The Michael Perham Sanctuary Scholarship

Eligible applications for the Sanctuary Scholarship will be shortlisted based on the information provided in their Scholarship application and course application.

Applications from candidates who have a forced migration status which means they are not eligible for UK Student Finance are particularly encouraged and will be given preferential consideration for shortlisting.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview (in person at one of our Cheltenham or Gloucester campuses, or via MS Teams) with members of the Sanctuary Scholarship Steering Group plus, in some circumstances, the Course Leader or a member of the lecturing team from their preferred degree programme.

Eligible applicants for either an Undergraduate Taught or Postgraduate Taught Scholarship must meet all the following criteria:

Have a forced migration status. This includes asylum seeker, refugee, humanitarian protection, temporary refugee permission, limited or discretionary leave to remain on the grounds of seeking protection, indefinite leave to remain on the grounds of seeking protection, Ukraine schemes, Calais Leave, Section 67 Leave, UASC leave, stateless leave and the dependents of any of the previously listed groups. If your forced migration status is not listed, please contact us with the details to check whether you are eligible.

1. Be resident in the UK and either (i) currently living within Gloucestershire or within reasonable commuting distance, or (ii) be able to provide a clear rationale of how they will fund commuting or relocation costs if currently living further afield as part of the scholarship application.
2. Have received an offer of a place on an undergraduate taught or postgraduate taught degree course at the University of Gloucestershire. The course must involve studying at a University of Gloucestershire campus, not at a franchised college or taught online.
3. If seeking asylum, applicants must have submitted a request for asylum to the UK Home Office before applying to the Sanctuary Scholarship scheme.
4. Have submitted the Sanctuary Scholarship application in full by 6 March 2026. This must include evidence confirming immigration status (allowing us to confirm student finance eligibility) and contact details for a referee from a school, college, current/former employer or community/voluntary group. Referees will only be contacted for shortlisted candidates who did not provide a reference as part of their course application.