Bachelor in International Migration and Ethnic Relations
Malmö, Sweden
Bachelor's degree
DURATION
3 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2027
TUITION FEES
SEK 325,000
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* this is the deadline for national round. Non-EU/EEA students who require a residence permit should apply during international admissions round opening mid-October 2026.
Key Summary
About: The Bachelor in International Migration and Ethnic Relations at Malmö University covers asylum law, migration policy, integration, segregation, identity, racism, nationalism, research methods, academic writing, project work and project management. You’ll study global migration, ethnic relations, culture, ethnicity and social cohesion, and explore how policy can reduce segregation and discrimination. The programme offers practical research, fieldwork, study abroad and internship options, preparing you for applied work or further study.
Career Outcomes: Graduates find roles in government and non-government organisations, social work, journalism and business, community development, public administration, research. You can progress to advanced Master’s study and a PhD.
The Bachelor in International Migration and Ethnic Relations programme gives you a solid foundation for a career dealing with migration and diversity-related issues such as asylum law, segregation, discrimination, social cohesion, globalisation, and integration, or for further studies at the Master’s level.
Topics include:
- Global migration and Migration policies
- Refugees and Asylum Law
- Integration and Segregation
- Identity and Community
- Racism and Nationalism
- Research methodology and Project work
- Academic writing
- Managing projects
- Possibility for field studies
- Possibility of an internship or study abroad
Future employment may be in fields such as administration and social work at local authorities, governmental and non-governmental organisations, and in fields such as business and journalism.
What you will learn
Migration, especially its effects on a global scale, has become one of the most fundamental issues concerning societies worldwide. Governments, corporations, politicians, and individuals all over the world try to grasp the possibilities and concerns of increasing mobility on a global scale. International Migration and Ethnic Relations at Malmö University addresses these issues.
Refugees from war-torn regions of the world, people seeking to find jobs and a decent quality of life away from their country of birth, and executives in multinational corporations are all part of migratory movements. This programme studies the effects of migration at a global and national level, on the formation of ethnic communities, religious groups, families, and individuals, to find out how policies could facilitate integration and hinder segregation and racism in societies worldwide. It also addresses fundamental issues concerning concepts such as culture and ethnicity.
Organisation
Semester 1 contains an introductory course in IMER (International Migration and Ethnic Relations I), with modules focusing on two main themes within the field: international migration and ethnic relations.
Semester 2 consists of two courses aimed at a deeper understanding of the role of international and internal migration in the construction of contemporary societies and how societies address the outcome of such movements: IMER II: The Challenges of Ethnic Diversity and IMER II: Europe and International Migration.
Semester 3 consists of one course, Methods in IMER Research and Minor Thesis Course, where the students will delve deeper into two core research fields within IMER. The first half of the course will introduce the research fields and will give the students both specific knowledge within the fields as well as more generic knowledge of how to write a literature review. The second half of the course is aimed at giving a basis for the student’s conscious and reflected choice of research design and research methods in the field of IMER. The course ends with a minor thesis.
Semester 4 consists of the course IMER Research Areas. It is divided into two separate modules, each of which offers deeper knowledge and understanding of key issues and problems in two research areas. The course draws on ongoing research at the department and the expertise of the teachers. The aim is both to develop an understanding of state-of-the-art knowledge in the field and to examine how such knowledge is and can be produced.
Semester 5 consists of elective courses, giving the students a chance to develop their interests and knowledge within fields relevant to future work or studies. The studies during term 5 may include field studies, internships, or international exchange studies.
Semester 6 consists of the course IMER III: Research Methodology and Bachelor Thesis. The course starts with a methodological discussion where the students will acquire knowledge, skills, and understanding of the research process, together with knowledge on how to perform research within the multi-disciplinary field of IMER. In the second half of the course, the students will write a BA thesis under the supervision of lecturers
Contents
Autumn 2025 - Semester 1
- International Migration and Ethnic Relations I (IM104L), 30 credits, compulsory
Knowledge and understanding
A graduate of the Bachelor’s programme in International Migration and Ethnic Relations shall:
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the causes of international migration and its effects on sending and receiving societies, using both theoretical approaches and empirical case studies.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how ethnicity and culture are constructed and reconstructed in social processes at the societal and micro level, and how diverse forms of group identification and group processes relate to mechanisms of inclusion and exclusion in society.
- Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of specific areas within the IMER field of study, which includes current research questions in this field.
- Demonstrate knowledge of methods used within the IMER-filed, in particular the comparative method, ethnographic methods and interviews, text analysis, and quantitative methods.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the multidisciplinary foundation of IMER and methodological considerations connected to this multidisciplinary approach.
Competence and skills
A graduate of the Bachelor’s programme in International Migration and Ethnic Relations shall:
- Critically discuss various problems in the IMER field by collecting, analysing, and evaluating information based on scholarly foundations.
- Show the competence to independently and within an agreed timeframe identify, formulate, and solve problems in the IMER field of studies by using theories, methods, research results, and various forms of empiricism.
- Demonstrate an ability to apply and reflect on different scientific methods used in the IMER field of study.
- Demonstrate an ability to communicate and discuss information, problems, and solutions with different groups in society, both orally and in writing.
- Demonstrate the ability to reflect on how to plan, conduct, and evaluate projects addressing issues in the IMER field.
- Show the ability to communicate research results orally and in writing.
Judgment and approach
A graduate of the Bachelor’s programme in International Migration and Ethnic Relations shall:
- Identify and critically approach questions and problems connected to migration-related phenomena in a society like ethnic issues, integration, and so on.
- Show the ability to make judgments taking into consideration relevant scientific, societal, and ethical aspects.
- Show the ability to be critically engaged, understand the role of knowledge in society, and understand the responsibilities behind its use.
- Show the ability to identify their need for further knowledge and competency.
Graduates typically get jobs within a wide range of areas such as government and non-government organisations concerned with issues of globalisation, migration, refugees, integration, and segregation. Graduates can also find jobs connected to social work, journalism, and various businesses concerned with global issues. You can also proceed to studies at an advanced level/master's courses and eventually go on to do a PhD.