• Graduation

    Doctor of Philosophy - PhD

  • ETCS-Points

    180

  • Learning format

    On campus

  • Duration

    6 semesters

  • Language

    English

  • Study location

    Krems (AT)

Migration studies span politics, economics, civil society, culture and the media. Migration is one of the most dynamic research fields in modern social development. The PhD program Migration Studies contributes to a better understanding of migration policies, the background and causes of migration, the challenges facing emigration and immigration countries, and the importance of integration measures towards securing quality of life and social cohesion.

Our PhD program in Migration Studies offers PhD students opportunities to engage actively with a diverse group of scholars, fostering an enriching academic environment.

Univ.-Prof. Dr.
Mathias Czaika

PhD Coordinator

Mathias Czaika

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Benefit from our PhD program

  • Our PhD program in Migration Studies is accredited by AQ AUSTRIA, ensuring that our curriculum meets rigorous academic standards and providing our students with a certified PhD degree recognized globally.
  • As a research-led institution, our PhD program is designed to immerse students in cutting-edge research methodologies and theories, empowering them to contribute original insights to the field and advance academic discourse on migration-related issues.
  • Our commitment to small class sizes and intensive supervision ensures personalized attention and meaningful interactions between students and faculty, facilitating research and collaboration.
  • accredited/certified

  • research-led

  • networking

In 2015, the Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation (AQ Austria) accredited the first two PhD programs at the University for Continuing Education Krems: “Migration Studies” and “Regenerative Medicine”. This made the University for Continuing Education Krems one of the first public universities in Austria to have its PhD programs accredited according to international standards. In 2021, the PhD program "Technology, Innovation and Cohesive Societies" was also successfully accredited by AQ Austria. Most recently, the PhD program "Applied Evidence Synthesis in Health Research" was accredited by AQ-Austria in December 2023.

Migration across natural and political borders has always played an important role in human history. As migration is both a cause and a side effect of internationalization and globalization, mobility and migration have drawn increasing social, economic and political attention, a fact that is also reflected in the European Union’s political agenda.

contents

Migration studies are an interdisciplinary research field. Disciplines such as economics and anthropology, sociology, political science, law, religious and communication studies play an important role in studying human migration, the determinants, processes and effects in various contexts. 

The PhD program Migration Studies is a platform for collaboration and exchange between the different disciplines, providing a fertile learning environment and actively supporting PhD candidates in the field of migration studies, thereby contributing to the establishment and consolidation of this interdisciplinary research field.

Seen from a European and global perspective, the interdisciplinary PhD program Migration Studies is unique in its way in Austria, complementing the existing PhD programs at Austrian universities.

structure

The PhD program Migration Studies is a three-year (six semester) course.

The program earns 180 ECTS. The coursework comprises 30 ECTS credits; the 6 scientific colloquia 12 ECTS, the PhD Thesis 133 ECTS credits, and the oral defense (viva) 5 ECTS.

Subjects

ECTS
Migration Studies - PhD

Migration across natural and political borders has always played an important role in human history. As migration is both a cause and a side effect of internationalization and globalization, mobility and migration have drawn increasing social, economic and political attention, a fact that is also reflected in the European Union’s political agenda.

  • Contents

    PhD Colloquium 1

    PhD Colloquium 2

    PhD Colloquium 3

    PhD Colloquium 4

    PhD Colloquium 5

    PhD Colloquium 6

  • Contents

    Interdisciplinary Research in Migration Studies

    Advanced Quantitative Methods

    Advanced Qualitative Methods

  • Contents

    Migration Theories and Policies

    Law and Migration

    International Management and Organization Theory

    Globalization and Religion

    Migration and Communication

    Migration and Democracy

    Selected further topics in migration research

  • Contents

    Scientific Theory and Ethics

    Grant Acquisition and Project Management

    Inclusion and Integration in Digital Network Society

    Scientific Writing and Dialectics

    Selected, Further Complementary Subjects

The study program is intended to be a platform for collaboration and exchange between established researchers. The aim is to support the students' skills in the best possible way. The students are involved in externally funded research projects at the University for Continuing Education Krems. In this way, they can contribute to the development of science in the field of Migration Studies through independent research.


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Admission to studies

The PhD program Migration Studies targets the next generation of scientists with a genuine interest in the field of migration research. In particular, it addresses graduates of the social sciences (economics, sociology, political science, law), but the program also welcomes students specialized in other sciences (humanities, natural sciences). Admission to the PhD program Migration Studies requires a Master’s Degree or diploma in a relevant, subject-specific field. The TOEFL is required for the PhD program to prove English language proficiency

Admission to the PhD program Migration Studies follows a two-stage process:

  • Announcement of third-party funded PhD positions
  • Selection procedure by the PhD Commission

PhD students are generally employed by third-party funding agencies (FWF reference rates) on the basis of funded research projects. The PhD Commission selects students on the basis of their application documents and after their presentation of their dissertation project.

Required documents

  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Proof of identity (Passport, Personal Identity Card)
  • Proof of completed graduate degree (e.g., Master’s degree)
  • TOEFL certificate or equivalent (B2 Level or higher, according to the CEFR levels)
  • Documentation of prior experience and skills, related to the topic of the PhD-proposal
  • A minimum of two letters of reference from internationally acknowledged scholars
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