It is already November! Where has all this time gone?
I would like to share my experience (so far) in studying a Master in ‘Human Rights Law’ specialism. The modules that I am currently taking for this winter term are Global Security Law, Critical International Migration and EU Citizenship and Residence Rights (with the clinical option).
Before giving an insight of the quality of the modules, I would like to outline that the University of Kent is huge. I know this by the fact I got lost several times… That is what makes it a great place! You will always be able to find a spot to read in silence and catch up with your seminar work and do extra research. Studying this postgraduate programme is intellectually challenging because I have constantly to engage with critical thought. Critical thought is an essential asset which is now required in any work field. The beauty of doing a specialism is that you study what you love! All my modules raise human rights questions. For instance, in Global Security Law we are having an ongoing debate whether human rights law should be ‘compromised’ when enforcing preemptive security measures against terrorism. I can proudly claim that is one of the most popular modules this year. Aside from the fantastic theoretical approach we are taking, the module convenor is a legal practitioner, therefore we are able to analyse the subject from another angle. On week three we listened to a presentation delivered by an American scholar Kim Lane Scheppele on Skype. The presentation took place during the seminar, and was on the ‘constitutional challenges after the 9/11’. The essence was that constitutional principles are suspended when global entities such as states fight terrorism.
Critical International Migration is taught by a barrister, who then worked in an NGO. What amazes me about this module is the way it analyses the distorted image of migrants that the media has. Moreover, every week we take ‘the lead’ of the seminars by making presentations. I did my presentation with a fellow student who worked in the IMO (International Migration Organisation). This not only reinforced teamwork skills, but it has provided me the opportunity to learn and listen from somebody else’s experience. Presenting in front of the class is a chance to share your ideas but also to boost your confidence and self-esteem. The module EU Citizenship and Residence Rights with the clinical option is a mixture between critical analysis of what ‘citizenship’ means and real-life cases. Every member of the class has a case assigned under the supervision of our module convenor who is a solicitor at Kent Law Clinic.
Studying a postgraduate degree allows you the complete freedom to design your own questions for every module, not only for your final dissertation. I think such as freedom is great, because it makes you rely on your own autonomous thought. Moreover, for any future applicants who dream of an academic career University of Kent is the right place where you can show your thoughts and be published. As you might have gathered, my impressions are extremely positive because I am impressed by the quality of teaching. I hope there will be people who aim to specialise in Human Rights Law because I profoundly believe that matters a great deal in the legal, social, philosophical and political sphere.
Kent LLM student/LLM Ambassador Faouzia El Soudani