The following list provides details of the universities in the UK that provide funding for refugees and/or asylum seekers. This information was correct at time of writing in November 2024. However, funding arrangements are liable to change so you are advised to check with the relevant university prior to making any personal arrangements.
De Montfort University, Leicester: eight Article 26 Scholarships are offered to students from an asylum-seeking background who do not have access to student finance. Scholarships consist of a full fee waiver and up to £3,500 contribution to living costs per year. One recipient will also be eligible for a contribution towards accommodation costs in halls of residence for three years.
University of Dundee: the Humanitarian Scholarship/Afghan Women's Scholarship offers up to £40,000, which includes a full tuition fee waiver for the year of study, a monthly stipend and accommodation costs. Approximately 11 fully-funded scholarships are available for full-time postgraduate study. Students must hold the status afforded by the UK Government of 'humanitarian protection', hold full refugee status (granted by the UK Government), or have Discretionary leave to Remain on the basis of an asylum application. Students from overseas can also apply on humanitarian grounds.
University of East Anglia: UEA offers Sanctuary Scholarships and Pre-sessional English Sanctuary Scholarships. Successful applicants will be offered full tuition fee support and a bursary of £9,000 per year towards living costs (£1,000 for Pre-sessional English courses). Scholarships are awarded to asylum seekers or applicants who have been granted Discretionary Leave/Humanitarian Protection or Refugees (Leave to Remain) and do not qualify for support from Student Finance England.
University of East London: a postgraduate scholarship of 100% tuition fee support is offered to asylum seekers until they are awarded such immigration status that enables them to access support from Student Finance. The scholarship is available for asylum seekers, the partner/dependant of an asylum seeker or someone who has been granted Discretionary Leave to Remain (DLR).
Edge Hill University: the Sanctuary Award provides up to two full tuition fee waivers, plus an additional £800 scholarship for undergraduate courses. Applicants must be seeking asylum in the UK, or a dependant or partner of someone seeking asylum in the UK, or a dependant or partner of someone seeking asylum who has been granted limited leave to remain or some other form of temporary status. Priority will be given to applicants who live within easy commuting distance of Edge Hill University.
University of Edinburgh: students seeking asylum will be classified as ‘Scottish domiciled’ for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes (equivalent to a fee waiver). Scholarships are available for four undergraduate students. They include a full fee waiver and living cost support of £19,237 per annum. There are also Displaced Student Scholarships for full-time postgraduate students. They cover tuition fees and up to £15,000 living costs (dependent on circumstances) for on-campus programmes.
University of Essex: a bursary of up to £1,500 is available for full-time undergraduate courses and up to £750 for part-time undergraduate courses for students with UK refugee status, or a dependant of UK refugees. There are also Sanctuary Scholarships of a full tuition fee waiver, accommodation and a £6,000 bursary for new Postgraduate Taught (PGT) Masters students, and Sanctuary Scholarships for undergraduate or postgraduate Afghan students offering a fee waiver, free University accommodation and £5,000 to support living and study costs.
University of Exeter: Sanctuary Scholarships of a full tuition fee waiver and an annual living cost grant are offered to individuals seeking asylum and refugees who are not able to access student finance to study at the University of Exeter. They are available for full-time undergraduate degree programmes and full-time Doctorate level programmes.
University of Glasgow: scholarships are available for students who are staying in the UK on humanitarian grounds. Scholarships offer a full fee waiver, £5,000 per year stipend and free accommodation. Undergraduate students who hold refugee status can apply for the stipend of £5,000 only and postgraduate students who hold refugee status can apply for the stipend of £5,000 and a partial fee waiver.
University of Gloucestershire: The Michael Perham Sanctuary Scholarship is available for one new undergraduate student and one new postgraduate student per academic year. The scholarship covers full tuition fees and up to £10,000 per year, which may take the form of a bursary or funding for additional support, dependent on the successful applicant’s circumstances.
Goldsmiths, University of London: the International Response Scholarship offers a full tuition fee waiver, an accommodation fee waiver and an allowance of £8,825 each year of study. Two are available for undergraduate courses and two for postgraduate courses for applicants who have refugee status in the UK, or have an active application for asylum in the UK.
University of Greenwich: two scholarships (undergraduate or postgraduate) are provided to offer holders who are seeking asylum or have refugee status in the United Kingdom and are not eligible for financial support. Scholarships provide an annual tuition fee waiver, maintenance support of £10,000 and an annual accommodation fee waiver for Avery Hill Campus.
University of Hull: three Sanctuary Scholarships of a full tuition fee waiver, an annual £2,000 study grant (paid pro rata to part-time students), and tailored personal support are available for asylum seekers or their dependants or spouses. Scholarships are available for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. There are also Artificial Intelligence and Data Science Bursaries of £10,000 for refugees studying the MSc Artificial Intelligence and Data Science.
Imperial College, London: one Postgraduate Sanctuary Scholarship is available for one year of study for refugees and asylum seekers. It offers a tuition fee waiver, a stipend for living costs equating to £21,000 per annum, £1,500 equipment grant for the purchase of a laptop or other educational equipment and costs pertaining to the English language proficiency test exam fee (if English language is required as part of the offer of admission), visa application (if applicable) and NHS Surcharge.