IT · Master's
University of Padua
MA in Human Rights and Multi-level Governance
University of Padua
Deadline detail: Early February for the first international call, followed by Universitaly pre-enrolment through the Italian Embassy; later calls open only if places remain
Course Overview
Human Rights and Multi-level Governance is a two-year, 120-ECTS second-cycle degree taught entirely in English by the University of Padova's Department of Political Science, Law and International Studies. Padova has one of the longest-standing human rights research traditions in Italy — the university's Human Rights Centre has run since the 1980s and holds a UNESCO Chair — and the degree is built around the idea that human rights protection now operates across several layers at once: local and municipal, national, regional (the Council of Europe and EU systems, the Inter-American and African systems), and universal (the UN treaty bodies and Human Rights Council).
The curriculum combines international and European human rights law, international humanitarian law, the politics and sociology of rights, development and humanitarian action, migration and asylum, and the practical machinery of monitoring, reporting and advocacy. Because the degree sits in a political science department rather than a law faculty, it admits and mixes lawyers with political scientists, sociologists and international relations graduates — which is a fair reflection of how human rights work is actually staffed. It is formally a Laurea Magistrale (an MA), not an LLM; the substance is heavily legal but the qualification is a social science master's.
This is a direct fit for a specific Sri Lankan applicant: someone working in or heading towards the human rights, transitional justice, humanitarian or governance sector. Sri Lanka's post-conflict accountability process, its engagement with the UN Human Rights Council, the Office on Missing Persons, the Office for Reparations, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, and the substantial INGO and donor presence in Colombo all need people with formal multi-level governance training. Padova is also close to Venice and to the Council of Europe's Venice Commission network, and the two-year length leaves room for an internship placement — which for this sector is frequently what converts the degree into a job. The cost, on Italy's income-assessed public tuition, is a fraction of a comparable UK or US human rights master's.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle A Bachelor's degree with demonstrable coursework in political science, international relations, sociology and international law — the admission committee assesses the transcript against these areas specifically.
- check_circle Sri Lankan applicants with degrees in law, political science, international relations, sociology or development studies from Colombo, Peradeniya, Jaffna, Kelaniya or Sri Jayewardenepura are the standard profile.
- check_circle Applicants from outside those disciplines can be considered where professional experience fills the gap — work at the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, the Office on Missing Persons, an INGO, a UN country office or a legal-aid organisation carries real weight here.
- check_circle Motivation letter, CV and academic references; the motivation letter should name the rights area and the region you want to work on.
- check_circle Non-EU applicants complete Universitaly pre-enrolment and require a Declaration of Value or a CIMEA statement of comparability for the Sri Lankan degree — begin this well before the visa stage, as it runs through the Italian Embassy accredited to Sri Lanka.
- check_circle Certified translations of transcripts and degree certificates.
- check_circle Proof of funds for the study visa; a permesso di soggiorno must be applied for within eight working days of arrival in Italy.
- check_circle File the ISEE Parificato through a CAF office after arrival to be assessed into a lower tuition band — this is the difference between paying the top rate and paying very little.
English Proficiency
- check_circle The programme requires CEFR B2 in English or equivalent.
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 5.5-6.0 Overall typically evidences B2; many applicants submit 6.5 to be safe.
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 80 Overall.
- check_circle Cambridge B2 First or C1 Advanced is accepted.
- check_circle The test is normally waived where your previous degree was taught and examined entirely in English — a Medium of Instruction letter from your Sri Lankan university generally satisfies this. Confirm with the admissions office in writing before you skip it.
- check_circle Teaching, assessment and the dissertation are all in English. Italian is not required, though the university offers free Italian courses and A2 makes internships and daily life in Padova far easier.
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (€) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year, income-assessed) | €2,600 | Rs. 897,000 |
| Living Expenses in Padova (per year) | €8,400 | Rs. 2,898,000 |
| Regional Student Tax & Health Insurance | €350 | Rs. 120,750 |
| Visa, Declaration of Value & Residence Permit | €900 | Rs. 310,500 |
| Books, Airfare & Settling In | €1,300 | Rs. 448,500 |
| Total Year 1 Investment | €13,550 | Rs. 4,674,750 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
Italy grants graduates a 12-month post-study residence permit to look for work, convertible to a work permit on employment, and the degree is recognised across the EU. Graduates go into UN agencies and treaty-body secretariats, the Council of Europe and EU institutions, the ICRC and humanitarian organisations, international and national NGOs, national human rights institutions, and monitoring and evaluation roles in development programmes. A meaningful share also continue to doctoral research. For Sri Lankan returnees the fit is unusually direct: the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, the Office on Missing Persons, the Office for Reparations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, and the Colombo offices of UNDP, UNICEF, UNHCR, OHCHR, the ICRC, Save the Children and the major bilateral donors all recruit for exactly this profile — and the sector in Sri Lanka has historically been short of people with formal international human rights training rather than short of commitment. Salaries in the NGO and public sector are moderate; the international-agency track pays considerably better.
Related Programs
LLM in International Business and Economic Law
Bocconi University
LLM in Law of Internet Technology
Bocconi University
LLM in Legal Studies (Human Rights, Environmental and Social Justice)
University of Bologna
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Our counsellors have helped hundreds of Sri Lankan students secure placements in IT. We handle everything from applications to visa processing.
ඔබට සුදුසු විශ්වවිද්යාලයක් තේරීම, අයදුම්පත් යොමු කිරීම, SOP සකස් කිරීම සහ වීසා ලබා ගැනීම ඇතුළු සෑම පියවරකදීම, ඔබ වෙනුවෙන් සියලුම වගකීම් විශ්වාසවන්තව අප භාර ගනිමු.