Tuition, Financial Aid, and Scholarship Information
Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Intercultural Human Rights
Summary of Expenses: Academic Year 2025-2026
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | $50.00 |
| Tuition | $31,296.001 |
| Book Costs | $1,234.00 per year |
| Student Health Services Fee | $123.00 per semester2 |
| Student Health Insurance | 2,350.00 per year3 |
| Room and Board | $4,030.00 per semester4 |
1 Based on 24 credits: $1,304 per credit.
2 The Student Health Services Fee is required of all students (will not be waived).
3 Student Health Insurance coverage is mandatory. If a student enrolled in the program does not have any other health insurance,
the student must enroll in the insurance provided by the University.
The above costs cover health insurance for one academic year.
4 Based on availability at Center Hall. For more information, please visit https://www.stu.edu/housing/ .
*The University reserves the right to change without notice its tuition, fees, service charges, rules and regulations at any time, should conditions so warrant.
* The University reserves the right to change without notice its tuition, fees, service charges, rules and regulations at any time, should conditions so warrant.
** ALL FEES are NON-REFUNDABLE unless otherwise noted.
Scholarship and Award Competitions
The LL.M. Program in Intercultural Human Rights at St. Thomas University College of Law is proud to offer, in conjunction with our alumni, faculty, friends of the program, and those dedicated to human rights and social justice around the world, several scholarship and financial award opportunities available to our students. Please read below to learn more about each award opportunity.
Professor Dr. Amy Ronner and Dr. Michael Pacin Therapeutic Jurisprudence Award
Professor Dr. Amy Ronner and Dr. Michael Pacin Therapeutic Jurisprudence Award
Sponsors
Professor Dr. Amy Ronner and Dr. Michael Pacin
Purpose
To provide financial assistance to LL.M. IHR students who show evidence of helping solve problems of society and individuals in line with principles of therapeutic jurisprudence and social justice.
Amount
The Professor Dr. Amy Ronner and Dr. Michael Pacin Therapeutic Jurisprudence Award will consist of three prizes:
- The First Prize Winner will receive an award in the amount of $2,500.
- Two Second Prize Winners will receive awards in the amount of $1,250.
Requirements
Prizes will be awarded on the basis of an essay contest. Qualifying essays must show an understanding of the therapeutic jurisprudence and address issues evidencing students’ contribution and service before and/or after their enrollment in the LL.M. Program in Intercultural Human Rights. Applicants are encouraged to submit any supporting materials they might have, such as recognition and /or appreciation certificates, letters of appreciation, etc.
Eligibility
All full-time students currently enrolled in the LL.M. Program in Intercultural Human Rights are eligible to apply for the award.
Procedure
Applicants will submit their essays by email to the Office of the LL.M. Program in Intercultural Human Rights by a certain date that will be publicized during each academic year. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Award Committee
The Award Committee will be comprised of the donors of the award, Professor Dr. Amy Ronner and Dr. Michael Pacin, as well as the directors of the LL.M./ J.S.D. Program in Intercultural Human Rights, Professor Dr. Siegfried Wiessner and Professor Dr. Roza Pati. The selection of the winning essays rests solely with the Award Committee, and cannot be appealed.
Professors Dr. John & June Mary Makdisi Human Rights Scholarship
Professors Dr. John & June Mary Makdisi Human Rights Scholarship
The John & June Mary Makdisi Human Rights Scholarship is established by Professor Dr. John Makdisi and Professor June Mary Makdisi to help students presently enrolled in the LL.M. Program in Intercultural Human Rights and experiencing financial difficulties. This scholarship consists of $2,500, and it aims to support one or more meritorious students in financial need who are interested in giving back to society. The scholarship is distributed by the directors of the LL.M./ J.S.D. Program in Intercultural Human Rights, Professor Dr. Siegfried Wiessner and Professor Dr. Roza Pati.
Arya Laghaie Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Scholarship
Arya Laghaie Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Scholarship
Sponsors
This educational scholarship is established in memory of Arya Laghaie by his family and friends, as well as alumni and faculty of St. Thomas University College of Law.
Purpose
An alumnus of the Master of Laws Program in Intercultural Human Rights and participant in the Susan J. Ferrell Moot Court Competition, Arya Laghaie was a young man who tragically lost his life in a hit-and-run accident near Gallup, New Mexico, where he was volunteering to assist indigenous peoples. The purpose of this scholarship is to carry on Arya’s work in providing services to indigenous communities and his aspirations for indigenous peoples’ rights. It is awarded annually to two or three graduate students, currently enrolled in the LL.M. Program in Intercultural Human Rights at St. Thomas University College of Law, who demonstrate outstanding knowledge of, and commitment to, the cause of indigenous peoples’ rights, or who have already provided substantial support to indigenous communities.
Amount
The Arya Laghaie Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Scholarship is an annual scholarship of $1,500.00. This amount may be awarded to one (or split equally among two) student(s) at the sponsor’s discretion. The award amount will be credited directly to St. Thomas University student account of the winner(s). Those winners who have already paid their dues will receive payment from the University’s business office.
Type of Scholarship
The Arya Laghaie Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Scholarship will be awarded annually on the basis of a competitive essay, as described below, or proof of service to indigenous communities. Deadlines for filing will be established by the St. Thomas University College of Law LL.M. IHR Program.
Scholarship Committee
The Scholarship Committee will consist of four members: Mr. Robert Laghaie, Dr. Roya Laghaie, and the directors of the LL.M./ J.S.D. Program in Intercultural Human Rights, Professor Dr. Siegfried Wiessner and Professor Dr. Roza Pati. The committee shall select the students on the basis of whose essay application will be the most worthy of receiving the scholarship. Decisions of the committee cannot be appealed.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
- Be a full-time student currently enrolled in the Intercultural Human Rights LL.M. Program at St. Thomas University College of Law;
- Be in good academic standing at the time of application for the Arya Laghaie Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Scholarship;
- Complete a formal application for the Arya Laghaie Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Scholarship, which includes (i) the applicant’s resume (ii) a statement evidencing the applicant’s past service to indigenous communities or (iii) an essay of no more than 2000 words on general or specific aspect of law or policy regarding the rights of indigenous peoples.
Gillen-Massey Intercultural Human Rights Scholarship
Gillen-Massey Intercultural Human Rights Scholarship
Sponsors
This scholarship was established in memory of Michele Gillen and Kyla Massey by A Voice in the Wilderness Empowerment Center together with contributions from their loved ones and other supporters of the LL.M./J.S.D. Program in Intercultural Human Rights.
Purpose
This scholarship honors the memory of Michele Gillen and Kyla Massey and seeks to provide financial assistance to LL.M./J.S.D. students in the Intercultural Human Rights Program at St. Thomas University College of Law, a Program that both Ms. Gillen and Ms. Massey cooperated with against human trafficking for many years.
Michele Gillen was a celebrated investigative news journalist and South Florida television news anchor whose notable career won her 39 National Academy of Television Arts and Science (NATAS) Regional Emmy awards, the Columbia DuPont Silver Baton, the Edward R. Murrow Award for Investigative Reporting and three Green Eyeshade Awards, among many other honors. She was well-known for her investigation “Invisible Chains” – an expose into human trafficking and modern day slavery in America and across the globe. In cooperation with St. Thomas University and Dr. Roza Pati, a first of its kind international conference in South Florida to fight human trafficking was held at St. Thomas University College of Law in 2004. This partnership continued for many years. Ms. Gillen produced the award-winning short documentary, Trapped: Lessons from the Trenches, which featured Kyla Massey’s story. It received a local Emmy in 2017 in the category of Societal Concerns – News. The film exposed the raw but intimate face of the hidden world of human trafficking including its nexus with mental illness, drug addiction, foster care, and suicide. Trapped also illuminated a path towards hope and featured the John J. Brunetti Human Trafficking Academy. Ms. Gillen passed away in June 2021 and continues to be remembered for her prolific investigative journalism, passion for the truth, and as a champion of the vulnerable and exploited.
Kyla Massey was a survivor of human trafficking in Florida who used her experiences and voice to help other victims. She bravely and selflessly shared her raw story with the world. Ms. Massey once said that even if things did not change for her, she wanted to use her voice to help others above all else. She was a mother of two daughters and a son whom she loved greatly. She passed away in July 2020 at the age of 30, but her voice, story, and legacy continue to educate and inspire others.
Amount
The winner of the Gillen-Massey Intercultural Human Rights Scholarship will receive an award in an amount determined annually.
Requirements
Prize(s) will be awarded on the basis of an essay contest. Qualifying essays must address issues regarding human rights and/or human trafficking as presented in the short film TRAPPED: Lessons from the Trenches. Essays should comprise at least 1,000 words.
Eligibility
All students currently enrolled in the LL.M. or J.S.D. Program in Intercultural Human Rights are eligible to apply for the scholarship.
Procedure
Applicants will submit their essays together with their resume directly to the Office of the LL.M. Program in Intercultural Human Rights by January 31. Late submissions will not be accepted. The scholarship recipient(s) will be selected by an Award Committee based on an evaluation of the quality and originality of each applicant’s essay. The scholarship recipient(s) will be announced in February each year in conjunction with the John J. Brunetti Human Trafficking Academy’s International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking annual event.
Award Committee
The Award Committee will be comprised of representative(s) of A Voice in the Wilderness Empowerment Center and Professor Dr. iur. Roza Pati, Executive Director of the LL.M./J.S.D. Program in Intercultural Human Rights and Founding Director of the John J. Brunetti Human Trafficking Academy or their chosen representatives. The selection of the winning essay(s) rests solely with the Award Committee and cannot be appealed.
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