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Sanctuary Scholarship

Key facts
Overview
Eligibility
Application process
Terms and conditions

Key facts

Start dates

September 2024

Available to home or international students?

International

Study level

Postgraduate; Undergraduate

Award value

Various

Number of awards

1

Application deadline

26 May 2024

Apply now

Overview

This scholarship is for individuals seeking asylum and those who have a form of protection from an asylum claim, who are not able to access government student finance.

In 2024/25 entry there will be one scholarship available which will include:

  • A full fee waiver (you do not need to pay fees).
  • A cash bursary of £4,000.
  • Financial support equivalent to £10,000 towards accommodation. Those living in halls of residence will automatically receive this support; those in private accommodation will be required to provide proof of living costs as detailed in the terms and conditions of the scholarship.
  • Guaranteed accommodation in University halls of residence for 52 weeks per year.

Support

We provide all our students with a wide range of services dedicated to helping you stay both physically and mentally healthy. Our services include:

  • Counselling,
  • Disability services,
  • Mutlifaith Chaplaincy,
  • Dyslexia/SpLD services.

If you successfully receive a scholarship, you will also have a named contact to support you throughout the course of your study.

Student Welfare Advisor

Throughout the academic year, it is necessary to meet with your welfare advisor at least four times. These meetings will cover both academic and welfare aspects, and failing to attend them may affect your ability to receive support through the Sanctuary scheme should you need to repeat the year.

Scholars will also receive additional support from the Centre for Academic Development. In addition to the regular service available to all students (bookable one-to-one learning development; academic English modules) scholars would be offered:

  • A named contact in the department

  • Three, one hour one-to-ones with the named contact over the first few weeks of Semester 1. 

    1. Welcome, study survival guide, assessment of needs.
    2. Familiarisation with Google suite and Moodle. Time planning to meet the demands of the semester ahead.
    3. Planning for the specific demands of the coming assignments.

  • If relevant, one hour with an Academic English tutor to assess need, plan how the student can develop their academic English, and guide them regarding Academic English modules.

  • The option to request an Academic English tutor for a one-to-one if needed.

  • Priority booking for appointments.

Contextual offers

At Oxford Brookes we want to ensure that all students with the potential to succeed have equality of access. If you are applying for undergraduate study with the immigration status of ‘refugee’ or ‘humanitarian protection or similar’ you will be eligible for our contextual offer which is a grade reduction of up to three grades below the standard entry requirements. Please see our contextual admissions page for more details.

Eligibility

Eligibility criteria

Students with the following immigration statuses who meet the relevant course entry requirements and are not in receipt of, or eligible for government student finance support, are eligible to apply:

  • asylum seeker,
  • unaccompanied asylum seeking child,
  • limited leave to remain (as a result of an asylum application,
  • discretionary leave to remain (as a result of an asylum application),
  • the family member of someone with one of the immigration statuses listed above with ‘in line’ or ‘dependent’ status.

The scholarship will be open to students who are in receipt of an offer (or awaiting a decision) for a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate taught course, including foundation year courses. Courses taught at Partner Colleges are not eligible.

This funding is available to students studying on the following courses:

Postgraduate

Undergraduate

Application process

Before applying for the Sanctuary Scholarship, applicants will need to apply through UCAS and hold an offer from our Admissions Team.

Please read the terms and conditions of the scholarship and then complete the online form which includes a personal statement section. This section assesses your suitability for the Sanctuary Scholarship. Please ensure that in your answers you have included:

  • Your reason for wanting to access higher education, including your future aims and ambitions and how your chosen course will help you achieve these.
  • The difficulties you have faced in continuing your education and how you have tried to overcome these.
  • Details of your financial circumstances and any previous applications you have made for funding.

Applications will only be considered if they are accompanied by a Referee Supporting Statement that is signed and dated. This will need to be uploaded as part of the online form. Applicants will also be required to provide evidence of their immigration status.

Apply now

Terms and conditions

The following applies to 2024 entrants only:

  1. This is a competitive process and not all applications will be successful.
  2. Scholars must not be in receipt of or be eligible for government student finance support (ie loans).
  3. A scholar must anticipate meeting all the conditions associated with their offer in time to enrol at Oxford Brookes for the 2024/25 academic year.
  4. Scholars must enrol onto a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate taught course, including foundation year courses. Courses taught at Partner Colleges are not eligible.
  5. Scholarships will be provided for the normal duration of the student’s study and will be renewed annually. Should students withdraw or suspend their studies any future payments will be suspended.
  6. Students on an Integrated Foundation Course will receive the scholarship for the 4 year duration as they progress automatically to their degree if they pass the foundation year.
  7. Applications will only be considered if they are accompanied by a Referee Supporting Statement that is signed and dated.
  8. Successful applicants will be required to provide evidence of your current immigration status with documentation such as a Biometric Residence Permit, Home Office letters or a solicitor’s letter. If you are unsure about your current immigration status please speak to your solicitor or to your family members if you are listed as a dependent on a family member’s immigration application.
  9. If you are successful in receiving the scholarship, you must notify the University immediately if your circumstances change before or during your course or programme of study, in particular in respect to your immigration status.
  10. If a change in your immigration status means that you become eligible for UK government student financial support, you must apply for this support without delay. Once your UK government student financial support has been assessed and awarded, your Sanctuary Scholarship entitlement will be reassessed to take into account any government student funding you are now eligible to receive. It is likely that you would no longer be eligible for a Sanctuary Scholarship once you have student financial support in place.
  11. Recipients of the Sanctuary Scholarship are not eligible for any other Brookes Bursaries or Scholarships.
  12. Throughout the academic year, it is necessary to meet with your welfare advisor at least four times a year.
  13. Guaranteed accommodation in University halls of residence is available for 52 weeks per year, if required, however please note that depending on the halls allocated you will have to move halls for at least 2 weeks.
  14. Financial support equivalent to £10,000 towards accommodation. Those living in halls of residence will automatically receive this support; those in private accommodation will be required to provide proof of living costs by providing a copy of their tenancy agreement to finance.
  15. Scholars must adhere to Oxford Brookes’ student conduct.
  16. The Widening Participation Evaluation team will contact Scholars during and possibly after their studies for feedback about their experience as a Scholar to help evaluate the impact of the scholarship and to inform any improvements to the scheme. The information will be anonymised unless the Scholar provides consent to share.