STUDENTS SEEKING ASYLUM
We are committed to creating opportunities for all to study at the University of Winchester, particularly those in difficult circumstances.
We are committed to creating opportunities for all to study at the University of Winchester, particularly those in difficult circumstances.
Our Sanctuary Award supports two students per year seeking sanctuary in the UK to undertake a course in higher education. We will cover your fees and also help with additional costs with a bursary of up to £5000 per year.
We also offer Sanctuary Scholars free access to a six-week Pre-Sessional English Programme (subject to places being available) and academic English support is available for students for whom English is a second language throughout the year. Tutors are available to provide help with academic reading, writing, speaking, and listening, as well as vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and discourse.
Our Sanctuary Award offers a full tuition fee waiver and bursary to two students per year who are already living in the UK and who are:
- Seeking asylum or humanitarian protection in the UK, or a dependent or partner of someone seeking asylum
- A dependent or partner of someone who has been granted limited leave to remain or some other form of temporary 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.
In addition to the fee waiver we can help you cover the costs that come with studying (for example books, IT equipment, travel costs or other costs which will enable you to study successfully) up to a maximum of £5000 per year.
Applicants for the Sanctuary Award will need to:
- Have been offered a place (conditional or firm) on an undergraduate programme at the University of Winchester 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 Winchester
The Sanctuary Award is payable in three instalments in each standard 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 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.
How to apply?
If you wish to apply for the Sanctuary Award for 2024 entry:
Once you have received your offer of a place on a course at the University of Winchester, please download and fill in the application form below.
Sanctuary Award Application Form (September 2024 entry)
Please note that BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy, BN (Hons) Nursing (all pathways) and BSc (Hons) Nutrition and Dietetics are excluded from the Sanctuary Award. (This list is correct at the time of publishing but may be subject to review and alteration).
Please note, if you are considering applying for BSc (Hons) Professional Policing, the College of Policing have additional requirements that you are required to meet to become a police constable. Further information is available from the College of Policing website and we would encourage you to review this information before submitting your application for a Professional Policing degree.
Since 2022, Ukrainian nationals have been able to apply to Student Finance for funding and are therefore no longer eligible for the Sanctuary Award. We recommend Ukrainian applicants contact studentsandmoney@winchester.ac.uk to discuss their financial needs and course.enquiries@winchester.ac.uk for other queries about their application.