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Sanctuary Scholarship

Since 2014, Birmingham Newman University has been proud to be one of a growing number of universities to offer a Sanctuary Scholarship as part of the Helena Kennedy Foundation’s Article 26 Project, promoting access to higher education for people who have fled persecution and sought asylum in the UK.

We offer two undergraduate scholarships annually to Birmingham Newman University applicants from a forced migrant background, from any country, who cannot access finance from Student Finance England because of their Home Office status.

All our Sanctuary Scholars will be provided with:

  • A Tuition Fee Waiver: The fee waiver will not usually extend to repeat years of study and is offered until such time as you are awarded status that entitles you to access statutory student support.
  • Study and Travel Support: The Sanctuary Scholarship includes an annual bursary of £1,200 per year to assist with study and travel expenses. The bursary is not means‐tested and is paid in two instalments (one per semester). The bursary will not usually be paid for repeat years of study.
  • Personal Support and advice: Support will be developed for each student to enable them to identify and overcome any potential barriers to achievement on their degree course.
  • For applicants who do not live within a commutable distance of Birmingham Newman University, consideration will be given to providing campus accommodation free of charge.

Applications for the September 2025 Sanctuary Scholarship are now open:

Sanctuary Scholarship Application Form 2025

Guidance notes are available as an attachment at the end of this web page and the closing date is midday, 4th July 2025. Your accompanying documents should be emailed to Tammy Oyekanmi, Advice and Wellbeing Manager, at t.oyekanmi@newman.ac.uk.

Before you can apply for the Sanctuary Scholarship, you must have made an application for and received an offer of a place at Newman University (conditional or unconditional) on:

  • a 3 year, full-time undergraduate degree programme, or;
  • a 4 year full-time undergraduate degree programme which commences with a Foundation Year, or;
  • or a 1 year, full-time postgraduate degree programme (Ukrainian nationals only)

If you need advice about any of our courses, entry criteria or how to make an application via UCAS or directly to Birmingham Newman University, please contact admissions@newman.ac.uk.

Scholarship eligibility criteria

Applicants must be:

  • An asylum seeker / forced migrant or the partner/dependent of an asylum seeker / forced migrant; OR
  • An asylum seeker/partner/dependent who has been granted Discretionary Leave to Remain (DLR) or some other form of temporary status. Your temporary status must however cover the duration of your intended period of study.

And:

  • Already have a conditional or unconditional offer of a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate place to study at Newman University – apply for your course first
  • Have applied for asylum in the UK before applying to UCAS / directly to Newman University
  • Currently attending a school, college, community or voluntary group which can provide a reference in support of your application, but please contact us if you cannot provide this
  • Unable to access statutory student finance because of your asylum or forced migrant status, or a dependent’s status.

Please note: Spouses/civil partners must have been the spouse/civil partner on the date which the asylum application was made. Children/step-children must have been aged under 18 on the date on which the asylum application was made.

Application process

Following initial assessment, the University will contact you to let you know whether or not your application will progress to the next stage of the selection process.

If your application is taken forward, you will be invited to an interview to verify the information you have provided in your application.

If you are successful in being offered the Scholarship, you will be informed within five working days of your interview.

Please note that we cannot accept applications from potential scholars who reside outside of the UK, as Birmingham Newman University does not have a Student Visa sponsorship license.

If you need advice about any of our courses, entry criteria or how to make an application via UCAS or directly to Birmingham Newman University, you can find more information at our study pages.

Questions about the Scholarship

If you have any questions about the Scholarship, please contact studentsupport@newman.ac.uk.

Finance links

Contact Student Finance

“The (Sanctuary) scholarship gave me the chance to make my dreams come true, by making it possible for me to start studying at university, opening so many doors for me and enabling me to enhance my skills and develop myself in my profession. Education has always been an important factor to me and without it I wouldn’t be able to enjoy my life.”

Zaid Hameed, Birmingham Newman Graduate,  BA Single Honours

Useful websites

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