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Newcastle University Sanctuary Scholarships

The scholarships have been designed to enable students from asylum-seeker backgrounds to progress to higher level study.

Visit the 2024 Academic Experience page for information about the 2024-25 academic year.

Newcastle University is committed to social justice. We are pleased to offer Sanctuary Scholarships - full tuition fee support and a bursary for living costs for applicants wanting to study at the University.

About these scholarships

Value of award

Full tuition fees and living expenses. 

Number of awards

3

Start date and duration

Commences September 2025 for the full duration of the student’s degree programme.

Application closing date

The closing date for applications is 4 April 2025. No further applications for 2025 entry will be considered after this date.

Sponsor

Newcastle University

Eligibility criteria

1.The following categories of applicants can apply under this scheme:

a. asylum seekers

b. children of asylum seekers and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (eg children migrants under 18)*

c. applicants with refugee status (ineligible for Student Finance government funding)

*Applicants who have been granted Humanitarian Protection, Discretionary Leave to Remain as a result of an application for asylum, or the children of a parent in this position, will also be considered.

2. Applicants must be living in the UK at the time that they apply for consideration under the scheme. Priority will be given to applicants from the North East of England (Tyne and Wear, County Durham, Northumberland, Cleveland and North Cumbria). You can search for other sanctuary scholarships near you using the displaced student’s portal.

3. Applicants must hold an offer from Newcastle University to be considered for a Sanctuary Scholarship. See UCAS guidance on how to apply for undergraduate study and the University’s application guide for postgraduate study.

Priority will be given to those who have not had the opportunity to access higher education to date.

Applicants who hold qualifications from outside the UK are welcome to use our International Webpages. Start by Selecting your country to find the typical Undergraduate and Postgraduate entry requirements before you apply to Newcastle.

Should you have any further questions about our entry requirements, please do get in touch: 

4. Applicants must meet the English language criteria for their course or have relevant qualifications to indicate their English language competency. Find out more about English language support. 

Personal circumstances will be considered if there is good reason for criterion 3 or 4 not being met.

5. Applicants must be unable to access mainstream funding, for example from Student Finance England or a local authority grant.

These criteria have been discussed and agreed with the Asylum and Migration Justice Forum.

Sanctuary Scholarship applications will be considered from students applying to the following programmes:

The following applicants are not eligible to apply for Sanctuary Scholarship funding:

  • Current students
  • Study abroad and exchange students
  • Applicants for non-degree awards (Higher Education Diploma, Higher Education Certificate, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma)

For more information about the scheme, please see the Sanctuary Scholarship regulations (PDF: 209 KB).

How to apply

Applications for the Sanctuary Scholarship must be made using our online form.

Applicants will be required to upload proof of their immigration status and a reference. The reference should be from someone who has known the applicant for a significant period of time and who is aware of their personal circumstances.

The reference letter is an important part of the selection process and must address the below points, as well as any other information you believe should be taken into consideration by the selection panel;

  • What are the applicant’s personal and financial circumstances and what barriers have they overcome to continue their education?
  • How well suited is the applicant to the higher education course they plan to undertake, and how realistic are the applicant’s ambitions?
  • What contribution, to your knowledge, has the applicant made to their community, or to school/college life (if applicable)?
  • Is there any other information that you believe is relevant to this application?
  • How do you think the applicant would benefit from the support offered by the Sanctuary Scholarship?

Applications will only be considered if they are accompanied by a reference that is signed, dated, and on letterhead. 

Please read the application guidance  (PDF: 107 KB) carefully, before completing the application form.

The deadline to apply is midnight on Friday 4th April 2025. Late applications will not be considered.

Contact

Questions regarding the Newcastle University Sanctuary Scholarship Scheme should be sent to: [email protected]

Other resources