MIGRATION POLICY

Academic year
2025/2026 Syllabus of previous years
Official course title
MIGRATION POLICY
Course code
LT9050 (AF:518748 AR:323381)
Teaching language
English
Modality
On campus classes
ECTS credits
6
Degree level
Bachelor's Degree Programme
Academic Discipline
SPS/04
Period
4th Term
Course year
2
Moodle
Go to Moodle page
The course is part of the activities "affini e integrative" of the PISE and aims to provide basic coordinates on migration as public policy. The analysis of migration policy dialogues with the teachings of Introduction to Politics, International Relations and sociological teachings related to social movements.
At the end of the course, students will acquire knowledge and understanding:
- of the central terms and concepts of the public policy approach and how it translates into migration policies
- of the main thematic dimensions in which these policies are articulated
-of the main issues in the migration policy debate.

At the end of the course students will acquire the following skills:
- correctly use terminology related to migration as a set of public policies
- illustrate past and present problems, phenomena or situations relating to interventions in the field of migration by sub-national, national and European Union governments
- critical capacity with regard to the differences between declared policies and actually implemented policies
- compare the approaches to migration of different European countries and other Western democracies.


At the end of the course, students will be able to critically analyse, from the knowledge and skills acquired:
- the definition of problems related to international migration
-the actors who design, decide and implement policies
- the prevailing ways in which migration issues are addressed

They will have acquired the ability to:
- summarise in writing the main contents of the concepts and approaches studied, emphasising, through appropriate terminology, their most relevant applications in various case studies (countries)
- discuss and interact (among peers) critically and respectfully and make use of the knowledge and skills acquired when discussing issues related to migration policies


They will have acquired the ability to:
- consult, study and critically synthesise the contents of the reference bibliography
- relate the theories and concepts addressed and discussed during the course to relevant problems and discussion topics and to analyses proposed by other disciplinary fields.
No specific previous knowledge required.
Immigration as public policy: definitions and meanings. Immigration control policies. Entry regulation policies (labour and family reunification admission policies). Asylum policies. Immigration integration policies. Irregular immigration. Immigration and social policies. The role of the European Union in migration policies. Intra-European mobility. There will be a special focus on the Italian case, but there will also be comparisons with other countries and, in particular, with the European Union dimension.
1)Geddes A. Hadj Abdou L., Brumat L. 2020 Migration and Mobility in the European Union, Macmillan International. Second Edition.
2) Hollifield F. Martin P.L. Orrenius P.M. and Heran F. (eds) 2022 Controlling immigration. A comparative perspective, 4th Edition, Standford University Press. To be studied: Part 1; Chapter 11 (Italy); Part 5 and one other chapter corresponding to another country.
3) Friederike Römer 2022 How immigration affects the welfare state in the short and long run: Differences between social spending and policy generosity in European Policy Analysis https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/epa2.1140 doi.org/10.1002/epa2.1140 [Moodle and online]
4) Ambrosini M., Hajer M.H.J. 2023 Irregular Migration IMISCOE short reader https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-30838-3 [Open Access]
5) Ager A. and Strang A. 2008, Understanding Integration: A conceptual Framework, in Journal of Refugees Studies, Vol.21, No2, pp.166-191.
6) Allen, Fernandez, Ruiz 2025 Immigration and the welfare state, in Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 41, 64-86 https://doi.org/10.1093/oxrep/graf014 [Moodle and online]
- 90% - Written exam with 5 open questions aimed at assessing knowledge and understanding as well as the ability to recognize and apply concepts and theories and to critically analyze issues and problems
- 10% - Exercises carried out during the course (content and modalities will be detailed during the first lesson of the course and uploaded on Moodle)

Concerning grading (how the marks will be awarded):
Scores in the 18-22 range will be awarded in the presence of:
- sufficient knowledge and ability to apply understanding concerning the examination materials;
- limited ability to apply knowledge to concrete cases;
- sufficient communication skills, especially in relation to the use of language specific to migration policies.

Scores in band 23-26 will be awarded in the presence of:
- fair knowledge and ability to apply understanding concerning the examination materials;
- discrete ability to apply knowledge to concrete cases;
- fair communication skills, especially in relation to the use of language specific to migration policies.

Scores in the 27-30 range will be awarded in the presence of:
- good or very good knowledge and ability to apply understanding concerning examination materials
- good or very good ability to apply knowledge to concrete cases
- fully appropriate communication skills, especially concerning the use of language specific to migration policy.
Honours will be awarded for knowledge and ability to apply understanding concerning the syllabus, judgement and communication skills programme, judgement and communication skills, excellent.


written

The lecturer has a duty to ensure that the rules regarding the authenticity and originality of exam tests and papers are respected. Therefore, if there is suspicion of irregular conduct, an additional assessment may be conducted, which could differ from the original exam description.

Concerning grading (how the marks will be awarded):
Scores in the 18-22 range will be awarded in the presence of:
- sufficient knowledge and ability to apply understanding concerning the examination materials;
- limited ability to apply knowledge to concrete cases;
- sufficient communication skills, especially in relation to the use of language specific to migration policies.

Scores in band 23-26 will be awarded in the presence of:
- fair knowledge and ability to apply understanding concerning the examination materials;
- discrete ability to apply knowledge to concrete cases;
- fair communication skills, especially in relation to the use of language specific to migration policies.

Scores in the 27-30 range will be awarded in the presence of:
- good or very good knowledge and ability to apply understanding concerning examination materials
- good or very good ability to apply knowledge to concrete cases
- fully appropriate communication skills, especially concerning the use of language specific to migration policy.
Honours will be awarded for knowledge and ability to apply understanding concerning the syllabus, judgement and communication skills programme, judgement and communication skills, excellent.


The course alternates between face-to-face lectures, which present migration policy concepts and approaches, and seminars and small group discussions, which explore specific topics or case studies in depth. The lectures will be supported by slides and sometimes short videos.
Attending students will have the opportunity to make presentations in class based on the readings or on topic/case studies to be researched.
On 22 April, the lesson will take place at the Emergency venue on Giudecca (Fondamenta S. Giacomo, 212, Venice). We will learn about Emergency's work to improve access to healthcare for migrants and others who face difficulties in this area. We will also learn about their awareness-raising and advocacy activities.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Poverty and inequalities" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development

Definitive programme.
Last update of the programme: 24/03/2026