Course content - Learning outcome - Admission - Prerequisites - Teaching - Examination - Evaluation

Course content

Human rights have developed as a distinct practice within movements and NGOs and across many professions and institutions. Many graduates from the course will seek to work in the human rights field while those seeking to continue an academic career often require exposure to the daily mechanics of ‘human rights work’. Such exposure should also help students develop a research question and material for their thesis. This course will begin with four lectures and seminars by NCHR staff on the theme, which will include an introduction to human rights practice, ethics and challenges, a guest lecture from a NGO worker and discussion by students of their proposed internship or essay. Students will then be expected to submit an essay on the topic or undertake a 6-8 week internship with an approved institution and submit a report of the internship. Internships will be offered by the NCHR International Programmes (approximately 8 internships), Norwegian NGOS (approximately 2-3) and Advocacy Net in different countries (5). Students can also arrange an internship and have it approved by the Course Coordinator.

Learning outcome

Students should be able to begin to link their theoretical studies from the first semester to human rights practice and identify key issues and challenges in the area. The internship or essay should allow a student to delve deeper into the area and also provide a basis for developing a more refined and relevant thesis topic.

Admission

Id does not exist in shared text

Admission is limited to students undergoing the study programme Theory and Practice of Human Rights (master's two years).

The examination in this course is not available for external candidates. Only students admitted to the course may sit for the examination.

Prerequisites

Formal prerequisite knowledge

Id does not exist in shared text No obligatory prerequisites beyond the minimum requirements for entrance to higher education in Norway.

Teaching

Students will apply for an internship from a list of available positions, within a prescribed deadline. Each student application will indicate, in order of priority, three positions. The NCHR, in cooperation with internship partners, will make the final selection. Any students to which a position cannot be offered will write a paper. Students can also independently attain their own internship position, subject to approval by the NCHR.
The internship goes mainly during the summer period, but can also be organised during spring term

Access to teaching

A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.

Examination

Students who undertake an internship should write an internship report of maximum 8 pages. Students who do not undertake an internship should write an essay of maximum 15 pages.

Examination support material

No examination support material is allowed.

Language of examination

Id does not exist in shared text

English

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.

Explanations and appeals

You may request an explanation of your grades, and you may also appeal against your grades or make a complaint about formal examination errors. Read more about explanations and appeals.

Resit an examination

You can usually resit an exam, but the conditions depend on whether you had a valid reason for absence from the regular exam. Read more about resitting an exam.

Withdrawal from an examination

Id does not exist in shared text

Special examination arrangements

If you have a disability or a health problem that entails significant inconvenience in an examination situation, you may be considered for special examination arrangements. Mothers who are breastfeeding may apply for extra time to complete the exam.

Evaluation

Feedback from our students is essential to us in our efforts to ensure and further improve the high quality of our programmes and courses. All courses are subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students on a particular course to participate in a more comprehensive, periodic evaluation of this course.