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International Migrations 

Code: 104482
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
International Relations OP 4

Contact lecturer

Name :
Gemma Pinyol Jimenez
Email :
gemma.pinyol@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Gemma Pinyol Jimenez

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

A good level of English is required, sufficient to follow theoretical classes, read required texts, participate in seminars, and submit assignments.

Objectives

This course is designed to:

  • Introduce students to the main contemporary scenarios of international migration from a comparative perspective.
  • Provide a solid understanding of basic patterns of international mobility and legal structures.
  • Differentiate between different categories, legal frameworks, and perspectives involved in the distinction between forced and voluntary migration.
  • Familiarize students with migration theories and their links with political science and international relations.
  • Understand the formulation of migration and asylum policies (with a multi-level and multi-stakeholder approach).
  • Learn about key debates in different geographical contexts (basic concepts, relationships, and issues involved in immigration policymaking).
  • Explore key themes and debates in migration and refugee studies.
  • Foster critical thinking and academic research skills, including critically evaluating the pros and cons of liberal and restrictive approaches to migration, as well as the political outcomes related to migration policies.

Learning outcomes

  1. Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.
  2. Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
  3. Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  4. Students must develop the necessary learning skills to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
  5. Identify data sources and carry out rigorous bibliographical and documentary searches.
  6. Use metatheoretical data to argue and establish plausible relation of causality and establish ways of validating or rejecting them.
  7. Apply quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques in research processes.
  8. Produce and prepare the presentation of intervention reports and/or proposals.
  9. Critically evaluate the impacts of globalisation in different areas: security, environment, human rights, migrations and peace.
  10. Propose new experience-based methods or alternative solutions.
  11. Weigh up the risks and opportunities of one's own ideas for improvement and proposals made by others.
  12. Propose new ways to measure success or failure when implementing ground-breaking proposals or ideas.
  13. Identify the social, economic and environmental implications of academic and professional activities within the area of your own knowledge.
  14. Analyse the indicators of sustainability of academic and professional activities in the areas of knowledge, integrating social, economic and environmental dimensions.
  15. Propose viable projects and actions that promote social, economic and environmental benefits.
  16. Propose ways to evaluate projects and actions for improving sustainability.
  17. Explain the explicit or implicit code of practice of one's own area of knowledge.
  18. Critically analyse the principles, values and procedures that govern the exercise of the profession.
  19. Weigh up the impact of any long- or short-term difficulty, harm or discrimination that could be caused to certain persons or groups by the actions or projects.
  20. Propose projects and actions in accordance with the principles of ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights, diversity and democratic values.
  21. Identify the principal forms of sex- or gender-based inequality and discrimination present in society.
  22. Analyse the sex- or gender-based inequalities and the gender biases present in one's own area of knowledge.
  23. Consider how gender stereotypes and roles impinge on the exercise of the profession.
  24. Propose projects and actions that incorporate the gender perspective.
  25. Communicate using language that is not sexist or discriminatory.

Contents

Part 1. Introduction and key concepts and definitions

  • Migration, refuge, asylum: concepts and definitions
  • Migration theories. International Relations and international migration
  • Flows and general data (regional focus)
  • Some current debates: Migration–development nexus, remittances, brain drain vs. brain gain, South–South dynamics


Part 2. The Making of Immigration Policies

  • Theories and models
  • Policy-processes and policy gap
  • Stakeholders and key actors
  • Multilevel governance: from local to international playgrounds International framework


Part 3. Forced migration: IDPs, refugees and asylum seekers

  • International law and instruments
  • Protection policies and systems
  • Reception policies and systems
  • Challenges and emerging categories (gender-based violence, environmental displacement, etc.)


Part 4. Integration and inclusion policies and instruments

  • Theories and debates on integration and inclusion
  • Public policies and actions
  • Actors and involved administrations
  • Xenophobic discourses and migration as a political too


Part 5. The EU migration and asylum policies

  • A Diachronic Perspective on the Development of European Immigration and Asylum Policy
  • Institutions, Actors and Instruments
  • Migration as a political issue
  • Migration-Security Nexus. Securitization and externalization.

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Study of the thematics of the course as well as complementary readings 80 3.2
Tutorials 16 0.64
Seminars and oral presentations of students 24 0.96
Lectures with debate 30 1.2

International Migrations is a 6 ECTS course, which will be divided between lectures with debate sessions, tutorials, group work, and individual or group presentations by students.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Participation 15% 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
Essay 10% 0 0 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 13, 19, 20
Mid-term exam (Parts I&II) 25% 0 0 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 13, 19, 20
In-class Assignments 25% 0 0 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 13, 19, 20
Final exam (Parts III-V) 25% 0 0 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 13, 19, 20

Students are asked to demonstrate a basic knowledge of theoretical concepts in a balanced way for all parts of the course. The primary (and recommended) assessment method in this course is “continuous assessment”. However, there is an alternative “single assessment” option that will be explained later on.


Continuous Assessment

The evaluation of this course is based on the following:

  • A mid-term exam covering approximately the first half of the program, accounting for 25% of the final grade.
  • An end-term exam covering the rest of the syllabus, accounting for 25% of the final grade.
  • An essay, accounting for 10% of the final grade.
  • Five individual/group presentations, class discussions, and other activities planned by the professors, accounting for 25% of the final grade.
  • Class participation, accounting for 15% of the final grade.


The mid-term exam will be scheduled during the course on a day determined by the professor and announced in advance. If a student misses or fails the midterm exam, they must take the resit exam on the date set by the Faculty. The end-term exam will be at the end of the semester on a day set by the Faculty and will also be announced in advance.


The dates for the essay and presentations will be specified according to the programming and evolution of the subject. They cannot be submitted/presented after the fixed date (see Campus Virtual).


Important considerations:

  • To pass the course, students must score at least 5 in each of the planned exams. Achieving a minimum score of 5 on both the midterm and final exams is necessary, but not sufficient to pass the course. Once this minimum grade of 5 is achieved, final scores will be calculated using the weighted average of all grades: exams, papers, and participation in activities. A final score of 5 or greater is required to pass the course.
  • Students who do not pass either the mid-term exam, the end-term exam, or both exams will have the opportunity to take a resit examination on the date set by the Faculty (see Resit Exam).
  • Participation is an essential requirement for passing this course; therefore, regular attendance in class is required.
  • Attendance at two of the mentioned assessment activities precludes receiving a "Not Presented" grade.


Unique Assessment

Students who have requested it within the deadline and in the appropriate manner, will be able to take a unique assessment.


The unique assessment will consist of an exercise composed of an exam (50% of the grade) and a practical exercise (50%). The exam which include all parts of the course and will take place at the end of the semester, on the day set by the Faculty for the examination of the ordinary assessment.

The practical exercise will include a report (25%) and an oral presentation (25%). The report (3,000-3,500 words) should be submitted the day of the exam (PDF). The presentation (12-15m) will be done the day of the exam. Visual aid (PPT or similar) is required. More detailed information will be provided at the beginning of the course.


Important considerations:

  • Opting for this assessment method implies renouncing the standard assessment method outlined in this course guide.
  • If the student does not pass this test with a score of 5 out of 10, the exercise can be retaken on the date set by the Faculty as a compensatory assessment. The practical exercise must be passed with a minimum score of 5.
  • The single assessment option should be discussed with the professor and approved by the faculty.


Resit Exam

For the resit exam, the following criteria will apply:

  • Students under “continuous assessment” may take a resit exam if they fail. This exam will count for 40% of the final grade, while the remaining 60% will be based on the weighted average of the other assessment activities.
  • Students under “unique assessment” may retake the final exam if they fail. This retake will count for 50% of the final grade.


On Artificial Intelligence

Restricted Use: For this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is allowed exclusively for support tasks, such as bibliographic or information searches, text correction or translation, and other activities where its use is explicitly authorised. Failure to transparently declare the use of AI in any graded activity will be considered a breach of academic integrity and may result in a partial or total penalty in the grade for that activity, or more serious sanctions in severe cases.


Plagiarism and other irregularities

In accordance with academic regulations, any irregularity that may lead to a significant change in the grade of an assessment activity will result in that activity being graded with a 0. If multiple irregularities occur in assessment activities within the same course, the final grade for the course will be 0.

Bibliography

Required Bibliography


Part I. Key Concepts

  • Massey, D. S., Arango, J., Hugo, G., Kouaouci, A., Pellegrino, A., & Taylor, J. E. (1993). Theories of International Migration: A Review and Appraisal. Population and Development Review, 19(3), 431–466.
  • Mitchell, C. (1989). International migration, international relations and foreign policy. International Migration Review, 23(3), 681-708.
  • https://www.migrationdataportal.org/

Part II. Immigration Policies: The Making of

  • Castles, S. (2004). Why migration policies fail. Ethnic and racial studies, 27(2), 205-227.
  • Freeman, G. P. (2006). National models, policy types, and the politics of immigration in liberal democracies. West European Politics, 29(2), 227-247.
  • Østergaard-Nielsen, E. (2003). The Politics of Migrants’ Transnational Political Practices. The International Migration Review, 37(3), 760–786

Part III. Forced Migration

  • Gammeltoft-Hansen, T. (2014). International refugee law and refugee policy: the case of deterrence policies. Journal of Refugee Studies, 27(4), 574-595.
  • Greenhill, K. M. (2016). The Weaponisation of Migration. Connectivity Wars: Why Migration, Finance and Trade Are the Geo-Economic Battlegrounds of the Future, 76-82. European Council on Foreign Relations
  • https://www.unhcr.org/refugee-statistics/ & https://www.unhcr.org/global-trends

Part IV. Integration and Inclusion Policies

  • Klarenbeek, L. M. (2021). Reconceptualising‘integration as a two-way process’. Migration studies, 9(3), 902-921.
  • Caponio, T., & Jones-Correa, M. (2018). Theorising migration policy in multilevel states: the multilevel governance perspective. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 44(12), 1995–2010.
  • OECD & European Union: Indicators of Immigrant Integration 2023: Settling In

Part V. The EU migration and asylum policy

  • Münch, S. (2018). EU migration and asylum policies. In Handbook of European policies (pp. 306-330). Edward Elgar Publishing.
  • Pinyol-Jiménez, G. (2019). Is It Possible to Develop a Common European Policy on Immigration and Asylum?. IEMed: Mediterranean yearbook 2019, 64-69. Barcelona: IEMed.
  • Eurostat. Migration and Migrant Population Statistics


Bibliografia complementaria

  • Betts, A. (2008). Global migration governance (No. 2008/43). GEG Working Paper.
  • Boswell, C. (2007). Theorizing migration policy: Is there a third way?. International migration review, 41(1), 75-100.
  • Carens, J.H. (1987). Aliens and citizens: the case for open borders. The review of politics, 251-273.
  • Czaika, M., & De Haas, H. (2013). The effectiveness of immigration policies. Population and Development Review, 39(3), 487-508.
  • De Haas, H., Czaika, M., Flahaux, M. L., Mahendra, E., Natter, K., Vezzoli, S., & Villares‐Varela, M. (2019). International migration: Trends, determinants, and policyeffects. Population and Development Review, 45(4), 885-922.
  • Geddes, A., & Scholten,P. (2013). Policy Analysis and Europeanization: An Analysis of EU Migrant Integration Policymaking. Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis: Research and Practice, 17(1), 41–59.
  • Gilardoni, G., D'Odorico, M., & Carrillo, D. (2015). Evidence on migrants' integration in Europe. Milan: ISMU Foundation.
  • Greenhill, K. M. (2022). When migrants become weapons: the long history and worrying future of a coercive tactic. Foreign Affairs, 101, 155.
  • Guild, E. (2006). The Europeanisation of Europe's asylum policy. International Journal of Refugee Law, 18(3-4), 630-651.
  • Guiraudon, V., & Lahav, G. (2000). A reappraisal of the state sovereignty debate: The case of migration control. Comparative political studies, 33(2), 163-195.
  • Hollifield, J., Martin, P. L., & Orrenius, P. (Eds.). (2014). Controlling immigration: A global perspective. Stanford University Press.
  • Huysmans, J. (2000). The European Union and the securitization of migration. Journal of Common Market Studies, 38(5), 751-777.
  • Joppke, C. (1998). Why liberal states accept unwanted immigration. World politics, 266-293.
  • Lahav, G. (2004). Public opinion toward immigration in the European Union does: It matter?. Comparative Political Studies, 37(10), 1151-1183.
  • Lakoff, G. (2006). The framing of immigration. https://escholarship.org/content/qt0j89f85g/qt0j89f85g.pdf
  • Pinyol-Jiménez, G. (2012). The migration-security nexus in short: Instruments and actions in the European Union. Amsterdam LF, 4, 36.
  • Pinyol-Jiménez, G. (2025). La securitización de la política de inmigración y asilo de la Unión Europea (1999–2024): Una aproximación desde la Escuela de Copenhague. Valencia: Editorial Tirant Lo Blanch.
  • Scholten, P., & Penninx, R. (2016). The multilevel governance of migration and integration. In Integration processes and policies in Europe (pp. 91-108). Springer, Cham.
  • Thielemann, E. (2011). How Effective are Migration and Non-Migration Policies that Affect Forced Migration. Migration Studies Unit Working Papers, (2011/14).
  • Triandafyllidou, A. (2022). Migration and the Nation. In: Scholten, P. (eds) Introduction to Migration Studies. IMISCOE Research Series. Springer, Cham.
  • Wickramasinghe, A. A. I. N., & Wimalaratana, W. (2016). International migration and migration theories. Social Affairs, 1(5), 13-32.

Software

No need.

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 1 English second semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 English second semester morning-mixed