Fellowship Application Guide

2026 IHRP Summer Fellowship Guide

Every summer, the International Human Rights Program (“IHRP”) at the Faculty of Law supports students wishing to pursue international human rights law fellowships with organizations around the world. The IHRP has been facilitating summer fellowships for over 35 years and has provided over 500 students the opportunity to work at governmental, non-governmental, and inter-governmental organizations in over 70 different countries. Through IHRP fellowships, students have the opportunity to engage in meaningful social change, which can include participating in human rights research, advocacy, and litigation, often at the grassroots level.

For summer 2026, IHRP summer fellowships are open to all students at the Henry N.R. Jackman Faculty of Law (including J.D., joint degree, LL.M, and S.J.D. students), as long as students are returning for study in the Fall of 2026. Graduating 3L, LL.M, and S.J.D. students are ineligible. Fellowships consist of a stipend to cover fellowship expenses. Due to funding constraints, however, the allocation of opportunities is weighted in favor of J.D. applicants who are receiving government (federal and/or provincial) financial aid (including US Stafford or Perkins loans). Restrictions may also apply to non-Canadian citizens / permanent residents due to funding constraints.

To apply, you must complete your application(s) on UTLC. The deadline for in-house fellowship applications is February 6, 2026, at 12:00pm. The deadline for student-initiated fellowship applications is February 13, 2026, at 12:00pm. For student-initiated fellowships, please note that you must secure an offer from an organization prior to this deadline.

This year we are also offering one fellowship opportunity with the (UNHCR) in Geneva, Switzerland. The application process is similar to the application process for student-initiated fellowships. You must apply directly to UNHCR, and if you receive an offer, you must then submit an application for a student-initiated fellowship through UTLC by February 13, 2026. For more information on the application process see page 7 of our guide.

Please refer to the 2026 IHRP Summer Fellowship Guide (HERE) for further information and application requirements.

For students interested in a student-initiated fellowship, you can download the Application Form (Annex A in the IHRP Summer Fellowship Guide) here.