Course description

The next Migration Summer School will take place in Florence from Monday 16 June to Friday 27 June 2025. The course adopts a global perspective, exploring the following topics with contributions from professors and researchers at the Migration Policy Centre, complemented by talks from distinguished keynote speakers:

• Asylum and refugee protection
• Attitudes towards migration
• Citizenship and integration
• Irregular migration
• Labour migration
• Migration drivers
• Migration impacts
• Migration governance

The combined insights from political, economic, sociological, legal, anthropological, and practice-based approaches to the study of migration offers participants a deeper understanding of one of the most complex and multifaceted phenomena affecting governments and society across the globe.

The Summer School is particularly designed for researchers, civil servants, journalists, teachers, and professionals from intergovernmental and governmental agencies working in migration-related areas.

This ten-day course provides a unique opportunity to take advantage of the unique research facilities of the European University Institute (including the Library) and to network with an enriching mix of professionals from around the world.

At the end of the Summer School, participants will receive a certificate issued by the European University Institute.

Information for applicants

The Summer School aims to foster a collaborative experience for all participants, using a teaching format that combines the following activities:

• Daily seminars with emphasis on Q&A sessions and group exercises

• Pre-recorded content, including lectures, interviews, background videos etc.

• Plenary sessions with high-profile speakers

• Individual and group-based assignments

• Panels for participants to present their own research/professional projects

• Drop-in sessions for individual consultation with teaching staff

Over the course of the 10 days, we anticipate around 60 hours of contact supported by a variety of background materials. The course materials comprise a combination of readings, case studies, problem-based exercises, short clips. All materials will be uploaded online in advance of the beginning of the Summer School. We will provide time for reading and preparing for the different sessions during the Summer School. This will allow for self-paced work, as well as facilitate active exchanges between participants and lecturers throughout the course.

In addition, participants will be divided into small working groups. These groups will meet regularly during the summer school to work with fellow participants on a key question to prepare a presentation for the closing plenary sessions.

Learning outcomes

• Gain a comprehensive understanding of key topics in the field, including asylum and refugee protection, attitudes towards migration, citizenship and integration, irregular migration, labor migration, migration drivers, migration impacts, and migration governance.
• Analyse migration from multiple perspectives, incorporating political, economic, sociological, legal, anthropological, and practice-based approaches.
• Develop a deeper understanding of the complexities and global implications of migration, especially in relation to governments and society.
• Build a global professional network through interaction with postgraduate students, civil servants, international organization officials, NGO and civil society representatives, journalists, policy analysts, and teachers from around the world.

Participation modes

Scholarships

A limited number of scholarships will be funded by the Migration Policy Centre and the School of Transnational Governance (EUI) on a merit basis.

Scholarships will cover the fees, travel and accommodation and they will be awarded to outstanding candidates applying from low-income and lower-middle-income economies according to the following criteria:

• PhD students and PostDocs, early- or mid-career professionals (e.g. in politics, civil service, media and non-governmental organisations), able to demonstrate both professional experience and potential for future excellence in the policy sphere;
• Genuinely engaged individuals involved in policy issues related to migration either through registration on a PhD programme or through demonstration of substantial relevant career experience;
• Self-motivated, able to present a clear explanation of why and how the applicant will benefit from participation in the summer school;
• Fluent in written and spoken English.

Applicants may only submit one application, either for a full-paying place or for a scholarship place. Scholarships are not intended for participants who can be funded by their own institutions.

 

EU-Widening grants

Eight grants of 500€ each will be awarded to outstanding candidates who are citizens of the countries that belong to the EU-widening region. The successful participants will have to pay the fee to attend the Summer School and will receive at the end of the School 500 euros as reimbursement for the costs incurred to attend the training (hotel and flight tickets will be requested as supporting documentation for the reimbursement).