Related teaching and research

Find out more about how our teaching and research is helping to make the world a safer place for forced migrants and asylum seekers.

Our teaching

We also run a range of modules at undergraduate level related to migration, including: 

Our research

One of the first centres on Migration in the UK, the Sussex Centre for Migration Research (SCMR) builds on a longstanding reputation for original theoretically driven empirical research in the field of migration and ethnic relations. Sussex hosts one of the largest groups of migration scholars in the world and a large active and vibrant migration postgraduate community.

Notable projects at Sussex, within and beyond SCMR, have included:

  • The SOGICA project, a research project funded by the European Research Council (ERC) that explores the social and legal experiences of asylum seekers across Europe claiming international protection on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity (SOGI).
  • ‘Optimising Refugee Resettlement in the UK’, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), explored the experiences of resettled refugees four or more years after their arrival in the UK. The project employed peer researchers from resettled refugee communities as part of the research team.

These projects, which have involved people seeking sanctuary in active participant roles, have collectively raised awareness around the needs of sanctuary seekers in the context of local, national and global policy and practice. As well as allowing the research teams to understand the needs of those seeking sanctuary, the research informs teaching at the university and other extra-curricular activities, as part of an ongoing learning process.

Events

Sussex has participated at the STAR and Article 26 conferences. The Sussex Centre for Migration Research (SCMR) with the Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies (JEMS), has hosted seven SCMR-JEMS international conferences, sharing academic knowledge on migration with international and national participants.

SCMR also administers a very active and extensive mailing list, which promotes local community events as well as academic seminars and publications.

Knowledge exchange

Members of the University of Sussex contributed to the International Migrants in Brighton and Hove needs assessment in 2017-18.

The research projects mentioned above have disseminated their findings among relevant public audiences. For example, the SOGICA project produced four videos raising awareness of SOGI asylum issues across Europe (one featuring local MP Caroline Lucas voicing her concerns about LGBTQI+ asylum), with a focus on the UK, Germany and Italy; produced a database of SOGI asylum materials, to support work of academics, practitioners, NGOs and individuals working in the field; and conducted knowledge exchange activities / activities including NGO and practicing participants. It has also made submissions to UK Parliamentary Inquiries, which have been mentioned in final reports, and published policy recommendations for fairer asylum decision-making.

SOGICA - A European Human Rights Challenge

The work of the ‘Optimising Refugee Resettlement in the UK’ project has included a policy brief on English language for resettled refugees, a Parliamentary roundtable report on the integration barriers facing refugees, and a full page article in the Guardian newspaper highlighting the impact of disruption to core education and the struggle facing refugees wishing to access university. The research on language learning has been referred to and quoted in two Parliamentary debates on ESOL.

The ‘Improving Education for Refugee Background Students’ project worked with Brighton and Hove Schools of Sanctuary to explore the experiences of RBS in secondary schools and colleges in the City in order to better support progression to Higher Education. The final report from the project is on the Office for Students (OFS) website on effective practice advice for refugee students, to be used by universities to inform their widening participation plans from 2019 and beyond.