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    MC-HRIGLO

    Human Rights and Global Engagement

    Master by coursework

    Gain the advanced practical expertise and intercultural skills required to engage in human rights and social justice issues on a global scale.

    Course outline
    • Qualification
      Master of Human Rights and Global Engagement
    • Duration

      Duration

      2 years full-time, part-time
    • Credit

      Credit

      400
    • CRICOS

      CRICOS

      114112M
    • Location

      Location

      Curtin Perth
    Course outline

    Deadlines for applying direct to Curtin

    Select your preferred campus:

    Intake Application open Application close

    Semester 1, 2026

    21 April 2025

    Applications now closed!

    Semester 2, 2026

    Applications now open!

    5 July 2026

    Semester 1, 2027

    1 May 2026

    28 January 2027

    Semester 2, 2027

    1 March 2027

    1 July 2027

    Course outline

    What can I do with a degree in Human Rights and Global Engagement

    Gain an international perspective

    Gain a global understanding of human rights, intercultural awareness and social justice.

    Enjoy a versatile career

    Develop intercultural competence for versatile career opportunities around the world.

    Make a global impact

    Use your skills to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms of individuals or groups, globally.

    Overview

    Overview

    Whether you want to enter the field of human rights and social justice, infuse your profession with principles of diversity and inclusion, or advance your expertise as a seasoned human rights worker, this course can support your aspirations.

    Additionally, the strong cultural skillset and global perspective developed through this course would be an excellent foundation for a new career in international development or international relations.

    Delivered through our Centre for Human Rights Education, this course draws on the centre’s strong partnerships and commitment to inclusivity, social justice and ethical behaviour. You’ll experience award-winning and innovative teaching from lecturers with extensive activist and advocacy experiences. Together with your peers, you’ll engage in important discussions around some of the most urgent global issues we face, and examine how we may respond.

    As the only multidisciplinary course in human rights and global engagement in Australia, this two-year program will expose you to rich and varied perspectives on human rights in a global context. This includes insights into regional politics, culture and justice, intercultural competence, and sustainability. This will enable you to build a broad and critical understanding enabling you to develop your own views and solutions to current crises faced by the world.

    You’ll strengthen your intercultural competence by exploring diverse cultural and religious perspectives, enhancing your understanding of how your own culture has influenced your views and beliefs, and deepening your understanding of other world views. This will prepare you to work in a range of settings with people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

    This course provides opportunities to gain practical experience in real-world scenarios, such as developing advocacy campaign strategies and engaging in simulation exercises modelled on UN human rights agency hearings. You’ll also have the opportunity to complete an internship to gain real-world experience in human rights and global engagement.

    Depending on your unique interests and experience, this course can lead to a range of careers in advocacy, policy-making, education, community development, youth work or international development.

    What jobs can the Human Rights and Global Engagement course lead to?

    Careers

    • Human rights and social justice advocate
    • International development worker
    • Diversity and inclusion consultant
    • Community engagement officer
    • Social justice and sustainability advocate
    • Foreign or multicultural policy advisor

    Industries

    • Non-profit and human rights organisations
    • International development
    • Government and public policy
    • Environment and sustainability
    • Diplomacy and foreign service

    What you'll learn

    • apply inter-disciplinary knowledge, principles and concepts from across political science, sociology, history, human geography and area studies to understanding human rights and global and regional engagement
    • apply knowledge of the principles and concepts of human rights and global engagement in work and community settings
    • think critically and creatively about the opportunities and challenges presented by contemporary global engagement and possible, equitable, and sustainable futures, by identifying local-regional-global interdependencies
    • communicate, both verbally and in writing, comprehensive analyses of complex human rights and global engagement data and theories
    • understand and navigate human rights and global engagement in ethical ways, acknowledging one’s own values, cultural beliefs, practices, power relations, and worldviews
    • respect difference in a range of intersecting factors, including Indigenous values and knowledges, drawing upon theory that deals critically with exploitation and underpins engagement with multiple others

    Why study Human Rights and Global Engagement at Curtin?

    Led by experts

    Experience innovative teaching delivered by experts experienced in advocacy and activism.

    A multidisciplinary approach

    Delivered by Curtin’s Centre for Human Rights Education, this is the only multidisciplinary course in human rights and global engagement in Australia.

    Industry-aligned

    Benefit from industry-informed courses for up-to-date, sought-after skills.

    Admission criteria

    What you need in order to get into this course. There are different pathway options depending on your level of work and education experience.

    A Bachelor Degree or equivalent (and may require relevant work experience), Bachelor Honours Degree, Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma.

    English requirements

    Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

    You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

    IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

    Writing

    6

    Speaking

    6

    Reading

    6

    Listening

    6

    Overall band score

    6.5

    Credit for recognised learning (CRL)

    Use your experience to get credit towards your degree

    Finish your course sooner with credit for your previous study or work experience.

    Fees and scholarships

    Domestic fee paying postgraduate

    2026 Fee year:

    $24,276*

    Domestic

    Domestic

    Fees are indicative only.

    * Based on a first-year full-time study load of 200 credits. The total cost will depend on your course options (i.e. units selected and time taken to complete).

    Looking for more detail on the course structure?

    View course structure

    Location

    For start dates, please view the academic calendar.

    Curtin Perth flag

    2026

    Semester 1
    • On campus
    • Online
    Semester 2
    • On campus
    • Online

    2027

    Semester 1
    • On campus
    • Online
    Semester 2
    • On campus
    • Online

    All endeavours are made to ensure location information for courses is up to date but please note they are subject to change.

    The University reserves the right to withdraw any unit of study or program which it offers, to impose limitations on enrolment in any unit or program, and/or to vary arrangements for any program.

    How to apply

    Please review information on how to apply for the campus of your choice

    Please note that each campus has different application deadlines. View our application deadlines page for further information.

    Apply now
    • The offering information on this website applies only to future students. Current students should refer to faculty handbooks for current or past course information.

      The information on this page may be subject to change. In particular, Curtin University may change the content, method or location of delivery or tuition fees of courses.

      While Curtin uses reasonable efforts to ensure that the information provided on this page is accurate and up to date, errors and omissions sometimes occur. Curtin makes no warranty, representation or undertaking (expressed or implied) nor does it assume any legal liability (direct or indirect) for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information.

      View courses information disclaimer.

    • Curtin course code: MC-HRIGLO
    • CRICOS code: 114112M
    • Last updated on: 19 March 2026

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