courses
We teach migration and refugee law comprehensively, integrating theory with practice. Our approach incorporates modern teaching methods such as simulation courses, legal clinics, case studies, and the flipped classroom model. If not specified, courses are led in Czech.
Refugee and migration law Programme
Semester: winter
The course aims to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the legal aspects of asylum and refugee issues within the broader context of migration. The acquired comprehensive knowledge of asylum and refugee law will enable students to grasp both the subject matter itself and the societal debates surrounding it, which often lack a solid legal foundation. The legal framework is examined at the international, European, and domestic levels. Across twelve lectures, the course covers the topic of asylum, the international refugee protection system, the regional European regulation of asylum and refugee law, and, through a concrete example, the domestic legal framework of the Czech Republic.
An integral part of the course is its emphasis on linking asylum and refugee law with broader migration issues (such as environmental migration and irregular/undocumented migration). For each lecture, students prepare in advance by reviewing materials or otherwise studying, typically for one to two hours per week. The course is delivered through a combination of interactive lectures and discussions based on both hypothetical and real-life cases from practice. Guest speakers involved in asylum and refugee matters in their daily professional work—whether in public administration (Ministry of the Interior) or administrative judiciary—also contribute to the teaching.
Upon completion, students will have gained thorough theoretical knowledge of asylum and refugee law, applicable both in their future careers and in specialized internships during their studies. While practical aspects are included, the focus on practical skills is greater in subsequent professional internships. Nevertheless, the course fosters a range of legal skills, including:
✔ The ability to navigate international, European, and domestic law,
✔ The ability to interpret and apply specific legal norms to concrete cases,
✔ The ability to locate and analyze case law,
✔ The ability to analyze specific legal issues,
✔ The ability to engage in informed discussions on refugee and forced migration issues within the broader context of a constantly changing world, including emerging topics such as so-called “climate refugees.”
These skills are primarily developed through active participation in the lectures and associated coursework.
Semester: summer
The course aims to introduce students to foreigners law, asylum law, and the legal framework governing the granting of citizenship—topics that intersect multiple areas of public law (constitutional law, administrative law, international public law, European law, social security law) but also, particularly in the case of foreigners law, have private law implications. The course focuses exclusively on administrative procedures conducted by public authorities and, in this regard, falls within the special part of administrative law.
Students will become acquainted with the fundamental decision-making processes of public administration bodies concerning the residence and legal status of foreigners—from the moment a foreigner enters the territory until the termination of their stay or the decision on granting citizenship. Particular attention is given to the various grounds for residence permits, including specific asylum grounds and family reunification reasons. Due to procedural particularities, the course also covers the legal regulation of administrative judiciary proceedings in these matters.
The course’s objective is to provide students with a detailed understanding of migration issues under Czech law while highlighting the connections to European and international law. Graduates should be able to competently argue based on the Residence of Foreigners Act, understand its structure, and know where and how to seek assistance within this legal area.
For each lecture, students prepare in advance (usually one to two hours per week). The course is delivered through a combination of interactive lectures and discussions of both hypothetical and real-life cases from practice. Guest lecturers actively involved in asylum and refugee matters in their daily work—whether in public administration (Ministry of the Interior), administrative judiciary, or legal practice—also contribute.
By completing the course, students will gain thorough theoretical knowledge primarily of foreigners law, which they can apply both in their future employment and during specialized internships related to the subject. Practical aspects are included, although to a lesser extent; practical skills are emphasized more in subsequent specialized internships. Nonetheless, the course develops a range of legal skills, including:
✔ Ability to navigate international, European, and domestic law,
✔ Ability to interpret and apply specific legal norms to concrete cases,
✔ Ability to locate and analyze case law,
✔ Ability to analyze specific legal issues,
✔ Ability to engage in informed discussions on foreigners law in a broader context,
such as issues related to citizenship.
These skills are primarily developed through active participation in lectures and coursework.
Semester: winter, summer
The course aims to provide students with an insight into the legal scholarship aspects of migration and refugee law. Students will acquire knowledge and awareness of the subjects studied within migration and refugee legal scholarship, as well as the methodologies it employs. Additionally, students will be given the opportunity to present their own work at various stages of development—from initial outlines to completed theses, student research papers (SVOČ), or scholarly articles.
The course sessions are conducted in three distinct formats. First, international scholars are invited to present their own research, providing students the chance to ask questions and engage in discussions about foreign research. Second, students present their own original research—whether a thesis, SVOČ paper, scholarly article, or seminar paper. Completed work is not required; the course primarily serves as a platform for receiving feedback from fellow students and participating academics. Third, students will participate in discussions of assigned scholarly articles, which everyone reads in advance. Pairs or groups of three students will act as rapporteurs and moderate these discussions. Assigned articles will cover both specific topics and broader concepts from related disciplines.
Beyond theoretical and knowledge-based content, the course also develops practical skills, particularly:
✔ The ability to read and comprehend scholarly texts,
✔ The ability to engage in discussions of academic works related to migration,
✔ The ability to effectively present one’s own research.
These skills will be primarily developed through active participation in the course sessions.
HDPV0132 Moot Court on International Asylum Law
HDPV0012 Simulation in the Migration and Refugee Law field
Semester: summer, winter (one-time course)
The objective of the simulation courses is to familiarize students with issues of refugee and migration law through various reality-based simulations, typically employing the LARP (Live Action Role-Playing) method.
The courses include:
- Simulation of refugee-related scenarios in cooperation with the Czech Army (Camp Peira),
- Simulation of EU Council negotiations on migration or refugee topics,
- Simulation of a moot court on international asylum law.
Students will develop a range of skills, especially:
✔ Applying law in high-pressure situations,
✔ Negotiation skills,
✔ Formulating legal arguments,
✔ Communicating effectively with non-lawyers who must comply with legal norms,
✔ Teamwork,
✔ Maintaining perspective and sound judgment under stress,
✔ Enhancing rhetorical skills and public speaking in discussions,
✔ Improving the ability to analyze and interpret legal norms.
These skills will be acquired primarily through active participation in the course sessions.
Semester: winter, summer
The course aims to introduce students to the fundamentals of scholarly writing. Its purpose is to support students’ independent creative scientific work and contribute to the improvement of their argumentative skills, presentation abilities, and professional written expression. The course is founded on openness, transparency, and respect for generally accepted principles of academic research. A new annual SVOČ (Student Scientific and Professional Activity) competition is announced every December — details are published on the above-mentioned website.
This section focuses on research in migration law. The knowledge areas students may acquire include topics related to migration legal regulation (such as entry and residence of foreigners, family life, detention, expulsion, irregular/unauthorized migration), refugee law (asylum, refugee status, mass arrivals, exclusion from protection, etc.), and statelessness (homelessness of stateless persons).
Through working on SVOČ projects, students will develop the following skills:
✔ Locating, organizing, analyzing, and interpreting legal norms, court decisions, and other documents,
✔ Analyzing, formulating, and presenting (both orally and in writing) legal arguments and counterarguments,
✔ Using legal information systems,
✔ Conducting research, defining research questions and theses, choosing appropriate methodological approaches,
✔ Drafting scholarly texts.
Further information is available HERE.
HXPV0050 Legal Clinic and Practical Training in the field of Refugee and Migration Law I
HXPV0051 Legal Clinic and Practical Training in the field of Refugee and Migration Law II
Semester: winter, summer
Practical Training in Migration and Refugee Law
The objective of this course is to deepen students’ theoretical knowledge in asylum, refugee, and migration law, while providing practical experience and skills through placements with key legal service providers in the field of migration and refugee protection. Students apply for placements via an online form and select their preferred host organization.
Possible placement providers include:
- Legal Clinic (in cooperation with NGOs) — where students work directly with real clients.
- Law firms specializing in refugee and immigration law.
- Ministry of the Interior.
- The Prague office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Before beginning the practical placement, students participate in an intensive half-day preparatory block focused on developing essential skills for legal clinic work, such as conducting interviews, client communication, security issues, and managing country-of-origin information.
The theoretical foundation of the course covers
the legal frameworks of immigration and asylum law, specifically the Asylum Act and the Residence of Foreigners Act. The practical experience includes both application of this legal framework and insight into the day-to-day operations of the placement provider. Under the supervision of mentors (lawyers from the hosting organization), students engage in client work (in NGOs), legal research and analysis, preparation of submissions to courts or authorities, and drafting materials for administrative proceedings. Placements occur one day per week.
Feedback is a key component:
- Faculty-led feedback sessions are held weekly throughout the semester.
- Mentors provide continuous feedback during the placement.
- Students maintain a reflective portfolio documenting their knowledge, experiences, and skill development, which they submit to the course coordinator via Moodle.
Skills developed during the placement include:
✔ Drafting and formulating legal documents; making submissions to public authorities and representing clients in proceedings before such authorities; gathering and evaluating evidence and preparing decisions and other official acts.
✔ Searching for, organizing, analyzing, and interpreting legal norms, case law, and other relevant information to address legal and related issues.
✔ Analyzing, formulating, and presenting legal arguments and counterarguments both orally and in writing.
✔ Identifying and analyzing legal issues in practical cases and proposing solutions.
✔ Using legal information systems efficiently.
✔ Communicating effectively with clients, analyzing their specific legal cases, proposing further legal steps, and explaining these in an understandable manner.
It is recommended that students have completed or at least be enrolled in the courses Asylum and Refugee Law or Migration Law. Additionally, enrollment or completion of Administrative Law I is advised.
The availability of this course depends on the arrival of international colleagues who serve as guest lecturers