MSc in Human Rights and Data Science

The MSc in Human Rights and Data Science prepares rising professionals to play highly specialized roles bridging the worlds of human rights and data science – an emerging and dynamic field of expertise in increasingly high demand.

Students gain fluency in the languages of both human rights and data science through foundational studies in international and human rights law and data science, including hands-on technical training in relevant software. Throughout the degree, students interact with leaders working at the forefront of the industry, and actively engage with the emerging issues of ethics and human rights protection. This forward-looking degree prepares students for the careers of the future.

 

Courses lead students to confront the ethical questions essential to emerging high tech industries such as data protection and artificial intelligence, ensuring that technological development complements human rights protections rather than impinging upon them. The program combines a rigorous foundation in data science with the legal and philosophical considerations necessary to ensure the ethical implementation of policies and protections. The program is concerned as much with the use of coding as with its development, and emphasizes the human and social costs of emerging digital technologies that come with their benefits.

 

Europe is leading the charge on data protection practices globally, and France has specifically played a critical role in the development of modern human rights legislation – making it the ideal location to become an expert in this emerging field. The CNIL, one of the most robust data protection watchdog organizations in the world, is located just a few minutes from our campus and plays an integral collaborative role in the course modules as well as in preparing our students to sit for their IAPP certifications.

Master of Sciences in Human Rights and Data Science

  • Duration 3 Semesters
  • Entry time Fall
  • Cost €45,276
  • Language English

  • Overview 

    The core curriculum of the MSc in Human Rights and Data Sciences provides students with expertise in two fields whose interweaving has become a necessity. The cross-disciplinary approach of this degree will put you ahead of the game, allowing you to develop the skills our complex world requires. It will teach you to think through real-world issues and develop your own ideas about how to solve contemporary problems related to the two main fields studied. Contact with experts in the field, in-class and outside the classroom enriches the experience and allows students to put to into practice the skills they develop.

    Learning Objectives

    The HRDS Program equips students with a competitive edge, offering a balance between a broad interdisciplinary academic approach and professional certification oriented toward industrial application. Students leave the program with a transferable skill set relevant to a wide range of industries, NGOs, and international organizations. Specifically, the program aims to provide students with:

    • a strong foundation in international human rights law with respect to digital technologies, data management and data protection;
    • a specific understanding of the GDPR in comparison to other jurisdictions;
    • a familiarity with a wide range of policies and issues, including guarantees of privacy and security pertaining to the use of personal data;
    • a robust understanding of data science processes, techniques and tools and their ethical and lawful use;
    • the knowledge and skills necessary to serve as a Data Protection Officer or Data Manager.

    The High Value of Data Protection

    Meet Rebecca Stone
    Rebecca Stone

    Structure

    The MSc in Human Rights and Data Science offers, over three semesters, a set of rigorous postgraduate courses drawing extensively from faculty expertise and the University’s well-established data science and international human rights curricula. You’ll have the flexibility to tailor your studies to your particular fields of interest, as courses relating to topics as varied as climate policy and health communications feature in the list of electives. Classroom experiences are further enhanced by experiential opportunities.

    Students in the MSc in Human Rights and Data Sciences complete six 4-credit core courses, one elective chosen from among graduate offerings, two 2-credit modules to be chosen with an advisor, and a Capstone and Internship - OR - AUP Summer Institute for Human rights (10 credits).

    Featured Courses

    Course CodeCourse Name

    DS5039

    LW5039

    		Human Rights and Digital Technologies
    DS5060Data Science I: Methods and Context
    DS5063Data Industry Practicum (6 credits)
    DS5065Data Science II: Theory and Practice 
    LW5074Advanced International Human Rights Law 
    DS5091IAPP certification course for Privacy Professionals* (2 credits) 

     

    Internship, Thesis or Applied Project (6 credits) and Compulsory Seminar (2 credits)

    As part of the MSc in Human Rights and Data Sciences, students may complete an internship. In France and across Europe, internships are usually unpaid placements, but offer students hands-on experience and open doors to careers in their specialized field. Students from the MSc in Human Rights and Data Sciences program have completed internships at international organizations like the OECD, UNESCO, businesses and humanitarian organizations, some of which have led to careers in those same organizations upon graduation.

     

    Recommended Timeline (Fall Entry)

    FallSpringSummer or Fall
    2 core courses 
    2 elective courses    		2 core courses 
    2 elective courses 
    Compulsory Seminar    		Internship & Capstone Professional Thesis
    (4 & 6 credits) 
    or  
    Summer Institute (10 credits)
    16 credits18 credits10 credits

     

    Fall Timeline

    Students may enter the program during the fall and complete the program in the equivalent of three semesters. We recommend the following timeline: 

    FallSpringSummer/Fall

    DS5060 Data Science I: Methods and Context

    LW5074 Advanced International Human Rights Law

    DS5081 Data Protection Course - Preparation to IAPP certification: Certified Information Privacy Manager *

    4-credits Graduate elective
                 
     

    DS5065 Data Science II: Theory and Practice

    DS5063 Data Industry Practicum

    DS/LW5039 Human Rights and Digital Technologies

    Graduate module (Business, Climate Policy, Communications, DPO, Development, Health, Humanitarian, Law) 
                

     

    Internship and Professional Capstone Thesis

    (4 + 6 credits)

    OR

    Summer 

    LW5091 Institute for Human Rights**

    (10 credits) 
                 
                

    2-credits module/course. DEPENDING ON PLACEMENT TEST:

    Quantitative Platform for the Social Sciences GR5005

    OR

    Graduate module (Business, Climate Policy, Communications, DPO, Development, Health, Humanitarian, Law) 
     

    16 credits18 credits10 credits


    * This module will guide students through the official IAPP preparation. At the end of the course, students may take the IAPP certification exam

    ** Extra charges apply

    Requirements and credit counts differ for the various Master’s programs at AUP. Please note that all requirements from previous years can be found in our archive catalogs.

    Graduate students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00. Students with a GPA of less than 3.00 will be placed on probation. Only two grades of C (or C+) may be counted towards an M.Sc. degree. Students do not earn credit for grades below C.

    Program Director Claudia Roda and Professor Susan Perry are the UNESCO Chair in Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights.

    Learn more
    UNESCO partnership

    The Human Rights and Data Science program at AUP is a founding member of the Academic Data Science Alliance.

    Learn more

    The Human Rights and Data Science program at AUP is a partner of the International Association of Privacy Professionals.

    Learn More

    Graduation

    At AUP, students may graduate in the spring, fall or summer upon completion of their degree requirements; however, there is only one ceremony each May. 

    Learn More
    Graduation at AUP

  • Experiential Learning

    Practical, hands-on learning plays a key role in the curriculum, allowing students to fully explore the career paths available in often competitive fields. This experience gives them a competitive edge as they prepare to face the job market of the international career of their choice. Students will discover how, in the real world, disciplines intersect and experience in one field may help solve a problem in another. As they try their own hand, they will also learn directly from relevant professionals working in a wide range of industries.

    The Data Industry Practicum

    One experiential learning option specific to the MSc in Human Rights and Data Science degree is the Data Industry Practicum, a 6-credit series of intensive workshops with experts who are analyzing, in a practical way, the computational, legal, economic and ethical aspects of data use.

    Over the course of the Spring semester, students take part in workshops with data industry professionals working in industries as varied as finance, product design and diplomacy. They not only meet and have intimate conversations with those working in the industry, but they get hands-on experience through assessed projects grounded in professional contexts related both to data science and to the legal and ethical implications of its use.

    These meetings with experts offer two main benefits to students. First, they show students the full range of employment opportunities available to graduates. And second, they provide networking opportunities. 

     

     

    “These workshops allow students to position themselves career-wise with respect to the profession,” explains program director Claudia Roda. “It really helps build confidence and gives students a sense of the range of professions for which they are qualified.” The series opens with a workshop about one of the most well-known roles for graduates trained in both the legal and technical aspects of data use, that of Data Protection Officer (DPO), but later workshops cover subjects as varied as new technology’s impact on the financial sector and the challenges of the Metaverse for user privacy.

    The practicum’s networking opportunities give students tangible connections to those working at the fascinating intersection of two exciting fields, most of whom work at the top of their industries. One 2023 workshop on the ISO standard on Privacy by Design, for example, led to some participating students being invited to contribute their work to an ISO document. One of them was even invited to present in person at an ISO meeting, creating further networking opportunities and enriching the student’s experience.

    The practicum’s focus on professional contexts leaves a lasting impression on graduates. 

    Read more

    Ecole de Guerre students in the auditorium

    Ecole de Guerre Practicum

    The second main opportunity for students to gain experiential learning is the Ecole de Guerre Practicum. Students participate in our long-running conflict resolution simulation conducted in cooperation with the French War College. The practicum exposes participants to real-world examples of issues surrounding the ethical use of technology in warfare. 

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    Student takes notes on advanced international human rights law

    Summer Institute for Human Rights

    The Summer Institute for Human Rights is an exciting capstone for students in the MA in Diplomacy and International Law and is also an option for those taking the MSc in Human Rights and Data Science. The three-week program is dedicated to exploring the intersection between human rights law and other relevant human rights fields. 

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  • Faculty

    Our faculty are both academic experts and industry professionals involved in EU-funded projects in the fields of technology and human rights, providing regular comments to UN agencies on the subject of human rights and digital technology.

    The AUP’s close-knit graduate community ensures a high level of faculty–student interaction, including regular collaboration on research and professional projects.

     

    Diversity, Experience, Versatility

    Faculty in the program come from various countries with diverse backgrounds and professional experience. Just like students, the range of their life experiences contributes to rich exchange inside and outside the classroom. When it comes to bridging the academic and the professional, Claudia Roda ensures that the program is truly practical and guarantees that students are well-prepared for IAPP certification, where she is a member of the research advisory board. Other faculty and lecturers have a foot in the business world, while still others have had international careers only to return to AUP to lecture, like Alex Phoung Nguyen, Professor Phoung, a data specialists with experience working in human rights at the United Nations. 

    Claudia Roda

    Program Director Claudia Roda is also the Co-founder of the Working Group on Human Rights and Digital Technology at AUP.

    Learn More
    #182757

    Key Publications

    Faculty regularly publish and speak at international conferences. Recent examples include:

    Professors Perry and Roda have collaborated on a paper in the Journal of Human Rights Practice (Oxford University Press) focusing on AUP's Human Rights and Digital Technology course, on which they both teach.

    Professor Roda also published, in 2019, Communication in the Era of Attention Scarcity, a joint publication with fellow AUP professor Waddick Doyle.

    Learn more in the Faculty Achievements Brochure

    Program Director Claudia Roda and AUP Professor Susan Perry appointed co-chairholders for a UNESCO Chair in Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights.

    Read more
    Charlene Gabillat
    Lecturer
    Lee Ann Galindo Perez
    Assistant Professor
    Amandine Kashani-poor
    Lecturer
    Antonio Kung
    Lecturer
    Quang Nguyen Luong
    Assistant Professor
    Susan Perry
    Professor, Program Director MAs in International Affairs
    Claudia Roda
    Professor, Program Director, MSc in Human Rights and Data Science

    “From issues of data bias to the transparency of the algorithms used, our challenge now is to find technical and regulatory solutions for the ethical use of AI.”

    – Professor Claudia Roda
    Learn More About AUP's Faculty

  • Careers of the Future

    We live in a changing world. As developments in Big Data, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things transform the careers of the future, the world must develop concurrent principles for the ethical use of such technologies. An understanding of human rights and the legal framework surrounding data and human rights is primordial.

    In fields as varied as digital commerce, warfare and humanitarianism, comprehensive the legal frameworks that protect individuals’ rights to data privacy are often backed up by technical solutions. The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has established a new normal of data privacy regulation for companies and organizations across the world. And in response to the GDPR, the IAPP has expressed the exponential increase in need for data protection officers to be appointed globally, citing the need for 75,000 new appointments, which is a number that is probably now outdated.

    A Tailor-Made Degree and Career

    Not only does AUP offer career support services so students can discover paths they didn’t even know might be available to them, the program, given its tailor-made nature, also allows for students to gain hands-on experience before entering the working world. Since the start of the program, the individual attention offered by its format and size have allowed for the direct involvement of program faculty to help ensure students obtain relevant internships and careers following graduation. 

    Jackson Vann G’22

    Vann graduated as part of the program’s inaugural intake, currently works as a Data Analyst for the Education in Emergencies Division of UNESCO. He cites the program’s practicum’s workshops as one of his favorite memories of his time at AUP. “It gave me a full view of what I could do with my master’s,” he explains. “That was powerful, because I realized there’s a career market for people like me.”

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    #811D1C
    Anna Ferguson

    Anna Ferguson G'23

    While studying, Anna Ferguson also completed an internship with the OECD. Ferguson was placed within the impact team, and had the opportunity to work with such huge amounts of global and diverse data. Seeing what the OECD does as far as human rights and humanitarian efforts solidified Ferguson's professional goals for the future.

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    #811D1C

    Dominic Spada, G’23

    Spada, alumnus graduating as part of the degree’s second cohort, is a Policy Intern at the International Chamber of Commerce. His work directly involves skills acquired while at AUP including around data governance, social policy, social innovation, international law, business development, regulatory affairs and research.

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    #811D1C

  • Admissions

    AUP’s graduate programs welcome applications from motivated, high-caliber individuals who feel they will thrive in AUP’s international and dynamic environment. When assessing applications, we take a holistic approach to identifying the next cohort of Graduate Global Explorers, considering education, experience and general fit with AUP values and curriculum. 

    Applicant Profiles

    The MSc in Human Rights and Data Science welcomes applicants from a variety of backgrounds. This includes recent graduates who have majored in or taken classes in Math, Computer Science, Data Science and other related fields etc. We also welcome applications from professionals with experience in Data Science or the related legal frameworks looking to expand their knowledge or those who are looking to change direction in their careers. 

    Tuition and Scholarships

    Depending on the length of your graduate program, the cost will vary. Find out more about tuition and costs for the MSc in Human Rights and Data Science.

    AUP offers need- and merit-based scholarships to graduate students. The majority of our financial awards range from 25 percent to 50 percent of tuition and the average award amounts to about 30 percent. 

    Learn More

    Application Process

    Our application process is simple and straightforward: students submit their information, send us their supporting documents, and receive their admission decision within three weeks. 

      You can start your application process by creating an account on AUP’s Application Portal. You will be able to return to this page to finish and review your application prior to submission as often as you like. 

      Online Form

      Each graduate program has its own application via the AUP Application Portal. You may only apply to one program. 

      The form will ask you to complete various details including contact details, background information and educational history. Your application will also require several supporting documents which can be uploaded directly in your online application in .pdf or .doc formats.

      Transcripts

      We require official transcripts covering all previous university coursework, including confirmation of an awarded bachelor’s degree or equivalent.  All official documents must be submitted in English or French, or with a certified translation into one of these two languages. We recommend your transcripts demonstrate a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average (or equivalent). 

      Personal Statement

      Applicants are required to submit a 500-word personal statement describing their reasons for applying to the program of their choice, drawing on relevant past undergraduate research or professional experience, as well as your career objectives.  

      Program Specific Items

      Standardized tests, such as the GRE, GMAT, or LSAT are required for admission to some of the graduate programs at The American University of Paris and are listed below.  Exemptions from this requirement are given to students from non-American universities and institutions, applicants with an M.A. degree, and mid-career applicants with a minimum of five years of professional experience following graduation. 

      CV / Resume

      Applicants should submit a C.V. or resumé including university and/or employment history; community involvement; professional, and/or university extracurricular activities; and recognitions and achievements. 

      Letters of Recommendation

      We require two letters of recommendation from individuals well-qualified to provide us with first-hand knowledge about your potential for graduate study, with at least one letter from a university professor if you graduated in the last five years. 

      Veteran & Military Applicants: One of your letters of recommendation should ideally come from a Commanding Officer.

      When you have entered the contact details for your recommenders to your application, AUP will approach them for their recommendation.  

      English

      Students must demonstrate sufficient fluency in English. If English is not your first language, we require you to submit results less than two years old from one of the following tests: 

      • TOEFL - Internet Based Test (ibT) minimum score: 101. To have your results sent directly to The American University of Paris, use our institutional code 0866.
      • Cambridge English - Advanced, or Proficiency level, minimum score: 185.
      • TOEIC - Listening and Reading, minimum score 910. To have your results sent directly to The American University of Paris, use our institutional code 0866.
      • IELTS - Academic Option, minimum score 7.0.  

      The English language test requirement is waived if you meet one of the following criteria: 

      • You have been living in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States for at least two consecutive years and have recently studied in an all-English curriculum.
      • You have studied for at least four years in an all-English curriculum in any other country, although we continue to reserve the right to request English test results from any applicant.

      We reserve the right to request English test results from any applicant.

      When you have completed your application, you will be asked to review the application and confirm that you are satisfied with the application before final submission. There is a non-refundable €75 processing fee to be paid at this point.

      When AUP has received all of the documents (including responses from your recommenders), the Admissions Committee will review your application. In some cases the committee may come back to you for additional information. A review takes approximately four weeks from when the final documents are received.

      When the Admissions Committee has reached its decision, an email will be sent to the address provided asking you to log-on to the Application Portal to view the decision. 

    Deadlines

    We review completed applications in rounds throughout the year. We encourage you to apply early: priority for admission and financial aid is given to those who apply in the earlier rounds.

    Fall Admission

    Review RoundsApplication Round Deadline
    Priority Admissionby February 1st
    Regular Admissionby March 31st
    Late or International Regular admissionafter April 1st (based on available spaces)
    Contact Admissions

  • Requirements: MSc in Human Rights and Data Science (42 Credits)

    Requirements and credit counts differ for the various Master’s programs at AUP. Please note that all requirements from previous years can be found in our archive catalogs.

    Graduate students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00. Students with a GPA of less than 3.00 will be placed on probation. Only two grades of C (or C+) may be counted towards an M.A. degree. Students do not earn credit for grades below C.

    All courses carry four (4) credits unless otherwise noted.

    Core Courses (24 Credits)

     

    Course CodeCourse Name
    DS5039
    LW5039    		Human Rights and Digital Technologies
    DS5060Data Science I: Methods and Context
    DS5063Data Industry Practicum (6 credits)
    DS5065Data Science II: Theory and Practice
    LW5074Advanced International Human Rights Law
    DS5081
    LW5081    		Data Protection: Preparation to IAPP* (2 credits) 

    * This module will guide students through the official IAPP preparation. At the end of the course, students may take the IAPP certification exam.

    **GR5005 Quantitative Platform for Social Sciences (2 credits) may be required pending placement test results. If you did not take the test or did not place out of GR 5005, you must take this course the first Fall semester of your program.

     

    Electives (4 Credits)

    Course CodeCourse Name
    5000 level courseElective: select among graduate offerings

     

     

    Modules (4 Credits)

    Course CodeCourse Name
    Select two (2 credits each) To be selected with advisor

     

     

    Capstone and Internship - OR - AUP Summer Institute for Human Rights (10 Credits)

    Course CodeCourse Name
    DS5095INPR

    or 

    LW5095INPR    		Capstone Professional Thesis (6 credits)
    DS5098INTCapstone Internship (4 credits)

    OR

    AUP Summer Institute for Human Rights (10 credits)

     

    Recommended Timeline (Fall Entry)

    FallSpringSummer / Fall 

    DS5060 Data Science I: Methods and Context

    LW5074 Advanced International Human Rights Law

    DS5081 Data Protection Course - Preparation to IAPP certification: Certified Information Privacy Manager*

    4-credits Graduate elective

    		DS5065 Data Science II: Theory and Practice

    DS5063 Data Industry Practicum

    DS/LW5039 Human Rights and Digital Technologies

    Internship + Capstone Professional Thesis
    (4 + 6 credits)

    OR

    Summer Institute for Human Rights**
    (10 credits)

    2-credits module/course. DEPENDING ON PLACEMENT TEST:

    Quantitative Platform for the Social Sciences GR5005

    OR

    Graduate module (e.g. Business, Climate Policy, Communications, Humanitarian, Law)    		Graduate module (e.g. Business, Climate Policy, Communications, Humanitarian, Law)
    16 credits16 credits10 credits

    * This module will guide students through the official IAPP preparation. At the end of the course, students may take the IAPP certification exam

    ** Extra charges apply

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  • Careers
  • Admissions
  • Requirements

Programs news

Professors Claudia Roda and Susan Perry

AUP Professors Appointed Co-Chairholders for a UNESCO Chair in Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights

    AUP Professors Perry and Roda have been newly appointed as the UNESCO Co-Chairholders for a UNESCO Chair in Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights. 

Read More >
Professor Claudia Roda

Professor Claudia Roda Engages on Questions of AI and Ethics Beyond the Classroom

    This semester is a particularly busy one for newly named UNESCO Chair of Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights and Program Director of the MSc in Human Rights and Data Science, Claudia Roda. 

Read More >