European Master's in Migration and Intercultural Relations University of Oldenburg

• University of Stavanger, Norway
• University of Nova Gorica, Slovenia
• University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic
• Witwatersrand University, South Africa
• Mbarara University of Science & Technology, Uganda
• Rhabindra Bharati University, India
• Ahfad University for Women, Sudan

The EMMIR programme is fully taught in English.

The European Master in Migration and Intercultural Relations (EMMIR) is the first African-European-Asian Erasmus Mundus Master's programme in migration studies, and it is jointly run by three African, four European, and two Asian partners, facilitated by a wider network of associate partners. EMMIR is a unique study programme focusing on migration through an intercultural approach. It equips students with profound theoretical and methodological skills in migration studies and allows them to conduct fieldwork primarily in African, Asian and European contexts. It is designed as a multidisciplinary two-year Master’s programme (120 ECTS) that addresses important contemporary issues in a field of study that is still emerging.

The application deadlines are published on our website: www.emmir.org.

EMMIR offers three types of study placements: scholarship study placements, non-fee paying study placements, and fee-paying study placements.

For fee-paying study placements, the participation cost of 4,500 EUR covers all obligatory programme activities and health insurance, as well as the respective hosting university's obligatory tuition, registration, and student service fees. They do not include room and board or other living and travel expenses.

First Semester

The students will spend their first semester with the full edition at the University of Oldenburg (UOL), Germany.

Starting with the Intensive Phase (IP) Studying Global Migration in the 21st Century (MM11) in September, the students will become acquainted with all partner universities and their academic teachers from the very beginning. All partner institutions carry out the IP and provide input on their respective focus modules and perspectives as well as their disciplinary orientations and interdisciplinary networks.

At the end of the IP, they will begin negotiating their individual study plans with the EMMIR staff, outlining their focus and mobility track and linking the selected courses with their individual profiles and objectives.

The first semester includes two congruent courses focusing on methods/methodology and on theories of migration and intercultural relations. In both modules, UOL academic staff will cooperate with international scholars and guest speakers.

Second Semester

For the second semester, the students will move with the full edition to Stavanger, where the Norwegian and Slovenian partners are jointly responsible for planning and carrying out the teaching. The second semester consists of two modules, offering opportunities to further specialise in students’ fields of interest.

Module MM21 focuses on Migration between Time and Temporality: Regional Perspectives.

Module MM22 Theorising Migration and Multiculturalism will give students the opportunity to select three out of at least six sub-modules.

In the second half of the second semester, EMMIR staff at the University of Stavanger and the EMMIR coordinator will support the students in organising their individual mobility paths. By the end of the second semester, students will have further developed their concepts of specialisation and research perspectives and will commit their further studies to one of the four programme foci:

• gender, diversity and intersectionality;

• development, conflict and justice;

• representation, power relations and knowledge production;

• education and citizenship

Third Semester

In the third semester, the students will begin following their individual mobility paths and attend a Focus Module (MM32) at one of the partner universities. They will also concentrate on a Project-Based Internship (MM31) aligned with their individual research focus.

Framed by a small thematic research team, the students will enhance their individual profiles: linking their disciplinary with transdisciplinary perspectives, developing expert knowledge in specific areas, and further accentuating bi/multilingual profiles, research, and field interaction. Already in contact with potential MA dissertation supervisors, they will also use the third semester to develop their dissertation proposals.

Fourth Semester

At the start of the fourth semester, the full edition will meet for a mandatory proposal colloquium at UOL to prepare for the thesis from both theoretical and methodological perspectives. After the proposal colloqui­um, the students will dedicate the fourth semester entirely to thesis research and writing.

The third semester incorporates an integrated internship period as part of the programme's curriculum. Students are free to do internships in any organisation and any country under the direct supervision of one of the full partner universities in the EMMIR Consortium.

4,500 EUR

EMMIR offers three types of study placements: scholarship study placements, non-fee paying study placements, and fee-paying study placements.

For fee-paying study placements, the participation cost of 4,500 EUR covers all obligatory programme activities and health insurance, as well as the respective hosting university's obligatory tuition, registration, and student service fees. They do not include room and board or other living and travel expenses.

Included in tuition fees

You should expect to spend about 934 EUR per month to cover personal living expenses (accommodation, food, etc.).

The EMMIR programme builds upon a first degree such as a Bachelor's degree (or an equivalent qualification) in a field related to migration studies: e.g. social sciences, history, cultural studies, educational sciences, law, economics, development studies and journalism.

• The final grade of the first degree must be a minimum (or equivalent) of C+ and proven by certificates. You are expected to provide documentation of a final first degree by the deadline (a transcript attesting that you took all exams necessary to finish the programme is accepted). This documentation must include your final grade.

• Applicants have to document knowledge of migration studies, intercultural relations and empirical methods. Modules completed at the undergraduate level, papers, essays and examination results are considered valid documentation. Preference will also be given to qualified applicants who, in addition, have relevant professional experience. To familiarise yourself with the topics covered in EMMIR, please see our Migration 101 page.

• Your last degree obtained should not be older than five years. If it is older, please make sure to explain in your statement of purpose why you chose to go back to university.

• EMMIR qualifies students for a Master's degree. If you already hold one you should convincingly justify the reasons for wanting to pursue a new Master's in a section of the application form.

English Language Proficiency

Applicants whose native language is not English or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English must demonstrate proficiency in English by the application deadline. Examples of how can be done include documented proof that higher education studies have been completed in English, documented proof that the applicant has worked professionally in an English-language setting, or through English language competency tests.

English Language Proficiency Waiver

Non-native English speakers who fall in one of the following categories may request an English language proficiency waiver:

• Applicants from countries where English is one of several official languages (find a list here)

• Applicants who have obtained their undergraduate degree from a university in Australia, Canada, Ireland, the UK, the USA or New Zealand

• Applicants who, within the past five years, spent a minimum of two consecutive academic years of study at a university or institution of higher education in Australia, Canada, Ireland, the UK, the USA or New Zealand and whose language of instruction was English

• Applicants who have minimum of two years of work experience in an international company where English is the official working language (attestation from the employer which testifies proficiency in both written and spoken English must be provided)

• Applicants who can provide documented proof that higher education studies have been completed in English or documented proof that the applicant has worked professionally in an English-language setting

In each of the above cases, the Consortium Committee reserves the right to request evidence of English language proficiency. You may be contacted at a later stage in the application process to verify your language skills. 

English as a native language

Please note: Applicants whose native language is English must demonstrate proficiency in a second language relevant to migration studies by the application deadline at a level corresponding to the list above. Applicants might be asked to justify the relevance of the language to migration studies.

The application deadlines are published on our website: www.emmir.org.

Erasmus+  EMJM Scholarships

When applying for EMMIR, applicants are invited to apply for the very limited number of Erasmus+ EMJM scholarships (except if they have benefited from such a scholarship before). Applicants will be informed if they are awarded a scholarship with the admission notification. Please note that you can only apply for a scholarship if you have completed a first degree.

The responsibility of securing accommodation rests solely on the student at all partner institutions and throughout their mobility path. Partners have varying capacities to support or facilitate accommodation options, but this is not to be taken for granted at any point in time during the programme. We encourage the students to actively seek what suits their needs best. All students should closely observe security advisories by partner institutions during their enrolment.

The International Student Office (at UOL)

At the University of Oldenburg, the International Student Office offers advice and support to all students. The ISO team helps you to get or renew your residence permit with the City of Oldenburg and supports you with all formalities concerning your residence in Germany. Furthermore, you can participate in excursions, outings, parties, and cultural activities such as cinema and museum visits organised by the ISO.

• Location on campus: ISO Office A12 – "Studierenden Service Center" (SSC)
• Phone: +49 (0)441 798-2728
• E-mail: iso@uol.de
• Website: www.uni-oldenburg.de/en/iso/