Press release: Successful European Master's program on migration will continue to receive funding

This press release originally appeared in German on the University of Oldenburg's website on 10 July 2026

Nine partners across three continents: University of Oldenburg coordinates international consortium

17 July 2026 | Oldenburg, Germany. For 15 years, the European Master in Migration and Intercultural Relations (EMMIR) has brought students from around the world to the University of Oldenburg. To date, 278 students from 89 countries have graduated from the programme, with another 71 expected to complete their studies soon.

The European Union has now awarded the Erasmus Mundus programme approximately €4.6 million to support EMMIR for another five years.

The EMMIR Master's programme provides interdisciplinary theories, concepts, and methods related to migration while enabling students to gain extensive practical experience. The University of Oldenburg offers the programme in cooperation with five European, three African, and two Indian partner institutions.

"We are grateful and proud to continue the degree programme together with our international partners," says Prof. Dr. Katharina Al-Shamery, Vice President for International Affairs at the University of Oldenburg.

"EMMIR graduates are highly successful in the global job market. Nearly one-fifth of our graduates work for renowned international organisations such as the United Nations Refugee Agency, Doctors Without Borders, and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Their diverse perspectives help address the complex social and political challenges associated with migration."

According to the Erasmus Mundus evaluation, the revised programme concept successfully links migration with global challenges such as climate change, digitalisation, and democracy, while highlighting the need for expertise and collaboration across continents.

"Our goal with EMMIR is to provide theoretically grounded yet practically relevant perspectives on migration through international and interdisciplinary exchange, at a time characterised by increasing nationalism, disinformation, militarisation, and growing threats to democratic principles and academic freedom," says Professor Dr. Martin Butler, the cultural studies scholar leading the project.

In the coming years, the programme will place greater emphasis on emerging challenges, including climate-induced displacement and the impact of artificial intelligence on migration processes and practices.

"We are consciously focusing on opportunities and sustainable solutions," explains Dr. Lydia Potts, long-time EMMIR coordinator. Another important focus will be diversity-sensitive approaches to multilingualism in migration contexts, promoting awareness of different pathways to knowledge production and intercultural exchange in the spirit of epistemic justice. The programme will also further expand its work on the role of AI in migration research.

A defining feature of EMMIR is its international mobility. Students spend their first semester together in Oldenburg and their second semester at the University of Stavanger in Norway. During the third semester, they complete an individual study or project module at one of the participating institutions before writing their Master's thesis at a partner institution of their choice.

Each year, up to 1,100 prospective students from all regions of the world apply to the programme. Approximately 34 students are selected annually through a highly competitive international admissions process.

During the upcoming funding period, EMMIR will also organise conferences on topics including populism in Prague (Czech Republic), climate change in Accra (Ghana), migration and health in Johannesburg (South Africa), and research methods in Kolkata (India). Approximately half of the funding will support 70 full scholarships, each covering the two-year programme. The remaining funding will support programme delivery across the partner institutions. In addition, €120,000 has been allocated to support students with special needs.

Since its first graduating cohort, EMMIR has awarded a joint degree recognised by all participating partner institutions. The programme is part of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's initiative, which supports some of the world's leading international Master's programmes.

In addition to the partner institutions, EMMIR collaborates with 44 associated academic partners in 17 countries, including universities and research centres that contribute to teaching, research, and academic cooperation. The network also includes 28 professional partners, including governmental organisations, international organisations, and non-governmental organisations.