International Migration and Ethnic Relations, Master's Programme (Two-Year)

An eye-opening journey to diversity

Originally from Turkey, Akinalp Orhan moved to Sweden to study in the master’s programme in International Migration and Ethnic Relations. Shortly after graduating from the two-year programme, Akinalp got a job at UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. He now works as an information management officer in Copenhagen, less than an hour away from Malmö University.

Why did you choose the programme?

I knew that I wanted to study migration studies and looked for education across Europe. I had been an exchange student in Stockholm before and was already used to the Swedish education system, which is different from many other countries. I got offered the master’s scholarship by Malmö University, but before I made my decision, I familiarised myself with the University’s teaching environment, publications, and major projects. The decision was an easy one to make.

What did you take with you from the studies?

One of my key takeaways from my studies is critical thinking. The University and the teachers really pushed us to think beyond the norm, challenge the structure, and question what we know as the ”truth”. I see a significant positive impact of this in my day-to-day job.

I also valued the focus on intersectionality. Until then, I had never reflected on my personal history and never thought about how my own identities intersect with one another. Learning more about intersectionality and becoming more familiar with black women writers was eye-opening.

Another key topic was postcolonialism. In the second year, you will have the opportunity to study abroad, do an internship or take freestanding courses. I decided to take courses, from which one was about postcolonialism and intersectionality. That was one of the best decisions I made during my studies.

How did your studies prepare you for your current work?

After graduation, I worked in UNHCR for some time, preparing research and policy documents. Because I was dealing with issues concerning state and citizenship, I was constantly relying on the knowledge I acquired from my studies.

When people ask me about my study background, I always tell them that taking a master’s degree really teaches you to master the topic in focus. It’s not supposed to be easy, and you need to spend a lot of your time reading, writing, thinking and improving yourself. Just like in working life, you must use critical thinking. At UNHCR, I look at previous policies and doctrines critically, and I have my master’s studies to thank for that. Teachers are very good at pushing you to be critical, ask questions, question societal structures and challenge your own beliefs.

What is your impression of Malmö University?

I often tell people about the library with its large windows. The campus is centrally located and spread out in different parts of the city. If you want to change the environment, you can choose another building.

Academic writing is an important skill to focus on when starting your studies, especially if English isn’t your first language. The University provides webinars and lectures in academic writing. The help I got with the linguistics perspective and with structuring my texts has been extremely valuable, for example, when I got my first job after graduation.

The teaching environment is also something I appreciated, and it turned out to be highly diverse. To have students from so many different backgrounds was an enriching experience. For example, I got to study with people from South America. For someone from Turkey, it is such a distant region, and we learned very much from each other.

Séléna completed a double degree in migration studies

In Séléna Redon-Batique's first year, she studied International Migration and Ethnic Relations (IMER) at Malmö University and her second year at the University of Osnabrück. She now works at a centre for asylum seekers in France, where she advises applicants on legal procedures and their rights in the country.

My studies helped me gain the knowledge to see the complexity behind topics that can look obvious at first. Now I look for this complexity everywhere and try to question every migration-related opinion I have. I guess that’s why they were so obsessed with ‘critical thinking’ in the course syllabi.

Why did you apply to International Migration and Ethnic Relations (IMER) at Malmö University?

I studied Political Science in France and Germany, where I wrote a thesis about the use of rape in conflicts. It was my first step towards human rights research. After my graduation, I took a gap year as a volunteer to help asylum seekers in France. My thesis and work as a volunteer made me want to continue my academic journey in the field of migration and human rights.

I discovered the double degree programme within the EuMIGS network (European Master in Migration Studies). Malmö University was one of the universities in the partnership and offered interesting courses in migration studies. I also wanted to experience student life in a Nordic country. For my second year, I applied to Osnabrück — initially for the courses, but also because I speak German and wanted to reconnect with the language.

What part of the double degree programme did you find most enjoyable and enriching?

I loved every step of it. Moving to new places is always fulfilling. I got to challenge myself and grow as a person. The best part was meeting my peers in the programme and being supported by such a nice group of teachers, both in Malmö and Osnabrück. That’s one thing I didn’t expect: the support from the education teams and how it reassured me for the future. EuMIGS has also taught me to confidently speak in front of an audience, to synthesise ideas, to work in teams, and more. I feel like a more confident adult now.

Would you recommend a double degree to other students?

A double degree can be about three things: a highlight on your CV, a personal search for your true purpose in life, or fun. At the end of my studies, I got an internship at the UNHCR. I think having the programme on my CV was one of the reasons I got it — but it's more than just a title. However, I wouldn't advise anyone to focus only on what looks good on a CV. Any experience can look good on paper. A double degree is great if you want to deepen your knowledge, move around, meet new people and grow.