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. 

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 Week, 17-23 June, 2024 is Our Home.

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!

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 12 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

Priority will be given to applicants who already live within easy commuting distance of 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 2024-25 Applications 

Please complete the application form below and read the guidance notes to apply for this award. The deadline for applications is 24th May 2024

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.

Application Form

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.