Master of Human Rights and Democratisation (Asia Pacific Regional Program)

The Master of Human Rights and Democratisation (Asia Pacific) regional program requires the satisfactory completion of 10 units of study (60 credit points) (cp), including a suite of core units of study, core elective units of study and elective units of study to be completed at the University of Sydney and the program’s regional partner institutions.

Candidates are required to complete 60 credit points as follows:

(b) a minimum of 24 credit points of units of study be undertaken at (a) regional partner/s including 18 credit points of elective units of study as a research component comprising either a dissertation or an internship;

Candidates elect to undertake either a dissertation (18cp), or an internship (18cp) elective pathway at their regional partner host. For the dissertation, candidates conduct original independent research in the areas of human rights and/ or democratisation under the academic supervision of a relevant expert. They must prepare a research proposal and develop their topic with the University of Sydney’s Academic Director and the academic supervisor throughout their study term. Approval is subject to the department's discretion and the availability of an appropriate supervisor. The dissertation comprises a piece of written piece of work that is between 15,000 and 18,000 words.

The internship involves a 180 hour placement in an inter-governmental, governmental or non-governmental organisation specialising in human rights and/or democratisation. Students will have opportunities to immediately put into practice the knowledge acquired throughout the academic year with an aim to acquiring and improving practical work experience, establishing a dialogue between the students and the host organisation, and fostering access to the job market. They are required to complete several assessments, including develop an organisational product and complete an Internship Research Report. The Internship Research Report should take some aspect of the work that the student carried out the organization in which he/she interned, and should examine that aspect from a scholarly perspective. The Internship Research Report should be a written piece of work that is between 6,000 and 8,000 words.

For an up-to-date list of units of study for this degree, please refer to the online

Postgraduate Table of Units of Human Rights and Democratisation (Asia Pacific Program) Subject Area

Under normal progression, a student shall undertake and successfully complete all units of study to the value of 24 credit points per semester as prescribed for the course. Candidates must maintain a credit average result or above, normally over at least the first 4 units of study, in order to qualify for admission to the dissertation units of study. Students are required to attend all lectures, tutorials and other activities prescribed for their units of study.

Eligible candidates undertaking the degree of Master of Human Rights and Democratisation (Asia Pacific) regional program have the option of completing (i) an internship pathway with a total value of 18 credit points (cp) or (ii) a dissertation on an approved topic with a value of 18cp, under the supervision of an academic expert.

The dissertation comprises undertaking original research and writing on a topic relevant to human rights and/or democratisation for a scholarly paper of between 15,000 and 18,000 words.

The internship comprises a work experience placement of 180 hours in an inter-governmental, governmental or non-governmental organisation specialising in human rights and/or democratisation. Under the supervision of a member of the host organisation, candidates undertake a specific task relevant to the organisation's mandate and work with their supervisor to draw links between their practical project and theoretical issues concerning human rights. Students must construct an organisational product and their major assessment: an Internship Research Report that is between 6,000 and 8,000 words.