Libraries & Resources
Our MA in Human Rights students have access to the extensive resources of the Senate House Library and, as students of the University of London, have access to the libraries of the constituent colleges of the University of London under the University of London Libraries Access Agreement. In addition, the British Library, one of the largest libraries in the world, is only 10 minutes away from us.
There are many online resources which students can use when undertaking their studies in human rights, and you can search for required publications through national cataloguing systems.
Senate House Library
Students have access to Senate House Library, including the Institute of Commonwealth Studies’ library and teaching collection. There are a number of reading rooms and study spaces at the Library, including the option of booking private study carrels.
Students will also have access to the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Library which is located at Charles Clore House. The IALS library also offers a very quiet, focused place to study
The British Library
The British Library, which is just around the corner from the Human Rights Consortium, is the UK’s national library and holds over 150 million items, both print and digital formats, from around the world, in both English and other languages. As a major research library and one of the UK’s legal depository libraries, the British Library is likely to hold rare, difficult to find items. To access Reading Rooms you will need to register for a Reader Pass in advance of your first visit.
University of London Libraries
Students within the University of London are eligible to use the libraries of the constituent colleges of the University of London, but please note that you will need to register separately at each one and that each library may have slightly different requirements for visitors.
Local libraries
SOAS Library is one of the most important academic libraries in the world for the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East (see its collection guide for further information). Taught postgraduates have reference ticket rights and research students may borrow up to three books for up to one month.
Birkbeck Library is, like SOAS, located very close to the Institute. To join as an Affiliate Member from another HE Institution, please see their website for further details, or fill in the online application form.
The UCL Library holds a human rights collection. As a taught postgraduate from the University of London you are eligible apply online for access. Research students have limited borrowing rights (up to 5 books).
Resources (Catalogues)
Library Hub Discover is a great resource if you are looking for a particular text as it brings together the catalogues of over 70 major research libraries in the UK and Ireland, allowing you to search for the location of a publication in a dedicated one-stop shop. A great time-saver.
WorldCat allows you to search the contents of libraries around the world.
Resources (Online)
Students are encouraged to make use of primary human rights documents to further their knowledge and understanding of human rights.
The British Institute for Human Rights’ Document Library includes human rights guides and papers delivered at their talks as well as training resources.
The International Centre for the Legal Protection of Human Rights publishes its email bulletins and maintains two free searchable case law databases.
Full reports in multiple languages can be downloaded from the Human Rights Watch website.
Amnesty International's many reports, press releases, appeals for action and newsletters can all be found in their Library.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights website contains numerous materials, including fact sheets and reference materials, free to download in various languages.
SAS-Space is the School of Advanced Study’s online library for humanities research and outputs, and has a strong human rights subject collection which includes working papers, conference reports and seminar papers.
The University of Minnesota Human Rights Library contains over 65,000 documents online including treaties, research guides and refugee and asylum resources.