Course Overview
The Hillary Rodham Clinton Global Challenges Programme, supported by Sky, aims to facilitate international cooperation to address urgent national and transnational challenges. In partnership with Sky, this graduate scholarship initiative will develop the next generation of outstanding, forward-looking, real-world focused leaders in legal scholarship, activism and practice.
In 2019 we selected five scholars who are studying the following topics: environmental law, with particular reference on the impact on women and children; human rights and international criminal law; children’s rights and protecting children online, and terrorism, radicalisation and cyber security, and we are delighted to be recruiting our second cohort of scholars starting in January 2021.
For our new intake, we are looking for scholars to focus on the following global challenges:
- Racial Injustice,
- Online Harms,
- Climate Change,
- Children’s Rights and
- Human Rights and Technology.
If you are accepted onto this master’s programme, you will receive a scholarship which covers the full tuition fee as well as a stipend of c.£15,000 to contribute towards your living costs.
Scholars will demonstrate academic excellence alongside a creative, action-oriented approach to collaboration and partnership working. They will follow a one-year (12 months) Master of Arts degree in Global Challenges: Law, Policy and Practice. The degree programme is based on experiential learning, and includes a research project placement. Scholars will also benefit from a range of additional activities, including mentorship, guest speakers, visits and media training.
Given the bespoke nature of the programme, and the opportunities available, please note that we welcome applications from candidates who already hold Master’s level qualifications, as well as those who hold a good undergraduate degree.
Why Global Challenges at Swansea?
As a postgraduate student at the Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law, you will be part of a globally recognised law school, with a thriving academic environment committed to excellence in teaching and research, and offering an exceptional student experience.
The School has an international reputation for research, education and experiential learning that equips students, staff and partners with the skills and experiences to understand the changing legal landscape, and to confront societal challenges.
The School’s productive international collaborations with academic, commercial and public sector organisations support its ambition to be at the forefront of education in law and criminology, recognised as much for its capacity to influence policy and debate as for the quality of the education it provides.
In addition to leading expertise in human rights, environmental law, international criminal justice, and commercial law, the School is home to:
- The Observatory on Human Rights of Children, which works to embed children’s human rights at every stage of decision-making on matters that affect them. The Observatory’s research influenced Wales’ child rights laws, which have gained international recognition;
- The Cyber Threats Research Centre, which leads the UK in research into terrorist use of social media. Through the law school, Swansea is a member of the Global Network on Extremism and Terrorism, a research network funded by the leading social media companies, and is the only UK member of Europol’s steering committee on online terrorist propaganda;
- The Institute of International Shipping and Trade Law, the largest specialist research centre of its kind in Europe.
Your Global Challenges: Law, Policy and Practice Experience
Scholars will demonstrate academic excellence alongside a creative, action-oriented approach to collaboration and partnership working. They will follow a one-year master’s degree in Global Challenges: Law, Policy and Practice that will equip them with:
- A strong awareness of contemporary global challenges in a rights-based framework;
- An understanding of the role of law and policy in addressing national and transnational challenges;
- The skills to undertake effective research, and develop creative practical solutions, and
- Experience of advocating and engaging with stakeholders to facilitate law and policy reform.
Alongside their degree programme, scholars will benefit from a complementary range of additional activities, designed to further develop their skills and experience, and enhance their employability.
These will include mentorship by researchers and practitioners, bespoke media training, a series of workshops and seminars delivered by leading experts, and opportunities to visit relevant international institutions.
Employment Opportunities
The programme is designed to significantly enhance the employability of students, enabling them to develop skills that will equip them for work across a range of sectors. The programme will support the development and ambitions of students intending to continue or undertake a career in:
- The public sector, including government at all levels: global challenges are a key responsibility of government. Graduates will gain the knowledge and skills applicable to law and policy development, programmatic action, the conduct of government through regulation and budgeting, and the arrangement and provision of public services. Potential careers include: civil service, regional, national and sub-national government, local authorities and other public bodies, and political and policy advice work.
- International and regional institutions: international and regional institutions are seeking to support, monitor and influence state policy and social arrangements in relation to areas of global challenge. Graduates will gain knowledge and skills applicable to advocacy in these areas, as well as technical arrangement of, for example, state programmes. Potential careers include: the United Nations, Council of Europe, and other regional institutions.
- The private sector: global challenges are increasingly the concern of the private sector in the realm of socially responsible capitalism. Major international organisations such as the World Bank are placing human rights and climate change at the centre of their business. Graduates will gain knowledge and skills applicable to the human rights concerns of business globally and at a state or sub-state level. Potential careers include: global business; the business sector (from large scale business such as the banking sector, to smaller concerns seeking to appeal to ethical consumers).
- The NGO sector: non-governmental agencies are well-established stakeholders in addressing global challenges. Policy advocacy and lobbying, campaigns, and on the ground intervention are all facets of the NGO sector globally, nationally and locally. Graduates will be equipped with knowledge and skills applicable to the breadth of work undertaken by the NGO sector in addressing global challenges. Potential careers include: international NGOs (e.g. UNICEF and Greenpeace); national or local NGOs.
- Research and academia: research on global challenges is a major concern, and is likely to increase in significance for funding priorities. Graduates will have well-developed research skills. In addition to the potential to continue to study at PhD level, graduates will gain knowledge and skills applicable to teaching and research in the field. Potential careers include: policy ‘think- tanks’; and, HEIs.
January entry is only available to International students. The Student Loans Company regulations do not support January entry for UK/EU students on a programme with this format.
