Program Overview

Engage in a discourse on human rights law, informed by thinking on rights from political, sociological, philosophical, economic and historical perspectives. You are presented with the theoretical foundations, substantive knowledge, and evaluative tools for you to understand and respond to national, regional, and international legal and political developments.

Our LLB Law and Human Rights develops your critical awareness of the nature of law within its social, political, sociological, philosophical, economic and historical contexts.

At Essex we are actively engaged in debates about the meaning of justice in the UK and beyond. Our Human Rights Centre is a recognised international leader. Through our work with the United Nations, governments, human rights organisations and corporations all over the world, we bring a global outlook to our teaching.

As a law and human rights student, not only will you learn legal rules, but you will also consider the function of law in society, the philosophy of law, policy issues and law reform. You study topics including:

• Global distributive justice and human rights
• Protection of human rights in the UK
• Freedom of thought and expression
• European human rights law

Our law course will develop your intellectual and critical faculties, encourage you to think independently and teach you to present rational, coherent and accurate arguments orally and in writing. It will provide you with an excellent foundation for any career.

Study abroad

Your education extends beyond the university campus. We support you in expanding your education through offering the opportunity to spend a year or a term studying abroad at one of our partner universities. The four-year version of our degree allows you to spend the third year abroad or employed on a placement abroad, while otherwise remaining identical to the three-year course.

Studying abroad allows you to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden your degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that you are mature, adaptable, and organised.

If you spend a full year abroad you'll only pay 15% of your usual tuition fee to Essex for that year. You won't pay any tuition fees to your host university