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Arab World

The Arab Master's Programme in Democracy and Human Rights (ArMA)

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Date & Place

September 2025, Beirut, Lebanon

Duration

13 months (1-year track) 25 months (2-year track)

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree (1-year track)
Master’s degree in social sciences (2-year track)

Coordinator

Saint Joseph University of Beirut

An action and research-oriented programme focused on the Arab region, awarded by Saint Joseph University of Beirut.

Overview

The Arab Master's Programme in Democracy and Human Rights (ArMA - GC Arab World)

is a comparative, action and research-oriented programme organised into two tracks, depending on the student’s academic background. Both tracks include cross-regional mobility with one semester in a partner university in Jordan, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia, or Egypt. ArMA also offers a week-long field trip and the possibility of doing internships in leading national and international organisations across the region.

People

Sami Nader / Jihad Nammour / Mayada Abdallah / Louise Lagarde / Rania Salem / Sara Makki / Elias Dahrouge / Anthony Nakhle / Sandra Halabi

Regional Network

  • Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Lebanon — coordinator
  • Danish Institute for Human Rights, Denmark
  • University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
  • University of Jordan, Jordan
  • International University of Rabat, Morocco
  • Birzeit University, Palestine
  • University of Carthage, Tunisia
With the participation of academics from:
  • Cairo University, Egypt

Programme Details

The programme offers two tracks:

    • A two-year track (full post-graduate programme) provides students with a solid theoretical basis, multidisciplinary knowledge and skills, and an informed and critical understanding of the field of human rights and democratic governance with a focus on the Arab region.
    • An accelerated one-year track that gives direct access to the second year of the programme with additional foundational and specialisation courses from the first year.

 

The programme is taught by a diverse faculty of academics and practitioners from over 12 countries and is organised in four streams that provide theoretical grounding, practical insights and a critical perspective:

    • Human Rights: Civil, Political, Economic, Social and Cultural
    • Democratic Governance and the Rule of Law
    • Contemporary Dynamics in the Arab World
    • Applied Human Rights: Research and Professional Skills

 

Courses belong to three categories: core, foundational and specialised.

Year 1

– Autumn Semester: September to December | Saint Joseph University of Beirut

Students take foundational courses (e.g. Geopolitics of the Middle East and North Africa) and the Human Rights Lab on War Memory. This semester also includes short field visits to research centres and NGOs working on population and issues that are  crucial for ArMA (e.g. women, children, LGBTIs, detainees, refugees; conflict, memory and reconciliation, education, electoral reform)

– Winter Period: January | Saint Joseph University of Beirut

Within the course ‘Applied Research in Democracy and Human Rights’, students engage in field research on a collectively chosen topic. During the first week, they refine their research question and develop research tools; in the second week, they conduct field work outside of Beirut; in the third week, they return to Beirut to process, analyse and interpret the data they have collected and present it to the public.

– Spring Semester: February to May | Saint Joseph University of Beirut

Students take specialisation courses (e.g. Gender Policies and Women’s Rights, Refugees, Migration and Mobility Rights, Peace and Conflict, Peace and Conflict), or practical courses such as the Human Rights Laboratory or the Human Rights Clinic.

– Summer Period: June to July | Hosting organisations across the region

This period is devoted to internships: short (4 credits), medium (6 credits) or long (10 credits)

Year 2

– Autumn Semester: September to December | Saint Joseph University of Beirut

Students take core courses (e.g. Political Parties and Pressure Groups in MENA)

– Spring Semester: February to May | Partner Universities Across the Arab World

Students carry out their personal research and complete their thesis in one of the partner universities across the region. They can also take classes at Birzeit University, Cairo University, the International University of Rabat, and Carthage University.

– Summer period | Saint Joseph University of Beirut

Students return to Beirut for the summer courses offered within the Beirut Academy for Human Right and to take the Human Rights Project course in which they design and implement a project related to Human Rights or Democratic Governance.

 

  • Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, law, or related fields from an accredited university. A post-graduate degree in these fields is necessary to access the 1-year track
  • Credits recognition: acceptance to the 1-year track is subject to the recognition of a previously earned master’s degree in social sciences (or the equivalent of 60 European postgraduate credits in these disciplines) as meeting the learning objectives of the programme
  • Letters of intent explaining the interest in the Programme and career ambitions; two letters of recommendation of which one must be an academic one
  • English Language Proficiency
  • Relevant Experience in human rights, democracy work, or related areas is advantageous


Maximum number of accepted students: 20 (per academic year)

Fees are calculated depending on the number of credits; each credit costs 66.67 euros.
  • One-year track: between 5,000 and 6,000 euros, depending on the number of courses taken (70 to 90 ECTS)
  • Two-year track: 4,000 euros per year (60 ECTS)

Financial support (full or partial tuition waiver and/or contribution towards living expenses) is awarded to a limited number of students on the basis of academic achievement, need and geographical distribution.
Graduates of the ArMA programme are well-equipped to pursue careers in human rights advocacy, policy analysis, academic research, and international development. Many alumni work with local organisations, international organisations, research and government bodies across the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and beyond. They play key roles in advancing democratic governance, promoting human rights, and supporting social justice initiatives.
 
ArMA graduates join the ArMA Alumni Association established in 2016 and comprising over 180 graduates. The association aims at gathering, organising, and supporting human rights and democracy activists engaged in the Middle East, North Africa and the Mediterranean region.

Are you interested in the nexus between conflict, peace and justice? Are you dedicated to advancing democracy and human rights in the Arab World and the Mediterranean region?

Apply

Application deadline:

First call: 28 February 2025

Second call: 5 May 2025

ArMA: Preparing top Professionals for Democracy and Human Rights in the Arab World

The ArMA programme is an excellent learning opportunity for individuals committed to advancing democratic values and human rights in the Arab region and across the Mediterranean region. Join a vibrant network of students, lecturers, experts and activists who are making a difference in their communities.

arma@usj.edu.lb

ArMA Website