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College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences > Academics > Refugee & Forced Migration Studies

DePaul University’s Refugee and Forced Migration Studies graduate program is the first of its kind in the United States. We provide a mix of academic and practical training designed to prepare you for careers in refugee resettlement and asylum, and legal and NGO work, and academia.

Our program is broadly interdisciplinary. Students take classes in law, history, public service and international studies. It is also very hands on: we have two sets of practicums built in, through which students participate in internships working directly with refugees and refugee-serving organizations.

We want to draw students from different backgrounds and experiences: those who have experience working with displaced peoples to those who want training before working in the field. We seek students with diverse academic backgrounds including psychology, political science, social work, history, and sociology.

Check out our offerings and if you have any questions, please contact the Program Director, Dr. Kathleen R. Arnold .

Conference Videos

Conference on the Challenges and Advantages of Syrian Refugee Inflows:

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Find libraries across the world serving and supporting research of forced migrants.

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PhDs in Refugee and Migrant Studies

This article presents an overview of PhD programs in Refugee and Migrant Studies, offering aspiring doctoral candidates a resource to explore academic pathways in this crucial field. By highlighting various PhD options, this article aims to inspire and guide individuals passionate about addressing the challenges faced by refugees and migrants, fostering deeper understanding, innovative research, and impactful contributions to this complex and evolving field. Please note that while we regularly update the contents on our website, we can’t do it in real-time and links may become outdated or inaccurate. Please always check on the official websites for the latest information.

PhD Programme in Migration Studies – Pablo de Olavide University – Sevilla, Spain

Pablo de Olavide University, in conjunction with the University of Grenada and the University of Jaen, offer a PhD in Migration Studies. This program combines a variety of disciplines for a comprehensive experience. Students can focus their research on these areas: Social, Cultural and Gender Analysis of Migration; Globalisation and Human Mobility: Employment and Migration; Psychosocial Analysis of Migration; Social, Legal and Political Analysis of Migration and Human Development: the Welfare State and Diversity Management. Students must develop a research plan with their thesis supervisor and have it approved in order to continue in the program. The program does not include a structured teaching module or schedule, but courses and seminars are occasionally offered. Students who complete this program will be equipped for research, higher education instruction, and more, including careers with government, non-governmental organizations, and international organizations.

This program is designed to last 3 years full time, but students may apply for extensions under certain circumstances. Fees for this program can add up to €479.50 at a maximum for various academic fees, the PhD degree certificate, thesis defense, and more.

PhD in Migration Studies – University of Sussex – Brighton, UK

The University of Sussex has a PhD program in Migration Studies. Students in this program are supervised by faculty in the Sussex Centre for Migration Research, a research institute drawing form a variety of fields to cover issues related to migration. The University of Sussex gives students the advantage of having policy links with governments and international organizations like the International Organization for Migration and the International Labour Organization. Students will complete their PhD studies with robust research and teaching skills that will lead to future careers in research institutes, academic institutes, governments, international organizations, and more.

Students can choose to pursue their PhD full-time in 4 years or part-time in 6 years. In order to qualify for this program, students must have a master’s degree in a relevant field of study. In order to apply, interested individuals should check the site for funded projects in the area of migration studies or contact potential supervisors to propose their own research project. Funded projects are not available for all PhD students, but students may be eligible for various scholarships, doctoral loans, or a work study agreement. Without funding, the PhD program costs £4,327 for UK/EU students and Channel Islands/Isle of Man students and £16,750 for international students, not including additional fees or living expenses.

DPhil in Migration Studies – University of Oxford – Oxford, UK

The University of Oxford offers a DPhil in Migration Studies. Students start the program as a Probationer Research Student and are in this probationary period until either the end of their first year (full-time) or second year (part-time) where they then transfer to the doctoral program. Students will receive training in relevant research methods, languages, technology skills, and more and have the chance to attend lectures, seminars, and classes in related topics to your research. It is expected that the students will have completed most of their necessary training in their master’s degree program. Students will benefit from supervision of experienced faculty and collaborations with The Centre on Migration Policy and Society and the Refugee Studies Centre, where students can receive training and research practice. Students will be able to receive a training needs analysis and gain advice about future career prospects. They will be prepared for careers with prestigious international organizations, governments, research institutes, and more.

This program is intended to take 3 to 4 years at full-time study and 6 to 8 years at part-time study. Full-time study costs £14,195 for UK/EU students and £22,600 for international students per year. Part-time fees are half the cost of full-time fees. Oxford has over 1000 full graduate scholarships available that can cover the cost of tuition and provide a living stipend. Those who apply by the January deadline are automatically considered for these scholarships. The university also has a search tool for students to look for additional funding opportunities.

PhD in Ethnic and Migration Studies – Linkoping University – Linkoping, Sweden

Linkoping University has a PhD in Ethnic and Migration Studies. Students participate in interdisciplinary courses and research designed to help students gain a comprehensive view on issues relating to ethnic and migration studies. Students also have the option to choose elective courses from the REMESO Graduate School in Migration, Ethnicity and Society. They also have the opportunity to collaborate with international research centers. Students are expected to start their research and thesis work within the first year, carrying out their project while also taking coursework to increase their skills and knowledge. Courses are taken as both seminars and individual reading courses. Students will also have their work published as part of completing their thesis. Those who complete this program will be equipped to work for international organizations, government agencies, research institutes, academic institutions, and more.

Through this program, students are able to receive supervision full-time for four years. Generally, PhD students do not pay tuition fees. Most receive a salary or fellowship for their 4 years of study at the university, covering both academic and living costs.

PhD Program in Migration, Statelessness and Refugee Studies – University of Melbourne – Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

The University of Melbourne offers an Interdisciplinary PhD in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies. Through courses, students learn skills in ethics, research methods, and communication approaches in order to carry out their research work. Students can also participate in workshops, study groups, conferences, and other events. In order to enter this program offered by the Melbourne Social Equity Institute, students must already be undertaking a PhD at the university in Law, Education, Planning, Humanities, Social Sciences, Creative Arts, and Population Health. This program will focus their PhD on refugee and forced migration studies and prepare them for future careers in related jobs in government, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, research institutes, and academic institutions.

Under Australia’s Research Training Program exempts domestic students from tuition fees for up to four full-time years of study. Course fees for international students range between $35,000 and $42,000 AUD depending on the degree program. The university’s website has an extensive list of scholarships, bursaries, and grants available to doctoral students; eligibility varies for each financial aid opportunity.

PhD in Migration Studies – University of Lisbon – Lisbon, Portugal

The University of Lisbon offers a PhD in Migration Studies, an interdisciplinary degree offered as a joint program through the psychology, social sciences, and education faculties. Students are able to specialize their research in a wide range of topics under the umbrella of migration studies: Geography, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, Anthropology, and Education. They gain advanced training in relevant topics and are able to make connections with and gain a better understanding of the various institutions involved with migration policy, practice, and services. Participants take courses that will help them gain knowledge regarding migration issues and skills in research methods. This program is offered in Portuguese and some courses may be taught in English. Those who complete the program will be equipped for advanced careers with international organizations, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, research institutes, and more.

The program seminars span the course of 3 years for full-time study. The annual fee for all students is €2750. Students must hold a master’s degree in order to apply. The university offers a Doctoral Degree (3rd Cycle) Scholarship program for a number of doctoral level students; this scholarship can be renewed for 3 years. The Student Support Services center has additional information about potential scholarships.

PhD in Migration Studies – University of Kent – Canterbury, UK

The University of Kent offers a PhD in Migration Studies through its School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research. The school is one of the largest and most successful social science institutes in Europe. In additional to high quality faculty, staff, courses, and on-campus resources, students also have the opportunity to network and connect with a variety of research councils, other graduate schools, and both national and international organizations. Students are offered a weekly seminar series as part of their program. They also meet regularly with their individual supervisors and participate in a research training program to develop their skills and knowledge in their selected topic area. Students have the chance to submit their work to be published on multiple occasions. Those who complete their degree will be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and experience for careers in government, international organizations, research institutes, academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, policy think tanks, and more.

This program should take 3 years at full-time study and 5 years at part-time study. For full-time study, UK/EU students pay £4327 and overseas students pay £15700. Students pay half of the full-time tuition price for part-time study. The university offers a scholarship finder on their website so that students can search for scholarship opportunities relevant to their field of study and situation. The UK Research Council also offers scholarships for postgraduate research and training. The Research Council scholarships are only available in full to UK students; EU students can receive tuition funding only. Students can also look at funding available for their specific school or subject of study.

PhD in Migration Studies – Danube University Krems – Krems an der Donau, Austria

Danube University in Krems offers a PhD in Migration Studies. This program is particularly geared towards those coming from related social science fields but is open to those from other disciplines as well. In addition to conducting their research, students also participate in PhD colloquia twice a year and take courses on methodology, various migration topics, and complementary topics. The program is designed to be interdisciplinary and collaborative. To complete the program students present their thesis and an oral defense. Students will gain the skills and knowledge to obtain careers in policy organizations, governments, international and intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and more.

This is a 3-year study program. According to the university’s FAQ section, no tuition fees are charged for the PhD program but the selection process is strict. Students can apply for the PhD program as third-party funded positions become available. Most students in this program are employed by third-party funding agencies.

PhD Programme in Transnational and Migration Studies – University of Copenhagen – Copenhagen, Denmark

The University of Copenhagen offers a PhD Programme in Transnational and Migration Studies. Based out of the Department of English, Germanic and Romance Studies, much of the research is focused on history, politics, social structure, culture, art, religion, and language of Western and post-colonial worlds; however, the program aims to be interdisciplinary and allows students to span beyond these topics into other fields. In particular, students can specialize in topics like globalization, transnationalism in Europe, the USA, Australia and the post-colonial world; migration, diaspora, exile; cultural transfer, culture clashes; otherness, heterogeneity, hybridity; polyphony, language changes, translation studies. Students in the university’s PhD programs are also encouraged to study abroad during the course of their research. The research projects students choose can be standalone or part of a larger project. Graduates will be prepared to work in government, international and intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, think tanks and policy organizations, academia, and a variety of other positions relating to migration.

This program generally takes 3 years to complete and is full-time. The tuition rate is DKK 216,000. Students can choose to self-finance but must be able to prove their ability to self-finance for the entirety of the 3-year program. Some faculty scholarships are available and are posted on the university’s site. Students can also apply to receive external funding to cover the cost of tuition or can be employed by a third-party institution or organization.

PhD in Human Geography – University of Lincoln – Lincoln, UK

The University of Lincoln offers a PhD in Human Geography. As part of this program, students can choose to focus on a research area such as migration or other related topics. Most of the program consists of independent study and research. Students are also encouraged to attend seminars, guest speaker events, and other research training opportunities. Students will meet regularly with their staff and faculty advisors throughout the course of their research. Students must demonstrate their progress on an annual basis, culminating in a final research thesis presentation. Students will be able to learn from and network with experts in related fields and professions to gain first-hand insight into their research. Students with this degree will be able to work in fields related to human geography and migration at government agencies, international organizations, research institutes and think tanks, policy organizations, and academic institutions.

Students can attend this PhD program full-time or part-time, taking anywhere from 2 to 4 years. Tuition costs £4,327 for UK/EU students and £15,800 for international students at the full-time level. To cover the cost of tuition, the university offers PhD loans, as well as various studentship positions and scholarships.

PhD in Population Studies and Demography – University of Waikato – Hamilton, NZ

The University of Waikato has a PhD in Population Studies and Demography, an interdisciplinary program designed to study topics such as population trends, migration, refugee movements, urbanization, and more. Participants come from a wide range of backgrounds and can focus on a related research area of their choice. There is no required coursework for the PhD program. Students must conduct their own research and present their findings in a thesis. This degree will train students for careers in government agencies, international organizations, think tanks and research institutes, academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, and policy organizations.

This is a 3-year program. New Zealand-based students pay $6,138-$6,883 per year and international students pay $31,010-$38,840 per year. The university offers a large number of scholarships that students may be eligible for based on their field of study and other qualifications. The website has a scholarship finder. The university also has a list of various external scholarships that students may be able to receive to cover their tuition and other expenses.

PhD in Human Geography – Swansea University – Swansea, Wales, UK

Swansea University offers a PhD in Human Geography. Students undertake individual research in areas related to human geography, including issues related to migration. Students will also participate in seminars, workshops, field work, and involvement in research groups. Swansea boasts being in the lists of top universities for research impact and academic study. Program participants will have access to faculty members who are active in research and analysis in relevant fields, as well as high-tech workstations and other resources. Those who complete this program will be equipped for a variety of careers in migration and other related fields at government agencies, research institutes, academic institutions, international organizations, and more.

This program will take 3 years at full-time study and 6 years at part-time study. Tuition for £4,327 for UK/EU students and £17,550 for international students. Welsh, English, and EU students may be able to receive government funding for their studies. As one of the UK’s doctoral training centers, the program has a significant amount of funding for PhD students in the Human Geography program; these scholarship opportunities are listed on the university’s website.

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Interdisciplinary Studies Field

International migration studies, field description.

Students interested in Migration Studies find themselves taking course in Anthropology, Demography, Development Studies, Economics, Ethnic Studies, Geography, Global Poverty and Practice, History, Legal Studies, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology. The status of millions of people as non-citizens has raised scholarly interest in population movements before nation-states, in the nature of modern citizenship, and in the meaning of belonging before and after the emergence of modern states. The study of refugee conditions and legal status has also been central to ISF students as part of a broader investigation of the forced and involuntary movements of people for political and economic reasons.  Students in Migration Studies explore the many ways of belonging and the various conditions of statelessness in diverse places over time; they explore the legal and illegal movements across boundaries (and the unsanctioned movements within them); the social, political and ecological determinants of movement, the demographic composition of migrant groups, the economic consequences of emigration and immigration, the social and psychological consequences of immigration, and the political questions raised both theoretically and practically by human movement.

Students focused on this ISF Research Field are encouraged to study abroad and to select research sites in other countries.  Students interested in U.S. history and immigration should focus their queries on both countries and regions of origin and the country and communities of settlement.

Library Resources is forthcoming; meanwhile, please contact Lynn Jones at [email protected]

Recent ISF Senior Theses

• “We Give, But Get Nothing in Return.” The Fight of Non-Citizen Mexican-Born Immigrant Working Women in the United States for Their Social Rights
• What Does Citizenship Mean for Refugees Indefinitely Awaiting Third-Country Resettlement?
• Containing Movement: US extra-territorial authority in Central America
• Determinants of Migration of Minors from Guatemala
• The Burden of Being Black, Being Queer, and Being a Foreigner: Black Queer Generational Dysphoria, 1960-2010
• Brain Drain or Gain: The Emigration of Israeli High-Tech Talent
• Comparing Immigrant Movements in Barcelona and Oakland, CA
• How Does the Experience of Migrating Affect the Mental Well-Being of Refugees? The Case of Southeast Asian Refugees
• Does Gang Violence Affect Migration Patterns? The Case of Contemporary El Salvador
• How Did Their Children End Up? The Educational Outcomes of the Children of Mexicans Who Were Part of the Bracero Program
• Depression: A Historical and Cultural Analysis of the Chinese Immigrant Experience
• Forgotten Children: A Study of the Educational Outcomes of Mexican Migrant Children in the United States
• Immigration Policy and Language: How the Way We Frame Things Affects What We’re Willing to Do About Them.  The Case of the United States, 1970-2010
• Helping Us or Holding Us Back: Can Migrants be Agents of Development?
• A Transnational Comparison of Italian and French Immigration Policy

Relevant UC Berkeley Courses

• History C139B: The American Immigrant Experience
• Demography C175: Economic Demography
• Sociology 146AC: Contemporary Immigration in Global Perspective
• Chicano Studies 150B: History of the Southwest: Mexican-United States War to Present
• Chicano Studies 159: Mexican Immigration
• Asian American Studies 126: Southeast Asian Migration and Community Formation
• Asian American Studies 128AC: Muslims in America
• Ethnic Studies 150: People of Mixed Racial Descent
• Legal Studies 132AC: Immigration and Citizenship
• Landscape Architecture 141AC: The American Landscape: Multicultural Difference and Diversity
• Gender and Women’s Studies 102: Transnational Feminism

Bibliographical Resources

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Alvarado, Steven E. and Douglas S. Massey. 2010. “In Search of Peace: Structural Adjustment, Violence, and International Migration in Mexico and Central America 1979–2002.”  The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science  630(1):137-161.

Amrith, Sunil S. 2011.  Migration and Diaspora in Modern Asia . New York: Cambridge University Press.

Andreas, Peter. 2009.  Border Games: Policing the U.S.-Mexico Divide . Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.

Bailyn, Bernard. 2013.  The Barbarous Years: The Peopling of British North America–The Conflict of Civilizations, 1600-1675 . New York: Vintage.

Baines, Dudley. 1995.  Emigration from Europe 1815-1930 . Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.

Bloemraad, Irene. 2004. “Who Claims Dual Citizenship? The Limits of Postnationalism, the Possibilities of Transnationalism, and the Persistence of Traditionalism.”  International Migration Review  38(2):389–426.

Bloemraad, Irene. 2006.  Becoming a Citizen: Incorporating Immigrants and Refugees in the United States and Canada . Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.

Borjas, George J. 1989. “Economic Theory and International Migration.”  International Migration Review  23(3):457–85.

Brettell, Caroline B., and James F. Hollifield, eds. 2014.  Migration Theory: Talking across Disciplines . 3rd ed. New York: Routledge.

Brubaker, Rogers. 1998.  Citizenship and Nationhood in France and Germany . Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Carens, Joseph H. 1987. “Aliens and Citizens: The Case for Open Borders.”  The Review of Politics  49(2):251–73.

Carens, Joseph H. 1996. “Realistic and Idealistic Approaches to the Ethics of Migration.”  International Migration Review 30(1):156–70.

Castle, Stephen. 2003. “The International Politics of Forced Migration.”  Development  46(3):11–20.

Castles, Stephen, Hein De Haas, and Mark J. Miller. 2013.  The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World . 5 th  ed. New York: The Guilford Press.

Chung, Erin Aeran. 2014.  Immigration and Citizenship in Japan . New York: Cambridge University Press.

Citrin, Jack, Amy Lerman, Michael Murakami, and Kathryn Pearson. 2007. “Testing Huntington: Is Hispanic Immigration a Threat to American Identity?”  Perspectives on Politics  (1):31–48.

Cornelius, Wayne, Takeyuki Tsuda, Philip Martin, and James Hollifield, eds. 2004.  Controlling Immigration: A Global Perspective Second Edition . Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.

Crul, Maurice, and Jeroen Doomernik. 2003. “The Turkish and Moroccan Second Generation in the Netherlands: Divergent Trends between and Polarization within the Two Groups.”  International Migration Review  37(4):1039–64.

Faier, Lieba. 2009.  Intimate Encounters: Filipina Women and the Remaking of Rural Japan . Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.

Favell, Adrian. 2001.  Philosophies of Integration: Immigration and the Idea of Citizenship in France and Britain . New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Fiddian-Qasmiyeh, Elena, Gil Loescher, Katy Long, and Nando Sigona, eds. 2014.  The Oxford Handbook of Refugee and Forced Migration Studies . Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.

Foner, Nancy. 2005.  In a New Land: A Comparative View of Immigration . New York: New York University Press.

Freeman, Gary P. 1995. “Modes of Immigration Politics in Liberal Democratic States.”  International Migration Review 29(4):881–902.

Games, Alison. 2001.  Migration and the Origins of the English Atlantic World . Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Giordano, Cristiana. 2014.  Migrants in Translation: Caring and the Logics of Difference in Contemporary Italy . Oakland, CA: University of California Press.

Gomez, Michael A. 1998.  Exchanging Our Country Marks: The Transformation of African Identities in the Colonial and Antebellum South . Chapel Hill, NC: The University of North Carolina Press.

Gushulak, Brian D., and Douglas W. MacPherson. 2006. “The Basic Principles of Migration Health: Population Mobility and Gaps in Disease Prevalence.”  Emerging Themes in Epidemiology  3(1):3-14.

Hagan, Jacqueline Maria. 1998. “Social Networks, Gender, and Immigrant Incorporation: Resources and Constraints.”  American Sociological Review  63(1):55–67.

Hatton, Timothy J., and Jeffrey G. Williamson. 1998.  The Age of Mass Migration: Causes and Economic Impact . New York: Oxford University Press.

Hatton, Timothy J., and Jeffrey G. Williamson. 2008.  Global Migration and the World Economy: Two Centuries of Policy and Performance . Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.

Hirschman, Charles, Philip Kasinitz, and Josh DeWind, eds. 1999.  The Handbook of International Migration: The American Experience . New York: Russell Sage Foundation.

Huntington, Samuel P. 2004. “The Hispanic Challenge.”  Foreign Policy  March/April:30–45.

Jacobson, David. 1997.  Rights Across Borders: Immigration and the Decline of Citizenship . Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press.

Johnson, Heather L. 2014.  Borders, Asylum and Global Non-Citizenship: The Other Side of the Fence . New York: Cambridge University Press.

Joppke, Christian, ed. 1998.  Challenge to the Nation-State: Immigration in Western Europe and the United States . New York: Oxford University Press.

Joppke, Christian. 2007. “Beyond National Models: Civic Integration Policies for Immigrants in Western Europe.”  West European Politics  30(1):1–22.

Kesler, Christel. 2006. “Social Policy and Immigrant Joblessness in Britain, Germany and Sweden.”  Social Forces  85(2):743–70.

Kloosterman, Robert, and Jan Rath, eds. 2003.  Immigrant Entrepreneurs: Venturing Abroad in the Age of Globalization . New York: NYU Press.

Koopmans, Ruud, Paul Statham, Marco Giugni, and Florence Passy. 2005.  Contested Citizenship: Immigration and Cultural Diversity in Europe . Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press.

Lieberson, Stanley. 1980.  A Piece of the Pie: Blacks and White Immigrants Since 1880 . Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.

Massey, Douglas S. 1999. “International Migration at the Dawn of the Twenty-First Century: The Role of the State.”  Population and Development Review  25(2):303–22.

Massey, Douglas S. 1999. “Why Does Immigration Occur? A Theoretical Synthesis.” Pp. 34–52 in  The Handbook of International Migration: The American Experience , edited by C. Hirschman, P. Kasinitz, and J. DeWind. New York: Russell Sage Foundation.

Massey, Douglas S., Rafael Alarcon, Jorge Durand, and Humberto González. 1990.  Return to Aztlan: The Social Process of International Migration from Western Mexico . Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.

Massey, Douglas S., Joaquin Arango, Graeme Hugo, Ali Kouaouci, Adela Pellegrino, and J. Edward Taylor. 1993. “Theories of International Migration: A Review and Appraisal.”  Population and Development Review  19(3):431–66.

Massey, Douglas S., Joaquin Arango, Graeme Hugo, Ali Kouaouci, Adela Pellegrino, and J. Edward Taylor. 1998.  Worlds in Motion: Understanding International Migration at the End of the Millennium . New York: Oxford University Press.

Massey, Douglas S., Jorge Durand, and Nolan J. Malone. 2003.  Beyond Smoke and Mirrors: Mexican Immigration in an Era of Economic Integration . New York: Russell Sage Foundation.

Mahdavi, Pardis. 2011.  Gridlock: Labor, Migration, and Human Trafficking in Dubai . Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.

Martin, Susan Forbes. 2014.  International Migration: Evolving Trends from the Early Twentieth Century to the Present . New York: Cambridge University Press.

McKeown, Adam. “Global Migration 1846-1940.”  Journal of World History  15 (2004): 155-89.

Messina, Anthony M. 2007.  The Logics and Politics of Post-WWII Migration to Western Europe . New York: Cambridge University Press.

Money, Jeannette. 1997. “No Vacancy: The Political Geography of Immigration Control in Advanced Industrial Countries.”  International Organization  (51):685–720.

Moya, Jose C. 1998.  Cousins and Strangers: Spanish Immigrants in Buenos Aires, 1850-1930 . Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.

Ngai, Mae M. 2014.  Impossible Subjects: Illegal Aliens and the Making of Modern America . Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

Ong, Aihwa. 1999.  Flexible Citizenship: The Cultural Logics of Transnationality . Durham, NC: Duke University Press.

Perlmann, Joel. 2007.  Italians Then, Mexicans Now: Immigrant Origins and the Second-Generation Progress, 1890 to 2000 . New York: Russell Sage Foundation.

Piore, Michael J. 1980.  Birds of Passage: Migrant Labor and Industrial Societies . Cambridge; United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.

Portes, Alejandro. 1997. “Immigration Theory for a New Century: Some Problems and Opportunities.”  International Migration Review  31(4):799–825.

Portes, Alejandro. 2007. “Migration, Development, and Segmented Assimilation: A Conceptual Review of the Evidence.”  The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science  610(1):73–97.

Portes, Alejandro, Luis E. Guarnizo, and Patricia Landolt. 1999. “The Study of Transnationalism: Pitfalls and Promise of an Emergent Research Field.”  Ethnic and Racial Studies  22(2):217–37. (The entire issue is dedicated to transnationalism)

Portes, Alejandro, and Rubén G. Rumbaut. 2014.  Immigrant America: A Portrait . 4th ed. Berkeley and Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press.

Reitz, Jeffrey G. 1999.  Warmth of the Welcome: The Social Causes of Economic Success in Different Nations and Cities . Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

Riley, Dylan J., and Rebecca Jean Emigh. 2002. “Post-Colonial Journeys: Historical Roots of Immigration and Integration.”  Comparative Sociology  1(2):169–91.

Rosenblum, Marc R., and Daniel J. Tichenor, eds. 2012.  Oxford Handbook of the Politics of International Migration . New York: Oxford University Press.

Schiller, Nina Glick, Linda Basch, and Cristina Szanton Blanc. 1995. “From Immigrant to Transmigrant: Theorizing Transnational Migration.”  Anthropological Quarterly  68(1):48–63.

Seol, Dong-Hoon, and John D. Skrentny. 2009. “Why Is There so Little Migrant Settlement in East Asia?”  International Migration Review  43(3):578–620.

Shimizu, Kosuke, and William S. Bradley, eds. 2014.  Multiculturalism and Conflict Reconciliation in the Asia-Pacific: Migration, Language and Politics . Basingstoke, United Kingdom: Palgrave Macmillan.

Soysal, Yasemin Nuhoglu. 1995.  Limits of Citizenship: Migrants and Postnational Membership in Europe . Chicago, IL: University Of Chicago Press.

Surtees, Rebecca. 2003. “Female Migration and Trafficking in Women: The Indonesian Context.”  Development  46(3):99–106.

Thornton, John. 1998.  Africa and Africans in the Making of the Atlantic World, 1400-1800 . Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.

Torpey, John. 1999.  The Invention of the Passport: Surveillance, Citizenship and the State . Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.

Tsuda, Takeyuki, ed. 2006.  Local Citizenship in Recent Countries of Immigration: Japan in Comparative Perspective . Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.

Tuan, Mia. 1999.  Forever Foreigners or Honorary Whites? The Asian Ethnic Experience Today . New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.

Vargas-Silva, Carlos, ed. 2013.  Handbook of Research Methods in Migration . Cheltenham, United Kingdom: Edward Elgar Publishing.

Waters, Mary C., and Tomás R. Jiménez. 2005. “Assessing Immigrant Assimilation: New Empirical and Theoretical Challenges.”  Annual Review of Sociology  31(1):105–25.

Yamanaka, Keiko. 2010. “Civil Society and Social Movements for Immigrant Rights in Japan and South Korea: Convergence and Divergence in Unskilled Immigration Policy.”  Korea Observer  41(4):615–47.

Campus Resources

• Townsend Center for the Humanities, Course Threads Program ( http://coursethreads.berkeley.edu/course-threads/cultural-forms-transit )
• UC Berkeley Population Center ( http://www.popcenter.berkeley.edu/ )
• Center for Research on Social Change, join listserve to receive event announcements ( http://crsc.berkeley.edu/ )
• Chief Justice Earl Warren Institute on Law and Social Policy ( https://www.law.berkeley.edu/ewi.htm )
• Institute for Research on Labor and Employment; research colloquia, publications, research centers ( http://www.irle.berkeley.edu/ )
• Institute of International Studies; lecture series, undergraduate research funding opportunities ( http://iis.berkeley.edu/about )
• Faculty Expertise Database; search faculty research profiles by searching research interest or expertise keywords ( http://vcresearch.berkeley.edu/faculty-expertise?name=&expertise_area=la… )

Center for Global Migration Studies

Established in 2011, the Center for Global Migration Studies (CGMS) is an interdisciplinary home for the study of migration and immigration around the world both today and in the past. The center provides a distinctive institutional home for interdisciplinary research, for training faculty and students and for distributing information about the migrant experience to a broad public. 

Related Links

• Leadership and Staff
• Newsletters
• Transcript Notation

About The Center for Global Migration Studies

The center's work speaks to the mission of the University of Maryland (UMD) by generating a more diverse, inclusive and international culture at the heart of the University, and by facilitating local and international partnerships to make university faculty and students better global citizens. The center's interdisciplinary and collaborative scholarship and teaching have contributed to making the university a globally recognized leader in transnational research on migration. The center also builds upon the strong connections the university maintains in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region by collaborating with institutions such as the National Museum of American History and the German Historical Society. The University's home in Prince George's county underscores the importance of migration. At present, some 40 million (nearly 13 percent of the American people) are immigrants, but in Prince George's County, immigrants and their children compose a near majority of the population. On the UMD campus, where nearly 40 percent of the student body is defined as a minority, this new America is ubiquitous. These new immigrants—from Asia, Latin America, Europe, and Africa—have transformed the campus just as they have transformed American society.

Immigration and Migration Studies Transcript Notation

This 12-credit program immerses students in immigration and migration studies. Courses examine how migration shapes the United States and the world from historical, political, cultural, and social perspectives and from multiple disciplines.

Contact The Center for Global Migration Studies

Office : 2133 Francis Scott Key Hall, 4280 Chapel Lane, College Park, MD 20742 Email : [email protected] Phone : 301-405-4305 Social media : Twitter , Facebook

Director:  Madeline Hsu

Welcome to ISIM

The Institute for the Study of International Migration (ISIM) is an innovative multidisciplinary center that studies the social, economic, environmental, and political dimensions of international migration.

MDI is Hiring: 2024-2025 MDI-ISIM Forced Migration Scholars

We are excited to announce a call for applications for the 2024-2025 cohort of the MDI-ISIM Forced Migration Scholars. Learn more about application deadlines and what…

In the Aftermath of the Earthquake in Türkiye: Enhancing Social Cohesion among Syrian Refugees and the Host Society

New policy brief: “traditional approaches to displacement are not working”, new report: “refugee relocation in mexico”, explore more, mailing list, isim events.

Department of Global Studies - UC Santa Barbara

Phd program.

The PhD Program is a stand-alone degree (approximately 5-6 years), the first of its kind at a Tier-1 Research University in the United States, and the first within the University of California system.

The PhD program in Global Studies provides a unique interdisciplinary degree for students who wish to study global issues such as conflict, immigration, human rights, environmental sustainability, global cultures, diasporas, and development from an interdisciplinary perspective. PhD research in Global Studies typically involves a field studies component. It requires mastery of a second language, and the completion of a PhD thesis. The PhD is an academic program designed to train scholars and future academics of Global Studies in academic research and university-level teaching as well as scholars targeting other research-based careers that require deeper academic training. An MA in Global Studies is not a required prerequisite of the PhD program, and admission to UCSB’s MA in Global Studies is not a pathway to the PhD program.

• About the PhD
• About the Emphasis
• Funding & Awards
• PhD Student Profiles

Global Studies Advising

Graduate Program Director Professor Javiera Barandiarán [email protected]

Graduate Program Advisor Vacant [email protected]

Location SSMS 2008 

Phone: (805) 893-4668 [msg phone] Fax: (805) 893-8003

PhD Resources

• Online Application for Graduate Admissions
• Graduate Division Admissions Information
• General Catalog Requirements
• Global Studies Graduate Degree Programs
• 2015-2021 Cohorts PhD Requirements
• 2022-2024 Cohort PhD Requirements
• 2024-2025 Cohort PhD Requirements
• 2024-25 Graduate Student Handbook
• 2024-25 Offered Courses (subject to change)

About the PhD Program in Global Studies

Global Studies is an interdisciplinary field dedicated to understanding globalization as a multidimensional, multi-level and historical process. Global Studies bridges social science and humanistic approaches to analyze the social, cultural, political, environmental, and economic consequences of global flows, institutions, and processes. Global Studies scholarship is motivated by engagement with contemporary transnational social problems across multiple theoretical perspectives and methodologies.

Our graduate students work closely with 17 core Global Studies faculty in conjunction with over 20 Affiliated Faculty members from across the campus, providing access to a wide variety of scholarship and expertise. The regional, disciplinary, and methodological background and research focus of our faculty provide a good guide to the areas of graduate study most suitable to pursue in Global Studies at UCSB. Prospective applicants should focus on full-time, tenure-stream faculty who will be in residence during your intended period of study as potential mentors and advisors.

Our programs share an academic core, and are distinguished by their relative emphases. The academic core of both programs combines multi-method research training with study in three related areas of specialization:

• Global Political Economy and Development • Global Cultures and Ideology • Global Governance

The online application for the upcoming academic year will be available to prospective applicants in early September. Please use the Admissions link for detailed information and useful application links.

Recent Awards

2024 Global Studies PhD Summer Field Research Grants:

Jahan Ahmed (Advisor: Distinguished Professor Mark Juergensmeyer)

• Project: Co-Constructing Islamic Glory: American Orientalism in Cold War Pakistan

Anam Mehta (Advisor: Professor Charmaine Chua)

• Project: Exploring the Political Economy of the Greenhouse

2023-24 Global Studies PhD Conference Attendance Grants:

Brett Aho (Advisor: Distinguished Professor Jan Nederveen Pieterse)

• Paper: “Delineated Data Dynamics: Emerging Economies and Ecologies” at 4S Conference, November 2023

• Paper: "Varieties of AI Capitalism: Data Governance and Institutional Advantage” at International Studies Association, April 2024

Christina Guirguis (Advisor: Professor Paul Amar)

• Panel: Spacial and Urban Development Panel at Middle East Studies Association, November 2023

Swaroopa Lahiri (Advisor: Professor Aashish Mehta)

• Abstract: “Erratic Rain, Exiting Men: Female Farm Operators and the Shifting Agricultural Landscape in Rural India” at CISA, May 2024

Vitória Sacramento Moreira (Advisor: Distinguished Professor Alison Brysk)

• Paper: “Gendering Populism: The Rise of Right-Wing Populism and Anti-Gender Politics in Brazil” at BRASA, April 2024