The Center for Migration and Refugee Studies (CMRS) was first established in 2000 as the Forced Migration and Refugee Studies program (FMRS) and was expanded in 2008 into a Regional Center encompassing all forms of international mobility, whether voluntary or forced, economic or political, individual or collective, temporary or permanent. Situated in the heart of the Middle East and North Africa, CMRS aims at furthering the scientific knowledge of the large, longstanding, and more recent, refugee and migration movements in this region.
Academic Programs

Master of Arts in Migration and Refugee Studies (MA)
The MA in migration and refugee studies is an interdisciplinary degree program that aims to provide graduates with critical knowledge, research methods and analytical skills of current theoretical, legal, political, economic, social, demographic and psychological issues in migration and refugee studies.

Graduate Diploma In Migration and Refugee Studies
The graduate degree is an interdisciplinary degree program that aims to provide graduates with critical knowledge, research methods, and analytical skills of current theoretical, legal, political, economic, social, demographic, and psychological issues in migration and refugee studies.
Research
Research Agenda
CMRS’ research agenda is broad. The center tackles all issues concerning migrants and refugees in the region and beyond paying particular attention to emerging issues in the field. Given the geographical location of the center and given the fact that most migratory movements take place between southern countries, the center pays particular attention to issues concerning south-south migration. Most of the research’ findings are published as part of the series Cairo Studies on Migration and Refugees. CMRS also produces policy briefs based on the findings of the research reports that have policy implications

Affiliation Opportunities
Researchers and students interested in participating in research and gaining professional experience in the field of migration and refugee studies can be affiliated with CMRS.

Research Partners
Throughout its over twenty years of existence, CMRS partnered with many universities, research centers and individuals working on migration and refugee issues. Such partnerships took different forms including cooperation in joint research, organizing joint conferences, and publishing jointly in edited volumes and peer review journals.
Announcements
- The Center for Migration and Refugee Studies (CMRS) at the American University in Cairo (AUC) is delighted to announce that it joined the International Migration, Integration, and Social Cohesion in Europe (IMISCOE) network on March 17, 2022. Read More
- AUC is happy to announce the conclusion of the Erasmus+-funded project ‘Can Do Refugees’. Read More.
- Cairo Studies on Migration and Refugees’ Paper no.15 is now published online. The paper entitled Preventing Statelessness among Migrants and Refugee Children in North Africa: the case of Egypt is a result of a collaborative project between CMRS and the Middle East Studies Center of the London School of Economics”
- CMRS and the international Human Rights Clinic (IHCR) at Boston University School of Law (BU) organized a conference on statelessness in the MENA region on December 07, 2021.
- CMRS upcoming short courses in March 2022
- Strengthening Engagement with Academia on Mixed Migration Issues: CMRS received additional funding from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to expand the newly established network of Mixed Migration Scholars. The network was established in fall 2021 with the purpose of enhancing the production and dissemination of knowledge in the area of mixed migration information for policy formulation. With the additional funding, CMRS will conduct training on mixed migration issues in an attempt to contribute to building the capacity of young scholars in the MENA region
- EHUB: The Egyptian Migration Hub, with funding from the EU delegation to Egypt, CMRS will develop the first Egyptian Migration Hub that will bring together the Egyptian Government and other relevant stakeholders in the country to build confidence and to form a common baseline of understanding of the context and the policy options available.
- On the occasion of the pandemic: Reflections on Egyptian Labor Migration. Read More
- CMRS Policy Brief Concerning the Work and Living Conditions of Egyptian Migrant Workers in Jordan. (English / Arabic)
- Statement by CMRS on the World Refugee Day
- Statement by the Migration and Refugee Forum for the Arab World (MARFA) on the occasion of International Workers' Day 202
- Dr. Ibrahim Awad, warns of the consequences of leaving refugees in double jeopardy during the battle against the pandemic. Read More
- Statement by the Migration and Refugee Forum for the Arab World (MARFA) (English / Arabic)
CMRS Specialized Training
Trainings for Researchers and practitioners
Training for Migrants and Refugees
Our Resources
Contact Us
AUC New Cairo
Center for Migration and Refugee Studies
Research Centers Building, Second Floor
P.O. Box 74, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
AUC Tahrir Square
Center for Migration and Refugee Studies
Outreach Projects, Hill House, Fifth Floor, Room 507
AUC Tahrir Square,113 Kasr El Aini
P.O. Box 2511,Cairo 11511, Egypt