MA in Global Rule of Law and Democracy

The Master in Global Rule of Law and Democracy is a one year taught degree program with a thesis requirement, earning a total of 90 ECTS credits. An internship at the EPLO is optional and can be offered upon a selection process. Courses are led by key theorists and practitioners in their fields, and delivered through classic lectures and interactive tutorials. Some courses will also integrate other teaching methodologies where appropriate, such as moot courts, site visits to various public and private offices, as well as group presentations. Students must successfully complete 6 compulsory modules and 2 optional modules, followed by a 15,000 word thesis.

The list of available courses is as follows:

Courses

Foundations of Rule of Law

The course aims at giving students the notions and tools for analyzing the Rule of Law providing an overview of its historical evolution in different national contexts and its internationalization. The students will learn about the History of the Foundations of the Rule of Law around the world, how colonialism influenced certain parts of the world when it comes to the implementation of the Rule of Law and how morals and culture influence governance, legal theory and transitions to democracy. They will also learn about the requirements of the rule of law and the internationalization and globalization of the Rule of Law and its challenges regarding the sovereignty of States.

Rule of Law in transitional scenarios; building democratic institutions

The course aims at providing students with the fundamental notions and instruments for analyzing security implementation, conflict transformation, peace theory and transitional justice. These notions can have a crucial importance when it comes to the promotion of the Rule of Law and preparing institutions for a peaceful evolution to democracy in countries, after periods of conflict and severe human rights violations.

International Human Rights Law

The course aims at providing students with an in-depth understanding of the notion of human rights alongside with an overview of the evolution of human rights, explaining how they have gained in time international relevance. Furthermore, students will become familiar with the fundamentals of International Human Rights Law, namely its sources, the obligations on the States and the mechanisms that enable the enforcement of human rights. Finally, participants will be introduced to the main debates surrounding Human Rights and the global Rule of Law and the current challenges faced.

Government powers; boundaries and checks

The course aims at providing students with the necessary knowledge about the powers that the executive has and how the checks can ensure that the executive acts in accordance with the law; is responsible to Parliament for their actions and controlled by the Judiciary. The topic will be addressed from a political science and comparative perspective, focusing on case studies from different geographic areas

Open Government; Transparency and Anti-corruption

The aim of this course is to provide the students with the necessary knowledge and instruments for the analysis of what constitutes an open and transparent government, especially as it relates to the issue of corruption in modern societies. The topic will be addressed from a political science, sociological, and comparative perspective, focusing on case studies from different geographic areas

Fair Justice; Standards of justice and judicial independence

The course aims at providing students with a thorough understanding of the concepts of fair justice, access to justice and judicial independence and the fundamental role they play in defining the Rule of Law. Students will be introduced to the importance of fairness in the justice system, analyzing the existing barriers to access justice, and the principles and guarantees to judicial independence. Finally, some contemporary issues of particular interest such as gender and environmental justice, and the use of data in the context of justice will be presented.

Quantitative and Qualitative methods; skills course

The course aims at providing students with the necessary skills to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses in the use quantitative research methods and apply the appropriate ones according to the research demands. This will allow students to critically apply diverse research methods and interpret quantitative data, while using statistical software packages. The second part of the course aims at preparing students for the conduction of a qualitative research by familiarizing them with different methods such as in-depth interviews, focus groups, and participant-observation, as well as with research design, ethical issues, data analysis, and preparation of findings for publication.

Admissions Requirements and Procedures

Academic Requirements

Students from all over the world are admitted following a rigorous application process. Prospective students should have a first or second class undergraduate degree in political sciences, law or a relevant field of studies, or another Master’s degree in a relevant field. High caliber students with a background in a different field of studies or a particularly competitive profile with evidence of relevant professional experience and long-term dedication to the field will also be considered. Due to the international nature of the program, degree equivalencies will be determined by the Faculty Board.

Language Requirements

All courses of the program will be taught in the English language. As a result, students originating from non-English speaking countries must evidence their level of English language skills in accordance with the following:

• TOEFL Internet, Score of 90 or above
• IELTS, 6.5
• Duolingo, 120
• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency, Grade B or above
• Any other internationally recognized test with equivalent marks

Students intending to study at a partner institution for their second semester must clearly demonstrate their ability to attend courses in the relevant language of instruction at the host university they are interested in attending.

Application

Students from all over the world are admitted following a rigorous application process which consists of two-phases. Students must first submit their application form and once they have done so, candidates considered for admissions will be invited to an interview.

To apply for a program, students must first review the application form and its requirements to ensure the collection of appropriate material. By the time they have gathered all documentation they should proceed with payment of the one-time application fee either at the relevant online portal or via a bank transfer. Students should always add their surname, initial letter of their first name and course/degree title in the deposit description.

Students can then proceed with their application, which can only be conducted online and submit it along with the supporting documentation, listed below. All support documents must be in electronic format and uploaded to be sent with the application.

The 2 reference letters, which should be emailed directly from Referees to admissions at rol@elgs.eu.

A successful application must include:

• A completed online Application Form in English (please refer to the degree Admission tab for full details)
• Uploaded scanned Passport or ID with photo
• Uploaded scanned most recent Undergraduate degree 
• Uploaded Certificate of Proficiency in English
  (if a non-native speaker, scanned and uploaded TOEFL 83, Cambridge Proficiency grade C, IELTS 6.0, Duolingo 90 or equivalent)
• Personal Statement (400 words) -  with Scholarship request if applicable
• Two (2) Reference Letters contacts: one compulsory and one optional (to be sent directly from Referee to relevant program email)
• Registration fee proof of payment (non-refundable)

Deadlines

Tuition and Aid

Tuition for both EU and International students for the MASTER IN GLOBAL RULE OF LAW AND DEMOCRACY program is 4,900€.

Please be advised that there are other direct and indirect costs related to attendance, in addition to tuition fees, such as books, supplies, accommodation and living expenses which must be taken into consideration by students when applying.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available for a select number of students and take into consideration merit. If you are interested in receiving a scholarship, the appropriate box should be selected on the application form and a 400-600 word personal statement must be submitted, outlining the ways in which you satisfy the criteria.