Sanctuary Scholarship at University of Birmingham

Scholarship overview

Overview of the Sanctuary Scholarship scholarship

Level of study

Masters, undergraduate

Nationality

All international, EU

Eligible criteria

Who can apply for the Sanctuary Scholarship?

Gender

Applicable to all genders

Study mode

Full Time

Delivery mode

In Person

Eligibility intake

Sep - 2026

Additional eligibility requirements:

The University of Birmingham is pleased to be able to offer five Sanctuary Scholarships for new undergraduate and postgraduate taught students starting at the University in 2026 who have sought refuge in the UK. We are committed to providing a welcoming environment for Asylum Seekers and we are passionate about being a University of Sanctuary.

Value of Award

Sanctuary Scholars will receive:

A full-tuition fee waiver for the duration of your course.
A yearly £5,000 payment to help with study costs, paid monthly.
A fully-funded place in University-owned accommodation for the duration of your course.
A welcome pack with useful resources to help get your studies off to a great start.

To be considered for a Sanctuary Scholarship you must be able to demonstrate that you meet the following conditions at the point your application for the Scholarship is made:

You must be in the UK and
You must be unable to access mainstream UK student funding due to your residency status at the point your application for the Scholarship is made and
You must have submitted, or be a dependant* of someone who has submitted, an asylum application in the UK OR you need to have already been granted discretionary leave, at the point your application for the Scholarship is made and
You must have made an application to study at the University of Birmingham for a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate taught course beginning in September 2026.

Funding details

What does the Sanctuary Scholarship include?

This scholarship provides the following support:

Funding type

Free products/services

Coverage

Accommodation, Tuition fees

Selection process

What is the selection process for the Sanctuary Scholarship?

Here's an outline of the selection criteria and process to help you understand how the recipients are chosen:

Selection basis

Refugee/asylum status

Selection approach

All eligible

Other selection criteria

After you've completed the online application form, Funding, Graduation and Awards will check your application and contact you if we need any further information.
Your application will then be reviewed by the University's International Student Team (IST) to check that you meet the eligibility criteria for an award. The University will need to contact the Home Office on your behalf, so it's important that you complete the authorisation form as part of your scholarship application.
If your application is taken forward, it will be shared with the University's Sanctuary Scholarship panel, who will identify the applicants that we would like to invite for an interview.
For those who make it to this stage, the interviews will take place either at our Edgbaston campus or online (interview dates TBC).
Successful candidates will be identified at the interviews and notified of the outcome by the beginning of June. All awards are made at the discretion of the panel and there is no appeal against a decision not to award a scholarship.
If necessary, the successful candidates will then be invited to an English Language testing day, hosted by the Birmingham International Academy (BIA) in either June or July. The testing will help those who have outstanding English Language requirements in their offer to study at the University of Birmingham.

How to apply

Applying for the Sanctuary Scholarship: What you need to know

Ready to apply? Here's what you need to know before submitting your application:

Application type

Separate application required

Application method:

To make an application for the scholarship you must:
1. Make an application to study at the University of Birmingham
2. Complete the letter of authority
3. Main Application Form