Introduction
International Law and Human Rights is a 2-year master's program at the School of Law of The University of Tartu, providing comprehensive knowledge of the principles, regulations, subjects, and practice in the field of international law and human rights.
Why study International Law and Human Rights?
Students can obtain comprehensive knowledge in the field of international law and human rights. All students are given strong ground knowledge in international law and human rights, and then they can expand their knowledge in specific areas, depending on their needs and interests, by taking various elective courses.
The program aims to provide a good comparative perspective on the issues of international law and human rights, relying on our historical experience and geographical position — Estonia is located where the “West” and the “East” meet.
Practice is a compulsory component of the program, giving students an opportunity to apply acquired knowledge in different practical situations and develop practical skills in a professional environment.
The School of Law is one of the oldest faculties of the University of Tartu, where lawyers have been educated since the university was founded in 1632. Our alumni form 87% of the attorneys-at-law, 95% of the prosecutors and nearly all of the judges in Estonia. Also, Estonia’s previous and current judges at the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union obtained their degrees at the University of Tartu.
Studies take place in the capital, Tallinn, where various international organizations and relevant state institutions are located, allowing us to incorporate their representatives and experience to the teaching process and to find practice places with them.
Students can take part in Martens Summer School on International Law, which takes place in Pärnu, the “summer capital” of Estonia. The summers school addresses current developments and challenges in international law and human rights and involves internationally renowned speakers, e.g. Bruno Simma, Christian Tomuschat, Angelika Nussberger. Alexander Trunk.
Career opportunities
Graduates have a competitive advantage in applying to and are well-prepared to work for international organizations as well as the public and private sector. As international law and human rights are global, the graduates are prepared to start their career potentially anywhere in the world. The increasing globalization, the importance of international legal regulations, and the role and proliferation of international organizations provide new opportunities for people with specialized knowledge and skills in international law and human rights.
Program details
Title: International Law and Human Rights
Level of study: Master's
Degree awarded: Master of Arts in Law
Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences, School of Law
Duration: 2 years
Credits: 120 ECTS
Study-form: Full-time regular studies
Language: English
Location: Tallinn, Estonia
Tuition fee: 3,800 EUR/year
Scholarships: not available
Study places: 25
Tuition fee & scholarships
The tuition fee is 3,800 euros per year and it covers tuition and some study materials. Altogether 25 students will be admitted to this program. Tuition-waiver scholarships are not available for this program.
Student experience
"The program is all about innovative approaches to a wide range of issues falling under the scope of international law. The fact that the program also focuses on international human rights law is definitely a huge advantage, as it also points to a comparative understanding of what international law means in different countries. I am truly delighted to be among the students of the first generation of this program."
Yulian Kondur from Ukraine, alumnus of International Law and Human Rights
Webinar 2019
Application deadlines
January 2: application system opens
March 15: application deadline
May 15: final admission results
August 30: academic year starts
Admission to International Law and Human Rights
Entry requirements
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification (must be obtained by the end of July), including at least 60 ECTS (one year) of law courses.
English language proficiency.
Applications are evaluated based on
The score of the motivation letter (yields 25% of the final score)
Admission interview (yields 50% of the final score)
Average grade of the previous study level (yields 25% of the final score)
The maximum score is 100 points. The application will be considered for admission if a score of 66 points or higher is achieved.
Application process for international students
The following information applies to international students and Estonian students who graduated abroad.
Step 1: Submitting the online application
Step 2: Evaluation and announcement of admission results
Step 3: Sending the documents by post
Step 4: Receiving the official admission letter
Step 5: Welcome to UT!
