The PhD in Migration Studies aims to:

• Equip students to conduct independent, high-impact research that advances theoretical, empirical, and methodological understanding of migration.
   
• Strengthen analytical and critical thinking capacities to address complex migration issues from interdisciplinary and comparative perspectives.
   
• Bridge academia, policy, and practice by fostering research that informs national, continental, and global migration governance.
   
• Develop the next generation of migration scholars, policymakers, and practitioners committed to inclusive and evidence-based migration management.

The programme is designed to balance advanced academic training with original research.

• Year 1: Intensive coursework covering migration theory, qualitative and quantitative research methods, migration and development, legal and policy frameworks, and selected thematic electives.
• Years 2–4: Independent research culminating in a doctoral dissertation. Candidates are encouraged to publish in peer-reviewed journals and present their work at international conferences to enhance scholarly visibility and professional development.

Applicants seeking admission to the PhD in Migration Studies must meet the following criteria:

• Possession of a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) or Master of Arts (MA) degree in Migration Studies or a closely related discipline, with a strong research component.
• Demonstrated research interest, evidenced by a research proposal and relevant academic writing samples.

• A good first degree (minimum Second-Class Lower Division) in a relevant discipline from the University of Ghana or any recognized university.

  Given the interdisciplinary nature of migration studies, applicants from the following fields are encouraged to apply:

  • Health Sciences
  • Social Sciences
  • Development Studies
  • Public Administration
  • Geography
  • Law
  • Sociology
  • Population Studies
• Successful performance in an oral interview conducted by the Centre for Migration Studies.

Both Ghanaian and international applicants are welcome.

Applicants are advised to consult the University’s official postgraduate admissions portal for detailed requirements and application procedures.

MIST 701: Theories of Migration

This course introduces students to key theories that explain migration across micro, meso, and macro levels. It adopts a historical and interdisciplinary perspective, enabling students to critically engage with classical and contemporary frameworks. Case studies are used to illustrate the theoretical and empirical dimensions of migration processes. Each student will produce a term paper reflecting the theoretical underpinnings of their research project.

MIST 702: Legal and Policy Dimensions of Migration

This course examines the legal and policy frameworks that govern the movement of people. It equips students with analytical tools to assess migration laws, refugee protection systems, visa regimes, and diaspora engagement policies. Topics include international legal frameworks, citizenship, forced migration, and host-migrant relations. The course includes a practical component, such as visits to relevant institutions and organizations to connect classroom knowledge with real-world applications.

MIST 703: Advanced Quantitative Research Methods

This course enhances students’ capacity to conceptualize, collect, and analyze migration-related data. It provides an in-depth understanding of quantitative methodologies, including sampling, hypothesis testing, regression analysis, survey design, and time series analysis. Students gain practical experience in statistical software and data interpretation for migration research.

MIST 704: Qualitative Research Methodologies
This course explores qualitative research methods and their application to migration studies. It combines theoretical grounding with practical skill development, including interviewing, ethnography, discourse analysis, and field observation. Emphasis is placed on reflexivity, ethics, and the integration of qualitative findings into policy-relevant migration research.

MIST 705: Demographic Processes, Social Dynamics and Migration

The course investigates the relationship between demographic transitions and migration flows between the Global South and Global North. It focuses on the social dynamics emerging from demographic shifts, such as transnational care arrangements, ageing, gender roles, and human rights issues, through a migration lens.

MIST 706: Migration and Development

This course analyzes the multifaceted relationship between migration and development, examining competing theories and paradigms. Students engage with debates around migration’s role in economic transformation, remittances, social change, and human rights. Ghanaian and global case studies are used to highlight the structural and agency dimensions of migration and development linkages.

MIST 707: Contemporary Issues in Forced Migration

This course provides an advanced understanding of forced migration as a global phenomenon. Students explore theoretical and policy frameworks governing displacement, asylum, and protection. The course employs comparative case studies to examine emerging trends, such as protracted displacement, statelessness, and the geopolitics of refuge and asylum.

MIST 708: Gender, Migration and Development

This course deepens understanding of the gendered dimensions of migration. It explores how gender shapes migration motivations, experiences, and outcomes, focusing on topics such as labour mobility, family transformation, trafficking, and integration. A practical component includes field visits to institutions dealing with gender and migration issues in Ghana.

MIST 709: Advanced Labour Migration Studies

Students are introduced to the political economy of labour migration and its impacts on sending and receiving countries. The course examines labour market dynamics, migration policies, and migrants’ rights in both regular and irregular contexts. Emphasis is placed on policy implications for labour mobility in Africa and beyond.

MIST 710: Environmental Change and Migration

This course explores the complex nexus between environmental change and human mobility. Students assess how climate variability, disasters, and environmental degradation shape migration patterns. Case studies from Ghana and other regions illustrate the intersection between environmental stress, adaptation strategies, and migration policy.