Studying Human Rights Law

The Monash University Faculty of Law offers the oldest masters degree in Australia dedicated to the study of human rights law. To explore the Specialist Master of Laws in Global Society and Human Rights visit the Faculty of Law’s postgraduate course page.

The Faculty of Law also offers a dynamic program of subjects covering a varied range of human rights and related topics, open to postgraduate law students and, in some cases, highly successful undergraduate students wishing to deepen their law degree. Teachers of these units include distinguished visiting academics from around the world, Academic Members of the Castan Centre with expertise in human rights law and other members of the Law Faculty.

The following units are available for study in 2026:*

Please note that these units vary from year to year. Please consult the Handbook for further information.

New units in 2026

We are pleased to highlight the following new units in 2026, which may be taken as individual units of study or contribute to the Undergraduate, Master's or Juris Doctor programs.

LAW4551/LAW5489 - Coronial law

This unit examines the doctrines, procedures and theories of coronial law in Australia. It introduces you to the coronial investigation process into sudden, unexpected, violent and accidental deaths, and the role of the coroner in determining the facts of death: the who, when, where, what and how a person died. The unit will discuss the benefits and limits of the coronial jurisdiction, the significance of the inquest as a public hearing, and the scope and powers of the coroner. It will also examine the history of the coronial jurisdiction, compare Australian laws with other common law jurisdictions, and assess the extent to which coroners can offer recommendations for preventing avoidable deaths in the future. You may explore topics, such as coronial inquests into deaths in custody, socio-legal implications of non-invasive autopsies, intersections between coronial investigations, death registration systems and organ donations, and the therapeutic potentials of the coronial jurisdiction.

LAW4902/LAW5663 - Movement lawyering (Prato intensive unit)

This unit will explore the theory and practice of lawyering in service of social movements, drawing on case studies (e.g. the climate crisis) and critical scholarship from around the world. Topics are likely to include the history and ethics of cause lawyering; the strategies and dilemmas of working alongside grassroots movements; comparative perspectives on movement lawyering in the Global South and Global North; and the tensions between legal advocacy and broader political organizing. Students would also examine practical challenges—such as navigating institutional constraints, balancing professional duties with activist commitments, and addressing questions of accountability—to develop a nuanced understanding of law as both a tool and a site of struggle for justice as a lawyer.

LAW4553 - Child health law

This unit explores the legal, ethical, and policy frameworks that govern children’s health care in Victoria. You will examine key issues such as consent, adolescent autonomy, mental health, reproductive rights, and end-of-life decisions. Through legal case studies, debates, group activities, and written assessments, you will develop the skills to analyse and apply the law in complex, real-world contexts.

Human rights clinical experience

The Law Faculty’s Clinical Program offers real legal experience in a range of areas, including a variety of clinics that offer students real experience in human rights law. For more information about clinical offerings, please see the Faculty of Law’s website.

Additional post-graduate opportunities

L4007: Graduate Certificate of Human Rights

The Graduate Certificate of Human Rights is designed to advance lawyers’ and non-lawyers’ skills and knowledge of developments in the principles, practice, and scholarship of human rights. You will receive a theoretical and practical grounding in human rights law, policy and practice.

This course provides you with the human rights knowledge that will give you a competitive edge in a career in human rights. For more information and how to apply, please see the course handbook and course webpage.

L6004: Master of Laws (LLM), specialising in Global Society and Human Rights

The Global Society and Human Rights specialisation equips students with theoretical and practical knowledge in the laws governing human and civil rights. It aims to expand students’ expertise, allowing them to pursue new areas of study or explore existing knowledge at a deeper level.

The units available cover an extensive range of rights-focused topics, including foundational civil rights, international law, international human rights, rights in war and conflicts, refugees, asylum seekers and detention, family and community rights, human rights in the workplace and bills of rights.

This specialisation is suitable for graduates interested in developing or enhancing careers within the government sector or in development agencies and other local and international human rights-related organisations. For more information, please see the course handbook and course webpage.