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Refugee & Migration Studies

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LocationEmail AddressProgram Website
Centre for Refugee Studies, 8th-floor Kaneff Towercrs@yorku.cayorku.ca/crs/programs/graduate-diploma/

The program of study allows students enrolled in a graduate program at York University to specialize formally in refugee and migration studies and to be awarded a Graduate Diploma in Refugee & Migration Studies by the Faculty of Graduate Studies upon completion of all degree and diploma requirements.

The graduate diploma will be awarded concurrently with the master’s or doctoral degree program for which a student is registered. For those students who successfully complete both the degree program and the diploma, the diploma will be noted on the student’s transcript and awarded at the convocation at which the degree is awarded. According to Faculty policy, it is not possible to receive only the diploma.

The graduate diploma is intended to give recognition to those students who have undertaken a concentrated research and study program in the area of refugee and migration studies, to encourage students to undertake such a concentration and to provide graduates who can serve both the Canadian and international communities in the vital area of public and humanitarian policy.

Admission Requirements

Candidates for the diploma must first be admitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies as candidates for a master’s or doctoral degree in any of the existing graduate programs at York University. Candidates formally register for the diploma following registration in the degree program at the time they define their program of studies. Application is made to the Graduate Diploma Coordinator, Centre for Refugee Studies.

Diploma Requirements

In addition to fulfilling the graduate program or Faculty degree requirements, students must satisfy the following additional requirements to receive the diploma:

  • completion of two courses approved by the Centre for Refugee Studies. Only one of these two courses may also be used to satisfy master’s or doctoral degree requirements;
  • as an alternative to one of the courses, the student may complete a directed reading course to be supervised by a faculty member affiliated with the Centre for Refugee Studies which must be approved by the Graduate Diploma Coordinator as well as the Graduate Program Director of the graduate program in which the student is enrolled for a degree;
  • attendance for at least one year in the Centre’s weekly seminar series and special colloquia of the Centre;
  • field or community work, the nature of which must be approved by the Graduate Diploma Coordinator, with refugees or refugee with organizations working on issues related to refugees and/or migrants;
  • a major research paper, thesis or dissertation supervised by a member of the Faculty of Graduate Studies affiliated with the Centre for Refugee Studies on a topic to be approved by the faculty member, the Graduate Diploma Coordinator, the director of the graduate program in which the student is enrolled for a degree and the Dean of Graduate Studies in the case of a thesis or dissertation. Normally, this will be the major research paper, thesis or dissertation used to complete the degree and must be successfully completed and defended.

For more information, please contact the Graduate Diploma Coordinator, Centre for Refugee Studies, 853 Kaneff Research Tower; (416) 736-5663; or crsedpro@yorku.ca.