University of the Western Cape

Programme overview

This Master’s-level law stream at the University of the Western Cape focuses on human-rights protection and advanced legal study. Candidates undertake a research-informed Master’s thesis under faculty supervision and may pursue international exchange opportunities that extend their comparative perspective.

What you'll study

Students specialise in the Human Rights Protection stream, working closely with senior academics in the Faculty of Law. Course activity centres on advanced legal analysis and a substantive Master’s thesis; one published example of thesis focus is an investigation of the legal framework around the au pair industry. The faculty named in relation to this stream includes internationally recognised scholars such as Professor Benyam Mezmur and Professor Julia Sloth-Nielsen.

Entry requirements

While the page profiles a student who entered the Master’s programme after completing an LLB, specific entry regulations are not listed in the source text. The featured student’s pathway shows progression from an LLB to the Master’s stream in Human Rights Protection.

Career prospects

Graduates are positioned for roles that require specialist human-rights knowledge — including policy, advocacy, research and legal practice aimed at contributing to national development. The programme emphasises preparation for work that informs and strengthens human-rights protection in South Africa and beyond.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

UWC highlights international exchange funding such as the Nelson Mandela Scholarship at Leiden University, which supports South African students to study at Leiden for one semester; the scholarship’s condition is that recipients return to South Africa to contribute to national development after their study period abroad.