Subject overview

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. Visit Doctoral training. 

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 

The political participation of migrants: a study of the Italian communities in London 

Entry requirements

MPhil in Migration Studies

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

If your country is not listed below, please contact the University at E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

Country	Overseas qualification
Australia	Bachelor (Honours) degree with second-class upper division
Brazil	Bacharel, Licenciado or professional title with a final mark of at least 8
Canada	Bachelor degree with CGPA 3.3/4.0 (grade B+)
China	Bachelor degree from a leading university with overall mark of 75%-85% depending on your university
Cyprus	Bachelor degree or Ptychion with a final mark of at least 7.5
France	Licence with mention bien or Maîtrise with final mark of at least 13
Germany	Bachelor degree or Magister Artium with a final mark of 2.4 or better
Ghana	Bachelor degree from a public university with second-class upper division
Greece	Ptychion from an AEI with a final mark of at least 7.5
Hong Kong	Bachelor (Honours) degree with second-class upper division
India	Bachelor degree from a leading institution with overall mark of at least 60% or equivalent
Iran	Bachelor degree (Licence or Karshenasi) with a final mark of at least 15
Italy	Diploma di Laurea with an overall mark of at least 105
Japan	Bachelor degree from a leading university with a minumum average of B+ or equivalent
Malaysia	Bachelor degree with class 2 division 1
Mexico	Licenciado with a final mark of at least 8
Nigeria	Bachelor degree with second-class upper division or CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0
Pakistan	Four-year bachelor degree, normally with a GPA of at least 3.3
Russia	Magistr or Specialist Diploma with a minimum average mark of at least 4
South Africa	Bachelor (Honours) degree or Bachelor degree in Technology with an overall mark of at least 70%
Saudi Arabia	Bachelor degree with an overall mark of at least 70% or CGPA 3.5/5.0 or equivalent
South Korea	Bachelor degree from a leading university with CGPA of at least 3.5/4.0 or equivalent
Spain	Licenciado with a final mark of at least 2/4
Taiwan	Bachelor degree with overall mark of 70%-85% depending on your university
Thailand	Bachelor degree with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or equivalent
Turkey	Lisans Diplomasi with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 depending on your university
United Arab Emirates	Bachelor degree with CGPA of at least 3.5/4.0 or equivalent
USA	Bachelor degree with CGPA 3.3-3.5/4.0 depending on your university
Vietnam	Masters degree with CGPA 3.5/4.0 or equivalent

If you have any questions about your qualifications after consulting our overseas qualifications, contact the University at E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

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

If you are an international student and wish to find out if you have the necessary qualifications for this degree, 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.

Related subjects

• Anthropology
• Development studies
• Human rights

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: £13,000³

¹ 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: £13,000³

¹ 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.

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.

Faculty interests

Research interests are briefly described below. For more detailed information, visit International Development and the Sussex Centre for Migration Research.

Professor Rupert Brown Intergroup relations: prejudice and prejudice reduction, acculturation processes, hate crime, collective guilt. 

Dr Michael Collyer Forced and irregular forms of migration, Saharan transit migration in Morocco, internal displacement in Sri Lanka. 

Dr Elizabeth Craig Human rights, culture and minority rights, European law. 

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. 

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. 

Professor JoAnn McGregor Transnationalism, refugees, diaspora, Africans in Britain, Africa. 

Dr Laura Morosanu Ethnicity, social capital and networks, Eastern European migration and migrants. 

Dr Ceri Oeppen Return migration, refugees and development, Afghanistan. 

Dr Filippo Osella Kerala, South India; migration and globalisation; masculinity; consumption. 

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. 

Professor Paul Statham Migrants’ mobilisation and participation, multiculturalism and Islam, public debates over immigration. 

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. 

School and contacts