Overview
In response to COVID-19, the University of Sydney has reviewed the availability of courses to be delivered remotely.
This course will be available for students to study remotely during 2022 if they are unable to undertake face-to-face study. Please note that some units of study that are not essential to completing the degree may not be available to be studied remotely. For the latest updates on course availability, visit the COVID-19 information page.
About this course
Equip yourself to promote and protect human rights in local and international contexts
Students in the Human Rights stream of the Graduate Diploma in Social Justice will gain a critical understanding of the roots of human rights violations and the tools and mechanisms deployed to promote and protect them, while developing key skills in research, analysis, communication and advocacy that can be applied in domestic, regional and international contexts.
Why study with us?
Obtain vital knowledge of international and regional human rights systems and investigate the roots of human rights violations. Principles drawn from many disciplines and a range of geographically diverse case studies will inform your thinking. This stream has a domestic, regional, and global outlook, exploring the political, social, legal, and cultural contexts of human rights challenges in Australia, in the Asia-Pacific region, and in the world. Students practice advocacy skills in a compelling and intensive simulated human rights exercise.
Subject areas
Shared pool
Your entry requirements
English language proficiency
Find out if you need to prove English language proficiency (depends on your country of origin and educational background).
For academic requirements check the ‘Admission requirements’ section on this page.
Your fee
How to apply
You can apply online via the application portal. When you are ready to apply, select the ‘Apply’ button on this course page. Visit the How to apply page for other important information.
Standard closing dates:
Semester 1 - 31 January of the commencing year
CSP closing date: 15 January of the commencing year
Semester 2 - 15 July of the commencing year
CSP closing date: 30 June of the commencing year
We strongly encourage applicants to apply as early as possible, offers are made on a rolling basis and places are limited. Separate scholarship deadlines apply - check the scholarships website for details.
Starting date
Semester 1 (February) and Semester 2 (August)
You can apply online via the application portal. When you are ready to apply, select the ‘Apply’ button on this course page. Visit the How to apply page for other important information.
Standard closing dates:
Semester 1 - 15 January of the commencing year
Semester 2 - 25 June of the commencing year
We strongly encourage international applicants to apply as early as possible to allow time for visa and travel arrangements. Separate scholarship deadlines may apply - check the scholarships website for details.
Starting date
Semester 1 (February) and Semester 2 (August)
What you'll study
Candidates in the Graduate Diploma in Social Justice (Human Rights) are required to take three exciting core units, three units from the Human Rights selective stream, and two additional elective units.
In sum:
Graduate Diploma in Social Justice (Human Rights) requires the satisfactory completion of:
- 3 units (18 credit points) of core units of study;
- 3 units (18 credit points) from selective units of study in the Human Rights stream; and,
- 2 units (12 credit points) from elective units of study.
Completion requirement
Under normal progression, a full-time student completes prescribed units of study to the value of 24 credit points per semester. Part-time students may undertake prescribed units of study up to the value of 12 credit points per semester. You are required to attend all lectures, tutorials and other activities prescribed for your units of study.
Admission requirement
Admission to candidature for the Graduate Diploma in Social Justice (Human Rights) requires:
- a bachelor's degree with a minimum 60 percent average calculated over the whole degree, from the University of Sydney, with a major in the humanities or social sciences, or an equivalent level of performance in an equivalent qualification; or
- completion of the Graduate Certificate in Social Justice (Human Rights) with a minimum credit (65 percent) average, or an equivalent qualification.
Graduate opportunities
The study of human rights prepares students for exciting and meaningful work in range of industries. International organisations, government agencies, NGOs, and the business sector all need people trained in the language and tools of human rights. Our human rights graduates work in the following organisations:
- UNDP
- UN Women
- UNICEF
- International Labour Organization
- International Organization for Migration
- World Health Organization
- ActionAid Australia
- CARE
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)
- Amnesty International
- Settlement Services International
- FORUM Asia
- ABC News
- National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Alliance
- Westpac
- Woolworth’s Human Rights team
Domestic students
International students
