Is the Higher Diploma in Human Rights Studies a law degree?

No. The Higher Diploma in Human Rights Studies is an interdisciplinary academic qualification with substantial international-law content but not the wider doctrinal coverage of a law degree. Students wanting to practise law in human-rights cases pursue an LLB or GDL afterwards.

Does the Higher Diploma in Human Rights Studies cover humanitarian work?

Yes — explicitly. The humanitarian practice strand covers principles, programme design and ethics in operational contexts. The Higher Diploma in Human Rights Studies treats human rights, peacebuilding and humanitarian work as overlapping but distinct fields requiring different working competencies.

Can the Higher Diploma in Human Rights Studies be studied online?

Yes. The online route mirrors the on-campus course with live tutorials, recorded lectures and asynchronous discussion forums. Distance learners complete the same research project and case-based assessments with structured deadlines and remote tutor supervision.

Is the Higher Diploma in Human Rights Studies useful for UN system careers?

Yes. The course's international law, peacebuilding and humanitarian content aligns with UN system entry requirements. UN roles are competitive and typically also require language skills and demonstrated field or operational experience; the Higher Diploma in Human Rights Studies is a credible academic credential to anchor an application.

What's the final research project on the Higher Diploma in Human Rights Studies?

A 6,000-to-8,000 word independent project on a human-rights, peace or humanitarian question of your choice. Past examples include an analysis of a UN treaty body finding, a comparative reading of two peace mediations and a programme-design study of an INGO accountability mechanism.

HDip in Human Rights Studies in London | LSJHML | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The Higher Diploma in Human Rights Studies at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a fifteen-to-eighteen-month near-degree-level UK qualification for practitioners and graduates working at the intersection of international human rights, peacebuilding and humanitarian programmes. You will study international human-rights law, the institutional frameworks that uphold (and fail to uphold) it, current peacebuilding and conflict-resolution practice, and the working ethics of humanitarian response.

The Higher Diploma in Human Rights Studies is taught with the assumption that human rights is a serious working field requiring both legal-institutional literacy and applied ethics. Reading lists draw on Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the International Crisis Group and the UN Association alongside academic scholarship.

Key Features

UK-recognised higher diploma aligned with frameworks used by Amnesty International, the International Crisis Group and the UN Association.
International human-rights law module covering UN treaty bodies, ECHR, regional frameworks.
Peacebuilding and conflict resolution — current practice in mediation, transitional justice, conflict prevention.
Humanitarian practice strand — principles, programme design, ethics in operational contexts.
Case-based teaching drawing on current and historical cases across UN, regional and NGO frameworks.
Final research project on a human-rights, peace or humanitarian question of your choice.

What You Will Learn

The Higher Diploma in Human Rights Studies is structured around the working competencies of a human-rights, peace or humanitarian practitioner — legal-institutional literacy, applied ethics, programme design and clear evidence-based writing. You leave able to read a UN treaty body finding, analyse a conflict situation, contribute to programme design and write up findings for both academic and practitioner audiences.

International human-rights law foundations — UDHR, ICCPR, ICESCR, treaty bodies, monitoring.
Regional frameworks — European Convention on Human Rights, Inter-American, African.
International humanitarian law — Geneva Conventions, conflict-of-laws issues.
Peacebuilding theory and practice — mediation, dialogue, transitional justice.
Conflict analysis — drivers, actors, scenarios, intervention design.
Humanitarian principles — humanity, neutrality, impartiality, independence.
Programme design for human-rights and peace work — theory of change, monitoring, evaluation.
Ethics in operational contexts — security, do-no-harm, vulnerable contributors.

Who This Higher Diploma Is For

Practitioners in NGOs, charities and multilateral organisations stepping up to senior programme roles.
Working civil servants, diplomats and policy researchers with human-rights or peace remits.
Career-changers from journalism, law or development moving into human-rights work.
Advanced Diploma graduates in international studies, journalism or community development progressing to specialist work.

Career Pathways

Higher Diploma in Human Rights Studies graduates move into advocacy, policy, programme and research roles across the human-rights and peacebuilding sector. Typical roles include:

Human Rights Researcher (international NGO, national human-rights institution)
Peacebuilding Programme Officer (UN agency, INGO)
International Development Adviser (donor agency, INGO)
Policy Advocate (advocacy organisation, charity)
Humanitarian Programme Manager (operational INGO)
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer (human-rights, peace or humanitarian programme)

The Higher Diploma supports top-up to a UK BA in International Studies or Community Development, or progression to MA-level human-rights or peace studies programmes.

Entry Requirements

An Advanced Diploma (Level 5) or equivalent in a related subject, OR a Diploma plus two years of relevant work experience.
IELTS 6.0 overall (no band below 5.5) for non-native English speakers.
Personal statement and CV.
Mature applicants (25+) without standard qualifications may apply with significant senior-track work experience.

Why Study at LSJHML

The London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London. Our programmes are designed in dialogue with working professionals — journalists, translators, civil servants, academics, broadcasters, editors, publishers and policy researchers — so what you learn in seminar on Monday is what your future employer is using on Tuesday. We deliberately keep cohorts small, give every student named tutor support, and treat employability as a structural part of every programme rather than an optional add-on.

London is the work — politics, courts, capital markets, theatre, broadcasting, publishing, public service, the global press. Your studies are taught in the same square mile where the stories you read about happen. Whether you join us on-campus, online or by distance learning, the city is your classroom and our industry network is your launchpad.