Admissions

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, students with a first degree (including in subjects other than law) and those with at least one year of legal study towards their 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 2012, a total of 79 students attended the programme; 37 of these came from the US and 42 from countries including Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, Egypt, France, India, Italy, Jordan, Malaysia, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Uzbekistan, the United
Kingdom and Vietnam

Application procedure

North American applicants should apply through the George Washington University Law School with whom the programme is jointly run. All other applicants should apply through Oxford University by completing and returning the application form and supplying the supporting materials listed below.

  • Click here to download the Oxford application form
  • Click here to download the Oxford application fee form (section K)

Please note: You must download and complete both forms in order to apply. Both documents are PDFs and you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader software to open them. If you do not have this, you can download it free at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.htm.

Please make sure all relevant sections of the applicatoin form are completed clearly and in block capitals. The application form must be accompanied by:

  • A non-refundable application fee of £25; please complete your payment details on the application fee form (Section K)
  • A personal statement of no more than 500 words outlining your reasons for wishing to attend the programme and what you believe you can contribute to the programme. You may also wish to address the criteria for the Santander Scholarships if you are eligible.
  • Two passport-sized photographs (i.e.3 x 3.5 cm). The photos can be scanned and emailed as part of your application or sent separately by post (please write your name on the back of each photo if you send by post).
  • In the case of non-native speakers of English, a certificate of English Language proficiency showing that you meet the minimum requirements for this course (these are set out in the section on Level and demands of the course).

Please note that incomplete applications may not be considered.

Completed application forms, together with all required supporting materials, should be emailed to iphumrts@conted.ox.ac.uk. The application fee form should be faxed separately to +44 (0)1865 270314 for security reasons.

The closing date for applications will be 1 April 2013 but early application is advised as applications are reviewed on receipt and some courses fill very quickly.

Once your application has been considered, we will email you to inform you of the outcome. If you are offered a place on the course, we will ask you to respond in writing to accept or decline the offer. If you accept, we will send you an invoice for the course fees by email. Payment for the course must be received by 1 May 2013. Places will not be held for applicants whose fees are not paid in full by the due date and under no circumstances will participants be admitted to the programme unless all fees have been paid in full.

Confirmation of your enrolment on the programme will be sent by email, together with a link to the 'Joining Notes' for the programme which include information on what to bring, travel, arrival and departure times, college facilities, dress code etc.

Note on immigration:

If you are an EEA or Swiss national you do not need permission to enter the UK to participate in this course, as you have the right of free movement and residence in the UK. Similarly, if you already have a Dependant Visa, Ancestry Visa or a visa which allows you to undertake employment, you are eligible to enter the UK for the purposes of attending a short course. 

If you are NOT an EEA or Swiss national and do not already have a visa in another category (see above), you may need to enter the UK as a Student Visitor in order to participate in this course. If your country of nationality appears on the 'visa national' list at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/, you are classed as a 'visa national' and you must apply for a visa BEFORE you travel to the UK. If you are neither an EEA/Swiss national nor a 'visa national' you are classed as a 'non-visa national', and you can ask to be granted permission to enter the UK as a Student Visitor upon arrival at UK immigration control.  Whether you are a 'visa national' applying in advance or a 'non-visa national' applying on arrival, you must provide certain documentation to support your entry to the UK.

Further information about the Student Visitor route will be provided on confirmation of your place on the course. In the meantime, you are advised to visit the website of the UK Border Agency at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/ to find out (a) whether you are a visa or non-visa national, (b) what documents you need to provide in support of your application as a student visitor and (c) what the processing times are (for advance applications).