The GMC conducts academic and policy-oriented research on the causes and consequences of migration. It also promotes projects that are jointly run with international organizations, NGOs, governments and other research institutions across the world.

The GMC analyses global migration in a forward-looking perspective and aims at developing academic and policy-relevant knowledge to address the challenges posed by global migration in the 21st century.

CIES has several active research projects being undertaken by staff members and students at the Graduate Institute. The Centre gives priority to projects at the frontier of academic research on environmental issues, with an emphasis on international dimensions.