The 2025 Summer Course on Refugee Issues will be held from June 2 - 6, 2025 at York University.
"Climate Migration Futures: Shaping The Research Agenda for 2050"
Take advantage of both In-person and virtual options. Subsidized tuition is available for students, early career, under supported, and Global South. Apply by May 28!
For over two decades, York University’s Centre for Refugee Studies has run an internationally acclaimed, non-credit professional development Summer Course that brings together practitioners, policy makers, and researchers to learn together about the most pressing forced migration and refugee issues.
All participants who complete the full course receive a York University Centre for Refugee Studies Summer Course Certificate.
If you would like to be kept updated about CRS, please let us know that you’d like to be added to our listserv by emailing Michele Millard at mmillard@yorku.ca.
About this year's course
The nexus of climate change and human mobility is rapidly transforming, demanding new, innovative research that anticipates the challenges and impacts of the coming decades. Climate Migration Futures: Shaping the Research Agenda for 2050 challenges conventional approaches and pushes the boundaries of how research can support our response to climate-induced migration. This cutting-edge summer course focuses on bold, forward-thinking research priorities and methods that can help to address the framing of climate migration, the governance of climate migration, ethical strategies for climate adaptation and relocation, and envisioning climate migration in 2050.
Leading international academics will provide introductory keynotes on themes critical to climate migration research. Participants will engage with case studies and research findings from climate frontlines, exploring how research scenarios address these questions and reveal both successful interventions and the unintentional, but often time intentional, creation of new vulnerabilities.
Through an immersive combination of expert-led sessions, collaborative design-thinking workshops, and innovative scenario planning, the course will help to: 1) redefine the research agenda on climate migration; 2) explore what research is needed to tackle the impacts of climate migration; 3) advance the appropriate research methods that can inform policy development.
Learning outcomes of this course will empower participants to:
- Redefine Research Approaches: Develop innovative frameworks and methods to address the challenges of climate migration, focusing on resilience, climate justice, and ethical adaptation strategies
- Enhance Policy and Governance Understanding: Explore the intersection of language, governance, and human rights in shaping adaptive policies and addressing vulnerabilities
- Foster Collaborative Visioning: Engage in scenario planning and interdisciplinary collaboration to envision transformative solutions for climate migration by 2050
This course is designed for scholars, policymakers and practitioners who are ready to push the boundaries on current research thinking and praxis, bridging interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary tools to address the current and unforeseen factors that will define climate migration by 2050. Participants will leave prepared to advance a transformative research agenda rooted in resilience, climate justice, and innovation in the face of global climate change impacts.
Overview
Climate Migration Futures: Shaping The Research Agenda for 2050
June 2-6, 2025
Mavis Odei Boateng, PhD (c), Summer Course Academic Director
Mavis Odei Boateng is a dynamic and passionate community researcher, expertly trained in migration studies and social work. Currently serving as a Scholar-in-Residence at York University, she brings a wealth of experience from her work in Canada, Ghana, and the United States, where she has excelled in leadership and employee roles. Having recently held the Academic Summer Course Director position at the Centre for Refugee Studies, Mavis returns to this role enriched with new insights and perspectives. She looks forward to working with the outstanding team at the centre to deliver another engaging and memorable course this year.
Dina Dong, Summer Course Program Assistant
Dina is a recent master's graduate from the University of Oxford where she focused on diasporas and trans-national/local cultures. While her research interests are vast, she is currently exploring the encounters of moving people and cultures. Prior to her master's, she worked at the Senate of Canada.
Beyond supporting the CRS Summer Course, Dina is a local journalist, researcher, and an outdoors enthusiast.
What to expect in the application process
Applying to the Summer CRS Program is simple. You can start your application by going to our application portal. You will be prompted to fill out a form which requires a CV, reference letters in addition to references, and a few questions. You will be able to edit your application after submission, however your application will not be automatically saved.
Early bird application has been extended and will now end on April 28th, any applications received after will be charged the regular tuition price should you be a successful applicant. The final date for application will be May 25th, 2025.
We highly encourage applicants who require visas to consider applying as early as possible with the understanding that results may take up to four weeks to respond to.
I’ve applied, now what?
CRS will be accepting applications on a rolling basis and will close registration should spots be filled before the May 25th, 2025, deadline. We encourage applicants to apply as early as possible.
Please note, it may take 2-4 weeks to process your application. If you do not hear a response after 4 weeks, please contact us.
I’ve been accepted
Congratulations! You will receive an email prompting you to do the following:
- Pay your tuition
- Check your email for updates leading up to the course. We will be sending registration forms closer to the date
While CRS is unable to provide full financial support, you can apply for a tuition subsidy to assist with the costs. This link will be sent with your acceptance
I’ve been accepted and I need a visa, what do I do?
If you indicated in your application form that you require a visa, CRS will send you an acceptance letter which serves as your invitation letter alongside a visa support letter for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) Application.
For more detailed information, please refer to our Visa Information page.
CRS will be unable to assist with your direct visa application process, we strongly encourage you to contact the appropriate government institutions for further assistance and inquiries.
Do I get accommodation?
Unfortunately, CRS is unable to provide accommodation. Please look at our Accommodation section for further guidance.
York University is easily accessible by the TTC, with a subway stop on Line 1 (York University Station) which brings you directly to the campus.
I cannot attend anymore
Please contact us as soon as possible when you learn you are unable to attend. If you have already paid your tuition, we will process a refund.
Apply
The registration process is 2 steps: 1) Please submit an application, then 2) When your application is accepted, payment options (including codes for potential discounts) will be sent to your email.
Visa Information
2025 tuition fees
In-person*:
Regular rate: $1,500 CAD + 13%HST (deadline May 28, 2025)
Note that the Early Bird deadline has passed. Eligible registrants will be given a coupon code upon acceptance to get the reduced rate.
Early bird rate: $1,075 CAD + 13%HST (deadline April 28, 2025)
Early bird for participants who are students, early career, under supported, etc. or based in the Global South: $750 CAD + 13% HST (deadline April 28, 2025)
*This includes coffee breaks and a light lunch. Accommodation, travel and other costs are not included and must be covered by the participant.
Attending virtually
Regular rate: $1,350 CAD + 13%HST (deadline May 28, 2025)
Note that the Early Bird deadline has passed. Eligible registrants will be given a coupon code upon acceptance to get the reduced rate.
Early bird rate: $925 CAD + 13%HST (deadline April 28, 2025)
Early bird for participants students, early career, under supported, etc. or based in the Global South: $600 CAD + 13% HST (deadline April 28, 2025)
Payment
All payments are by credit card only (please note that it is not possible to pay by debit card). Please do not pay the registration fee until your acceptance in the program has been confirmed. Please click on the link below to complete your payment.
Summer Course Registration Payment link
Visa support
For many attendees it can take many weeks for the immigration authorities to assess a visa application, so the earlier you apply once you've been accepted the better.
For those who have already applied for their visas and are still waiting for the results, you are not required to pay the registration until you have been successful in getting a visa. You don't have to worry about the early bird registration deadline - we will make it available to you at any time once you have your visa.
At York University
Attendees who plan to stay at York University may request accommodation from conference services through their accommodation request form. Rates for a single room in student residences are $70.00 + tax per night and rates for a double room are $118.00 + tax per night.
You can also book on campus accommodation at the Executive Learning Centre, Schulich School of Business.
To make a hotel reservation, please reach out to the Schulich Executive Learning Centre through:
Email: reservations@schulich.yorku.ca
Phone: 416 650 8300
Must quote Block ID 869559 or Block Name: Centre for Refugee Studies Summer Course
Please reserve room by May 1st 2025, after this date any unused rooms will be released back into general inventory and subject to availability.
Off-campus
For attendees who prefer to reside downtown, the University of Toronto offers residence rooms . The Toronto Metropolitan University , which is also right downtown, near the Eaton Centre, also offers rooms, beginning at $75 a night. These rates are subject to change. Attendees may also find reasonably priced rooms through Airbnb, Expedia.ca or Kayak.ca.
The CRS Summer Course will be held in 519 Kaneff Tower, York University, Keele Campus (building #95 on the campus map: https://www.yorku.ca/parking/wp-content/uploads/sites/51/2022/07/2D-KEELE_Map.pdf)
Directions to Keele Campus from Pearson International Airport
4700 Keele Street, Toronto (Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/CRPCdsvd6WC6n5ki7)
Driving
If you are driving to the campus from the airport:
- Take 401 East to 400 North
- Exit at Finch Avenue going east
- Turn left on Sentinel Road
- Follow Sentinel until the end where you will find Pond Road
- You are now on campus. See the campus map.
We encourage you to take advantage of the Currency Exchange services at the Airport. They offer more convenient hours of operations and favourable exchange rates.
Taxi
You can take a taxi directly from the airport to the York University Keele Campus. A taxi from the airport to the University is approximately $55 Canadian. Please visit the Toronto Pearson Ground Transportation website for ground transportation options between the Airport and the Hotel.
Public Transit
An alternative option to get from the airport to the York University Keele Campus would be by public transit.
- By TTC: You can take either the 106 or 196 buses which will take you directly to the York University Keele Campus.
For more information please visit the TTC website.
Ways to pay: https://www.ttc.ca/Fares-and-passes
Where to catch your bus
Terminal 1
TTC buses depart at Ground Level – Column R4
Terminal 3
TTC buses depart at Arrivals Level – Column C8 to C12.
- By GO Transit: take the #40 bus (direction: Richmond Hill) to Highway 407 Bus Terminal and transfer to the subway. Go south 2 stops and get off at York University Station.
Ways to pay: https://www.gotransit.com/en/ways-to-pay; https://www.torontopearson.com/en/transportation-and-parking/public-transit-buses/go-transit
Where to catch your bus
GO Transit buses depart from Terminal 1, Ground Level – Column Q2 to Q4.
Summer Course Academic Director
Centre for Refugee Studies
York University
Kaneff Tower, Room 850
4700 Keele Street, Toronto
Ontario, Canada M3J 1P3
E-mail: summer@yorku.ca