Arab Master in Democracy and Human Rights
Beirut, Lebanon
DURATION
1 up to 2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Request the earliest start date
TUITION FEES
EUR 67 / per credit
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Introduction
Interested in boosting your career in the field of Governance?
A unique interdisciplinary program that includes research-oriented courses grounded in theory while developing practical and critical skills. It offers an international environment with lecturers and students from over 15 countries, and it includes a semester in a partner university across the region: Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, and Palestine (for Europeans and Americans).
The curriculum covers 80 to 120 credits, depending on the academic background of the student and the chosen track. Over 25 courses and 50 seminars are given by researchers, experts and practitioners from across the Arab region and Europe. These courses and seminars are divided into four thematic streams:
- Human Rights: Civil, Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
- Democratic Governance and the Rule of Law
- Political, Social and Intellectual Dynamics in the Arab World
- Applied Human Rights: Research and Professional Skills
Our courses include specialized seminars, field visits, field research, a Human Rights Laboratory, the Development of a Human Rights project and an internship program in a Human Rights organization.
Programme
First Semester (Beirut)
The first semester is divided into four thematic sections and a field-trip.
Democracy and Rights
- Legacy of Colonialism (2cr)
- Arab Political Thought (2cr)
- Democracy and Human Rights in MENA (4cr)
Governance, Rule of Law and Constitutional Process
- Comparative Constitutional Systems (4cr)
- Political Parties and Pressure Groups in MENA (4cr)
Political Transitions to Democracy
- Democratisation and Liberalisation (4cr)
- Transition Processes in MENA (4cr)
International Relations and the Global System of Human Rights Protection
- International Human Rights law and Protection Mechanisms in MENA (3cr)
- Vulnerable persons and groups Human Rights (3cr)
Second Semester (Rabat, Ramallah or Tunis)
Students have to conduct research and write a thesis during their second semester. They can also do an internship and follow relevant courses at the university.
Admission Requirements
Academic requirements
Applicants must have a minimum of 240 ECTS (MA degree, or a BA degree with an additional 60 master-level European credits, or their equivalent). Degrees should be in political science, law, any other social science or specialisation in a relevant discipline.
Applicants completing the degree entry requirements subsequently to the application deadline are requested to provide a current transcript of records. Final admission into the Programme will be conditional upon the receipt of documentation of the completed degree.
Additional studies and experience
Additional studies and practical experience in the area of human rights in inter-governmental, governmental, or non-governmental organisations help consolidate your candidacy.
How to Enrol
In order to apply you need to fill the attached Application Form and Scholarship Form. You will also need to attach to your application:
- A transcript of grades from your last diploma
- A copy of your diploma
- A CV
- A copy of your passport
- A digital photo
- A letter of intent explaining your interest in the programme and your career ambitions
- Two letters of recommendation (with at least an academic one)
Email your application and relevant documents to [email protected].
Admissions
Curriculum
The master’s program is organized into two tracks, depending on the student’s academic background. Both tracks include one semester in a partner university across the Arab region:
Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia, Jordan or Egypt
They allow you to develop research and practical skills. They include a week-long field trip and offer the possibility of doing internships in leading national and international organizations across the region. Internships are mandatory in the two-year track.
One-Year Track (75 to 90 ECTS)
This track gives direct access to the second year of the program to students who hold an M1 in social sciences (or the equivalent of 60 European postgraduate credits). Students admitted to this track are required to take all core courses of the second year in addition to specific foundational courses depending on their academic background. They can also choose specialization courses from the first year of the program.
Core Courses
- Comparative Constitutional System
- Democracy and Human Rights in the MENA
- Democratization and Liberalisation
- Political Parties and Pressure Groups in MENA
- Transition Processes in MENA
- International Human Rights Law and Protection Mechanisms in MENA
- Vulnerable Persons and Groups Human Rights
- Arab Political Thought
- Legacy of Colonialism
- Applied Research in Democracy and Human Rights – Field Research
- Applied Research in Democracy and Human Rights – Project
- Thesis
Foundational Courses
- Geopolitics of the Middle East and North Africa
- Political Sociology of the Arab World
- International Law and Human Rights
- Human Rights in Armed Conflict
Specialization Courses
- Gender Policies and Women’s Rights
- Public Policy and Human Rights
- International Criminal Prosecution and Transitional Justice
- Refugees, Migration and Mobility Rights
- Peace and Conflict
- Human Rights Laboratory – War Memory
- Human Rights Laboratory – The Forcibly Disappeared
Two-Year Track (120 ECTS)
This track offers a full comprehensive human rights program aimed at providing students with a solid theoretical basis, multidisciplinary knowledge and skills, and an informed and critical understanding of the field of human rights and democratic governance. It includes field visits, field research, regional mobility, and an internship geared at developing the student’s practical and professional skills.
First Year
Autumn Semester (September to December)
- Geopolitics of the Middle East and North Africa
- Human Rights in Armed Conflict
- International Law and Human Rights
- Political Sociology of the Arab World
- Human Rights Laboratory 1
- Tutoring
Winter Period (January)
- Applied Research in Democracy and Human Rights – Field Research
Spring Semester (February to May)
- Gender Policies and Women’s Rights
- International Criminal Prosecution and Transitional Justice
- Public Policy and Human Rights
- Politics of Globalisation
- Peace and Conflict
- Refugees, Migration and Mobility Rights
- Human Rights Laboratory 2
Summer Period (June to July)
- Short Internship
- Medium Internship
- Long Internship
Second Year
Autumn Semester (September to December)
- Geopolitics of the Middle East and North Africa
- Human Rights in Armed Conflict
- International Law and Human Rights
- Political Sociology of the Arab World
- Human Rights Laboratory 1
- Tutoring
Spring Semester (February to May)
- Thesis
- Legacy of Colonialism
Summer Period (June to September)
- Applied Research in Democracy and Human Rights – Projects
- Vulnerable Persons and Groups Human Rights – Children Rights
- Vulnerable Persons and Groups Human Rights – Minority Groups
Gallery
Accreditations
Career Opportunities
Public Sector
Local administrations and national public services. Diplomacy and inter-governmental organizations.
Third Sector
National, regional and international non-Governmental organizations.
Academic Sector
Research in academic institutions and think tanks.