Refugee and Forced Migration Studies

The course offers students an understanding of the complex and varied nature of forced migration and refugee populations, of their centrality to global, regional and national processes of political, social and economic change, and of the needs and aspirations of forcibly displaced people themselves. It also helps students develop a broad understanding of academic research related to forced migration and refugees, as well as critical thinking and sound evaluative tools.

You will gain the ability to plan, organise and carry out research into aspects of forced migration and refugee studies as well as the skills necessary to convey theoretical knowledge of forced migration to a variety of different audiences

In the first and second terms you will follow core courses that introduce the subject of forced migration from a range of perspectives, including anthropological, political and legal. There is also a two-term course dedicated to research methods relevant to the study of forced migration.

In the second term you will choose two options courses from a list which changes from year to year but which usually includes a course on advanced international and human rights law, a course on humanitarianism, and courses furthering regional specialisation.

In the third term, you will write a 10,000- to 15,000-word thesis. This is typically a desk-based study, since there is little time to undertake individual fieldwork within the nine months of the course. Although you may attend other options courses, you will only be examined on the core courses, your two chosen option courses and the thesis.

Teaching takes place in small classes, usually from 5 to 25 students, to encourage active participation and to enable students to learn from each other. Teaching styles vary and include lectures, workshops, individual and group tutorials, seminars and student presentations. You will be expected to prepare for each class by reading a selection of recommended books, book chapters and articles.

Individual supervisors will support your academic development from the start; they are allocated on the basis of your research interests, the expertise of staff supervising on the course and their availability. You will work with your individual supervisor on your thesis throughout the degree, meeting roughly every two weeks in term time. The department’s teaching staff are all leading experts in the field of forced migration, drawn from a range of disciplines typically including anthropology, geography, international law, history and politics, international relations, sociology and development studies. In addition, you will have a college advisor whom you may consult on issues concerning your personal wellbeing.

On-course assessment, which will not count towards your degree, takes the form of regular presentations and short essays. The degree is formally assessed by a piece of research methods coursework at the end of the second term, three written examinations on the core and options courses at the start of the third term, and a 10,000- to 15,000-word thesis at the end of the third term.

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Oxford Department of International Development and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Oxford Department of International Development.

Graduates of the MSc in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies have gone on to doctoral degrees, law school, and work relevant to human rights, refugees, and migration. Graduates of the course are now employed in organisations such as the UNHCR, the International Organisation for Migration, UNDP, Save the Children, the European Council on Refugees and Exiles, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the Brookings and MacArthur Foundations, as well as national governments and universities around the world.

The course offers support for careers development to current students, including informal careers advice sessions, careers workshops, and information about employment prospects.

‘Following graduation from the MSc Refugee and Forced Migration Studies program, I am working as an Associate Climate Change and Disaster Displacement Officer at the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) headquarters. I was considered for this role because of my previous professional experiences in this field, but I am convinced that I was hired because of the MSc curriculum – more specifically the legal and institutional background that this degree provides to students. I would certainly recommend the program to anyone seeking to engage with challenges of forced displacement in the 21st century – amidst a world where there is no singular “driver” of displacement, but rather where poverty, conflict, globalization, urbanization, climate change, among other drivers co-mingle to force persons to flee, both internally and across borders. The multi-disciplinary theoretical approaches in the MSc RFMS coursework equip students with the skills to critically engage and grapple with these complete themes, and thus also for a meaningful career in policy, practice or research.’ (Erica Bower, graduated 2016)

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. In certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information, please see our page on changes to courses.

Other courses you may wish to consider

If you're thinking about applying for this course, you may also wish to consider the courses listed below. These courses may have been suggested due to their similarity with this course, or because they are offered by the same department or faculty.

All graduate courses offered by the Oxford Department of International Development

Development Studies MPhil

Economics for Development MSc

Global Governance and Diplomacy MSc

International Development DPhil

Migration Studies MSc

Migration Studies DPhil

Refugee and Forced Migration Studies MSc

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Entry requirements