Graduate student openings - PhD

The Institute for Research on Migration and Society (IRMS) at Concordia University (Montreal, Canada) is currently recruiting MA and PhD students to study immigration and politics under the supervision of Mireille Paquet, Antoine Bilodeau, or Colin Scott. Selected students will receive a generous funding package for their studies (including international tuition release), and the cost of living in the vibrant city of Montreal remains affordable. Concordia has an excellent track record for student placement, and provides a highly supportive training environment.

The research team fosters a culture of inclusion, supports diverse career trajectories (academia and beyond), and values work-life balance.

For more information or questions, please contact us at irms@concordia.ca

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Migrant integration in the Mid-21st Century

As part of the project Migrant Integration in the Mid-21st Century: Bridging Divides, the Department of Political Science at Concordia is pleased to offer generous admission awards and research fellowships for incoming graduate students. 

These funding opportunities are available for incoming PhD students to conduct research under the direction of Mireille Paquet, Antoine Bilodeau and Colin Scott on topics related to immigrant integration. Topics include, but are not restricted to:

• Immigrant integration in comparative perspective
• Barriers to the political integration of immigrants
• Belonging and trust among immigrant populations
• The politicization of immigration in Canada and in comparative perspective
• Immigration integration policies, past and future
• The use of technologies, such as AI, in immigration management
• The impact of online service delivery for immigrant integration
• Trends in naturalization and citizenship acquisition
• The impact of social media on immigration decisions and on integration processes
• The relations between governments and “migration industries”, recruiters, immigration agents, etc.

Students selected will contribute to the Migrant Integration in the Mid-21st Century: Bridging Divides by offering research assistance and will gain access to primary data, methods training and collective publication opportunities. They will will become members of the Institute for Research on Migration and Society (IRMS), of Concordia Research Chair on the Politics of immigration and of the Équipe de recherche sur l’immigration au Québec et ailleurs (ERIQA) and of the Initiative de recherche sur l’immigration (IRI). They will become part of a team of researchers in training and collaborate with leading researchers in immigration studies with national and international connections.

La langue d’enseignement du département de science politique est l’anglais mais les étudiants peuvent rédiger leurs thèses et travaux en français ou en anglais. L’équipe de travail de ce projet est bilingue.

These funding opportunities are open to Quebec, Canadian and international applicants.  

Awards and fellowship values

Fully funded positions for the PhD in political Science that cover tuition and include awards and a research assistantship salary, offering a minimum of $54,000 CAD per year for at least four years, contingent on satisfactory performance.

Fellows will be expected to apply for external grants to support their research activities, including SSHRC and FRQSC. International students, including those coming from the United States, will also be considered for international fee remissions

How to apply ?

The deadline to apply is February 1st, 2025.  Interested candidates must apply to their intended program of study  (PhD in political Science) and send a separate application portfolio to Dr. Paquet  and Dr. Bilodeau.

Candidates should send their application portfolio per email to to the address: irms@concordia.ca using the subject “Immigration fellowship” with the following elements:

• Statement with your motivation, research interested and relevant experiences
• Complete and up-to-date CV
• Transcripts or overall grades in last degree

Candidates must also apply to the PhD in political Science and indicate that they would like to be considered for this opportunity in their statement of purpose. 

About Immigration research at Concordia University

Concordia University stands at the forefront of immigration research in Quebec, distinguished by its comprehensive networks and collaborative efforts with both national and international partners. Concordia’s graduate programs in political science are uniquely tailored, offering a blend of immigration-focused courses and hands-on research opportunities for students. This approach enables a deep and practical understanding of immigration issues, which supports candidates interested in academic careers as well as those wanting to work in government, in the media, in the private sector and for civil society organizations. Concordia houses the  Research Chair on the Politics of Immigration, dedicated to conducting comparative research on the evolution of immigration policymaking, examining the politicization of immigration issues, and analyzing the changing landscape of immigration policies in Canada. Concordia is also the home of the Équipe de recherche sur l’immigration au Québec et ailleurs (ERIQA). ERIQA is a collaborative initiative involving top immigration researchers from prominent Quebec institutions such as Université de Montréal, Université Laval, and UQÀM, committed to exploring the evolution of immigration politics specifically within the Quebec context. Concordia supports the Initiative de recherche sur l’immigration (IRI), a platform that fosters the exchange of expertise and encourages comparative research on immigration. This initiative bridges Quebec’s experience with global perspectives, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of immigration as a worldwide phenomenon.

About Migrant Integration in the Mid-21st Century: Bridging Divides

Funded by the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) Migrant Integration in the Mid-21st Century: Bridging Divides is an innovative 7 years research program  dedicated to building a new understanding of the challenges and opportunities that migrant integration poses for Canada, and all countries, locally and across borders. The program’s unique interdisciplinary research design will drive leadership in the areas of citizenship and civic participation, the future of work, healthcare, and the responsible and ethical use of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, which is changing the way we work, live and interact. This intersectional approach will further the modernization of global immigration policies and contribute to building communities and urban centres that are equitable, resilient and inclusive to migrants. The program will focus on the urban context, including both large urban centres and small- and mid-sized cities, as these are the main destinations of both newcomers and settled immigrants. The program is developed under the leadership of Toronto Metropolitan University, in partnership  with Concordia University, the University of Alberta, and the University of British Columbia.