International Children’s Rights (Advanced LL.M.)

About the programme

During this programme, you will develop an understanding of the legal processes for making children’s rights a reality across the globe.

Want to get into contact with alumni of the programme? Please send us an email and we connect you.

Is International Children’s Rights the right programme for you?

Are you interested in learning how to promote and protect the rights of children around the world? This programme will provide the specialist knowledge and professional skills you need to effectively protect the rights of children worldwide.

To be a good fit for this programme, one of the following should apply:

you are a legal professional
you have a full law degree (offering access to legal practice) or
you have a degree at an equivalent level in another discipline, with a sufficient background in or understanding of law

Watch the introduction video by Professor Ann Skelton,, Chair UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and Programme Director

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Chandrima Chattopadhyay (India)

Alumna

"The Advanced LLM degree in International Children's Rights Law at the Leiden University has been nothing short of an exhilarating and enriching journey for me. The holistic and expansive approach of this course, helped me integrate my learnings on field with strong theoretical groundings."

"The diverse classroom experience facilitated by experienced faculty promoted an atmosphere of discussion and learning not only with them but also through each other.

I applied to Leiden University after I was introduced to the world of international children's rights law on a short summer school trip to this old European university. It was only then that I had made up my mind to return for the intensive experience of an LLM. After getting awarded the Leiden University Excellence scholarship, my apprehensive self, coming from a non-legal background, found much comfort throughout the course. The faculty supervision and individual attention guided my process of learning throughout the course. The course is beautifully designed that provides perspective on children's rights issues across the world and is filled with perks of going to the UNICEF office, meeting experts, frontline workers on the field and visiting institutions for children within the Netherlands. The range of courses offered dwell on conventional issues and facilitate debates around topical issues including privacy policy of Tiktok to the Rohingya refugee crisis. This synthesis of theory and praxis was integral to my classroom experience.

I am currently working at a child rights organisation called KidsRights, in The Netherlands and could successfully use my knowledge and experience gained through the course and my experiences from India, to co-author the KidsRights Index 2021 for the organisation. The course helped me advance my career in the direction that I wanted. Combined with this international experience, for a professional from India, this course not only exposed me to the wider international framework but also provided me with the necessary skills and understanding of children's rights that I wish to in some way use to contribute to my country.

From establishing connections with relevant organizations to the continued support here at Leiden, you end up being a part of the alumni globally and for the lifetime!"

Mateo Fatsani (Malawi)

Alumnus

“This programme definitely shapes one into a well-rounded scholar, practitioner or expert in the field of children's rights. It was a great privilege for me, thanks to the scholarship, that I was part of the amazing academic experience in this unique, dynamic and complex field of study.”

Iacopo D’Alessio (Italy)

Alumnus

“The insights from the LLM were so precise and valuable that even recruiters were captivated by my studies. These studies not only empowered me but also boosted my CV and confidence. With everything I've learned, I now have the tools to excel in any discussion and demonstrate my worth as a valuable resource.”

Scholarships

Some of our students are eligible to receive scholarships and financial support for their studies. If you would like to be informed on scholarship opportunities for the master programme in International Children’s Rights you can register for the mailing list by sending an e-mail to icrscholarships@LAW.leidenuniv.nl with a request to be added to the mailing list for scholarships, your name, country of origin and e-mail address. If we hear of any opportunities that would be interesting for you we will inform you accordingly.

Available scholarships are limited and vary by academic year. Usually, they are partial grants that cover part of the tuition fee.

For September 2025 we can share the following scholarship opportunities:

For all four scholarships the application deadline is 1 February 2025.

Student support services

The programme coordinator will be your first point of contact before, during and after the programme. The coordinator can help you with all kinds of practical questions related to your programme and can refer you to someone else if necessary.

You will also receive several study/career workshops as an important part of your study programme. We also offer alumni advice and guidance via an alumni career café and the opportunity to access the Career Advisor of the Law School.

Partners of the Programme

The Advanced Studies in International Children’s Rights programme has a large professional network, and promotes cooperation and knowledge exchange with prominent international and regional organisations, including:

What does this master’s programme entail?

Master of Laws: Advanced Studies in International Children’s Rights provides in-depth specialisation and teaches you to respond to the increasing international, regional and national legal developments in relation to children. During the small-scale, English-language programme, you will address highly topical and global issues related to children and their human rights. You will also gain understanding on the theoretical, legal and practical approaches in exploring various fields, including:

child and family
migration
juvenile justice
digital technologies

More information about the programme structure.

During this programme, you will learn to:

look at international children’s rights from a comparative perspective
explore the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as major regional legal instruments concerning the rights and status of children
assess the impact of international children’s rights on domestic jurisdiction
address the most significant challenges with regard to children’s rights implementation and identify emerging issues impacting children worldwide
analyse the complex roles of the different actors (children, parents, state and non-state actors) and their interrelation in various legal contexts
critically reflect on the potential and limitations of international and regional standards for the legal protection of children
develop your research, presentation and academic writing skills