PATHS Forced Migration: New ERUA Master's Programme – Enrolment Now Open
Understand migration, develop solutions, become a changemaker: As of today, the enrolment period opens for PATHS Forced Migration: Europe in a Global Context – a new, fully English-taught Master's programme developed jointly by six universities of the European university alliance ERUA. At Europa-Universität Viadrina, the European Border Regimes path begins. The programme starts in the winter semester 2026/27; enrolment is open until 31 July 2026.
Forced migration is one of the most pressing global challenges: geopolitical crises, climate change, and socio-economic inequalities are driving millions of people worldwide to flee. Who understands the mechanisms behind this – and who develops viable responses? With PATHS Forced Migration, ERUA creates a study programme that addresses exactly this: interdisciplinary, practice-oriented, and thought through a European lens.
The programme offers three specialised study paths: European Border Regimes, Inclusion of Children and Minors, and Politics and Policies of Migration. Students on the European Border Regimes path begin at Viadrina, move in their second semester to SWPS University in Warsaw, and spend their third semester at the University of the Aegean in Greece – three countries that each face distinct phenomena of migration and border regimes in different ways. At the end of the four-semester programme, students receive a Joint European Degree, awarded collectively by all six participating universities.
Viadrina is the ideal starting point for this programme. Located directly on the German-Polish border, in the European twin city of Frankfurt (Oder)/Słubice, engaging with borders, mobility, and displacement is no abstraction here, but lived reality. Nearly every second student comes from abroad – an international community shaped by multilingualism and cultural diversity.
With the European Border Regimes path, you will develop critical, fact-based capacities to tackle one of the most urgent and divisive issues in European and global contexts.
Prof. Dr. Kira Kosnick, Professor and Director of the Research Center B/ORDERS IN MOTION, Academic PATHS Coordinator, European University Viadrina
Alongside the academic curriculum, PATHS Forced Migration places particular emphasis on practical experience: in their second semester, students complete an internship at leading organisations – including UNHCR and UNICEF. A joint research colloquium in the third semester prepares students for their Master's thesis, which is co-supervised by faculty from at least two partner universities.
Applications are submitted via the PATHS application website, managed by the coordinating SWPS University. For local enquiries at Viadrina, Leon Weber can be reached at leweber@europa-uni.de.
More information on the new Master's programme.
Background
PATHS Forced Migration is a joint Master's degree programme (M.A.) of the European Reform University Alliance (ERUA), taught entirely in English across four semesters and 120 ECTS. Tuition fees amount to EUR 9,000 per student per academic year; a fee reduction scheme is available for students with demonstrated financial need. Applicants must hold a Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification and demonstrate English language proficiency at CEFR B2 level or above. Admission is competitive and decided by a Joint Admissions Committee representing all partner universities; international applicants follow a two-step procedure.
Partner universities in the European Border Regimes path: Europa-Universität Viadrina (Germany), SWPS University (Poland), and University of the Aegean (Greece).
Fritz Schlüter
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