Subject overview
The School of Global Studies has postgraduate students from over 40 countries on its taught and research degrees.
Our Masters degree in the field of migration studies draws on perspectives from anthropology, geography, international relations and development studies, politics and law.
Our MA in Migration Studies and MPhil/PhD in Migration Studies are affiliated with the internationally recognised Sussex Centre for Migration Research, which has one of the largest concentrations of migration researchers in the world and an outstanding global reputation for research on migration.
We have strong policy links with national governments and international organisations such as IOM, the International Organization for Migration, and ILO, the International Labour Organization, which address the world’s growing diversity.
Programmes
- PhD in Migration Studies
- MPhil in Migration Studies
Research students are based in the Sussex Centre for Migration Research. It is possible either to study for a research degree registered in migration studies, or to work on a research topic that deals with migration while registered in another academic discipline. Both disciplinary and interdisciplinary students are welcome to become Associates of the Sussex Centre for Migration Research. However, places are limited, so prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to contact members of faculty.
Coursework
There are two common modes of entry for research students. First is traditional entry to an MPhil or PhD. Second is the MSc plus PhD pathway, which is the 1+3 route supported by the ESRC for studentships. All new research students are required to participate in a programme of research training modules and to take other modules that may be recommended by their supervisor, although exemption from research training modules can be granted to those who have already taken such modules at postgraduate level. Refer to Research for further information.
Fieldwork
Many, but not all, students undertake fieldwork for projects leading to a PhD. Permission to proceed to fieldwork is not normally given before completion of the first year of research.
Recent thesis titles
Experiencing staying behind: a study of women’s lives during the temporary absence of migrant men in West Bengal, India
Overseas labour migration from rural Bangladesh: livelihoods, capital and risk in two villages in Comilla
Rural to urban labour migration: a study of upper-Egyptian labourers in Cairo
The dynamics between internal and international development: a development-oriented ethnographic study in Albania
Entry requirements
- MPhil in Migration Studies
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UK entrance requirements
A first- or upper second-class undergraduate honours degree in any relevant social science, but applicants from other backgrounds may be considered. Applicants should submit an outline (two to three pages) of their research interests.
Overseas entrance requirements
Please refer to column A in Overseas qualifications.
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5, with not less than 6.5 in Writing and 6.0 in the other sections. Internet TOEFL with 88 overall, with at least 20 in Listening, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking and 24 in Writing.
For more information, refer to English language requirements.
- PhD in Migration Studies
-
UK entrance requirements
A Masters degree in a subject area relevant to your research. Applicants should submit an outline research proposal (four to five pages) indicating the nature, ambitions and primary questions of the research project.
Overseas entrance requirements
Please refer to Overseas qualifications.
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5, with not less than 6.5 in Writing and 6.0 in the other sections. Internet TOEFL with 88 overall, with at least 20 in Listening, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking and 24 in Writing.
For more information, refer to English language requirements.
Visas and immigration
Find out more about Visas and immigration.
For more information about the admissions process at Sussex
For pre-application enquiries:
Student Recruitment Services
T +44 (0)1273 876787
E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk
For post-application enquiries:
Postgraduate Admissions,
University of Sussex,
Sussex House, Falmer,
Brighton BN1 9RH, UK
T +44 (0)1273 877773
F +44 (0)1273 678545
E pg.applicants@sussex.ac.uk
Related subjects
Fees and funding
Fees
- MPhil in Migration Studies
-
Home UK/EU students: £3,9001
Channel Island and Isle of Man students: £3,9002
Overseas students: £13,00031 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
2 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
3 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
- PhD in Migration Studies
-
Home UK/EU students: £3,9001
Channel Island and Isle of Man students: £3,9002
Overseas students: £13,00031 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
2 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
3 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
To find out about your fee status, living expenses and other costs, visit further financial information.
Funding
The funding sources listed below are for the subject area you are viewing and may not apply to all degrees listed within it. Please check the description of the individual funding source to make sure it is relevant to your chosen degree.
To find out more about funding and part-time work, visit further financial information.
Faculty interests
Research interests are briefly described below. For more detailed information, visit International Development and the Sussex Centre for Migration Research.
Professor Richard Black Migration, globalisation and development, forced migration and return.
Professor Rupert Brown Intergroup relations: prejudice and prejudice reduction, acculturation processes, hate crime, collective guilt.
Dr Anastasia Christou Social and cultural geography, transnationalism and identity, culture and memory, gender and feminism.
Dr Michael Collyer Forced and irregular forms of migration, Saharan transit migration in Morocco, internal displacement in Sri Lanka.
Professor Jane Cowan Greece; southern Balkans; nationalism, memory and identity; conceptualising and administering ‘difference’ in Balkan contexts; culture and rights.
Dr Dimitris Dalakoglou Cross-border landscapes, heritage, architecture, materialities and migration; Albania, Greece, Balkans.
Dr Vinita Damodaran Modern India, popular protest and nationalism during the final stages of British imperial rule.
Professor Marie-Bénédicte Dembour Human rights (theory and European Convention).
Professor Saul Dubow Foundations of modern South Africa. Chair of the Board of the Journal of Southern African Studies.
Dr Anne-Meike Fechter Gender, race and ethnicity in the context of global political and economic inequalities.
Professor Katy Gardner Bangladesh; Islam, migration, diaspora, development.
Dr James Hampshire Politics of citizenship and immigration.
Dr Raminder Kaur Kahlon Diaspora, race/ ethnicity and culture.
Professor Russell King International migration and development in the Mediterranean and the Balkans.
Professor Alan Lester The historical geographies of the 19th-century British Empire, and of South Africa, Australia and New Zealand; histories of humanitarianism and ‘race’.
Dr Mark Leopold Uganda, Sudan; violence, peacemaking and memory, conflict.
Dr Julie Litchfield Poverty, inequality and income distribution.
Dr Peter Luetchford Central America, fair trade and development.
Dr Filippo Osella Kerala, South India; migration and globalisation; masculinity; consumption.
Professor Barry Reilly Applied econometrics.
Dr Ben Rogaly ‘Race’, immigration and class relations in the UK; agricultural and food sector; employment relations; India.
Professor Shamit Saggar The politics of race, ethnicity and citizenship; public policy; electoral politics; regulation policy.
Professor Ronald Skeldon Population migration in the developing world, especially Asia.
Dr Maya Unnithan India, Rajasthan; fertility and reproductive health; medical anthropology.
Dr Katie Walsh Intimacy, gender and emotion in migration contexts; British emigration; migrant identities in the Gulf.
Careers and perspectives
Our graduates have gone on to work as academics and researchers in the social sciences, as well as to working in international organisations and to consultancy work.
For more information, visit Careers and alumni.
School and contacts
School of Global Studies
The School of Global Studies aims to provide one of the UK's premier venues for understanding how the world is changing. It offers a broad range of perspectives on global issues, and staff and students are actively engaged with a wide range of international and local partners, contributing a distinctive perspective on global affairs.
Professor Paul Statham, Arts B 363,
University of Sussex, Falmer,
Brighton BN1 9SJ, UK
T +44 (0)1273 873374
E paul.statham@sussex.ac.uk
Sussex Centre for Migration Research
Discover Postgraduate Study information sessions
You’re welcome to attend one of our Discover Postgraduate Study information sessions. These are held in the spring and summer terms and enable you to find out more about postgraduate study and the opportunities Sussex has to offer.
Visit Discover Postgraduate study to book your place.
Other ways to visit Sussex
We run weekly guided campus tours every Wednesday afternoon, year round. Book a place online at Visit us and Open Days.
You are also welcome to visit the University independently without any pre-arrangement.