MA International Migration

Migration studies is rapidly becoming its own field of academic study, but is, at the same time, suited to practical application. This master's programme in migration allows you to study international migration in an interdisciplinary way and in comparative context. Getting a master's in migration will give you the tools to get a job in this vibrant and fast-changing field.

The MA in International Migration programme is suitable both for individuals who are finishing university and for those who have worked for some years and are seeking a change in career. It is equally suitable for those of you who have already worked with migrants or refugees. Our students typically come from all three groups and from around the world; you will learn not only from your lecturers, but from each other as well.

Your classes will be taught by academics and practitioners. You will learn relevant concepts, legislation and theories surrounding human trafficking, but you will also hear from a humanitarian worker who has worked in the Greek islands and made an initial determination of whether a migrant may potentially be a victim of human trafficking.

Learning the theory behind the phenomena will help you put your own work experience into theoretical context. If you are coming directly from university, you will gain the theoretical and empirical knowledge to draw on when you do enter the job market.

At the same time, the programme will give you a broad understanding of migration. Some of you will use your essays and dissertation to explore different areas of migration in more depth while others of you will focus your essays and dissertation on different aspects of one topic, for instance, refugee resettlement. Either way, you will situate your research within a broader base of migration studies. In looking at states' reactions to refugee flows, you will understand that states receive not only refugees, but also family migrants, labor migrants and students and that citizenship and integration policies and philosophies have an impact on immigration policies as well. It is only through understanding the breadth of migration that you will be able to focus effectively on your particular topic of interest. This programme gives you the context in which to do just that.

This programme allows students to study migration – including human trafficking, asylum and forced migration as well as integration and citizenship. You can choose a secondary specialisation, while still focusing on migration studies. Students often study human rights law, development or international conflict analysis in conjunction with migration. Overall, you will gain an in-depth understanding of the broader field of migration while being able to focus on a particular topic from an interdisciplinary perspective.

The aims of the MA in International Migration are to:

• Provide students with a research-active teaching environment which gives them a good grounding in the study of social science in general and migration in particular.
• Offer a critical perspective of the interplay between migration and political, economic and
  social systems and processes.
• Ensure that students acquire a solid understanding of methodologies for the study of
  social science in general, and in the application of those understandings to the study of
  migration in particular.
• Ensure that students acquire a solid understanding of major theoretical approaches to
  migration, the historical development of contemporary migration, and the application of
  theoretical and historical knowledge to the analysis and understanding of contemporary
  issues and cases in the field.
• Ensure that students acquire the necessary skills for advanced assessment of
  contemporary problems in migration and their solutions.
• Develop students' general research skills and personal skills (transferable skills), in
  particular through a substantial dissertation.

Programme Structure:

The MA in International Migration is offered in both the Standard (90 ECTS credits) and the Extended version (120 ECTS credits) and in each case students may take the programme with or without a secondary specialisation.

This information is correct at the time of publication but subject to minor changes.

Our student representatives are on hand to provide potential applicants, or offer holders advice and guidance when it comes to studying at BSIS.

Please feel free to email the students for information about what it is like to be a student here in Brussels and at BSIS. Student reps can offer advice and help related to relocation, searching for accommodation and settling in Brussels. Also, if you have questions about what a weekly or daily schedule might look like, our reps can offer some insight!

Name	Brianna Hertford
Programme	International Migration MA
	Hello everyone, my name is Brianna and I am from the US. I am an extended student here at BSIS, and began my studies in September 2017. I am in the MA International Migration programme, and am specialising in Human Rights Law. Before moving to Brussels, I worked with survivors of domestic and sexual violence for five years. The courses at BSIS have allowed me to fuse my passion for Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) advocacy and migrant rights. The professors in this programme are closely linked to the work happening in the field, often being practitioners or researchers themselves. My fellow students come from a wide range of backgrounds, which has led to invaluable insights both in and outside of the classroom! This level of diversity is reflected in the city itself - Brussels offers so much more than just the fantastic beer it is so famous for. If you have any questions regarding the programme, the application process, BSIS, or Brussels, I am more than happy to chat. Please don’t hesitate to reach out, and good luck!