Master of Human Rights Application Requirements

The human rights community at the University of Minnesota fosters interdisciplinary and community-engaged research, teaching, and action on human rights and social justice in a complex and diverse world. The goal of the Master of Human Rights (MHR) is to inspire, educate, and support innovative human rights professionals. In 500 to 1,000 words, discuss your educational and professional interests, and explain how the MHR degree will support you in achieving your professional goals while advancing human rights.

The University of Minnesota seeks to create an inclusive, welcoming, and supportive educational environment, ensuring that the people and scholarship at the University reflect our community and the world. To that end, the MHR program seeks to form a cohort that is diverse in age, work or other experience, race, cultural background, political affiliation, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, and socio-economic background. In 500 words or less, describe how your background, experiences and perspectives motivate you to explore equity and inclusion in your future education and career.

A resume or CV is required of all applicants. Please include information about awards, leadership, and service or volunteer activities in your resume.

At least three letters of recommendation are required. Please request your letters of recommendation through the Graduate School application system. If your recommender cannot upload their recommendation online, they may send it in a sealed envelope, signed across the back flap, to the Humphrey School. Faxed and emailed copies are not accepted.

We require letters that provide an appraisal of the candidate's ability to pursue an advanced degree, experience in, or potential for, public service and leadership, motivation and purpose, and strengths and weaknesses that might affect the candidate's performance and potential for success as a graduate student.

Submission of GRE scores is optional. No preference will be given in the admission or merit aid awarding process simply because an applicant chooses to submit GRE scores. Applications to the Humphrey School are reviewed holistically, so GRE scores (if submitted) would be only one of many factors considered in our academic evaluation of your application. For those unsure of whether to submit test scores, applicants are encouraged to consider if their GRE scores represent their academic ability and potential and/or highlight an academic strength. Similarly, students should consider submitting GRE scores if their academic record and professional experiences do not provide sufficient evidence of their quantitative, verbal, and reasoning abilities.

Further notes:

• The Humphrey School does not have a strict minimum GRE score required for admission
• If you’ve taken the GRE multiple times and choose to submit GRE scores in your application, the Humphrey School will use the highest score for each section, even if from different test dates
• GRE scores are valid for five years from the date that you took the test and must be valid at the time that you submit your application
• Self-reported scores can be used for the purposes of the admission and merit aid awarding processes. Please upload a copy of your score report to your application in the “Test Scores” section under “GRE Test Score Report”
• If you choose to send official scores directly from ETS, the institution code for the University of Minnesota is 6874. There is no need for a department code
• If you have any questions, please email the Humphrey Admissions Office at [email protected]

Transcripts are required of all applicants. Unofficial transcripts or academic records of all post secondary institutions attended should be uploaded directly to the online application. Please do not mail in paper copies of your transcripts (there is no need for official transcripts or academic records for initial review). If you are admitted, the University will then request official copies of this material.

The University of Minnesota and the Humphrey School requires international applicants to submit scores from either the TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or MELAB examination to assess English language proficiency. Minimum score requirements:

• TOEFL: minimum of 100 (22 on each section)
• IELTS: minimum 7.0
• Duolingo: minimum overall score: 115, minimum literacy subscore: 115 
   

Visit the Graduate School website for more information on the English language requirement and minimum scores for admission.

Applicants wishing to provide additional information to the admissions committee which is not appropriate for other required documents but may be helpful in their consideration as a candidate for admission can submit a statement of extenuating circumstances. Examples may include, but are not limited to: explanations for grade trends during undergraduate work, time lapses between employment as documented in the resume/CV, or other personal circumstances which may provide additional and helpful context.

The application fee is $75 for domestic students and $95 for international students.

The Humphrey School provides application fee waivers for Pickering Fellows, PPIA Fellows, Truman Scholars, Americorps, City Year, and Returning Peace Corps Volunteers applying for the Peace Corps/Coverdell Fellowship. Additionally, McNair Scholars may qualify for a University of Minnesota McNair Application Fee Grant which pays for the cost of an application fee.

All Humphrey School applicants must complete the Graduate School application including the additional Humphrey School section.

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