Double degree program in human rights and law

Because every person matters

Pursue a career in human rights by earning a Bachelor of Arts (including a minor in Human Rights) from Waterloo and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in Human Rights Law from the UK's University of Essex — all in five years.

If you're interested in human rights, a legal education provides specialized knowledge and a particular set of skills that are especially relevant. The multidisciplinary nature of these programs will prepare you to work for non-governmental or community-based organizations (such as Amnesty International or Human Rights Watch), for an inter-governmental organization such as the United Nations, or for various levels of government.

By studying at the School of Law at Essex, you'll have the opportunity to study abroad and attend a university that has a global reputation as a leader in human rights research, practice, and education.

What courses will you take in Human Rights and Law?

First-year courses

You will take an Arts First course in either the fall or winter term of your first year. In this course, instead of going to a lecture hall, you and your classmates will work together to respond to an intriguing challenge. With only 25 students in this course, you might address topics such as The Science of Happiness, Are We Erasing History?, Games and Culture, and Writing About Poems and Songs.

Choose one of 28 majors

At the end of first year, choose one of the 28 majors offered in the Faculty of Arts.

September to December

One to two courses in your chosen major
Arts First requirement or elective
HRTS 101 - Introduction to Human Rights
An additional one to two electives

January to April

Two courses in your chosen major
Arts First requirement or elective
HRTS 203 - The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (or 1 other approved course)
HRTS 204 - Discrimination, Rights, and Canadian Law

This is a sample schedule. Courses or when a course is offered may change depending on availability.

After first year

40% of the classes you’ll take will be in your chosen major. With your remaining classes, you'll take eight courses to complete your Human Rights minor requirements.

Sample courses for the Bachelor of Law

Criminal Law
Human Rights Organisations, International and Regional Institutions
Social Dimensions of Human Rights

Degree:
Earn a Bachelor of Arts with a Human Rights minor from Waterloo
and
a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in Human Rights Law from the UK's University of Essex.

Two degrees in as little as five years. Graduate with two degrees and a wealth of knowledge and experience, ready to pursue a career in human rights or human rights law.

A global leader. The School of Law at Essex is home to the Human Rights Centre, one of the oldest academic human rights centres in the world.

Specialize in human rights. You'll begin to study human rights right in first year and continue throughout the five years of your degrees.

What types of careers will this program prepare me for?

You'll be able to pursue a broad range of careers relating to human rights and law.

Activist
Communications officer
Consultant
Corporate social responsibility officer
Foreign service worker
Human resources officer
Human rights officer

Human rights educator
Immigration officer
International aid worker
International human rights worker
Journalist
Lawyer
Mediator

Paralegal
Policy analyst
Politician
Researcher
UN representative

Potential employers include consulting firms, educational institutions, governments, inter-governmental organizations, law enforcement agencies, law firms, non-profit organizations (local or international), political parties, public opinion researchers, think tanks, and more.

Common questions about the program

Can I practise law in Canada after completing this program?

The program is designed for students interested in international human rights law who might choose to work for national or international non-governmental organizations, inter-governmental organizations, or various levels of government. It does not, on its own, qualify you to practise law in Canada.

If you graduate from the program and are interested in practising law in Canada, you may apply for accreditation through Canada’s National Committee on Accreditation (NCA). Currently, if you graduate with a law degree (LLB) from a UK law school such as Essex, you’re generally required to write five NCA exams in order to receive accreditation.

Canadian Administrative Law
Canadian Constitutional Law
Canadian Criminal Law
Canadian Professional Responsibility
Foundations of Canadian Law

Once accredited, you’ll have to complete the articling and bar admission process of the province where you’d like to practise law (except Quebec, which uses a civil law system and has a different process).

Please refer to the NCA website for additional, up-to-date information on the accreditation process.

About the Essex Law School

The Essex Law School pushes boundaries and challenges existing laws and policies in the pursuit of justice.

Whether you’re interested in becoming a solicitor, barrister, or advocate for human rights, if the rule of law and justice is something you care about, a career in the legal profession could be for you.

When you study law at Essex, you can choose from a variety of courses and modules which combine in-depth knowledge in law with other areas including finance, politics, human rights, criminology, economics, business, and philosophy, giving you the opportunity to pursue a career in a variety of roles.

As a law student at Essex, you’ll join an exciting and diverse community of students and staff from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. You’ll be taught by expert academics who are prominent scholars in human rights law. Professors actively advise and act on behalf of governments, NGOs, national and regional human rights bodies and international organisations all over the world.

The undergraduate degrees are rigorous, intense, and intellectually stimulating, so you can be confident that whichever path your future leads you down, an Essex law degree will prepare you for it.

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Questions about Waterloo programs?

Please contact our Faculty of Arts recruitment team who can answer any questions you have.

If you have questions about the double degree program, please contact the program director of Human Rights.