Inside the University of Leeds Sanctuary Scholarship

We sat down with Alex, Lead Officer at the Plus Programme, to talk about the ongoing work to help people seeking asylum to come to Leeds through sanctuary scholarships. Learn more about the incredible work of multiple teams across the University, what sanctuary scholarships are, and how you can support the programme.

Hi Alex, thank you for chatting today! Could you tell me more about the University of Leeds Sanctuary Scholarship?

The scholarship provide crucial access to educational opportunities for people seeking asylum in the UK who have faced incredible challenges, and who have no other means to fund their education. It covers the full cost of tuition, provides additional funding for living expenses and is open to both undergraduate and postgraduate taught students. We typically award three to five scholarships each year, and since the project started, we’ve supported 31 students.

Recently, we’ve been expanding our efforts as part of the University’s journey to become a University of Sanctuary, which is a recognition of our commitment to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for people seeking asylum.

Who else at the University is involved in the Sanctuary Scholarship?

The Sanctuary Scholarship is part of the Plus Programme, a support scheme available to students who have entered the University through widening participation routes. This team helps with everything from interviewing and shortlisting candidates to providing additional support throughout the year. We also work with colleagues from around the University who are passionate about helping our sanctuary scholars, have specific knowledge they can lend, or both! It’s truly a collaborative effort, with lots of different people coming together to make sure sanctuary scholars have the best possible experience at Leeds.

What kind of support does your team offer to sanctuary scholars?

Sanctuary scholars often come to us with little to no experience with UK higher education, and they face extra challenges related to their asylum status. To support them, we integrate them into the Plus Programme, where they receive regular support. This includes monthly check-ins, personalised guidance, and access to additional opportunities.

We know every student is different — some adapt quickly, while others need more one-on-one support. When that’s the case, we connect them with other resources or departments within the university to make sure they get the help they need. We’re also working on expanding our support to include social events and other community-building activities to help them feel more connected to the university.

We also offer a professional language course over the summer to incoming scholars. This course helps them prepare for the academic year and meet the language requirements for their courses, setting them up for success.

What common challenges do sanctuary scholars face on campus?

Sanctuary scholars face some pretty unique challenges. Many of them have to navigate language barriers and juggle their studies with asylum case appeals and family responsibilities.

Financial issues are also a big concern, many scholars live on just £37 a week before their studies. Scholars are given additional funds to support their living costs as part of the scholarship, but this adds a different challenge. Scholars will need to budget this and make it last, as most cannot work.

Like many students, mental health challenges are common too. We know that sanctuary scholars put themselves under an immense amount of pressure to succeed, as they feel grateful to be at Leeds. We also know that many scholars do not want to ask for help, as they feel like the University has done enough. We support scholars in asking for help and checking-in with them when the pressure is getting too much.

Can you share some success stories from the university’s Sanctuary Scholarship?

Absolutely! A really lovely experience for many of these students is receiving their student ID card. This is a really proud moment for them as it’s usually one of the first pieces of ID that isn’t tied to their refugee or asylum-seeker status.

We’ve also had some really inspiring success stories. For example, one student who started out living in a hotel room is now a practising engineer. Another one of our early scholars has gone on to become an academic right here at Leeds. We also had a student who struggled initially with adapting to university life. With support from our team, she was able to advocate for herself, overcome those challenges, and ultimately succeed in her master’s degree.

How can I support sanctuary scholars?

University staff can make a huge difference in supporting sanctuary scholars. Start by learning about the asylum system and the extra pressures these students face. While scholars don’t expect anyone to assist with their asylum cases, showing empathy, understanding, and a willingness to listen can go a long way. The key is to recognise the unique challenges these students face and to offer support in any way possible, without making them feel different because of their background.

Schools can also help further. Many people don’t know that their school may fund a scholar from their own resources. This is a wonderful thing to do, as unfortunately our scholarships receive far more applicants than we can take. Even if a sanctuary scholar is funded by their school, our team will manage the applications, interviews, and support. The more schools that fund a scholar, the more scholars that can come to Leeds and make our campus a better, richer place.

What motivates you and your team to work with sanctuary scholars?

Honestly, it’s the students themselves who inspire us every day. The dedication and resilience they show, despite the challenges they’ve faced, is incredible. Many of these students have had to overcome so much just to get to the point where they can apply to university, and they’re so grateful for the opportunity to study.

Our team is passionate about ensuring equality of opportunity — making sure that everyone, no matter where they come from, has the chance to pursue their education. We know these students have so much potential, and it’s a privilege to help them overcome the barriers in their way. Whether it’s helping someone transition from living in a hotel to thriving at university or supporting a student as they move from uncertainty to stability, it’s incredibly rewarding work.