EU494 Half Unit
International Migration and Immigration Management
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Dr Eiko Thielemann
Availability
This course is available on the MSc in Culture and Conflict in a Global Europe, MSc in Culture and Conflict in a Global Europe (LSE & Columbia), MSc in Culture and Conflict in a Global Europe (LSE & Sciences Po), MSc in European and International Politics and Policy, MSc in European and International Politics and Policy (LSE and Bocconi), MSc in European and International Politics and Policy (LSE and Sciences Po), MSc in International Migration and Public Policy, MSc in International Migration and Public Policy (LSE and Sciences Po), MSc in Political Economy of Europe in the World, MSc in Political Economy of Europe in the World (LSE and Fudan) and MSc in Political Economy of Europe in the World (LSE and Sciences Po). This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process.
To apply for a place, ALL students should submit a statement via LSE for You outlining your specific reasons for applying, how it will benefit your academic/career goals, and how you meet any necessary pre-requisites (maximum 200 words).
The first round of offers will be made from 12-noon on Friday 26 September. The final deadline for applications is 12-noon of Friday of Autumn Term week 2.
For queries contact: ei@lse.ac.uk
This course has a limited number of places (it is controlled access) and demand is typically very high. Priority is given to students from the European Institute, so students from outside this department may not get a place.
Course content
This course offers a theoretically informed account of the challenges posed by international migration and resulting policy responses. The focus is on the comparative analysis of asylum and immigration policies in OECD countries, with a particular focus on EU countries, the US, Canada and Australia. The course is structured in three parts. The first introduces a number of theoretical models that seek to explain the dynamics of international migration and migration control policies, addressing questions such as: Why do people migrate? How effective are policies that aim to manage migration? The second, comparative part deals with national policy responses to the issue of asylum & refugees, 'irregular' migration & human trafficking and (legal) economic immigration. The final part focuses on the analysis of multilateral policy initiatives on migration management at the global, regional and bi-lateral level of governance.
Teaching
1.5 hours of seminars in the Spring Term.
15 hours of seminars and 10 hours of lectures in the Autumn Term.
This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Autumn Term.
A review session will be held at the start of the Spring Term to prepare for the e-exam.
Formative assessment
Essay
Indicative reading
There is no single textbook but the following texts are useful introductions:
- H de Haas, How Migration Really Works, 2024;
- C Brettell, J Hollifield, Migration Theory: Talking Across the Disciplines, 2022;
- J Hollifield, et al., Controlling Immigration: A Global Perspective, 2022;
- A Geddes, Governing Migration Beyond the State, 2021;
- H de Haas, S Castles & M J Miller, The Age of Migration, 2019;
- A Betts and P Collier, Refuge: Transforming a Broken Refugee System 2018;
- D S Fitzgerald, Refuge Beyond Reach: How Rich Democracies Repel Asylum Seekers, 2019;
- A Geddes, L Hadj-Abdou, L Brumat, Migration and Mobility in the European Union, 2020.
Assessment
Exam (100%), duration: 120 Minutes in the Spring exam period
The summative assessment will take the form of an e-exam in the Spring Term. E-exams are assessments run under invigilated exam conditions on campus. Students will complete the assessment using software downloaded to their personal laptops.
Key facts
Department: European Institute
Course Study Period: Autumn and Spring Term
Unit value: Half unit
FHEQ Level: Level 7
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: 52
Average class size 2024/25: 17
Controlled access 2024/25: YesCourse selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
Personal development skills
- Self-management
- Problem solving
- Communication