Overview
Summary
A four-week residential summer school offering participants the opportunity to follow an intensive programme of university-level study in international human rights law within the beautiful surroundings of New College.
- Courses focusing on the theory and practice of human rights law, including an introductory course in the fundamentals of international human rights law, an advanced course in human rights advocacy and electives that address important contemporary issues in the field;
- An internationally recognised and distinguished faculty combining both academic and practical experience;
- An opportunity to experience life in an Oxford college.
The academic programme consists of
- A daily lecture programme given by a leading expert within the faculty;
- Study in small interactive group seminars led by experienced tutors;
- Optional extra-curricular events programme including lectures, films and a careers panel.
All students will take:
- The Fundamentals of International Human Rights Law; or
- Human Rights Advocacy and Dissemination (advanced)
And then choose one of the following:
- International Criminal Law
- Gender, Sexuality and International Human Rights Law
- Human Rights in the Marketplace
- International Human Rights and Refugee Law
- War, Peace and Human Rights.
Seminars will usually contain no more than 18 students.
Contact hours
The programme provides a minimum of 58 hours and 40 minutes, comprising:
- 16 plenary lectures of 1 hour
- 16 seminars of 72 minutes
- 16 seminars of 88 minutes.
Programme details
Seminar options 2017
A summary of course content for each of the seminar options in 2017 is available on the Seminar options page.
Course aims
The programme aims to provide an intensive immersion in international human rights law and practice. Students will learn about key international and regional human rights laws and the enforcement of human rights by courts, quasi-judicial bodies, the UN and other inter-governmental organisations and non-governmental actors. The introductory morning session aims to provide a basic grounding in the field of international human rights law for students with no prior knowledge. The advanced morning seminars aim to build on students' existing knowledge. The afternoon electives aim to provide students with an opportunity to specialise in a key sub area of international human rights law or international humanitarian law. More broadly, the programme is intended to prepare participants to contribute to the improvement of human rights conditions in their homelands and around the world.
Level and demands
This course is an intensive programme of university-level study and potential applicants should therefore be confident that they are academically and linguistically prepared for such a programme.
Participants are expected to:
- undertake preparatory reading before each class
- attend all seminar sessions and lectures
- be actively engaged with their seminar topics
If your first language is not English, you must supply evidence of your proficiency before a place can be offered. Further information about accepted English tests and minimum scores for this course are listed in the Application section.
Assessment
Assessment for all classes in this programme is by way of written examination and class participation but examinations are only compulsory for those seeking credit from the programme .
Please note: all written examinations take place on the final Friday and cannot be re-arranged.
Certificates and credit
All students who satisfactorily complete the programme will be awarded a Certificate of Attendance. To qualify for this, students are required to attend lectures and seminars to the satisfaction of the course tutors. It is not necessary to take the examinations in order to get a Certificate of Attendance but those seeking credit from the programme will need to take them.
The programme is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) for 5 semester credits (only for students who have applied through George Washington University) and UK Solicitors may wish to take the course under the SRA's new 'continuing competence' approach (following major changes to the CPD requirements by the SRA, the course is no longer recognised as accredited CPD training).
As Oxford University does not offer credit for this summer school, those wishing to obtain credit from their home institution for attending the programme must make appropriate arrangements with that institution in advance. Participants can request information to provide to their home institution which details contact hours (for lectures and seminars) and grades achieved in the examinations. The level of credit, if any, must be determined by the home institution.
Fees
Programme fee: £7630 (includes tuition, all reading materials, library fee and full-board accommodation; guaranteed private bathroom supplement: £225; application fee: £25 (non-refundable but deducted from the programme fee of those who accept the offer of place)
Funding
Neither the University of Oxford nor the George Washington University can provide funding for this course. Participants are therefore encouraged to contact the following institutions who have funded applicants in previous years or have provided assistance in searching for funding:
- The British Council in your home country
- The British Embassy or High Commission in your home country
- Agencies within the United Nations (primarily for their employees)
Participants are encouraged to apply to these institutions as early as possible.
Payment
Fees
Please note that the fees information below is for those applying for the 2017 programme through Oxford University Department for Continuing Education (OUDCE). Fees and payment information for North American applicants is listed in US dollars on the website of George Washington University Law School with whom the programme is jointly run.
Application fee: £25.00
All applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of £25.00. This will be deducted from the programme fee if you are offered and accept a place on the course.
Programme fee: £7630
Fees include tuition; all compulsory reading materials; library fees; accommodation in New College for the nights of Sunday 9 July to Friday 4 August inclusive; meals in New College Hall, from dinner on Sunday 9 July to breakfast on Saturday 5 August. Travel is not included.
Private bathroom supplement: £225
Many of the bedrooms have private bathrooms but such a room can only be guaranteed if the private bathroom supplement is paid.
When you have paid your fees
Your place on the summer school is confirmed as soon as your payment is received by OUDCE.
If you pay online by credit card you will receive an automated receipt via email immediately after you have made the payment. If you pay by bank transfer we will send you a receipt via email as soon as the funds have been received into our account.
If you are a non-EEA student you will receive a letter confirming your enrolment and course details which may be used to support your application for a short-term study visa. This letter will be sent by post.
Cancellation policy
A contract between OUDCE and a student comes into being when a student accepts an offer of a place on the summer school.
You have the right to cancel this contract at any time within 14 days, beginning on the day you accepted the offer.
Please be aware that if you cancel your place at any time after the expiry of the 14-day period you will not be entitled to a refund of the price paid for the summer school.
If you wish to cancel your place on the summer school you must inform the Programme Administrator by email at iphumrts@conted.ox.ac.uk.
You are expected to take out vacation cancellation insurance to cover the programme fee and travel costs, and you should consult your travel agent and/or insurer for information and advice. OUDCE does not provide any insurance cover.
OUDCE reserves the right to alter details of any course should illness or any other emergency prevent a tutor from teaching, and to cancel a course or seminar if exceptionally low enrolment would make it educationally unviable.
The status of this course will be reviewed on 1 May 2017. If it is likely that individual seminars or the course may be cancelled, all those affected will be notified by email within 7 days, and possible options clearly explained.
If you have not heard from OUDCE by 8 May 2017, you should assume that the course and all seminars will be running (though we cannot guarantee you will be in your first choice of class); there is no need to contact us to confirm.
Application
Who should apply?
The course is suitable for human rights professionals as well as those hoping to embark on a career in this field. We welcome applications from practicing lawyers and judges, members of the armed forces, government officials, lawyers and other persons working for non-governmental and inter-governmental organisations that work in the field of international human rights. We also welcome students with any of the following: an undergraduate degree (including in subjects other than law); those with at least two years of legal study towards an undergraduate degree; those with at least one year of legal study towards a graduate degree. The class includes a wide array of human rights professionals, law students at the George Washington University and students studying various subjects at a variety of universities.
In 2016, a total of 70 students attended the programme: just over half of these came from the US and others came from countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, the Philippines, Sweden and the UK.
English proficiency
If your first language is not English, you must supply evidence of your proficiency before a place can be offered. The University recognises only certain English tests. The accepted tests and minimum scores for this course are listed below.
- IELTS (Academic): minimum overall score of 7.0 plus a minimum of 6.5 in each component
- TOEFL: minimum overall score of 600 plus a minimum of 4.5 in the Test of Written English
- Internet-based TOEFL: minimum overall score of 100
- Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English: minimum overall score of C
The requirement to provide English proficiency scores may be waived, at the discretion of the Course Director, in cases where you have successfully completed, or are currently completing, a full-time degree-level course of a minimum of nine months at a recognised institution where the medium of instruction and assessment is entirely in English. Similarly, if you have used English as your main working language for a number of years the requirement may be waived. If you wish to apply for a waiver of the English language test requirement, you will need to upload a letter with your application outlining the reasons why you believe you should be exempted. The request will be considered by the Course Director at the same time as your application is assessed and, if successful, you will not be required to supply proficiency results as a condition of any offer made.
Application procedure
Before you submit your application:
- ensure you meet the admissions requirements;
- make sure you have all the required supporting documents listed below;
- ensure you are familiar with the terms and conditions of enrolment on the summer school, especially those relating to payment of fees and cancellations; and
- read the information on Immigration and visas
North American applicants plus any student enrolled in a North American institution or professional working within North America, regardless of nationality, should apply through the George Washington University Law School with whom the programme is jointly run. All other applicants should submit an online application through Oxford University.
As part of your application you will be required to upload the documents listed below so please have these ready before you start:
- A curriculum vitae (CV) / resumé
- A passport photo (jpeg)
- A personal statement of up to 250 words outlining your reasons for wishing to attend the programme and what you believe your contribution will be.
- In the case of non-native speakers of English, either a certificate of English Language proficiency showing that you meet the minimum requirements for this course or a request for a waiver of the requirements
Application deadline
The closing date for applications is 1 April 2017 but early application is advised as applications are reviewed on receipt and some courses fill very quickly. Applications which are incomplete at this deadline or where no application fee has been paid will not be considered. Late applications may be accepted if places are left or become available. You may email iphumrts@conted.ox.ac.uk to enquire about late applications unless this website states that the course is already full or is not accepting late applications.
Notification of the outcome of your application
Once your application has been considered, we will email you to inform you of the outcome. This should be within two weeks provided your application was complete at submission and the application fee has been paid. If you are offered a place on the course, we will ask you to respond in writing within 14 days to accept or decline the offer. If you accept, we will send you an invoice for the fees by email.
Further course information
Once you have paid your fees, you will be sent confirmation of your enrolment on the programme, together with a link to the 'Joining Notes' for the programme. These provide detailed information about the programme as well as how to prepare for the course and for your arrival in the UK (e.g. what to bring, travel, arrival and departure times, college facilities, dress code). Please read the notes very carefully and in particular the section on UK immigration if you are a non-EU participant. For any supplementary information please contact the Oxford Programme Administrator.
For more information click "Further official information" below.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/courses/international-human-rights-law-summer-school#overview