Graduate Certificate in Human Rights
The information on this page applies to future students. Current students should refer to their faculty handbooks for course information.
The Graduate Certificate in Human Rights degree offers candidates a firm foundation in human rights law and policy and, through a series of core units, provides a practical understanding of how human rights operate in different political, economic, social and environmental contexts. You will build knowledge and skills in human rights across a wide range of disciplinary fields including sociology and social policy, political science, political economy, philosophy, history and human geography.
Emphasising the practice of human rights, our course equips you to skilfully and effectively use human rights tools and language, in order to achieve tangible changes in the real world. This practical dimension includes the opportunity to undertake an internship within an Australian or international human rights organisation. The course will also provide you with the opportunity to undertake independent scholarly research on current human rights issues, and the skills to put your academic understanding to use in real situations. While our degree has a global focus, it also capitalises on Australia’s geo-political location, offering a unique perspective on the Asia-Pacific region.
Given the growing salience of human rights in politics, law, social movements and business, graduates can expect to find employment in dedicated human rights governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations, where a human rights specialisation is required. Students with a background in journalism, education and other professions will also be strongly positioned to return to their principal fields with a high level of valuable specialist skills.
Related degree: Graduate Certificate in Development Studies.
Units of study
For full information on Units of Study available in this course, please visit the Sydney Courses website
Full units of study list
- ARTS7000 - Academic Communication for Postgraduates
- BETH5103 - Biomedicine and Society
- BETH5203 - Ethics and Public Health
- DVST6901 - Development: Critical Perspectives A
- DVST6902 - Development: Critical Perspectives B
- DVST6904 - Rethinking Poverty
- ECOP6130 - Human Rights & International Development
- GEOS5501 - Human Rights and the Environment
- GOVT6210 - Special Topics in International Studies
- HRTD6901 - Human Rights: Norms and Mechanisms 1
- HRTD6902 - Human Rights/Democratisation Research
- HRTD6903 - Dynamics of Human Rights Violations
- HRTD6904 - Democratisation: Theory and Practices
- HRTD6905 - Human Rights & Democratisation Intensive
- HRTD6906 - The Philosophy of Human Rights
- HSTY7001 - The History of Human Rights
- PACS6901 - United Nations,Peace and Security
- PACS6911 - Key Issues in Peace and Conflict Studies
- PACS6914 - Conflict-Resolving Media
- PACS6915 - Human Rights,Peace and Justice
- PACS6923 - The Human Right to Food
- PACS6927 - Transitional Justice and Peacebuilding
- SCLG6902 - Doing Social Research
- SCLG6905 - Independent Study and Report
- SCLG6906 - Dissertation Part 1
- SCLG6918 - Introductory Quantitative Methods
- SCWK6910 - Working with Communities
- SCWK6949 - Global Social Policy
Further course information
Study plan
The Graduate Certificate in Human Rights requires the satisfactory completion of 4 units of study (24 credit points) (cp), including 2 core units of study (12cp), HRTD6901 Human Rights: Norms and Mechanisms 1 and HRTD6903 Human Rights Violations, plus 2 further core or compulsory units of study (12cp).
Graduate opportunities
Graduates can expect to find employment in dedicated human rights governmental, inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations, as well as in government departments and agencies where human rights specialisation is required, and increasingly in major Australian and multinational corporations that wish or need to take human rights considerations into account in their operations.
Admission
Admission requirements
Admission to candidature for the Graduate Certificate in Human Rights requires:
(a) a bachelor’s degree with a major in a relevant subject area in the humanities or social sciences, or an equivalent qualification; or
(b) a Bachelor of Laws degree, or an equivalent qualification; or
(c) evidence of a minimum of three years’ recent, relevant, professional experience in the field deemed by the Dean to be equivalent to the academic admission requirements.
Available places will be offered to qualified applicants based on merit, according to the admissions criteria. In exceptional circumstances the Dean may admit applicants without these qualifications but whose evidence of experience and achievement is deemed by the Dean to be equivalent. For the admissions criteria see section 5, Admission to candidature, of the course resolutions
How to apply
Domestic students
How to apply
Australian citizens, permanent residents, New Zealand citizens, and holders of a permanent humanitarian visa, apply through UAC - click on the 'Apply now' icon on this page to proceed with your application.
Please note: not all courses are offered in the July semester intake.
International students
How to apply
Overseas applicants may apply:
(i) directly to the University via the International Office. Further information on applications and English language requirements and support services for international students is available on the International Office website; or
(ii) through a University overseas representative (education agent).
Note: International students are required to enrol on a full-time basis.
Fee disclaimer
Domestic students
Indicative postgraduate student contribution amount
Indicative postgraduate student contribution amount not available for Graduate Certificate in Human Rights.
Annual review for postgraduate student contribution amount
Annual review for postgraduate student contribution amount not available for Graduate Certificate in Human Rights.
Postgraduate Domestic Tuition Fee
This 2013, tuition fee for a domestic postgraduate student represents the fee that is payable by you in the calendar year you commence your course, commencing in 2012 for a standard annual full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). If your study load is more or less than the 1.0 EFTSL your fee will differ.
Annual review for postgraduate domestic tuition fee
Importantly, tuition fees are subject to annual review by the University, and are likely to increase each year of your period of study, effective at the start of each calendar year.
Additional incidental fees
For some courses there are incidental fees additional to the student contribution and/or course fee. Some of those fees are significant, for example, faculty-specific materials, tools, protected clothing and equipment. For further information about these additional incidental fees, please visit the University's Future Students' website.
Potential for inaccuracy
Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information in this prospectus, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre for domestic students or the International Office for international students so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about those fees.
The academic requirements that are displayed are applicable to currently available courses only, and are updated annually in October and may be changed without notice. The Faculty Handbook and the University of Sydney Calendar are the official legal source of information relating to study at the University of Sydney, and you are referred to those documents
Please note that if you are classified by the University as a Research Training Scheme student in accordance with the Other Grants Guidelines (Research) 2010, you will be exempt from the payment of any SCA or tuition fees for courses undertaken as part of a Research Masters degree and Research Doctoral degree. More information about your eligibility for this Scheme is available here.
International students
International tuition fees for postgraduate students
This 2013, tuition fee for international postgraduate students represents the fees that are payable by you in the calendar year you commence your course, commencing in 2013, for a standard annual full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). If your study load is more or less than the 1.0 EFTSL your fee will differ.
Annual review
Importantly, tuition fees are subject to annual review, and are likely to increase each year of your period of study, effective at the start of each calendar year.
Additional incidental fees and health insurance
For some courses there are incidental fees additional to the tuition fees. Some of those fees are significant, for example, faculty-specific materials, tools, protected clothing, and equipment. The University's Future Students' webpage has further information about these additional incidental fees for postgraduate coursework students and postgraduate research students.
In addition to the fees indicated here for the course of study, International Students studying on an Australian Student Visa must have appropriate health insurance for the duration of their studies on a Student Visa through an approved provider of the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) scheme. This is a requirement of the Australian Government, unless otherwise exempted by the Government.
Potential for inaccuracy
Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre for domestic students or the International Office for international students so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about those fees.