2023 University of Pretoria Master’s Degree in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa

The LLM/MPhil in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa (HRDA) is a prestigious one-year intensive course where 25-30 exceptional individuals spend six months in Pretoria and six months at one of the 12 partner universities all over Africa.

They are taught by eminent lecturers in the field of human rights and undergo many practical training exercises. It is the only course of its kind in Africa. Graduates become members of the HRDA Alumni Association whose 537 members are currently active in the full spectrum of human rights work: from grassroots, through civil service, to international organisations including the African Union and the United Nations. Individuals from all African countries are invited to apply for admission to study for the Master’s degree (LLM/MPhil) in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, South Africa.

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Benefits

• A limited number of up to 30 students are selected per year. Depending on the availability of funding, full-scholarships covering at least tuition, accommodation and official programme activities are covered for up to 25 citizens of Africa.
• Students who do not receive scholarships may be admitted as self-funding or partial-self funding students, provided they meet all the minimum admission criteria and provided they guarantee payment of all or at least a significant part of tuition, accommodation and official programme activities, to an amount set by the Centre annually.

Requirements

• Individuals from all African countries are invited to apply for admission to study for the Master’s Degree (LLM/MPhil) in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
• Applicants must be in possession of the first degree in Law (LLB, licence en droit or licenciatura em direito) or an Honours degree relevant to human rights and democratisation.

In addition to the general admission requirements, the following specific selection criteria are used in combination to select the eligible students:

• A demonstrated professional, academic and personal interest in and commitment to human rights and democratisation in Africa.
• An indication that the applicant would be likely to put the qualification to good use in his or her future career, preferably in his or her country of origin (the ‘multiplier effect’);
• Geographic representation(in the sense that an overrepresentation of students from a particular African country will be avoided, given the pan-African scope and ambitions of the programme);
• Gender representation (in the sense that an equitable balance between women and men is sought);
• Equitable representation of persons from vulnerable communities (such as persons with disabilities, persons belonging to indigenous communities and LGBTI persons).

Documents Required for Application

• The following documents will be requested during your application:
  • Previous academic records/transcripts
  • Previous degree certificate(s)
  • Copy of bio-data page of passport
  • A good quality photograph of yourself
  • For applicants who did not obtain their qualifications in English: TOEFL, SAT1 or IELTS Test certificate.

Method of Application