Sanctuary Scholarship

The form includes a personal statement section. This section assesses your suitability for the Sanctuary Scholarship. Please ensure that in your answers you have included:

• Your reason for wanting to access higher education, including your future aims and ambitions and how your chosen course will help you achieve these.
• The difficulties you have faced in continuing your education and how you have tried to overcome these.
• Details of your financial circumstances and any previous applications you have made for funding.
• The form contains further questions and guidance.

Applications will only be considered if they are accompanied by a Referee Supporting Statement that is signed and dated. This must be uploaded as part of the online form. Applicants will also be required to provide evidence of their immigration status.

Selected applicants will be invited to have an interview. Interview questions will be shared with these selected applicants before the interview.

This scholarship is for individuals seeking asylum and those who have a form of protection from an asylum claim, who are not able to access government student finance.

In 2025/26 entry there will be one scholarship available. This will include:

A full fee waiver. This means you will not need to pay tuition fees.
A cash bursary of £4,000.
Financial support equivalent to £10,000 towards accommodation. If you intend to live in University halls of residence, you will automatically receive this support. If you intend to live in other accommodation (not University halls of residence), you will need to provide the University with proof of your accommodation costs. This is detailed in the terms and conditions of the scholarship.
Guaranteed accommodation in University halls of residence for 52 weeks per year, if you choose to live in University halls of residence.

This support will be available for every year of your full-time study.

You are eligible to apply if you have one of the following immigration statuses, you meet the relevant course entry requirements, and you are not in receipt of or eligible for government student financial support:

• asylum seeker,
• unaccompanied asylum-seeking child,
• limited leave to remain (as a result of an asylum application,
• discretionary leave to remain (as a result of an asylum application),
• the family member of someone with one of the immigration statuses listed
• above with ‘in line' or ‘dependent' status.

The scholarship will be open to applicants who have received an offer (or are awaiting a decision) for a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate taught course, including foundation year courses. Courses taught at Partner Colleges are not eligible.