Human Rights in the Digital Society

Through comprehensive legal training, you’ll learn to interpret and apply human rights law in digital contexts, bridging the gap between innovation and protection. This is intensive legal training grounded in practice. You'll explore how data protection, AI regulation, and digital markets law intersect with human rights, analysing real cases and European legal frameworks with faculty who advise governments and international institutions. Evening classes allow professionals to advance without pausing their careers.

Study in Estonia, one of the world’s most advanced digital societies, where e-residency, digital identity, and online public services are part of everyday life. You’ll explore how these systems challenge traditional ideas of privacy, accountability, and the role of the state, learning from a country that tests in practice what others debate in theory.

This programme is right for you if you are:

• A graduate in law, political science, or related social sciences seeking to deepen your understanding of how technology challenges human rights frameworks.
• A professional in technology, policy, or civil society working with data protection, digital governance, or AI ethics and wish to develop your legal competence.
• A human rights advocate and policymaker addressing digital-rights issues in Europe and beyond.
• A working professional who values flexible evening study and wants to connect your everyday work with advanced legal learning.

At the core of the programme are:

• Human rights law
• Digital regulation
• Continuous research-skills development

Some of the core courses include:

• Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights
• Transnational Data Protection Regulation
• The Law of the Digital Single Market
• New Human Rights

Alongside the compulsory law courses, you can choose from elective and open elective courses. Depending on your interests and career goals, you can explore topics such as cyber warfare, transnational criminal law in digital environments, migration law, human rights in business and dispute settlement.

Explore the study programme

Put your knowledge into practice

The lecturers have international networks (eg Global Digital Human Rights Network) that make it possible to arrange exciting international events that students can participate in.

Law students benefit from two dedicated organizations that enrich their studies and help create a balanced university experience: the Tallinn University Mooting Society and Primus Collegium.

• The Mooting Society is a dynamic community that introduces students to moot court competitions, where they can practise legal reasoning and advocacy in simulated courtroom settings.
• Primus Collegium supports students throughout their studies, fosters a strong sense of community, and offers opportunities for academic growth and professional networking.

Find out more about the TLU Mooting Society

Find out more about Primus Collegium

 

Internship opportunities

During the internship, you will put your knowledge into practice under the guidance of a working legal professional and gain real-world insight into digital-rights work. Your mentors and host organisations include tech legal advisors, public officials, data protection officers, attorneys, and international experts.

Erasmus+ and exchange opportunities

You have an excellent opportunity to use the Erasmus programme possibilities and receive the Erasmus scholarship. The Erasmus programme includes different mobility options in Europe as well as outside of Europe such as long-term and short-term exchange studies and traineeship. For exchange studies, we have a large selection of partner universities and the credits can be easily transferred. More about the exchange possibilities.

Finishing your studies

At the end of your studies, you will write and defend a research-based Master’s thesis. Your thesis may focus on critical contemporary legal challenges, such as AI governance and ethics, data protection, digital surveillance, human rights in online platforms, or the legal frameworks of e-governance.

Career Opportunities

The programme prepares you for roles that combine legal expertise with an understanding of human rights and digital technologies. Graduates can pursue careers in:

• Data protection, compliance and responsible AI
• Digital policy and regulation in public institutions and EU bodies
• Digital-rights advocacy and human-rights organisations
• Legal and policy roles in technology and international organisations

After Master's Studies you will also have the opportunity to continue on an academic pathway to PhD Studies at Tallinn University.

Explore the PhD studies 

Meet our alumni

Meet our teaching staff

Meet the full teaching staff

Admissions

General requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent educational level.

• Proof of English Proficiency
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Please see the complete overview of admission and application requirements for Master's level applicants.

Admission exam

Exam procedure:

• The admission exam consists entirely of an interview. Maximum points for the interview are 100. The minimum admissions score is 70 points;
• The interview will be 20 minutes long and centres on the CV  (incl. educational background, work experience, other relevant experience i.e any internships, part-time jobs, volunteering, or leadership roles that relate to the study programme), motivation of the applicant and study programme related articles/topics that serve as an input for the exam;
• The admission committee consists of at least two members;
• The interview begins with the identification. At the beginning of the interview the candidate shows their ID and for the purposes of identity verification, the admission committee has the right to record the online interview;
• There is an expectation that the candidate is able to express themselves at least at English level B2 (language proficiency).

Evaluation criteria of the interview:

• The candidate`s interest in the programme and motivation to study in the field applying common study methods in social sciences; 
• Capacity to understand the focal arguments of the interview input (eg article) and provide their viewpoints into the discussion; 
• General background and field-related knowledge, language proficiency and the ability to engage in analytical discussions; 
• Capacity to contextualise previous work, study and voluntary activity experience in the frames of the chosen programme.

Grading scales:

External assistance is strictly prohibited during the interview. If the committee determines that an applicant is not answering questions independently, the interview score will be zero (0).

Required Documents

The following documents must be submitted with the application via the online application system before the application deadline*:

• CV in English
• Copy of earned Bachelor’s Diploma (an official translation is requested if the document is not in English);
• Transcript of Records/Academic Transcript (an official translation is requested if the document is not in English);
• Proof of English language Proficiency;
• Copy of the identification page of the passport;
• Specific documents required for the programme you are applying to;
• A copy of a Sworn Affidavit to Confirmation of Name if the applicant's name stated in his/her passport differs from the name on any of the other required documents.

NB!  Applicants applying for adjustments to be made during the admission exams due to his/her physical or psycho-social special need must submit a copy of medical proof of this special need to the Counsellor for Students with special needs - Kai Rannastu (kai.rannastu@tlu.ee).

View detailed admission requirements and timelines for the applicants. 

Scholarships

Tuition fee discounts 2027/2028 Academic Year

SOGOLAS awards a total of two 100% tuition fee discounts across all six English-taught degree programmes combined. The discount is granted for one academic year. In the first academic year, the discount is awarded to the top two students in the admission ranking based on the entrance exam results. 

In the second year, only full-time students may apply for the discount, and the ranking is based on their weighted grade point average. To receive the discount, a student must not be on academic leave during the semester in which the discount is awarded.

To qualify for the tuition fee discount, the candidate must have submitted their application by February 1st.

Read the tuition fee discount principles and procedure for the 2027/2028 academic year

Move to Tallinn

Studying in Tallinn, means studying at a compact European capital where education, technology and digital innovation meet. As an international student, you can benefit from Tallinn University's support and access practical information to help you settle into life in Estonia from the basics of accommodation to the details about working while studying and of course where to find the student support services. 

Find information about:

• Accommodation
• VISA information
• Healthcare and insurance
• Cost of living
• Public transport
• Working while studying
• Peer support and student buddies
• Student Support Centre

Explore more practical topics that might come up as you relocate.

Contacts

Marleen Marjapuu
Study Counsellor and Specialist

For additional guidelines regarding the admission procedure, please contact the international admission specialist: