Course overview
This course takes a broad socio-political and theoretical view of the regulation of the movement of people around the world, with a particular focus on Australian law and policy on immigration control. The course begins with an examination of theoretical approaches to global movements of people, including the relationship between State sovereignty and citizenship, and individual rights. The course uses this theoretical framework to provide an introduction to the Australian immigration system, its history, and the principal visa categories. It considers the relationship between economic, family and humanitarian migration. OMIT:[Particular attention will be paid to skilled and unskilled working visas, family visas and student visas. The course will focus on the application process, rights of review and appeal, and the jurisprudence of the Federal Court, Migration Review Tribunal and Refugee Review Tribunal.] Comparisons OMIT:[will be] are drawn with overseas migration law and policy.
Course learning outcomes
- Understanding of the phenomenon of migration, and the role that nation-state borders and the concept of citizenship play in controlling the movement of people.
- Knowledge and understanding in relation to a series of issues in Australian immigration law and policy. This course specifically seeks to develop students’ abilities to prepare, research, structure and write an effective essay in answer to a complex issue in migration law and policy. It will encourage the use of high level critical and analytical skills.
- Ability to use a range of relevant online materials, in particular, students will navigate the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) website to find appropriate visas and sub-classes of visa, and to identify specific visa criteria; a range of library data bases to source legal and socio-legal materials for a research essay that forms the core component of the assessment of the course.
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The Student Contribution amount displayed below is for students commencing a new program from 2021 onwards. If you are continuing in a program you commenced prior to 1 January 2021, or are commencing an Honours degree relating to an undergraduate degree you commenced prior to 1 January 2021, you may be charged a different Student Contribution amount from the amount displayed below. Please check the Student Contribution bands for continuing students here. If you are an international student, or a domestic student studying in a full fee paying place, and are continuing study that you commenced in 2025 or earlier, your fees will be available here before enrolments open for 2026.