Doctoral Research at COMPAS

COMPAS linked DPhil Students

COMPAS welcomes expressions of interest from those keen to undertake doctoral study in the field of Migration Studies. Reflecting the nature and scope of the Centre’s work and expertise, staff at COMPAS supervise a number of graduate students admitted to a range of DPhil programmes within the University.

Why study at COMPAS?

Students based at COMPAS gain access to a supportive, high quality, interdisciplinary research environment. Our staff represent a range of disciplines and research interests. COMPAS also offers a dynamic range of activities and events which students are encouarged to take part in. We believe students are very important to the research and learning environment at COMPAS and that they in turn benefit from the experience of contributing by improving their academic and non-academic skills.

We are able to offer a limited number of workstations in the COMPAS building to students working on themes related to the work of the Centre. However space is restricted and therefore we have to prioritise students who are supervised by a staff member. 

Here are some words of support from previous COMPAS students:

“I benefited hugely from doing being able to carry out my development studies doctorate as a student associate at COMPAS. It connected me with the work of leading researchers in the migration field, in a lively and friendly atmosphere. My supervisor, Nick Van Hear, helped find invaluable opportunities to get involved in relevant COMPAS projects and conference panels. Doing a doctorate can be a lonely and sometimes fraught experience. COMPAS colleagues made sure that it was rarely lonely, and gave much moral support during the fraught periods! I subsequently went on to work as a postdoctoral researcher at COMPAS and then at the Refugee Studies Centre, before moving to the School of Oriental and African Studies in London where I lecture on development and migration issues.” Anna Lindley, COMPAS Alumni

"Being a student at COMPAS was extremely rewarding and interesting because I got insight into the workings of a research centre. I especially learned a lot about the process of developing, undertaking and writing up a research project thanks to the many conversations with other researchers and the Work in Progress Seminars. The exchange of ideas with both other students and more senior researchers were very helpful in thinking about my own project. Also, being in such close contact with other researchers gave me a motivational boost for my own project time and again, and it helped me to think about my career post-DPhil. Studying for a DPhil can sometimes be a lonely experience, but being based at COMPAS made it into a very sociable time." Susanne Wessendorf, COMPAS Alumni

How do I make an application?

All prospective candidates must make their application through the University's Graduate Studies Office, and are advised to consult the University's Graduate Studies Prospectus beforehand. All applications are processed initially by the Graduate Studies Office, and must not be made directly to COMPAS.

Prospective students will need to select a department of the University in order to enrol for doctoral study.  You may approach a COMPAS member of staff to be a supervisor. The following departments may consider joint supervision by a COMPAS member of staff:

If you are interested in working with a COMPAS researcher you should contact them directly with a brief outline of a possible research topic. The following staff have capacity to take on co-supervision from 2011 - contact details are on their linked profile pages.

Please email us if you have a query about pursuing doctoral study at COMPAS.

Who is currently supervised by COMPAS Staff?

Kristin Biehl, 2010 >, DPhil in Anthropology, supervised by Michael Keith & Franck Duvell, on ‘Forced migration, the state and governmentality

Ka-Kin Cheuk, 2009>, DPhil in Anthropology, supervised by Xiang Biao & Marcus Banks, on how and why Shaoxing in Zhejiang province, China has recently become a global textile trading hub in which a substantial number of Indian traders can be found

Nora Danielson, 2009>, DPhil in Anthropology, supervised by Nicholas Van Hear, on Refugees in Cairo

Lynne Gefre, 2009>, DPhil in Anthropology, supervised by Xiang Biao & Sondra Hausner,  

Daniel Guiness, 2010>, DPhil in Anthropology, supervised by Xiang Biao  

Neil Howard, 2008>, DPhil in Development, supervised by Bridget Anderson & Jo Boyden, on international discourses of child trafficking

Esra Kaytaz, 2009>, DPhil in Politics, supervised by Franck Duvell & Alison Shaw, on Risk perception on the migratory choices of Afghan migrants in Turkey

Rebecca Lasky, 2005>, DPhil in Anthropology, supervised by Nicholas Van Hear & Bob Parkin, on Tamils in France

Cetta Mainwaring, 2007>, DPhil in Politics, supervised by Franck Duvell, on Migration Policy Malta & Cyprus

Roger Norum, 2006>, DPhil in Anthropology, supervised by Bridget Anderson & Sondra Hausner,  

Stephanie Silverman, 2010>, DPhil in Politics, supervised by Bridget Anderson, Matthew Gibney, on Ethics and politics of implementing immigration detention in advanced, industrialized countries, specifically the US, the UK, and Canada.

Onur Unutulmaz, 2009>, DPhil in Anthropology, supervised by Michael Keith & Mette Berg, on cultural integration processes of Turkish-speaking immigrants in London

Marshall van Valen, 2009>, Anthropology, supervised by Nicholas Van Hear & Oliver Bakewell, on Migration and integration in Gabon

Christiane Wirth-Forsberg, 2006>, Geography, supervised by Bridget Anderson & Linda McDowell, on mobility and citizenship undermine and reinforce each other in the context of Eastern European nationals in the UK

Is there any funding for Postgraduate Degrees?

COMPAS does not itself offer student funding, but the following weblinks may be useful:

ESRC Studentships - Migration Studies Pathway 2012

ESRC studentships will be allocated to encourage individuals to enter into migration studies at the University of Oxford. This is as a result of the University's successful bid for ESRC Doctoral Training Centre accreditation.

Three studentships will be given each year from 2011 to 2016. These will be either for an MSc in Migration Studies or MSc in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies  plus a DPhil or for a DPhil in a migration-related topic directly.

It will be necessary to apply separately to the university for the course, and for the ESRC grant. More information, plus details of how to apply for the grant.

Recognised students visiting COMPAS

COMPAS is frequently approached by graduates wishing to spend a period of time at the centre to support their research activities. Graduates wishing to apply to COMPAS for this purpose would need to apply to the University of Oxford to be a fee paying 'recognised student'. The status of 'recognised student' is primarily intended for graduates of other universities who are engaged in research, particularly for research degrees of their own universities, and who feel that they would profit by a stay in Oxford with access to a member of the academic staff who is familiar with their subject of research.

As a 'recognised student', you would have access to University lectures and libraries, as well as an academic adviser, subject to receiving required approvals. The maximum period for this type of visit is 3 terms. It is recommended that you contact the member of academic staff with whom you would like to work before you submit an application. Please note, however, that although we welcome applications, no funding is offered to support a placement and an application does not guarantee admission.

Applicants would need to submit the relevant form, together with evidence of previous degrees, at least two letters of support from senior members of faculty at their current University, and a statement of between 500 - 1000 words outlining the proposed subject of research. For further information regarding how to apply to be a recognised student, and an application form, please contact the graduate studies office directly - email

Please note that COMPAS will consider applications at one of its termly committee meetings. These are held at the beginning of each term and an application would have to be processed by Graduate Studies before it could be considered. Therefore, applications must be submitted at least two terms before your intended visit. For further information on being a visiting student at COMPAS - email