About us
Scotland's migration think tank. Building a better migration future for everyone – turning research and recommendations into real world change.
Our approach
Migration Policy Scotland plays a pivotal role in meeting the need for greater capacity on migration in Scotland. Our evidence-led approach considers the full spectrum of immigration routes and reasons that bring people to Scotland. We mainstream migration into wider social and economic policy thinking, and work in ways that connect thinking and doing to unlock new solutions to real world challenges. Our mission is to build a better migration future for everyone.
We offer a home for insight, engagement and learning – fostering the connections and conversations that bring people together to move forward on the complex and cross-cutting issues that migration impacts. We pioneer inclusive approaches to integrate lived experience into policy work through our policy laboratories and our migrant lived experience panel.
We build insight infrastructure
We work to build the knowledge base needed to support evidence-led thinking and debate on migration. Since 2023 we produce an annual representative survey of Attitudes to Immigration in Scotland. This enables decisionmakers to track and understand public attitudes in Scotland. We are working to extend our observatory function.
We build capacity among migrants
We equip migrants to engage more effectively as part of Scotland’s communities. We do this by working closely with migrants on our Lived Experience Panel, fostering migrant talent as part of our ‘diversity in policymaking’ internship and through training and coaching offered through our capacity and leadership development programme (to be launched in 2026).
We foster learning and collaboration
Our research and events extend the knowledge base on migration in Scotland in relation to significant policy issues, such as poverty and demographics, and on key groups of interest, such as EU nationals and Hong Kongers. Our policy laboratories bring together practitioners and policymakers to harness the collective experience and expertise of those working directly with migrants.
Our approach to changemaking goes beyond reports and recommendations. We work together with a wide range of individuals and organisations to develop and implement new solutions.
Our people
Meet the staff, trustees and sounding board members working to build a better migration future for everyone in Scotland.
Meet our people
What people say about our work
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MPS approach to integrating lived experience brought invaluable insights to our work.
Colin Carroll, Scottish Government -
Our peer research had a direct impact on the tender and service design of the new Scotland's Migration Service.
Shaina Gabi, MPS LEx Panel Representative -
The MPS Attitudes to immigration in Scotland Survey is transforming the evidence base.
Prof. Bobby Duffy, KCL -
High quality report - supports our wider work in the context of addressing depopulation across a range of actors within Scotland.
Mike Andrews, Scottish Government