Structure and Timing

Programme:

Structure and Timing

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Programme Structure

Student mobility is one of the programme’s crucial features and the EMMIR study plan combines both group and individual mobility. You study the first semester in Oldenburg, Germany (UOL) and the second semester in Stavanger, Norway (UIS), together with the whole group. Then you choose your individual mobility path during for the third semester, which includes a project-based internship and one of the modules offered by EMMIR partner universities.

The fourth semester starts with the proposal colloquium in early December at UOL, after which you are free to design your own mobility according to your master thesis. You can focus on your research as well as do internships in any country under the direct supervision of one of the full partner universities.

All four semesters are organised in modules according to the European Bologna standard. Each module consists of a number of seminars, lectures, workshops, study trips, tutorials, and other forms of teaching as detailed in the relevant module syllabus (see Module Catalogue); once you have successfully completed a module, you are assigned a specific number of ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credit points. Each semester you need to gain 30 ECTS (120 ECTS in four semesters). One ECTS credit point refers to a workload of 25 to 30 hours (including contact hours, reading, assignments and independent study).

Mobility Path

Diversity. The mobility path exposes you to different approaches to migration theories and policies, as well as varied intercultural relations perspectives. You study in diverse academic institutions located in economic, social and cultural settings in which you learn through your own experience. You learn about what shapes migration processes from different angles, including migrant's experiences, which are systematically integrated into the study programme.

Individual research focus. EMMIR allows you to develop an individual research focus drawing on the expertise of all involved partners and their specialisation in a decentralised way. Your focus might combine previous knowledge and experiences with a more nuanced understanding of your topic of interest, as well as stronger research skills to address it.

EMMIR has four programme foci: gender, diversity and intersectionality; development, conflict and justice; representation, power relations and knowledge production; and education and citizenship. They serve as the foundation you will use to develop your individual specialisation and profile, for example by combining them with a geographic focus involving one or more of the countries in the partnership, potentially also linked to your individual language skills.

Further options enhanced by the mobility path are:

to focus on ‘major’ nations in global migration, for example Germany, South Africa or Sudan;
to focus on intercultural relations/migration issues in small nations and young nation states (Europe, Africa);
to change perspectives also regarding theoretical and methodological approaches to migration by, for example, focusing on scholarly work emerging in the Global South;
to specialise in comparative research on two or more of the involved countries, drawing on the expertise and access to selected partner networks;
to specialise in overarching questions, for example, research on global migration;
to become part of a network of networks and to further specify your profile with regard to future employment.

Semester 1

You will spend your first semester with the full cohort at University of Oldenburg (UOL), Germany.

Starting with the Intensive Phase (IP) Studying Global Migration in the 21st century (MM11) in September, you 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 module and perspectives as well as their disciplinary orientations and interdisciplinary networks.

Starting during the IP you may attend a course on German Language and Society in order to locate yourself in Germany and to foster multilingual expertise. At the end of the IP, you will begin negotiating your individual study plan with the EMMIR staff, sketching your focus and mobility track and linking the courses selected with your individual profile 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 other guest speakers.

Semester 2

For semester 2, you will move with the full cohort to Stavanger, where the Norwegian and the Slovenian partners are jointly in charge of planning and carrying out the teaching. Semester 2 consists of two modules, offering the possibility to further specialise in your field of interest.

Module MM21 focuses on Migration between Time and Temporality: Regional Perspectives.
Module MM22 Theorising Migration and Multiculturalism will give you the possibility to select three out of at least six sub-modules.

In the second half of semester 2, EMMIR staff at the University of Stavanger and the EMMIR coordinator will provide you with support to organise your individual mobility path. By the end of semester 2, you will have further developed your concept of specialisation and research perspective in the field and you will commit your further studies to one of the four programme foci (i.e. gender, diversity and intersectionality; development, conflict and justice; representation, power relations and knowledge production; education and citizenship).

Semester 3

In semester 3, you will start following your individual mobility path and attend a Focus Module (MM32) at one of the partner universities. Also, you will concentrate on a Project-Based Internship (MM31) following your individual research focus.

Framed by a small thematic research team, you will enhance your individual profile: linking your disciplinary with transdisciplinary perspectives, having expert knowledge in a specific area, further accentuated by a bi/multilingual profile, research and interaction in the field. Already in contact with your potential MA dissertation supervisor, you will also use the third semester to develop your dissertation proposal.

Options for third semester mobility are: UOL, MUST, USB, UNG, Wits, and Ahfad. Please read more about our partners here.

Semester 4

The full cohort will meet at the start of semester 4 for a mandatory proposal colloquium at UOL in order to prepare for the thesis from a theoretical and methodological level.

The colloquium is carried out jointly by all partners. Subsequently, supervision groups will be formed attending research colloquia offered at the partner universities.

After the proposal colloquium, you will dedicate the fourth semester entirely to thesis research and writing. The thesis has to be submitted by 30 June (see MM41).

For a list of previous theses, see here. For access to a specific thesis, please contact us.

After your thesis is submitted and graded, passing students attend the EMMIR graduation ceremony in Oldenburg.

Timing for 2018-2020 Cohort (C8)

Applications:

Applications open: from September 2017

Deadline for scholarships: 20 December 2017

Scholarship admissions: by April 2018

Deadline for self-funded: 5 July 2018

Studies:

Intensive phase: 3-28 September 2018

Semester 1 (UOL): 3 September - 20 December 2018

Semester 2 (UIS): 13 January - 30 June 2019

3rd semester internships: July to November 2019

3rd semester module (AUW, Wits): from July 2019

3rd semester module (EU Partners, MUST): October and November 2019

Proposal colloquium (UOL): 9-10 December 2019

Thesis writing (any partner): January to June 2020

Thesis submission: 30 June 2020

Graduation: 4 September 2020

Timing for 2019-2021 Cohort (C9)

Applications:

Applications open: from October 2018

Deadline for scholarships: 15 January 2019

Deadline for self-funded: 1 April 2019

Please see this page for further information on application dates.

Studies:

Intensive phase: 2-27 September 2019

Semester 1 (UOL): 2 September - 20 December 2019

Semester 2 (UIS): 13 January - 30 June 2020

3rd semester internships: July to November 2020

- 3rd semester module (AUW, Wits): from July 2020

- 3rd semester module (EU Partners, MUST): October and November 2020

Proposal colloquium (UOL): 7-10 December 2020

Thesis writing (any partner): January to June 2021

Thesis submission: 30 June 2021

Graduation: 3 September 2021

Inter-cohort meeting times

During the course of your studies, you have the opportunity to meet with the two cohorts before yours. For example: