HU100-5-FY-CO:
Foundations of Human Rights

The details
2026/27
Human Rights Centre (Essex Law School)
Colchester Campus
Full Year
Undergraduate: Level 5
Current
Thursday 08 October 2026
Friday 02 July 2027
30
10 April 2025

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

HU200, HU925

Key module for

(none)

Module description

For anyone interested in human rights work or study, this module is critical. This module offers a comprehensive foundational knowledge of human rights from a multidisciplinary and global perspective.

Module aims

The aims of this module are to:



  • Foster knowledge and understanding of human rights, their foundations, content, limits and key principles.

  • Ensure awareness of the challenges and the particular circumstances of individuals and groups at greater risk of harm, disadvantage and discrimination.

  • Develop appreciation of how and where human rights intersect with a wide range of disciplines, including International Law, International Relations and International Political Economy.

  • Develop an awareness of human rights concerns in the UK.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:



  1. Demonstrate in-depth understanding of the definition and content of human rights.

  2. Understand and critically examine the evolution of the human rights movement, and the theoretical and conceptual foundations as well as limits of human rights.

  3. Analyse and critically evaluate how and where human rights intersects with a wide range of disciplines.

  4. Critically assess how human rights handles a range of contemporary issues and challenges.

  5. Be able to apply skills and knowledge to analyse the various critical perspectives upon human rights.

Module information

Indicative Syllabus


This module covers key principles of human rights (freedom, equality, non-discrimination, universalism), a selection of key rights recognised in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (life, freedom of expression, health, free trial, etc.), and some of the main challenges facing groups at greater risk of harm, disadvantage and discrimination (children, women, migrants and refugees, minorities).

Learning and teaching methods

This module will be delivered via:

  • One 2-hour lecture per week
  • One 1-hour tutorial per fortnight

Students are expected to undertake the reading before classes and be prepared to engage in discussion.

Bibliography*

(none)

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Essay (HU100 Foundation of Human Rights)    50% 
Coursework   Forum Participation - Continuous Assessment (HU100 Foundations of Human Rights)    50% 
Exam  Main exam: Remote, Open Book, 24hr during Summer (Main Period) 
Exam  Reassessment Main exam: Remote, Open Book, 24hr during September (Reassessment Period) 

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
50% 50%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
0% 100%
Module supervisor and teaching staff

 

Availability
Yes
Yes
No

External examiner

No external examiner information available for this module.
Resources
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.

 

Further information
Human Rights Centre (Essex Law School)

* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.

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