Applications are now open for the Virtual International School on Climate Mobilities 2026 (limited scholarships available)

Ednah Carrick February 9, 2026

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Closing Date: 28 February 2026

Applications are now open for the Virtual International School on Climate Mobilities 2026 (limited scholarships available)

International School on Climate Mobilities 2026

ISCM is tremendously excited to launch the fifth annual International School on Climate Mobilities, co-hosted by the Climate Mobility Justice Academy of Beyond Climate Collaborative and the Othering & Belonging Institute at University of California Berkeley.

Location: Online Course (via Zoom)

Date: May 25 – July 15, 2026

Brief Overview

The Climate Mobility Justice Academy (CMJA) of Beyond Climate Collaborative and the Othering & Belonging Institute at the University of California Berkeley are proud to co-host the fifth annual International School on Climate Mobilities (ISCM).

This year, the ISCM will welcome a maximum of 200 participants to enroll in the ISCM. The 2026 programme will bring together over thirty leading experts to deliver lectures, convene rigorous seminars and share their first-hand experience of the impacts of climate change and related displacement over the course of seven weeks.

Placing questions of differential risk, structural inequality and environmental justice at the center, the ISCM unpacks topical themes related to climate and environmental (im)mobilities throughout weekly lecture and seminar sessions.

Delivering an enriching and interdisciplinary educational program, the ISCM seeks to equip curious and change-driven scholars, researchers and practitioners with the tools needed to critically analyze the complexities of climate-induced displacement.

Course Structure & Key Dates

Spanning across topical themes of the online eight-week course, the ISCM offers a blend of rigorous and engaging lectures and seminars.

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All ISCM sessions take place online via Zoom over an eight-week program:

Lectures: Mondays, 16:00 – 18:00 UTC
Seminars: Wednesdays, with three sessions to accommodate global time zones: ‍
- Asia & the Pacific: 8:00 – 10:00 UTC ‍
- Europe, Africa, Middle East: 16:00 – 18:00 UTC ‍
- Americas: 23:00 – 01:00 UTC

Week 0

Introduction to the ISCM

Keynote Address and Introduction Lecture – Monday, May 25^th

Social Networking and Creative Seminars– Wednesday, May 27^th

Week 1

Multiple and Complex Drivers and Agency in Climate-related (Im)mobilities

Lecture – Monday, June 1^st

Seminars – Wednesday, June 3^rd

Week 2

Environmental (Im)mobilities, Health, Food and Livelihood Security

Lecture – Monday, June 8^th

Seminars – Wednesday, June 10^th

Week 3

Climate Justice: Unpacking Coloniality, Gender, Race, Class, Indigeneity and Climate-related Displacement

Lecture – Monday, June 15^th

Seminars – Wednesday, June 17^th

Week 4

Protection Politics: Climate Migration, Human Rights and Refugee Law

Lecture – Monday, June 22^nd

Seminars – Wednesday, June 24^th

Week 5

From Structural Violence to ‘Resource Wars’: The Climate Change, Conflict and Displacement Nexus

Lecture – Monday, June 29^th

Seminars – Wednesday, July 1^st

Week 6

Building Resilience in the Context of Environmental (Im)mobilities: Mitigating Risks, Enhancing Adaptive Capacity and Addressing Loss & Damage

Lecture – Monday, July 6^th

Seminars – Wednesday, July 8^th

Week 7

ISCM Closing week

Reimagining Workshop – Monday, July 13^th

Participant presentations – Wednesday, July 15^th

Beyond the Classroom

In addition to the core curriculum of the ISCM, ISCM host optional side-events in collaboration with organisations and universities, exploring career pathways and themes beyond the main ISCM sessions. These events are designed to deepen understanding, foster exchange, and open new avenues for professional development in the growing field of climate mobility. Some of these side-events are also open to non-ISCM participants.

The ISCM also includes a reflective learning portfolio, through which participants track their engagement across the programme and develop two final outputs: a short written or creative reflection, and an action plan outlining how they will apply ISCM concepts in their research, practitioner work, advocacy, creative practice, or community engagement. This approach encourages participants to reflect on positionality, accountability, and meaningful engagement.

Participants have the opportunity to connect virtually with leading experts, fellow scholars, practitioners, and changemakers throughout the programme. Participants additionally gain access to shared resources and a growing global community of ISCM alumni, supporting connection and collaboration well beyond the eight-week programme.

Who should apply?

The ISCM welcomes students, recent graduates, academics, practitioners and change-makers from all corners of the world who are keen to unpack key trends, developments, and narratives shaping research and praxis on climate and environmental-related (im)mobilities in the twenty-first century. ISCM welcome participants at different stages of their activist, research, advocacy and career journeys and encourage diversity – across geographies, backgrounds and disciplines.

ISCM encourages participation amongst change-makers who are passionate about advancing resilience to climate change and environmental shocks through disaster risk reduction and sustainable development, as well as those who champion human rights-based protection for those who move and those who stay to cope with the intensifying impacts of climate change, disasters and environmental degradation.

If you are passionate about researching the nuances of climate-related migration, displacement and immobility, influencing new laws and policies, providing life-saving assistance in the humanitarian sector or engaging in sustainable development programming on climate change and mobility, this online course is for you!

Eligibility

To be considered for the online course, applicants must have advanced English language skills to participate.

In addition, applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria:

Postgraduate student or recent graduate of a postgraduate degree program ‍
Academic (pursuing or holding a PhD) ‍
Practitioner, including a working professional, community organizer, or advocate in a relevant field (e.g. migration, climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, social justice etc.)

Note that exceptional applications from undergraduate students or applicants from non-traditional educational or professional backgrounds, who bring relevant lived experience are also encouraged to apply.

Attendance, Participation and Engagement Expectations

ISCM expects its participants to attend the lecture and one of the seminar sessions every Monday and Wednesday respectively for the duration of the eight-week program.
Attendance is recorded based on both presence and participation. Active participation includes contributing verbally to class discussions or group activities; engaging through the chat or polls during live sessions and keeping your camera on when possible.
ISCM participants will be expected to come prepared to seminar sessions each week by completing reading and portfolio assignments.
Participants should ensure they sign up for a seminar time zone in which they can consistently and actively engage in the application form.
ISCM expect its participants to adhere to all ISCM Community Ground Rules for an Inclusive & Respectful Classroom Space, which includes treating each other with dignity and respect; listening to and learning from participants’ points of view while recognizing that there may be difference of opinions and disagreement; respecting peers and instructors when constructively critiquing their ideas and listening to understand; keeping discussion and comments on topic and relevant to key themes of the ISCM; and a zero tolerance policy on the use of inflammatory, offensive or profane language.

Program Fees & Financial Assistance

While ISCM wishes that they could offer the ISCM free of charge, a lot of hard work goes into making the ISCM possible, and we believe it is important to support the team who makes it all happen!

The standard participation fee for the eight-week ISCM program is: $800 USD

Accepted applicants will be expected to confirm their enrolment and pay the programme fee shortly after receiving an offer in April.

Financial Assistance:

ISCM recognizes that not everyone has equal access to financial resources. For this reason, ISCM offers a limited number of scholarships for applicants who would otherwise be unable to participate.

These places are reserved for those facing significant financial barriers, with priority given to individuals who have experienced impacts on their lives through displacement, dispossession, climate-related disasters, as well as grassroots organizers and frontline advocates whose work constrains their access to income or stability. Financial support is limited and highly competitive. Requesting assistance does not guarantee that it can be offered. All requests are assessed through the application form and treated as strictly confidential.

How To Apply

Applications will only be accepted through the 2026 ISCM Online Application Form, and will close February 28.

What you can expect on the online application form:

Provide general information (e.g. name, email address etc.)
Confirm you meet all eligibility criteria and understand our attendance, participation and engagement expectations
Comprehensively answer questions about your motivation and interest to enroll at the ISCM
Indicate your preferred seminar cohort choice based on time zone and capacity to participate
If applicable, request consideration for scholarships and confirm how your situation aligns with the purpose of the scholarship support.

ISCM will assess its applicants on the following criteria:

Meets eligibility requirements
Demonstrable interest in researching and/or advocating around issues addressed at the ISCM
Indication that participating at the ISCM will aid the applicant in (future) research and advocacy pursuits and career development
Indication that the applicant will be actively engaged during ISCM sessions and seminar discussions, contributing to a respectful and enriching dialogical forum