The academic approach: studying towards an MA in human rights

I chose to study at Keele because it ran the only interdisciplinary human rights course in the UK and, being familiar with the School of Law, I knew the staff would offer interesting and challenging perspectives.

Balancing study and play

The course was taught in intensive blocks of three full days, which took place every six weeks. Classes covered a range of topics including equality, discrimination, minorities, globalisation and politics. All the teaching was delivered through tutorials and group discussion was encouraged. The rest of the time was for our own private study.

I found the workload heavier than that of my undergraduate degree; there was a lot more self-directed study required to stay on top of things at masters level, so the onus was on me to work hard. I often studied in the evenings and at weekends, putting in around eight hours a day. In spite of this, I managed my time well and was able to get involved in many extra-curricular activities, such as running the Amnesty International group.

Postgrad funding is limited but I secured a bursary towards my fees and took out a career development loan to stay afloat. This meant I only had to work full time at the end of the course, when I was writing up my dissertation.

Advice for prospective postgrads

Think hard about how postgraduate study fits in with your career plans and interests, and take into account the competitive job market. Finally, don’t let cost put you off pursuing a career in academia – there’s always a way of funding it!

I’m currently taking time out to travel with my husband, but I hope to expand upon the ideas I developed in my masters thesis by applying for a PhD in human rights and international development upon my return.

Lauren graduated from KEELE SCHOOL OF LAW in 2006 with an LLB in law with philosophy. In 2008 she completed an MA in human rights, globalisation and justice at the same institution.