SOAS Sanctuary Scholarships 2024/25

Key information

Deadline date
Amount
Tuition fees and £12,000 maintenance

Scholarship overview

The SOAS Sanctuary scheme to support displaced people was launched in 2015. It is designed to support those who might otherwise be blocked from embarking on a university degree especially those with precarious forms of immigration status and who do not have access to Student Finance.

The SOAS Sanctuary scholarships include a full tuition fee waiver (Home rate fees only) for any full-time undergraduate degree of 3 years duration, along with £12,000 maintenance per academic year to contribute towards living costs.

Deadline

  • 12:00pm GMT (midday UK local time) on 24 May 2024

Candidate criteria

Applicants must be a displaced person that falls into one of the following groups:

  • Asylum Seeker or you have submitted a claim for asylum in the UK or are actively appealing a negative decision on claim for asylum in the UK
  • Discretionary or Limited Leave to Remain
  • Humanitarian Protection status or the spouse or child of someone with Humanitarian Protection status
  • Refugee status or you are the spouse or child of someone with refugee status.
  • The dependant of any of the above status groups, in recognition that they are also from asylum-seeking or refugee backgrounds.

Or have come to the UK under one of the following,

  • UK Refugee Resettlement Scheme (UKRS)
  • Afghan citizens Resettlement Scheme
  • Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP)
  • Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (VPRS) and Vulnerable Children’s Resettlement Scheme (VCRS)
  • Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine)
  • Ukraine Family Scheme

Applicants must also

  • Not have access to Student Finance funding, due to immigration status ineligibility.
  • Be resident in the UK.
  • Have received an offer of study for a 3-year undergraduate course beginning in September 2024. You will still have to meet the conditions of your offer of a place to be accepted onto the degree programme and receive the scholarship.
  • Not have already studied at an equivalent or higher level.
  • Provide evidence of their immigration status to scholarships@soas.ac.uk by the end of the scholarship application deadline. Applicants should also provide evidence that they have had their Student Finance loan application rejected if possible.

Eligible degrees and award value

The scholarships include a full tuition fee waiver (Home rate fees only) for:

  • Any full-time undergraduate degree of 3 years duration
  • In addition, £12,000 maintenance per academic year will be provided to contribute towards living costs such as accommodation or travel, for example.

Candidate assessment

  • Applications are shortlisted by a Selection Committee of at least three members.
  • The Selection Committee will consider the information you have provided in your admissions application:
    • Your rationale for choosing the degree you wish to study at SOAS.
    • Your learning trajectory including academic achievements and obstacles you have overcome.
    • How well the degree will serve your future plans and intentions.
    • Your supporting references.
  • In addition, we will consider the information you provide in your scholarship application about your immigration situation and why you are applying for this scholarship. It is important that you provide clear information about this and any supporting documents, so that we can understand your situation. Any relevant documents should be emailed to scholarships@soas.ac.uk.

Scholarship application deadline

  • Scholarship applications must be received by no later than 12:00 PM GMT (midday UK local time) on 24th May 2024.
  • Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
  • Please note that you must have an offer of admission to your chosen degree at SOAS by the scholarship panel stage for your application for a scholarship to be considered by the selection committee.
  • Applications for admission can take up to 4 weeks to be considered by the department, although this duration can vary depending on the time of year. You should be prepared to wait up to 6 weeks in busy periods.

Scholarship application procedure

Step 1

Select and apply for your chosen degree programme via UCAS (Undergraduates). Having a place at SOAS is necessary to be considered by the Sanctuary Scholarship selection panel, although you may submit a scholarship application before you receive your offer of a place from Admissions.

Step 2

Apply for the Sanctuary Scholarship via the online form.You should save a copy of your application form for your records. If you wish to print a copy of the application then please do so before submitting it.

Notification of results

The scholarship shortlisting and awarding period is expected to complete in June at the earliest. Successful candidates will be contacted first and once all awards have been allocated, the unsuccessful candidates will be notified.

Enquiries

For enquiries, please contact:

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