Postgraduate taught  

Global Migrations & Social Justice MSc

Postgraduate online event:
Thursday 8 May 2025, 9am – 5pm

Chat to staff, students and academics to discover what it's like to study at our world changing campus as a postgraduate student at UofG

The Masters in Migrations & Social Justice will introduce you to the study of global migration, including migration processes and the social, political and economic consequences of migration. Unique in Scotland, it addresses questions such as who moves and why, who is allowed to settle and where, what are the roles of states, institutions and civil societies in these processes.

Register your interest for more information

Why this programme

Global Migrations & Social Justice programme overview
  • We look at migration from a social justice perspective, and the MSc offers an opportunity to critically engage with issues of inequality, power, citizenship, human rights, welfare and solidarity.
  • The University of Glasgow has been awarded University of Sanctuary status in recognition of its commitment to supporting people who have experienced forced migration, including facilitating access to higher education for refugee communities.
  • The MSc combines social theory with research methods and tools and enables you to develop applied knowledge in the field. It brings together cutting-edge academic research on migration with an emphasis on social justice and learning from non-academic work in this area. 
  • We have strong links with the Glasgow Refugee, Asylum and Migration Network (GRAMNet). GRAMnet is an internationally recognised research network based at the University of Glasgow that brings together researchers and practitioners, NGOs and policy makers working with migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in Scotland and beyond.
  • You will benefit from access to the GRAMNet-related activities such as seminars, film series, community organised events and find out about opportunities for knowledge exchange. 
  • We have strong links with voluntary and public sector organisations in Scotland and beyond through GRAMNet as well as through staff and alumni’s professional links. You may also be able to pursue opportunities to apply for relevant work-based internships through the University of Glasgow’s Internship Hub.
  • The Masters draws on a wealth of staff expertise on migration that covers a broad thematic and geographical spectrum. Our academic staff have a background in sociology and the related disciplines of anthropology, criminology, human geography and politics. 
  • Our innovative learning and teaching approaches include in and out of classroom learning, physically and virtually, along with assessment methods with practical options for collaborative and arts-based dissertation projects.
  • Sociology at Glasgow is ranked 4th in the UK by the Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 and 4th in the UK by the Complete University Guide 2025.

Programme structure

You will take three core and three optional courses as well as complete a dissertation or a practical project.

Courses will be delivered via lectures and seminars supported by appropriate multi-media material, such as monographs, videos, podcasts, journal articles, reports and survey data. Some of this learning will take you physically and virtually out of the classroom.

The dissertation options have been designed to bring together practice and academic learning, allowing you to reflect on the experience of being directly and actively engaged with service providers and asylum seekers, refugees and migrants, working alongside them to explore how research may be transformative for organisations, individuals and communities.

Core courses

Optional courses may include

You may also be able to choose from courses in the other subjects in the School of Social & Political Sciences and beyond.

Full-time and part-time study

You can choose to study full time or part time, to fit around your work and personal life. If you are considering part-time study options, you can email the programme convener to discuss.

Programme alteration or discontinuation
The University of Glasgow endeavours to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw or alter a programme. For more information, please see: Student contract.

Career prospects

This programme will equip you to apply your learning to a wide range of employment opportunities locally, nationally and internationally.

Career opportunities and pathways

This programme provides a strong foundation for establishing or continuing a successful career in civil society, the public sector, government, or social research – including doctoral research. This might include working with:

  • community organisations
  • non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
  • third sector organisations
  • policy-making bodies
  • local and national governments.

The programme's emphasis on applied learning is highly relevant to a range of professional settings where you may be working with asylum seekers, refugees and migrants. The programme will also provide the necessary foundations for further study through doctoral research (PhD).

Professional development

Career support from the University of Glasgow

Fees & funding

Tuition fees for 2025-26

MSc

UK

  • Full-time fee: £11250
  • Part-time fee: £1250 per 20 credits

International & EU

  • Full-time fee: £25320

Deposits

International and EU applicants are required to pay a deposit of £2000 when an offer is made.

Deposits: terms & conditions

Additional fees

  • Fee for re-assessment of a dissertation (PGT programme): £370
  • Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: £350
  • Registration/exam only fee: £170

Funding opportunities

GREAT Scholarships 2025

The Snowdon Trust Master’s Scholarship

Banco de Mexico

Erasmus+ Master Degree Loans

DAAD-University of Glasgow 1-year Master’s grant

Colfuturo Fundacion para el Futuro de Colombia

Commonwealth Scholarship Schemes

Chevening Scholarship

CONICyT (La Comsion Nacional de Investigacion Cientifica y Tecnologica de Chile)

University of Glasgow African Excellence Award

CONACyT (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia) / FUNED Agreement

World Changers Glasgow Scholarship

University of Glasgow Caribbean Excellence Award

Postgraduate Student Loan (Scotland and EU)

Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loans England only (PTFL)

Postgraduate Loans for Welsh Students

Alumni Discount

Postgraduate Access Scholarship

Global Leadership Scholarship

Glasgow Excellence Award (UK)

HESPAL Scholarship

Postgraduate Student Loan (NI)

World Changers Glasgow Scholarship PGT (EU)

The Clan Gregor Society Prize

The Dima Alhaj Scholarship

Sanctuary Scholarships

Travel Bursary for Forced Migrants

Glasgow Highland Society Scholarship

The scholarships above are relevant to this programme. For more funding opportunities search the scholarships database

Entry requirements

2.1 Hons (or non-UK equivalent) in Social Sciences or Humanities including Sociology, Anthropology, Politics, Law and History.

We may sometimes accept degrees with 2.2 Hons or non-UK equivalent with relevant work experience or A significant relevant work experience may also be considered in lieu of qualification on individual case to case basis.

English language requirements

International students

We are proud of our diverse University community that includes students and staff from more than 140 different countries.

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught degree you must apply online. We cannot accept applications any other way.

Please check you meet the Entry requirements for this programme before you begin your application.

Documents

As part of your online application, you also need to submit the following supporting documents:

  • A copy (or copies) of your official degree certificate(s) (if you have already completed your degree)
  • A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained
  • Official English translations of the certificate(s) and transcript(s)
  • One reference letter on headed paper
  • Evidence of your English language ability (if your first language is not English)
  • Any additional documents required for this programme (see Entry requirements for this programme)
  • A copy of the photo page of your passport

You have 42 days to submit your application once you begin the process.

You may save and return to your application as many times as you wish to update information, complete sections or upload supporting documents such as your final transcript or your language test.

For more information about submitting documents or other topics related to applying to a postgraduate taught programme, see how to apply for a postgraduate taught degree

Guidance notes for using the online application

These notes are intended to help you complete the online application form accurately; they are also available within the help section of the online application form. 

If you experience any difficulties accessing the online application, see Application System Help.

  • Name and Date of birth: must appear exactly as they do on your passport. Please take time to check the spelling and lay-out.
  • Contact Details: Correspondence address. All contact relevant to your application will be sent to this address including the offer letter(s). If your address changes, please contact us as soon as possible.
  • Choice of course: Please select carefully the course you want to study. As your application will be sent to the admissions committee for each course you select it is important to consider at this stage why you are interested in the course and that it is reflected in your application.
  • Proposed date of entry: Please state your preferred start date including the month and the year. Taught masters degrees tend to begin in September. Research degrees may start in any month.
  • Education and Qualifications: Please complete this section as fully as possible indicating any relevant Higher Education qualifications starting with the most recent. Complete the name of the Institution (s) as it appears on the degree certificate or transcript.
  • English Language Proficiency: Please state the date of any English language test taken (or to be taken) and the award date (or expected award date if known).
  • Employment and Experience: Please complete this section as fully as possible with all employments relevant to your course. Additional details may be attached in your personal statement/proposal where appropriate.

Reference: Please provide one reference. This should typically be an academic reference but in cases where this is not possible then a reference from a current employer may be accepted instead. Certain programmes, such as the MBA programme, may also accept an employer reference. If you already have a copy of a reference on letter headed paper then please upload this to your application. If you do not already have a reference to upload then please enter your referee’s name and contact details on the online application and we will contact your referee directly.

Application deadlines

September 2025

International & EU applicants

Due to demand for degree places on this programme, the University has an application process with application rounds which recognises that different geographical areas complete and submit their applications at different times of the year. This process aims to ensure fairness and equity to applicants from all geographic regions.

Round 1 application dates: 1 October 2024 to 4 November 2024

All international applications submitted within these dates will be reviewed with no priority given to any geographic region. You will receive our decision on your application by 22 January 2025.

Round 2 application dates: 5 November 2024 to 16 December 2024

All international applications submitted within these dates will be reviewed with no priority given to any geographic region. You will receive our decision on your application by 10 March 2025.

Round 3 application dates: 17 December 2024 to 3 February 2025

Priority will be given to under-represented geographic regions. You will receive our decision on your application by 21 April 2025.

Round 4 application dates: 4 February 2025 to 24 March 2025

Priority will be given to under-represented geographic regions. You will receive our decision on your application by 19 May 2025.

Round 5 application dates: 25 March 2025 to 12 May 2025

Priority will be given to under-represented geographic regions. You will receive our decision on your application by 7 July 2025.

Round 6 application dates: 13 May 2025 to 7 July 2025

Priority will be given to under-represented geographic regions. You will receive our decision on your application by 18 August 2025.

All international applications submitted by 16 December 2024 will be reviewed and processed normally with no priority given to any geographic region. From 17 December 2024, priority will be given to applications from geographic areas which have been unable to submit applications before that point.

As we receive a great number of applications, prospective students are only allowed to apply once per year.

UK applicants

  • 22 August 2025
Apply now

More information about this programme