LL4AW Half Unit
Foundations of International Human Rights Law
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Prof Susan Marks
Availability
This course is available on the LLM (extended part-time), LLM (full-time), MSc in Gender (Rights and Human Rights), MSc in Human Rights, MSc in Law and Finance and University of Pennsylvania Law School LLM Visiting Students. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process.
How to apply: Priority will be given initially to LLM, MSc Regulation and MSc Law and Finance students on a first-come-first-served allocation.
Spaces permitting, requests from all other students will be processed on the same first-come-first-served allocation from 10am on Thursday 2 October 2025
By submitting an application, students are confirming that they meet any pre-requisites specified. Providing an additional written statement will not aid a student's chances of being accepted onto a course, and statements are not read.
Deadline for application: Not applicable
For queries contact: Law.llm@lse.ac.uk
This course has a limited number of places and we cannot guarantee all students will get a place.
Course content
This course provides an introduction to the issues, processes, concepts and ideas that have given shape to the regime of international human rights law. We consider enduring debates about the foundations and universality of human rights, and look at controversies relating to the application of human rights treaties and the evaluation of progress with regard to human rights norms. We then zoom in on a range of pressing global problems, such as torture, hunger and climate change, to consider the significance and limits of international human rights law as a vehicle for positive change.
Teaching
20 hours of seminars in the Autumn Term.
This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Autumn Term.
Students are expected to have done the set reading prior to each seminar and be willing to take active part in class discussion.
Formative assessment
A formative essay and class exercises (which do not count towards the final assessment) will be set.
Indicative reading
Reading lists will be provided for each seminar on Moodle. Relevant readings may include: Conor Gearty and Costas Douzinas (eds.), The Cambridge Companion to Human Rights Law; Samuel Moyn, The Last Utopia: Human Rights in History; Jessica Whyte, The Morals of the Market: Human Rights and the Rise of Neoliberalism; and Philip Alston and Frédéric Mégret, The United Nations and Human Rights: A Critical Appraisal.
Assessment
Exam (100%), duration: 150 Minutes in the Spring exam period
Key facts
Department: LSE Law School
Course Study Period: Autumn Term
Unit value: Half unit
FHEQ Level: Level 7
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: 13
Average class size 2024/25: 13
Controlled access 2024/25: YesCourse selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
For this course, please see the following link/s:
LL4AW Foundations of International Human Rights Law Course Guide Video https://youtu.be/pQNjUcowbtE
Personal development skills
- Communication
- Specialist skills