Newcastle University has introduced a new scholarship scheme specifically for asylum seekers and refugees.
Three 'Sanctuary Scholarships' will be available each year to support students who wish to study an undergraduate, postgraduate taught or postgraduate research degree.
Each scholarship runs for the duration of the course and covers full tuition fees as well as providing a bursary towards living expenses.
The scholarships are available to students from asylum seeker and refugee backgrounds who have already been offered a place to study at the University’s city centre campus from the start of the 2020/21 academic year.
Applications are now open for the new Sanctuary Scholarships.
Professor Peter Hopkins, Dean of Social Justice, Newcastle University, said: “Due to fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a specific social group or political opinion, refugees are forced to search for sanctuary and security in more secure and welcoming places.
"Newcastle University is committed to offering these new scholarships to the refugee community in the region as part of work to promote social justice.”
The Sanctuary Scholarships are part of Newcastle University’s work towards becoming a University of Sanctuary. This work is co-led by Professor Hopkins and Professor Judith Rankin, Dean of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).
Professor Rankin said: “Offering scholarships to students from asylum-seeker and refugee backgrounds is an important part of Newcastle University's commitment to social justice and to equality, diversity and inclusion. They will support our aim of fostering a culture of welcome and inclusion for all.”
In 2017, the university pledged its support to Newcastle: City of Sanctuary, a city-wide coalition to welcome refugees and asylum seekers to the city.
For more information about Sanctuary Scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate students visit www.ncl.ac.uk/who-we-are/social-justice/
