Master of Arts in Human Rights FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg

Courses are held entirely in English.

The MA programme in Human Rights addresses the growing importance of human rights in all areas of society and academia. The programme covers fundamental challenges as well as current issues. It pursues an interdisciplinary approach by taking the political, philosophical and legal dimensions of human rights into account. Graduates of the programme will be equipped with theoretical and practical skills to pursue professional activities in human rights contexts.

31 May for the following winter semester

Decisions will be taken in March and June. To have your application reviewed in March, it has to reach us by the last working day of February.

The tuition fees amount to 6,000 EUR for all three semesters for all students.

In the first semester, all students will enrol in foundational compulsory modules covering political, philosophical and legal dimensions of human rights as well as human rights research methods. In the second semester, students will participate in a compulsory, interdisciplinary module on non-discrimination, a compulsory soft skill module and may elect four specialisation modules. The specialisation seminars cover various regions and topics, such as business and human rights, freedom of religion or belief, gender and human rights; human rights in Africa, human rights of refugees, international criminal law, the Inter-American human rights system, technology and human rights, and transitional justice. The third semester is devoted to writing the Master's thesis. Students can choose between focusing on writing one long thesis or combining a shorter thesis with an internship.

A module overview is available online at https://www.humanrights-master.fau.de/programme-information/modules-and-courses/.

2,000 EUR

The tuition fees amount to 6,000 EUR for all three semesters for all students.

Each semester students must pay semester fees consisting of student services fees and a fee for the basic semester ticket. These fees amount to approx. 70 EUR per semester.

General guidelines on the average costs that can be expected are provided by the results of the social survey undertaken by the German National Association for Student Affairs in 2021:

According to this study, students who no longer live with their parents should have an average amount of 1,106 EUR per month at their disposal. However, monthly expenditures for personal lifestyle vary a lot. For former West Germany, the study revealed the following details on average expenditure:

• Rent, including ancillary costs (in Erlangen, Nuremberg and surrounding areas): 410 EUR
• Food: 198 EUR
• Clothing: 46 EUR
• Travel costs (public transport and/or car): 89 EUR
• Study materials (depending on subject): 31 EUR
• Health insurance, doctors, medicine: 100 EUR
• Telecommunications: 31 EUR
• Leisure, culture, sports: 65 EUR

Admission to the MA Human Rights requires a university degree based on at least three and a half years of full-time study (equivalent to 210 ECTS) and at least one year of professional experience in the area of human rights, or professional experience in another field in combination with practical experience in human rights work on a volunteer basis.

If your university degree is based on less than three and a half years of study, you may be accepted on the basis of a special procedure determining additional qualifications.

Applicants must provide proof of their English language competence equivalent to level C1 of CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). There is no requirement for German language skills.

31 May for the following winter semester

Decisions will be taken in March and June. To have your application reviewed in March, it has to reach us by the last working day of February.

There is a wide range of scholarships available for outstanding students. In addition to requiring applicants to have excellent grades, most scholarship programmes have additional conditions regarding cultural, political, religious, or social involvement. If you have any questions about the application procedure or selection criteria, you can contact the Student Advice and Career Service (IBZ) or speak directly to FAU’s liaison officer for the scholarship organisation you wish to apply to.

https://www.fau.eu/study/prospective-students/financing-your-studies

The MA Human Rights programme allows students to seek part-time employment to contribute to their living costs. Many of our students have mini-jobs in local restaurants and bars, shops, offices, or other places. Depending on previous qualifications and language skills (especially German), students may also be able to find other employment opportunities in the Erlangen-Nürnberg region. Students need to ensure that they adhere to the rules of their respective residence permits.

The cities of Erlangen, Fürth, and Nuremberg offer a very good standard of living. They are popular places to live, meaning that accommodation is in high demand but often in short supply. This is particularly the case during the period before the start of a new semester. We therefore recommend that you start looking for accommodation as soon as possible. If you are flexible and also look in the surrounding area, you will have a better chance of finding somewhere affordable to live. The region has an excellent public transport system, so you should not have any problems getting to your place of study or work.

It is worth checking the available accommodation on the Internet every day, as new accommodation becomes available on a day-to-day basis. It pays to be flexible when it comes to the price, location, and available facilities of your accommodation.

Student Services Erlangen-Nürnberg runs its own student accommodation in Erlangen and Nuremberg. You will be informed about how to apply for a room in Student Services accommodation while you are in the process of applying to be admitted to FAU.

The programme includes a yearly career workshop held by a programme alumna. The university’s career service also offers special courses and individual consultations for international students and recent graduates (up to one year after graduation). More information and contact details can be found online at the career service’s website at https://www.fau.eu/education/advice-and-services/career-service/. In addition, the programme directors and coordinator provide individual counselling and advice.

Founded in 1743, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) is now one of the largest research universities in Germany with 40,996 students and 276 degree programmes. The five faculties cover the entire spectrum of modern academic disciplines – from humanities, social sciences and theology to medicine, law, economics, sciences and engineering.

One of FAU’s defining features is its commitment to interdisciplinary teaching and research, which frequently go beyond the boundaries of individual subjects.

FAU’s outstanding research and teaching is reflected in top positions in both national and international rankings as well as the high amount of DFG funding that its researchers are able to secure.

FAU is based in three cities – Erlangen, Fürth and Nuremberg. Each of the FAU campuses is closely connected to the social and economic pulse of these cities. Studying and city life at FAU go hand in hand, so much so that it’s hard to tell city and campus life apart.

"Moving Knowledge" is our motto and guiding principle at FAU. Therefore, we strive to generate knowledge to shape the future responsibly and openly share knowledge with all stakeholders in society to drive prosperity and create value. We also use knowledge to improve our world for future generations.

FAU’s two main sites, the cities of Erlangen and Nuremberg, are located at the heart of the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region. Both Erlangen and Nuremberg have their own unique charms. Erlangen is a city of 100,000 inhabitants, was the former home of the Huguenots, and it is a key location for Siemens. Nuremberg is a city with a metropolitan flair and a population of half a million. The opera, theatre, and museums, along with a lively pub scene and nightlife, offer plenty of opportunities to relax after a day in the lecture theatre, lab, or library. The highlights of the cultural calendar in Erlangen include the "Hörkunstfestival" (acoustic art festival), International Comic Salon, "figuren.theater.festival" (puppet theatre festival), "Poetenfest" (poetry festival), and the "ARENA… of the young arts" theatre and performance festival. A wide range of cultural institutions open their doors to visitors during the Blue Night in Nuremberg, and once every two years, the Long Night of Sciences gives the public a chance to take a look inside research institutions in Erlangen, Nuremberg, and Fürth. In summary, the mixture of academia, innovative companies, art, and culture makes the region the perfect place for creative minds. There is also plenty on offer for keen athletes and nature lovers. Fränkische Schweiz, a paradise for climbers and walkers, is located to the north of Erlangen and is at FAU’s doorstep. Water sports enthusiasts will love the Franconian lakes and the university’s water sports centre, which is located just south of Nuremberg.