Online course

Why Do People Migrate? Facts

Get an introduction to one of the most misunderstood issues in the modern world: migration.

Duration 3 weeks
3 hours per week
Learn for free
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Learn the facts about why people migrate

Migration often makes headlines; it’s become a key issue of politicians worldwide. But what is the reality of migration? This course will introduce you to key challenges of irregular migration and asylum seeking worldwide. You’ll look at key cases from around the globe, including asylum seekers arriving in Europe via the Mediterranean and Syrian refugees in Turkey, Central American labour migration to the USA and the Rohingya refugee challenge in Southeast Asia.

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Skip to 0 minutes and 12 secondsMillions of people worldwide move, but why? Some out of choice. Others are forced to leave their homes, fleeing war, armed conflicts, abuse, violence, seeking protection, freedom, security. Some looking for a better life, for themselves and their families. They are all migrants, but they are not all the same for the country where they arrive. This course will provide you with the basic tools, definitions, and terminology to analyse the phenomenon, the existing policies, and the possible future scenarios. Top experts will also present case studies from around the world, providing you with useful insights into the issues and possible solutions.

What topics will you cover?

Definition of regular migration and asylum seeking
Forced and voluntary migration
The Syrian refugee crisis
The EU asylum regime
Politicising migration debates
Mexican and Central American labour migration to the USA
Gender and Latin American labour migration
The case of the Rohingya in southeast Asia
The ‘Pacific solution’ policy in Australia

When would you like to start?

Available now

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

Identify main terms and concepts used to discuss irregular migration and asylum
Discuss key case studies from different world regions
Explore future scenarios of international migration
Assess the challenges that international migration poses for different countries

Who is the course for?

This course is for anyone interested in learning about migration, you don’t need any past experience.

Who will you learn with?

Nick Dines is research fellow at the European University Institute, Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies.

Anna Triandafyllidou is Professor at the European University Institute, Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, where she directs the Cultural Pluralism Area in the Global Governance Programme.

Who developed the course?

The European University Institute offers doctoral and post-doctoral training in the social sciences. It hosts the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies and the Historical Archives of the EU.