University of Sanctuary

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Welcome to the UoC Sanctuary

The University of Chester is proud to welcome people seeking sanctuary (asylum seekers and refugees) into our community, recognising the wealth of experience and knowledge they bring.

The University of Chester is committed to its ongoing work in creating a welcoming culture of inclusivity and awareness. From 2022, UoC will be formally working towards University of Sanctuary status. 

 

 

We are proud to be a supporting organisation of the City of Sanctuary.

 

 

 

The Universities of Sanctuary initiative currently engages with sanctuary seekers, and the wider university and local community in multiple activities. These include learning and teaching, student support, delivery of events such as UoC Refugee week, research projects, partnerships with community organisations and through the University of Chester’s Sanctuary Award.

Refugee Week is a UK-wide festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. Founded in 1998 and held every year around World Refugee Day on the 20 June, Refugee Week is also a growing global movement.

Theme of Refugee 16-22 June, 2025 is Community as a Superpower.

Refugee Week 2022 - White Rabbit  
Refugee Week 2023
Refugee Week 2024

We are asking our University Community to hold an event in support of the movement and the University’s work in becoming a University of Sanctuary.  

Simple Acts are everyday actions we can all do to stand with refugees and make new connections in our communities. Small steps to create big change!

Please let us know what activities you have organised, and ways in which you have been involved (however small!), by sending in details and photos that we can share and celebrate on our webpage!

The University of Chester joined the Cara Scholars at Risk Universities Network in 2020, and has hosted one fellow to graduation. In line with our commitment to global social justice, we host three Cara fellows at any one time and match fellows with our leading academics so they can complete their doctoral studies or an advanced piece of research. 

Cara provides life-changing support for a growing number of academics who need urgent help to get away from immediate danger. Recent events in Afghanistan, Ukraine, Sudan and elsewhere have led to a surge in applications for Cara’s help. 

More information about how the University of Chester is supporting Cara 

We offer sanctuary scholarships every year. These have been designed to enable students from asylum-seeker and refugee backgrounds to progress to higher level study.

Counselling Skills and Sociology student Grace tells us more about her experience with the Sanctuary Award.

Hello. My name is Sandra and I am the dedicated staff member and main point of contact for our sanctuary students.

I have coordinated the Sanctuary Scholarship for over 14 years, and have a broad understanding of the issues and challenges that our scholars face.

University is such an exciting and important moment in life, but it can also be challenging - especially if you are concerned about a pending asylum claim or unsure about what support may be available to you.

Whether you would benefit from practical and/or emotional support, I am here to help you make the most out of your experience at the University of Chester.

City of Sanctuary - see City of Sanctuary - Chester.

Sanctuary Scholarships

The University of Chester aims to make higher education a reality for students who are seeking sanctuary in the UK

University of Chester’s Sanctuary Award - students seeking asylum

Our Sanctuary Award offers a full tuition fee waiver to a student who is:

  • An asylum seeker – a person who has made a claim with the UK for refugee status
  • A person who has been granted some form of temporary status – such as limited leave to remain
  • Dependants or partners of any of the above status groups, whose claim is dependent on a principal applicant

Please note: Spouses/civil partners must have been the spouse/civil partner on the date on 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.

In addition to the full fee waiver, Sanctuary Scholars will also receive the following support:

  • Up to £2,500 per year in-kind financial support package to help with essential study costs such as laptop/printer, stationery, textbooks, specialist clothes/equipment etc.
  • A link member of staff to talk to if there are any personal, financial or academic issues you have concerns about. Your entitlement will be the same as for any other student and will include support to enable you to identify and overcome barriers to achievement on your programme of study.

Applicants to the Sanctuary Award will need to:

  • Have been offered a place (conditional or unconditional) on an undergraduate or postgraduate programme at the University of Chester (with the exception of NHS-funded programmes which are not eligible for this award) before applying for the Sanctuary Award. 
  • Be unable to access UK Government Student Finance (tuition fee loans or maintenance loans/grants) by virtue of their immigration status
  • Be able to provide evidence that their asylum application is under consideration by the Home Office

What else do I need to know?

  • This is a competitive process and not all applications will be successful.
  • 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 discuss the information you have provided in your application.
  • If you are shortlisted following interview, you will be asked to submit evidence of your immigration status to our Compliance team. These checks form part of the formal admissions and selection process to ensure that the University of Chester are registering students who hold valid documentation with the Home Office and have the right to study in the UK.
  • If you are successful in being offered a University of Chester’s Sanctuary Award you will be informed within two weeks of your interview.
  • Applicants that knowingly submit information that is found to be misleading or fraudulent will have their applications withdrawn.

Priority will be given to applicants who already live within easy commuting distance of the University of Chester. Apply for a travel bursary to attend an Applicant Day at the University of Chester

The Sanctuary Award is payable in each academic year of the course. This is unless, as a result of an asylum application, you (or your parents or spouse/civil partner) are granted indefinite leave to enter/remain in the UK. If this happens, you must inform the University and the award will cease from the start of the next academic year, when you would be expected to apply for student finance instead.

Sanctuary Award 2025-26 Applications 

Applications for 2025-26 are now open, download a copy of the application form and see the guidance notes. Deadline for applications is Friday 23rd May 2025.

To find out more please get in touch with Sandra Hughes by emailing studentexperience@chester.ac.uk.

Useful resources

The resources below provide more information about external sources of funding and support for asylum seekers, refugees and forced migrants.

More information

If you would like to get in touch and find out more about our financial and wellbeing support for sanctuary students, please email: studentexperience@chester.ac.uk.