International Law and Human Rights - University of Tartu

Then → Now.

From this programme’s very first Master’s thesis defence to this year’s defences. What makes this year especially meaningful?

Two graduates of the programme - Delphine Saint Martin and Yaroslav Halieiev joined the defence commission, as they are now continuing their academic journey as PhD researchers at Tartu University School of Law / Tartu Ülikooli õigusteaduskond.

In the photo, alongside Professor Lauri Mälksoo and Assoc. Professor Alexander Lott, who once taught them and who now supervise their research.

Seeing alumni become part of this programme’s academic community is one of the most meaningful signs of growth.

Students of the Master's programme in International Law and Human Rights at the University of Tartu School of Law / Tartu Ülikooli õigusteaduskond visited the Estonian Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs/ Justiits- ja Digiministeerium, as part of the programme’s efforts to connect academic studies with legal practice and public institutions.

Grateful to Heddi Lutterus, Deputy Secretary General, for welcoming our students and for an insightful overview on the Ministry’s role, as well as the interaction between human rights, European Union law, and national legal frameworks in practice.

Field visits like these give our students an opportunity to reflect on how international, European, and national legal frameworks intersect and operate within public institutions, while also offering valuable insight into contemporary legal governance in practice.

One of the most rewarding parts of this programme is seeing our former students continue their path in international law and human rights across the world. Recently, one of our MA ILHR alumni, Cristina Snegur now President of the Gender Equality Platform Moldova — attended a presentation by Professor Lauri Mälksoo in her home country, at Universitatea de Stat din Moldova (USM).

🎊 As we prepare to celebrate 10 years of the programme this September, we are reminded that the MA ILHR network keeps travelling far beyond Tallinn. Dear MA ILHR alumni, where have you met fellow students or professors lately? 👀

🔵𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞!

The student union’s (UTSU) task is to stand for the students’ interests and needs and support them in protecting their rights. The union has more than 140 students from each institute and faculty, and their work is coordinated by the office and the board. The students are represented in every institute’s and faculty’s council, in the Senate, and every committee that influences student life.
That means that the student representatives have an actual say in matters and an opportunity to advance life in the university. Every spring the student body of the University of Tartu elects new representatives, whose mandate lasts for one year.

Additionally, the student councils will elect new representatives to UTSU's Monitoring Committee, to the UT Senate, and to the Federation of Estonian Student Unions (EÜS). These elections will take place in accordance with UTSU's electoral laws and the candidacy will be opened in April of 2025.

🔵𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 –

The application period to apply to be a student representative runs until 5 April. You can apply to be a student representative of either your faculty or your institute. The student representative’s term of office begins on 1 July this year and lasts for one year.

All students at the University of Tartu who wish to stand for a university where learning is rewarding and of high quality, and to ensure that the university’s decisions take students’ views into account at every level, are eligible to apply for election.

💫Additionally, you’ll have the chance to develop different skills, work alongside other student representatives and university staff, and be part of a vibrant student community!

🫱𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞💫 http://tyye.ut.ee/en/content/apply-be-student-representative

This is what studying international law in this programme looks like in practice : our Master's students enrolled in the "International Law of the Sea" course visited the Estonian Navy base for a field trip combining legal theory with operational reality.
🔹The visit was organised by our Associate Professor of International Law and Maritime Law, Alexander Lott, as part of the course’s practice-oriented component.
🔹The students had a guided tour on board an Estonian warship and at the Naval Headquarters, including the Maritime Operations Center.
🔹Lieutenant Commander Ardo Riibon presented the legal and operational challenges currently facing Estonia in its maritime area, with particular focus on the so-called “shadow fleet” and the protection of critical offshore infrastructure.

We thank the Estonian Navy/Eesti merevägi for supporting our students to understand better how the law of the sea operates in contexts of geopolitical tension and regional security.

Thinking about a Master’s in International Law and Human Rights? Our students go on to practice and work in Ministries of Foreign Affairs across Europe, at the Council of Europe, the ICC, the UN Human Rights Office in Geneva.

This Thursday, meet the Programme Director live and ask her anything — about the programme, career paths, what studying in Tallinn is actually like, and how to apply.

🗓 Thursday, 19 February · 15:00 EET (GMT+2)
💻 Free, online via Zoom
🔗 Register here: https://ut-ee.zoom.us/meeting/register/-qz-vO7WR5yrOcsn4MV5vQ

Application deadline is 15 March — but the process takes at least a week, so if you’re considering applying, this Thursday is the right moment to start.

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: MA ILHR admission webinar 2026. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting. Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: MA ILHR admission webinar 2026. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

Members of the University of Tartu School of Law Tartu Ülikooli õigusteaduskond took part in this year’s National Human Rights Conference by the Inimõiguste Instituut / Estonian Institute of Human Rights, contributing to and engaging with national debates on the future of human rights.

Alongside our academic staff, Master's students in International Law and Human Rights followed the discussions closely, took structured notes, and are now preparing a joint conference report engaging with this year’s central theme: Human Rights in a Multipolar World: Reality or Illusion?

The discussions focused on testing the universality of human rights, freedom of expression in the digital age, and the erosion of value-based solidarity in the context of war and propaganda — questions that resonate directly with the themes explored in our teaching and research.