Refugee studies is an interdisciplinary field of study that seeks to identify the legal, ethical, political and historical contexts of mobility studies, refugee and human rights relations, and their connections with global change.

This major draws on Macquarie’s research expertise and strong interdisciplinary capacity in geography, law, sociology, politics, international relations and anthropology. You’ll critically explore theoretical approaches and international case studies to address contemporary challenges associated with migration and mobility.

Key Features

• You’ll study within a diversity of academic disciplines that refugee studies pertain to across law and the social sciences.
• You’ll develop critical analysis skills as you evaluate institutions, laws and policies that produce and manage refugee mobilities.
• You’ll develop a detailed understanding of the various stages in the refugee process, including forced displacement, claiming asylum, legal appeals, detention and/or deportation, settlement and citizenship.
• You’ll develop key transferable skills in social research as you seek to understand the ethical complexities of refugee mobilities, migration and human rights, applying methods and concepts from social sciences and law.
• This major will foster skills relevant to employment in a variety of fields; for example, legal advocacy, transnational refugee and human rights agencies, community and social work, and settlement services, as well as in all levels of government.
• Learning doesn’t just happen in the classroom – you’ll have the opportunity to kickstart your career and put your new skills into practice as you undertake a PACE (Professional and Community Engagement) project with one of our many partners, such as local government.
• Macquarie is ranked in the top five in Australia for arts and humanities (Best Global Universities, US News & World Report, 2018) and in the top 100 in the world (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2018).
• Macquarie is ranked number one in Sydney for overall student experience and for teaching quality and learning resources in humanities, culture and social sciences (QILT, 2017).

• Aid worker
• Community/social worker
• International development adviser
• Lawyer
• Legal advocate
• Local, state and federal government adviser or analyst
• Project manager
• Policy analyst
• Program designer, manager or evaluator
• Research consultant
• Social change agent, planner or researcher
• Social worker
• Community groups
• Consultancies
• Government
• Health services
• Human rights organisations
• Legal practice
• Non-government organisations
• Refugee agencies (local, national and transnational)
• Regulatory bodies
• Settlement services
• Think tanks and policy institutes
• Trade unions
• Universities