Refugee Studies Centre

30/09/2026

How migration law disadvantages and discriminates against women:

On our blog, Catherine Briddick (Refugee Studies Centre Director), outlines the key themes of her book Violence against Women and Regimes of Exception (OUP, 2025). Evaluating six legal regimes, the book reveals the devastating impact of rules that increase women’s vulnerability to violence, deny them protection from it, and render many victims destitute and at risk of deportation.

Read more: https://f.mtr.cool/frjhu5x9vp

29/09/2026

Full details of our Michaelmas term public seminars are now available. There are nine events to look forward to, with a focus on protecting refugee rights as part of our initiative marking 75 years of the 1951 Refugee Convention.

Among other pressing issues, the speakers will consider how Arab states interact with the international refugee regime, the Refugee Convention's relevance today and whether it remains fit for purpose, and how the United Nations human rights treaty bodies have interpreted and applied the principle of non-refoulement.

Join us on Wednesdays at 5pm from 14 October. All events are in-person at the ODID - Oxford Department of International Development, except the online seminar co-hosted with Matrix Chambers on 28 October:

'The Refugee Convention at 75 – Fatally limited or vitally focused?'

Where possible, recordings will be shared after the events.

https://f.mtr.cool/dukanm3fqj

28/09/2026

Last week we welcomed over 45 experts in refugee law to a special three-day workshop on Protecting Refugee Rights. Our participants were an international group of academics, UNHCR specialists, judges, members of regional human rights organisations, and legal practitioners. The discussions developed research which will inform a new edition of UNHCR’s Handbook and a ground-breaking series of papers on refugee rights. Thanks to all the participants for your invaluable contributions!

Read more about the workshop here: https://f.mtr.cool/ni1vqgmmw2

UNHCR UK for UNHCR

24/09/2026

“Our responsibility—together—is to ensure that asylum seekers and refugees are recognized as rights-holders not only in law, but in policy and in daily life.”
Elizabeth Tan (Director, UNHCR Division of International Protection and Solutions)

A snapshot of the open sessions of our Workshop on Refugee Rights which we are co-hosting with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency this week.

On Wednesday our Director Dr Catherine Briddick and Vicky Tennant (UNHCR Representative to the United Kingdom) opened the workshop, then Dr Madeline Garlick (Chief of the Protection Policy and Legal Advice Section, UNHCR), Sir Tim Eicke KC (Essex Court Chambers; former Judge of the European Court of Human Rights) and Ambassador David Donoghue (Queen's University Belfast) discussed international co-operation to secure protection for refugees.

Today Elizabeth Tan and Mulemangabo Bisimwa (Refugee Led Research Hub, RSC) delivered our keynote speeches, with Bisimwa joining the room via video call.

The workshop, and the research which will be developed out of it, will inform a new version of the UNHCR handbook on determining refugee status. In particular, the section focused on the rights of asylum seekers and refugees under international law.

It has been an exciting couple of days! We’ll be sharing more outcomes and reflections from the workshop next week.

24/09/2026

Self-determination in Palestine: Filling in the gaps

On our blog, Dan Byam Shaw explores the rights and obligations stemming from the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, addressing a gap in the International Court of Justice's jurisprudence.

https://www.rsc.ox.ac.uk/blog/self-determination-in-palestine-filling-in-the-gaps

22/09/2026

Tomorrow we will welcome experts in refugee law and UNHCR specialists for three days of workshops focused on protecting refugee rights.

We are looking forward to collaborative exchange, critically examining key aspects of refugee protection and developing new research on the rights guaranteed by the Refugee Convention.

The workshops form part of the Refugee Studies Centre’s Protecting Refugee Rights Initiative, marking the 75th anniversary of the Refugee Convention.

Read more about this initiative here:
https://www.rsc.ox.ac.uk/news/protecting-refugee-rights-events-and-activities-to-mark-the-75th-anniversary-the-1951-refugee-convention

16/09/2026

Abraham Ibukunoluwa Oyewole, an alum of the Refugee Studies Centre’s International Online School in Forced Migration, reflects on the value of anthropological perspectives in understanding forced migration, the challenging questions raised by the programme, and the experience of learning alongside an engaged international community.

“As someone still settling into the ‘forced migration’ world and cause, the sessions did a good job of highlighting why this particular issue needs more anthropologists. Insights into lived experiences and anthropological research are particularly important for gaining a deeper understanding of forced migration and how we might propose meaningful improvements for forced migrants.

The case studies provided a space for me to pause, reflect, and re-examine some of my values and principles when faced with difficult dilemmas. Whether considering the implications of receiving help from companies such as Walmart or Amazon, or confronting questions about providing assistance when that help might inadvertently empower those responsible for violence, the discussions encouraged critical reflection on complex real-world challenges.

Lastly, I loved the humour with which some of the instructors approached the classes. It made learning fun. And the other students? Awemazing — always bringing insights, personal experiences, and questions relevant to current happenings. Thank you to everyone!”

— Abraham Ibukunoluwa Oyewole

Applications for the Online School in Forced Migration are now open.

7–11 December 2026
21–25 June 2027

Learn more and apply: https://www.rsc.ox.ac.uk/study/international-summer-school

15/09/2026

New career development opportunity in the Anthropology of Forced Migration

Calling those who have recently completed a doctorate related to forced migration or are currently completing one. Are you looking to develop your research career? We are delighted to share details of a new full-time Research Fellowship in the Anthropology of Forced Migration in collaboration with St John's College, Oxford .

This is a unique post for those with a passion for research and teaching in the anthropology of forced migration. It will provide an unrivalled opportunity to establish a research profile as a member of a collegiate community, while contributing to, and benefiting from, the intellectual life of the Refugee Studies Centre. The post-holder will be a Fellow of St John’s and a member of the Centre for four years from October 2027.

The successful candidate will be expected to propose, plan, and manage a high-quality programme of original research, and publicise the outcomes through papers and publications. In addition to their research, the postholder will teach one eight-week master’s-level course on the MSc in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies during three of the four years of the fellowship. The course topic will be agreed in collaboration with, and supported by, the Refugee Studies Centre.

The closing date for applications is 1pm on 24 October 2026.

Further details and applications: https://www.sjc.ox.ac.uk/discover/vacancies/career-development-research-fellowships-2027/

14/09/2026

Beyond Survival: Livelihood Adaptation among Conflict-Displaced Populations in Northwest Nigeria and Maradi, Niger Republic

A short presentation by Visiting Fellow Dr Talabi Rasheed Ayegbusi:

Visiting Fellows Panel Trinity Term 2026 Dr Talabi Rasheed AYEGBUSI Beyond Survival: Livelihood Adaptation among Conflict-Displaced Populations in Northwest Nigeria and Maradi, Niger Republic Abstract: Conflict-induced displacement resulting from armed banditry has profoundly disrupted livelihoods a...

11/09/2026

The Refugee Studies Centre’s International Online School in Forced Migration brings together participants from diverse professional, academic and personal backgrounds. Alum Dr Monique Jordan shares how this global learning environment shaped her experience of the programme:

“The Forced Migration course was a week of gaining a better understanding of forced migration through the lens of anthropology, politics and law. I had the opportunity to sit (virtually) side by side with classmates from all around the world. Some in their studies, from frontline work, administration, policy, and lived experiences.

I left with a better understanding of the historical context of forced migration. Spending a week with individuals from around the world wanting to learn more to do better for the world left me with hope.

I took this class during the World Cup, and it was not lost on me that when people slow down and see one another human to human, beautiful things can happen.”

— Dr Monique Jordan

Applications for the International Online School in Forced Migration are now open.

7–11 December 2026
21–25 June 2027

Learn more and apply: https://www.rsc.ox.ac.uk/study/international-summer-school