SOAS Sanctuary Scholarships

Applications are shortlisted by a Selection Committee of at least three members.

The Selection Committee will consider the information you have provided in your admissions application:

• Your rationale for choosing the degree you wish to study at SOAS.
• Your learning trajectory including academic achievements and obstacles you have overcome.
• How well the degree will serve your future plans and intentions.
• Your supporting references.

In addition, we will consider the information you provide in your scholarship application about your immigration situation and why you are applying for this scholarship. It is important that you provide clear information about this and any supporting documents, so that we can understand your situation.

Applicants must be a displaced person that falls into one of the following groups:

• Asylum Seeker or you have submitted a claim for asylum in the UK or are actively appealing a negative decision on claim for asylum in the UK
• Discretionary or Limited Leave to Remain
• Humanitarian Protection status or the spouse or child of someone with Humanitarian Protection status
• Refugee status or you are the spouse or child of someone with refugee status.
• The dependant of any of the above status groups, in recognition that they are also from asylum-seeking or refugee backgrounds.

Alternatively, applicants must have come to the UK under one of the following:

• UK Refugee Resettlement Scheme (UKRS)
• Afghan citizens Resettlement Scheme
• Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP)
• Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (VPRS) and Vulnerable Children's Resettlement Scheme (VCRS)
• Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine)
• Ukraine Family Scheme

Applicants must also

• Not have access to Student Finance funding, due to immigration status ineligibility.
• Be resident in the UK.
• Have received an offer of study for a 3-year undergraduate course beginning in September 2025. You will still have to meet the conditions of your offer of a place to be accepted onto the degree programme and receive the scholarship.
• Not have already studied at an equivalent or higher level.
• Provide evidence of their immigration status by the end of the scholarship application deadline. Applicants should also provide evidence that they have had their Student Finance loan application rejected if possible.

Eligible degrees and award value

The SOAS Sanctuary scholarships include a full tuition fee waiver (Home rate fees only) for any full-time undergraduate degree of 3 years duration, alo