development.

Many of our graduates have pursued careers in legal practice, commerce and industry, non-governmental organisations and academia, making notable contributions to the academic environment of our Law School.