The DPhil in Migration Studies offers the unrivalled opportunity to undertake an in-depth interdisciplinary project on international human migration that draws on world-class research departments, centres and scholars.
The degree is offered jointly by ODID and the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography (SAME) and can be undertaken either full time or part time.
As a DPhil student you will undertake your own original research project under the guidance of your supervisor, with whom you will typically meet two to three times a term. The supervisor will help develop and guide your project and, at later stages, provide feedback on chapter drafts. However, you will work to a significant extent on your own, and you will need a high level of motivation and self-discipline.
Introduction to DPhil in Migration Studies
Academics from SAME and ODID can supervise a wide range of subjects. Examples include migrant integration, identity formation, transnationalism, urban change, diasporas, humanitarianism, asylum and refugees, citizenship, and health and wellbeing.
You will also benefit from long-established research and teaching programmes on migration, each with a particular focus on collaborating with non-academics and generating research ‘impact’. The DPhil programme offers the opportunity to link research training to research practice at the two research centres: the Centre on Migration, Policy and Society (COMPAS) and the Refugee Studies Centre.
You will be admitted initially as a Probationer Research Student (PRS), with full-time students transferring to full DPhil status by the end of their first year and part-time students transferring by the end of their second year.
During the probationary period, you will develop and begin work on your thesis topic. You will be offered training in relevant research methods, language, computing and other skills, and have the opportunity to attend lectures, seminars and classes in your general topic area. Full-time students are expected to be resident in Oxford for the PRS period. Information on residency and temporary changes can be found on the University’s website.
The increasing importance of the issue of migration on the global stage means that there are multiple paths to future employment both within and beyond the academy. In universities, migration is growing in importance, with numerous migration-related programmes established around the world. Outside academia, there are significant opportunities for migration researchers in national governments, NGOs, businesses, the legal sector, and multilateral organisations such as the EU, UN and World Bank.
Oxford graduates in similar programmes have gone on to occupy key posts in leading institutions of international governance, including UNCHR, the European Council on Refugees and Exiles, IOM, ILO, and the European Commission.
Work space
Doctoral Students will be accommodated principally at COMPAS, but there is also possible access to space in SAME and ODID subject to availability. Social meetings, seminars, and clear office hours for methods support, will bring you together with other students and staff working in different parts of the university.
Networks and links
As a doctoral student you will become part of a vibrant research community. The Migration Oxford network will provide a focus of activity, linking across research centres and departments. You will also be able join the Migration Studies Society, and there will be opportunities to take on leadership roles.
SAME and ODID have student representation on Graduate Joint Consultative Committee (GJCC) that meets every term and broader participation in other student representative structures.
Programmes of research seminars are available from both departments, some specifically for research students and others featuring talks by invited speakers, often from outside the university.
You will also have access to training opportunities provided by the Social Sciences Divisional Office, which offers advanced research and career development training.
Libraries
You can make use of the Social Sciences Library, the largest freestanding social science library in the UK with considerable print and digital strengths. This is complemented by the world-class resources of the Bodleian Library and the satellite libraries, such as the Tylor Library, the main subject library for anthropology, and the Pitt Rivers Museum's Balfour Library. You will be able to access key online journals and as alumni of the University can sign up for lifetime access.
Please refer to the course webpage on the University's Graduate Admissions pages for full information on selection criteria, application deadlines and English language requirements.
Please note that the DPhil in Migration Studies has an earlier application deadline in January than the other degrees at ODID. Make sure to plan accordingly.
Contact us
Enquiries about the course should be addressed to the DPhil in Migration Studies Administrator, mel.goodchild@anthro.ox.ac.uk.