Human Rights Law

Human rights empower the individual citizen against the excesses of the state. Human rights can enshrine some of our most cherished values, like the right to life, or freedom from slavery. They can affect our day-to-day lives, like the right to respect for private life, or freedom of expression. They can protect our access to justice, like the right to a fair trial.
This module focuses on the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), its interpretation by the European Court of Human Rights, and its application in English law via the Human Rights Act 1998. The jurisprudence of the ECHR is rich and challenging, and it has shaped and influenced the development of human rights law throughout Europe.

The syllabus is designed to provide you with a solid foundation in human rights law, and to encourage you to follow the latest developments and sharpen your critical skills.

Course leader

Professor Richard Edwards

Target group

Undergraduate students with a GPA of 3.0 or above; postgraduate students with an interest in the subject are also welcome.

Course aim

Studying this module will equip you with essential human rights law knowledge and key skills to understand current developments.