MLMIMS: Introduction to Migration Studies

Module code: MLMIMS

Module provider: Languages and Cultures; School of Humanities

Credits: 40

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Professor Federico Faloppa, email: f.faloppa@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Students will be introduced to Migration Studies from an interdisciplinary perspective and through a wide range of topics, such as historical, cultural and political contexts of countries of origins and destinations, post-colonial studies, migration trajectories to Europe, internal migrations in Europe, push and pull factors to human mobility, migration policies and human rights, social change and globalisation, climate change and mobility, representation of migrants in the news, etc.

This module will allow students new to the field of Migration Studies to situate and relate their specialism (education, development, social or health policy, environment studies, languages and linguistics, cultural representation) to the broader issues that characterise the global migration experience and our understanding of it. It will also introduce them to key migration and mobility-related terminology and concepts and will enable them not only to better understand human mobility and the role of internal and international migration in economic and political processes, but also to gain an understanding of the cultural dilemmas and challenges facing host countries of origin, transit, and destination. It will also offer an overview of the major debates and literature on contemporary migration from different disciplinary perspectives in humanities and social sciences.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Discuss key-terms and key-literature in the field of migration studies worldwide
2. Appraise current debates on migration in the UK, Europe, and worldwide
3. Compare socio-historical backgrounds of countries of origins, transit and destinations of migrants on the move to Europe and the UK
4. Research the representation of migrants and migration in the media
5. Produce a clear contextualisation and definition of migrations phenomena
6. Develop their research skills by identifying research questions, collecting and analysing original data, developing interdisciplinary research perspectives

Module content

The module will include history of migration in Europe and the UK, history and social context of some countries of origins, migration trajectories and their dynamics worldwide, push and pull factors to human mobility, human rights and migration policy, literary and media representation of migration, migrant voices in literature and society in the UK, Europe and worldwide.  

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be taught through a combination of formal lectures, seminars, and research project supervision, for which students will carry out preparatory reading or small-scale analyses of primary material. Seminars will be delivered in structured group discussions based on preparatory reading of secondary literature or preparation of primary material. Students may also undertake an academic placement, through which they will learn how to apply the knowledge and skills gained during the module in a professional context outside the University. 

Study hours

At least 25 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Students will have the opportunity to contribute to participate in group discussions/seminars and departmental research seminars, and to give and receive feedback about other formative activities.

Reassessment

Additional costs