The Degree 

The M.Sc. in Forced Migration is an interdisciplinary degree taught by leading 
experts in the field of forced migration from international law, politics and 
international relations, anthropology, and other disciplines. The course 
enables participants to explore forced migration through a thesis, a group 
research essay, and a range of required courses including “Introduction to 
Forced Migration”, “International Refugee and Human Rights Law”, “Asylum and 
the Modern State”, and “Research Methods”. Students also choose two optional 
courses from a list of offerings that may include “Ethics of 
Membership”, “Forced Migration and the Middle East”, “Theory and Practice of 
Humanitarian Intervention”, “Conflict, Violence and the State”, and “Refugees 
and International Relations”. The degree exposes students to cutting edge 
scholarship while allowing them to tailor their studies to suit their own 
particular interests. 

The Context 

The M.Sc in Forced Migration is offered by the University of Oxford’s Refugee 
Studies Centre, the world’s leading multidisciplinary centre for research and 
teaching on the causes and consequences of forced migration. Students are part 
of a vibrant research centre at one of the world’s oldest and most respected 
universities, and are able to draw upon the prodigious resources of both. For 
further information, please see the attached leaflet, the following website 
link http://www.rsc.ox.ac.uk/teaching_master.html or email Eleanor Parkin at 
[log in to unmask] . The closing date for applications for 2008-9 is 
14 March. 

ATTACHMENT:

Master of Science in Forced Migration at the University of Oxford

The course

Today the existence of tens of millions of forced migrants raises fundamental 
challenges for the international order. The Master of Science degree in Forced 
Migration at the University of Oxford offers an intellectually rigorous
path to the examination of forced migration resulting from conflict, repressive 
regimes, environmental change, and development policies. It places forced 
migration in a historical, global and human context, encouraging informed
reflection on international and national responses to both internal and 
international displacement.

The context

The Refugee Studies Centre is the world’s leading multidisciplinary centre for 
research and teaching on the causes and consequences of forced migration. This
vibrant research centre is located within the prestigious Department of 
International Development at the University of Oxford.

The degree

The MSc in Forced Migration is an interdisciplinary degree taught by leading 
experts in the field of forced migration. The nine-month course enables 
participants to explore forced migration through a thesis, a group research 
essay, and a range of courses. The degree exposes students to cutting-edge 
scholarship while allowing them to tailor their studies to suit their own 
particular interests.

required courses
- Introduction to forced migration
- International refugee and human rights law
- Asylum and the modern state
- Research methods

optional courses (students choose two courses)
- International human rights and refugee law
- Movement and morality
- Theory and practice of humanitarian intervention
- Forced migration, transnationalism and livelihoods
- International relations and refugees
- Dispossession and forced migration in the Middle East
- Rethinking Africa and forced migration
- Dynamics of displacement in Asia

The teaching

One of the great strengths of Oxford is its system of individual supervision 
and small classes. The MSc in Forced Migration students meet with their assigned
supervisors every two weeks. The RSC teaching staff include: Professor Roger 
Zetter, Dr Dawn Chatty, Dr Matthew Gibney, Jean-Francois Durieux, Richard 
Haavisto, Dr Jason Hart, Dr Eva-Lotta Hedman and Professor Gil Loescher.

Oxford is also home to numerous international scholars working in fields 
related to forced migration.

The students

Since 1998 the MSc in Forced Migration has drawn students from every continent. 
These include Rhodes, Marshall, Commonwealth, International Rotary and
Fulbright scholars. Graduates of the degree have gone on to doctoral degrees, 
law school, and work relevant to human rights, refugees, and migration. Many are
now employed in organisations such as the UNHCR, International Organisation for 
Migration, UNDP, Save the Children, ECRE, Amnesty International, Human Rights
Watch, the Brookings and MacArthur foundations, as well as national governments 
and universities around the world.

The requirements

Entrance to the course is highly competitive. Applicants should, at a minimum, 
have a very strong 2.1 degree (US equivalent is a GPA of 3.7 or higher), a 
demonstrable interest in forced migration, and strong letters of
recommendation attesting to academic ability. Further details can be found at 
http://www.qeh.ox.ac.uk/courses/ or by contacting the course coordinator at 
[log in to unmask]

Scholarship and bursaries

- The Queen Elizabeth House Scholarships are awarded to at least one student 
from a developing country each year to study on the MSc in Forced
Migration at Oxford.
- Shell Centenary, Shell Centenary Chevening, and Clarendon scholarships for 
international students are awarded annually on a competitive basis.
- Part bursaries are also available through the RSC.
- Further information on awards can be found on 
http://www.qeh.ox.ac.uk/courses/funding and http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/io/funding

"I met some exceptionally talented and dedicated individuals who inspired
me, both academically and personally. It was a pleasure and a challenge to
study with people of such high calibre."
Karin Afeef 2005–06

Further information

Information and queries:
MSc Co-ordinator, Refugee Studies Centre, Department of International 
Development (QEH), University of Oxford, 3 Mansfi eld Road, Oxford, OX1 3TB, UK
tel: +44 (0)1865 270272, fax: +44 (0)1865 270721
email: [log in to unmask], website: www.rsc.ox.ac.uk

Prospectus/application form available from:
Graduate Admissions Office, University Offices, 18 Wellington Square, Oxford 
OX1 2JD, UK 
tel: +44 (0)1865 270059/60/80, fax: +44 (0)1865 270049
email: [log in to unmask]
website: http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/gsp

The RSC reserves the right to make changes to the content of the courses and 
seminars

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