13 Top-Rated Courses on Refugee Rights and Migration Studies

International Migrations: A Global Issue (SciencesPo)

This online course, International Migrations: A Global Issue, is offered by SciencePo through Cousera’s MOOC platform. This 7-week, beginner level course focuses on various issues related to migration and uses articles, videos, maps, and scientific papers to help students gain a deeper understanding of the topics discussed throughout the course. The course consists of 7 sessions: Globalization of migration; Refugees and environmentally displaced persons; Europe; France and international migration flows; Citizenship and migration; Borders; Right to mobility and global governance. Students’ learning is assessed through quizzes at the end of each session. The primary instructor for the course is Catherine Wihtol de Wenden, Research Director for CNRS and teacher at SciencePo.

This course is 100% online and takes approximately 17 hours to complete. The course material is in English, except the videos, which are French with English subtitles. You can start the course at any time and reset deadlines for course material to fit with your schedule. Students can choose to audit the course for free and or pay $49 to earn the course certificate. Coursera offers a financial aid application for those who cannot pay the fee for the certificate.

Internal Displacement, Conflict and Protection (University of London)

Internally displaced persons (IDPs) are people who are forced to flee their homes due to conflict or persecution. Unlike refugees, they stay within the borders of their country. Offered by the University of London this course is taught by Professor David Cantor, Professor of Refugee Protection and Forced Migration Studies and Dr Agnes Woolley, Lecturer in Transnational Literature and Migration Cultures. In this course participants will learn about internal displacement from a global perspective. Participants will explore global trends in internal displacement, examine the fundamentals of the global protection response for IDPs, and assess the experience of internal displacement through research and artistic sources. Learners who are interested may seek to continue studying the master’s program in Refugee Protection and Forced Migration Studies at University of London.

Students can audit the course for free or opt-in for a verified certificate for an extra fee. There are no requirements to enroll in the online course. The entire course is taught in English and takes around 27 hours to complete. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.

Human Rights: The Rights of Refugees (Amnesty International)

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EdX offers the online course Human Rights: The Rights of Refugees from Amnesty International. This is an introductory, 3-week course. Students will learn about the human rights of refugees and how to explain and defend them, as well as the roles of governments in protecting human rights and how to take action on behalf of refugees. Courses will draw from the expertise of campaigners, activists, and other professionals at Amnesty International, teaching students how to identify human rights violations and to defend and promote the rights of refugees. Students will have the chance to interact with the other participants through critical thinking and discussion.

This class contains about 3 to 5 hours of coursework a week. Course material is provided in English, but the course is also offered in French and Spanish. Students can choose to audit the course for free or pay $49 for a certificate upon completion. EdX offers up to 90% financial assistance for the certification fee on verified courses; students must apply separately and some courses may not accept the financial aid.

Working Supportively with Refugees: Principles, Skills, and Perspectives (University of Glasgow)

Working Supportively with Refugees: Principles, Skills, and Perspectives is an online FutureLearn course offered by the University of Glasgow. This 3-week course helps students learn about supporting refugees through psychology, intercultural communication, interpretation, and conflict management. The course will cover topics such as the basics of migration and refugees, cultural diversity, conflict resolution and social inclusion, principles on psychology, communication, and cultural mediation. This course is open to anyone interested in learning more about working with refugees but is designed with NGO professionals, interpreters, volunteers, and students in mind. The course is taught by Dr. Marta Moskal, research fellow at the University of Glasgow School of Education; Dr. Giovanna Fassetta, lecturer in Intercultural Literacies and Languages in Education at the University of Glasgow; and Jamie Spurway, a diversity trainer working with the University of Glasgow.

This course should take about 4 hours of study per week and is taught in English. Start dates vary, so interested students should check the course site for the next available start date. This course can be taken for free, but students must pay $59 to receive a certificate of completion or pay for a yearly subscription to FutureLearn. Scholarships are occasionally offered for a select number of students based on eligibility requirements determined by the funder.

Caring for Children Moving Alone: Protecting Unaccompanied and Separated Children (University of Strathclyde)

Caring for Children Moving Alone: Protecting Unaccompanied and Separated Children is an online course offered by the University of Strathclyde and the Center for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection (CELCIS) on FutureLearn. Students will learn about the care and protection of unaccompanied minors, learning about the risks and vulnerabilities they face. The course will teach students about the basics of child migration, alternative care options, policies for the protection of unaccompanied minors, assessing the needs of unaccompanied minors, cooperation in the humanitarian sector, and more. This course is designed for professionals in the field, as well as volunteers, who regularly encounter unaccompanied minors and other children in migration. Dr. Chrissie Gale, child protection specialist and leader of international work at CELCIS, instructs the course.

This course requires 4 hours of weekly study. The course is offered in English, French, Spanish, and Arabic. This course is offered for free at all levels of study.

Why Do People Migrate? Theories (European University Institute)

Future learn offers the course Why Do People Migrate? Theories by the European University Institute, a 3-week study on migration theory. Students will learn about migration in the context of society, institutions, individual choices, and more. The course will discuss and address questions and topics such as why migration starts, why migration continues, migration as a global phenomenon, and theoretical approaches in practice. This course is for anyone who is interested in learning more about theories of migration. Course instructors are Anna Triandafyllidou, professor at the European University Institute and director of the institute’s Cultural Pluralism Area in the Global Governance Programme and Nick Dines, research fellow at the European University Institute.

This course will require 3 hours of study per week and is offered in English. Start dates vary; the course is currently available to take. This course can be audited for free. To earn a certificate of completion, students must pay $59 or the fee for a yearly FutureLearn subscription.

Trade, Immigration and Exchange Rates in a Globalized World (IE Business School)

Coursera offers the online course Trade, Immigration and Exchange Rates in a Globalized World from IE Business School. This 5-week beginner course is the second in 3 courses available to complete the Globalization, Economic Growth and Stability Specialization. Students will learn about exchange rates, trade, globalization, economic transactions, and current migration trends. Students taking the course for a grade will complete a capstone project in their fifth week of the course. Students are assessed through quizzes, which will contribute to the grade determination for those paying to receive a certification. This course is designed primarily for professionals and students in the fields of economics and business, although those dealing with global migration issues may find the course useful for a more comprehensive understanding of the context of migration. The course is taught by Gayle Allard, professor of economics at the IE Business School in Madrid.

This course takes about 2-3 hours of study a week to complete, totalling around 13 hours. The course is taught in English and includes both English and Arabic subtitles. The course starts whenever students choose to enroll and students can reset deadlines for assignments to be flexible with their schedule. Students can audit the course for free or earn a certificate for a fee of $49 per month for as long as the course lasts. Students can apply for financial aid to cover the monthly cost of the course.

Migration and Cities (European University Institute)

FutureLearn offers the online course Migration and Cities from the European University Institute. Through this 3-week course, students will learn about the influence of migration on cities, employment, settlement, policy and more. This course discusses topics such as different types of migration towards cities, migration and urban development, migrant labor, settlement of migrants in cities, migration and urban public space, problems and conflicts from migration in cities, governance, cultural heritage, and transnational urban networks among migrants in cities. This course is designed for anyone interested in topics of migration and cities. Course instructors are Anna Triandafyllidou, professor at the European University Institute and director of the institute’s Cultural Pluralism Area in the Global Governance Programme and Nick Dines, research fellow at the European University Institute.

This course requires 3 hours of study per week. Start dates for the course vary; it is currently available for enrollment. Students can choose to audit the course for free or pay $59 for a certificate of completion; they can also choose to pay for a yearly subscription to FutureLearn to earn a certificate.

Health in Complex Humanitarian Emergencies (Emory University)

Coursera offers the online course Health in Complex Humanitarian Emergencies from Emory University’s Center for Humanitarian Emergencies and the CDC’s Emergency Response and Recovery Branch. This is a 4-week, intermediate level course focusing on health programs designed for conflict zones and areas of humanitarian crises, specifically refugee camps. Students will learn about the basics of humanitarian crises, basic epidemiology measures, epidemiological data, public health programs and strategies, internal and external problems that can impact programs, and more. Students will learn through videos, articles, and quizzes which will contribute to grading for those taking the course for certification. The course instructors are Dr. Dabney P. Evans, assistant professor at Emory University and the CDC, and Cyrus Shahpar, assistant professor at Emory University.

This course will take about 6 hours per week of study. The course is taught in English. Students can enroll in the course at any time, and deadlines are adjustable to fit with your schedule. Students can audit the course for free or pay a fee of $49 to receive a certificate upon completion. Coursera offers an option to apply for a scholarship to cover part or all of the certificate fee.

Switzerland in Europe: Money, Migration and Other Difficult Matters (University of Basel)

Switzerland in Europe: Money, Migration and Other Difficult Matters is an online course by the University of Basel on FutureLearn. This 6-week course helps students gain a deeper understanding of migration in Europe, especially Switzerland. Sessions will cover topics like taxation, immigration, banking secrecy, and other current issues Switzerland is facing within the context of its relationship to the rest of Europe. The course uses case studies to help students look at issues such as Switzerland’s legal relationship to the EU, the federal structure of Switzerland, economic migration, the immigration debate, institutional framework of Swiss-EU agreements, and more from various perspectives. This course is designed for professionals, students, journalists, and more working especially with politics and economics relating to Switzerland and the EU. This course is taught by Christa Tobler, professor of European Union law in Switzerland and the Netherlands, and by Sebastian Meyer, PhD candidate in EU law at the University of Basel.

The course requires about 4 hours of study per week and is taught in English. Start dates vary; students can enroll now for the upcoming course start. Students can audit this course for free. For a certificate of completion, students must pay $59 or pay for a yearly subscription to FutureLearn.

TESOL Strategies: Supporting ESL Students in Mainstream Classrooms (University of Glasgow)

The University of Glasgow offers the online course TESOL Strategies: Supporting ESL Students in Mainstream Classrooms on FutureLearn’s site. This 3-week course is specifically designed for practicing teachers of English. The course aims to help teachers in multicultural, multilingual classrooms ensure that their students are supported in the learning program through effective and structured curricula. The course covers topics such as the process of learning languages, English-language learners’ speaking and listening skills, ELLs’ writing and reading skills, feedback and classroom discussion, and more. The course is taught by instructors Catherine Doherty, professor of Pedagogy and Social Justice at the University of Glasgow, and Sally Zacharias, applied linguist and teacher educator currently working at the University of Glasgow School of Education.

This course takes about 4 hours per week to complete and is taught in English. This course can be audited for free; students can also obtain a certificate of completion for a one-time fee of $69 or by paying for a yearly subscription to FutureLearn.

Addressing Violence through Patient Care (University of Bergen)

FutureLearn offers the online course Addressing Violence through Patient Care from the University of Bergen. This 3-week course was designed for healthcare professionals, especially working with refugees, victims of tortures, and victims of domestic violence. The course addresses challenges that these particular populations face in regards to healthcare, as well as skills and knowledge for field work and advocacy. Students will learn from 3 case studies and discuss topics such as forms of violence, hierarchies of violence, levels of violence, violence prevention, understanding peace, and risks and limitations of medical peace work. The course is taught by Ingvild Fossgard Sandoy, professor of Public Health at the University of Bergen, and Klaus Melf, Deputy Chief Medical Officer in the City of Bergen.

The course takes about 3 hours a week to complete. Start dates vary; students can currently enroll in the course. The course can be audited for free, or students can obtain a certificate for $59. Students can also get a certificate if they enroll in a yearly subscription for FutureLearn.

Volunteering with Refugees (University of Cambridge)

FutureLearn offers the online course Volunteering with Refugees through Cambridge Assessment English at the University of Cambridge and through Crisis Classroom. This 3-week course is designed for volunteers to gain an in-depth understanding of refugees and how to support them. The course covers topics such as linguistic and cultural differences, building relationships, working with trauma, and resources for language learning and refugee support. The course is specifically designed for volunteers who are working with or planning to work with refugee populations, helping them learn how to provide appropriate linguistic and service support. Instructors include Kate McAllister, co-founder of Crisis Classroom and Re-Thinking Ed; Monico Poulter, Teacher Development Manager at Cambridge Assessment English; and Darren Abrahams, co-founder of Crisis Classroom.

This course should take 4 hours of study a week and is taught in English. Start dates vary, so students must check the course site for availability. This course is free to take.

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